Rail · When to go
The Venice Simplon Orient Express, season by season
One night, three dinners' worth of glamour and a slow roll into Venice. Here is when to go, which cabin to book and what to pack.
Photo: Unsplash
The short answer
When to go, in one paragraph
The best time to ride the Venice Simplon Orient Express is May, June, September or October, when the season is in full swing, the Alps are clear and Venice is warm without August's crush. The train runs roughly weekly from March to December, with no regular service in January and February. The classic journey is one night: Paris at about 16:00, Venice at about 17:30 the next day.
- For the sweet spotMay to Jun, Sep to OctLong light evenings, snow still on the peaks, Venice at its best.
- For a showerBook a SuiteHistoric Cabins have a washbasin only; Suites add an en suite.
- For the rare trips2027Istanbul, Monaco and Prague journeys are already on sale.
Checked on 16 October 2026 against Belmond: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express journeys, Belmond: Paris to Venice (classic route) and Belmond: Paris to Istanbul 2027.
Pick your month
Turn the year
- October
- Autumn colour in the Alps and mild days in Venice. In 2027 this is also the month of the five-night Paris to Istanbul journey.
- What's on
- Paris to Istanbul, autumn colour
- Prices
- Peak: Istanbul sells fastest
RunningPeakWinter: no regular service
the Orient Express month by month
- JanuaryWinter: no regular service · No service: best month to bookNo regular departures. The carriages are out of service for the winter, so use the month to book the spring and summer dates while the choice is widest. Planning month, not travelling month.
- FebruaryWinter: no regular service · No service: book aheadStill no scheduled journeys. Book now if you want a specific spring date, a Grand Suite, or a cabin for a birthday or anniversary weekend. Spring and summer dates on sale.
- MarchRunning · Running: good availabilityThe season opens. Expect snow on the Alps, crisp light through the cabin window and a quiet, cool Venice at the other end, with fewer visitors on the bridges. First departures of the year.
- AprilRunning · Running: Easter fills firstDepartures pick up and Venice warms into spring. Easter weeks fill first, so check the calendar early if your dates are fixed around the school holidays. Easter, spring in Venice.
- MayPeak · Peak: book many months aheadOne of the best months on board: long evenings at dinner, snowcaps still on the peaks and warm days in Venice. From May 2027 the Riviera route via Monaco also begins. Monaco route debuts in 2027.
- JunePeak · Peak: suites sell out firstThe longest days mean the most scenery in daylight. Departures are frequent, demand is high and Venice is warm, so suites and Grand Suites go early. Longest daylight, busiest month.
- JulyRunning · Running: high demandStill a fine month on the train, which is the cool and calm part of the trip. Venice is hot and busy, so plan your arrival hotel with care. Summer in Venice, heat in the lagoon.
- AugustRunning · Running: limited datesFewer departures than early summer and the hottest, most crowded Venice of the year. Worth it if August is your only window, but not our first choice. Fewest summer departures.
- SeptemberPeak · Peak: book many months aheadOur favourite month. Golden light over the mountains, warm evenings, and a Venice that thins out after the summer. Several departures in each direction. Venice after the summer crowds.
- OctoberPeak · Peak: Istanbul sells fastestAutumn colour in the Alps and mild days in Venice. In 2027 this is also the month of the five-night Paris to Istanbul journey. Paris to Istanbul, autumn colour.
- NovemberRunning · Running: easier to find a cabinThe late season: shorter days, the first snow on the high passes and a misty, atmospheric Venice. Quieter on board, with dinner well after dark. Mist, early snow, fewer guests.
- DecemberWinter: no regular service · Winter specials: very limitedNo regular timetable, but a handful of festive departures run before Christmas. Snowy mountains and a decorated train make these a special-occasion buy. A few festive departures.
Paris · Venice
The classic run south
The classic journey is a single night. You leave Paris in the late afternoon, around 16:00, dine as the train crosses France, sleep, and wake to mountain views on the way through Switzerland and into Italy. Lunch is served on day two, with a stop at Verona, and the train pulls into Venice Santa Lucia at about 17:30. From London, take Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris first. The northbound run reverses the order, leaving Venice in late morning and crossing the Dolomites and the Brenner Pass at lunch.
Belmond includes transfers between your Paris and Venice hotels and the stations, so there is no hauling of cases across the lagoon.
Historic · Suite · Grand Suite
Which cabin to book
Historic Cabins are the original 1920s compartments: a banquette by day that the steward turns into upper and lower berths at night, a washbasin with hot and cold water, and shared toilets at the end of the corridor. There are no showers. Suites, sold as double or twin, add a private en suite with a shower. The six Grand Suites, named after Paris, Venice, Istanbul, Prague, Vienna and Budapest, add a separate living area, free-flowing champagne, private dining in the suite and private transfers.
Every cabin gets a 24-hour steward. If you want a shower, book at least a Suite: Historic Cabins have a washbasin only.
Dinner · Black tie
Dressing for dinner
Dinner is the event. Belmond serves a four-course dinner with sommelier-chosen wines, plus a three-course lunch and breakfast, and there is a piano in the bar car. The dress code is strict: at the very least a jacket and tie for men at dinner, though most go black tie, and cocktail or evening wear for women. By day, smart casual is fine, but shorts, jeans and trainers are not allowed on board at any time. Pack the dinner outfit in a small overnight bag that goes to the cabin.
