Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

The original icon of the rails, Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, Europe has been at the forefront of luxury railway travel for nearly half a century, since its first journey in May 1982. The history of this legendary train began in 1977, when Belmond’s founder, James B. Sherwood, bought two original Art Deco sleeping cars at a Sotheby's auction in Monte Carlo with the ambition to bring back to life the ‘golden age of travel’ with the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train. An enduring symbol of luxury, today the train operates between March and December. It features 16 painstakingly restored 1920s and 1930s carriages, inviting guests to surrender to the journey as it criss-crosses Europe’s most dramatic landscapes and uncovers some of the world’s most fabled cities, such as Vienna, Rome, Florence, Paris, Venice and Istanbul. On board, guests can choose between three different accommodation categories - characterful Historic Cabins; lavish newly launched Suites; and opulent Grand Suites; indulge in refined dining by Michelin-starred French Chef Jean Imbert in the colourful restaurant carriages and enjoy an evening of late-night revelry with live performances and handcrafted cocktails in the famous Bar Car ‘3674’.