One large case per person is checked through to your destination. Keep a single overnight bag or suit carrier with you in the cabin.
Istanbul · Monaco · Prague
Beyond Paris and Venice
The 2027 schedule goes well past the classic run. The headline trip is Paris to Istanbul, or Istanbul to Paris: five nights with three on the train, calling at Budapest and Bucharest, with city tours and a visit to Peleș Castle. New for May 2027 is a Riviera route through Cannes and Monte Carlo. There are also one-night journeys from Paris to Vienna via Prague or Budapest, Paris to Florence, and departures from Amsterdam and Brussels to Venice or Verona.
Belmond also sells three-night packages that pair the train with its hotels, such as Hotel Cipriani in Venice and Splendido in Portofino.
London · Venice
Getting there, and the British Pullman
Until 2023 the London leg ran on the British Pullman from Victoria to Folkestone, with a coach crossing to join the main train. Belmond dropped it after post-Brexit border checks caused long queues and missed connections, so today the journey starts with Eurostar to Paris. The British Pullman still runs from London Victoria as Belmond's day train, with lunch, afternoon tea and dinner trips in carriages from the 1920s and 1930s. It is the easiest way to taste the style for a fraction of the price.
The British Pullman's champagne afternoon tea runs from and back to London Victoria, a good gift or a test run before the overnight trip.
- 1
- night on board, Paris to Venice
- 25h
- Paris 16:00 to Venice 17:30 next day
- 6
- Grand Suites, each named after a city
- 5
- nights, Paris to Istanbul in 2027
Planning the trip
How to book, what it costs and how to pair it with Venice
Fares depend on the route, the direction and the cabin, and every fare includes dinner, lunch, breakfast and wine. The useful questions are which direction, which cabin, and how long you want in Venice at the end.
- How to bookDirect, or through a specialistBook on belmond.com, or through rail specialists such as Railbookers or Tailor Made Rail, who can add Eurostar and hotels and sometimes beat the train-only price with a package. Children under 12 sharing with an adult get a discount.
- When to bookSix months or more for peakThe 2027 calendar is already open. For a Suite or Grand Suite in May, June, September or October, or for the Istanbul run, book as early as you can. Historic Cabins on November dates are easier to find.
- What it costsFrom €4,510 per personFrom €4,510 per person, sharing a Historic Cabin on the 2027 Paris to Venice journey, checked on belmond.com on 16 October 2026. Suites and Grand Suites cost far more, and solo travellers pay a sole-occupancy supplement.
- With VeniceStay two or three nightsYou arrive in early evening, so give Venice at least two nights. Belmond's three-night package adds Hotel Cipriani on Giudecca; otherwise pick a hotel near the Grand Canal and let the included transfer take you there.
Which direction
Southbound is the classic: dinner on the first night, mountains in the morning, and a sunset arrival in Venice. Northbound starts with lunch over the Dolomites and the Brenner Pass, ends with breakfast in Paris, and the 2026 fares were lower in this direction. Either way, Eurostar links Paris and London St Pancras, so a return by train is simple.
Which cabin
A Historic Cabin is the authentic choice and the best value, if you can live with a washbasin and a shared toilet. A Suite gives you a shower and a proper bed. A Grand Suite is a private apartment on rails, with champagne and dinner served in your own sitting room.
What to pack
A black-tie outfit or a dark suit and tie for dinner, a cocktail or evening dress, and smart-casual daywear. Leave jeans, shorts and trainers at home. Put the dinner clothes, shoes and washbag in one small bag for the cabin, and check the big case through to your hotel at the far end.
Questions people ask
The Venice Simplon Orient Express, answered
When does the Venice Simplon Orient Express run?
The train runs roughly weekly from March to December, with departures in both directions. There is no regular service in January and February, and only a few festive departures in December. The busiest and best months are May, June, September and October.
How long is the journey from London to Venice?
The train itself takes one night: Belmond's timetable has it leaving Paris at about 16:00 and reaching Venice at about 17:30 the next day. From London you add Eurostar to Paris first, so plan on a full day and a half door to door, or a night in Paris beforehand.
Does the Orient Express still leave from London?
Not the continental train. The British Pullman leg from London Victoria to Folkestone was dropped after 2023 because of post-Brexit border checks. You now take Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris and board there. The British Pullman still runs day trips from Victoria.
What is the dress code?
Formal at dinner: at least a jacket and tie for men, and most guests wear black tie, with cocktail or evening wear for women. Smart casual is fine during the day, but shorts, jeans and trainers are not permitted on board at any time.
Do Historic Cabins have a shower?
No. Historic Cabins have a washbasin with hot and cold water, and the toilets are at the end of each carriage. For a private shower and toilet you need a Suite or a Grand Suite. Grand Suites also add a living area and free-flowing champagne.
Can you go to Istanbul on the Orient Express?
Yes, on selected 2027 dates. Paris to Istanbul and Istanbul to Paris are five-night journeys, three of them on the train, with stops in Budapest and Bucharest, city tours and a visit to Peleș Castle in Romania. These are the rarest departures, so book early.
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