Top 5 Destinations to Combine with Your Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Train Journey

A journey aboard the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is a true celebration of luxury trains, art deco design, and the golden age of rail travel. This iconic train is a world-renowned masterpiece, offering opulent carriages, historic cabins, exquisite Art Deco interiors, and the kind of timeless elegance found only on the most famous trains. But stepping onto the platform doesn’t have to be where your unforgettable journey ends. The Venice Simplon route links some of Europe’s most romantic cities, making the train an ideal centrepiece for combining luxurious travel with iconic destinations.

By extending your trip before or after your luxury train journey, you can create a unique experience filled with unforgettable moments and new art de vivre. Pair the unparalleled luxury, sumptuous cuisine, and bar car ambience of the Venice Simplon Orient Express train with days spent exploring grand cities or scenic lakes. Here are five destinations that combine seamlessly with your legendary journey aboard the Venice Simplon.

1. Venice, Italy: The Classic Choice

Venice is perhaps the most iconic city to pair with the Orient Express service that bears its name. Arriving after an overnight stay aboard the Venice Simplon is both a nod to the train’s own right as a mythical legend and the beginning of your own chapter of the golden age.

Why Combine?

Venice is a city that truly evokes memories of a bygone era. After enjoying free-flowing champagne, fine dining, and panoramic views through the train’s thoughtfully restored windows, you’ll be ready to explore quiet canals and hidden squares at your own pace. This is luxury train travel extended, an opportunity for art de vivre beyond the railway.

What to Do:

• Stay at a Historic Hotel: To match the grandeur of the train’s sumptuous upholstery and marble en suite cabins, book at a timeless property such as the Hotel Cipriani. Wake to gondolas gliding past, enjoying breakfast that rivals the meals included on your journey.

• Explore Beyond St. Mark's Square: Hop on a water taxi to islands like Murano and Burano, whose vibrant charm will remind you of the opulent colours within the Venice Simplon’s carriages.

• Enjoy a Private Gondola Ride: For moments of absolute luxury, seek the quieter canals for a truly unique journey, just as you experienced aboard the train.

2. Lake Como, Italy: Alpine Grandeur Meets Lakeside Serenity

A short train ride from Milan, a key stop along many Venice Simplon-Orient-Express journeys. Lake Como is renowned for classic route beauty, unique experiences, and luxury.

Why Combine?

Combining the refined bar car atmosphere and luxury of the Orient Express train with the serene, iconic landscapes of Lake Como offers an ideal contrast. Unwind after nights in historic cabins with the tranquil views and grand suites of lakeside villas. The transition from the excitement of enjoying sumptuous cuisine and fine wines on board to lakeside peace is the essence of true luxury.

What to Do:

• Discover Bellagio: The “Pearl of the Lake,” with its panoramic views and art deco elegance, offers an atmosphere that mirrors the train’s romantic spirit.

• Visit Villa del Balbianello: Much like the train’s legendary grand suites, this villa's opulence brings the golden age of Italian nobility to life.

• Take a Boat Trip: Sail the deep blue waters for vistas as unforgettable as the Swiss Alps you may witness from your cabin on the Orient Express.

3. Paris, France: The City of Light and Love

Start or end your Venice Simplon-Orient-Express journey in Paris, a city famed for timeless glamour, artistic flair, and lavish fine dining, a fitting match for Orient Express luxury.

Why Combine?

Paris captures the spirit of the luxury train: art de vivre, classic French chefs, and the romance of unparalleled luxury travel. As you disembark from the legendary train, you’ll find yourself surrounded by iconic architecture and haute cuisine that echo the elegant dining cars and personal steward service on board.

What to Do:

• Explore Montmartre: Wander past the Sacré-Cœur, soaking up views reminiscent of panoramic landscapes from your own private twin cabin or grand suite.

• Visit a Smaller Museum: Experience Paris’s understated treasures, much like discovering hidden details in the train’s opulent carriages and thoughtfully restored marquetry.

• Indulge in a Food Tour: Just as you enjoy exquisite cuisine and free-flowing champagne en route, Paris offers equally unforgettable gourmet moments at every turn.

4. Vienna, Austria: Imperial History and Musical Heritage

A key stop on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Vienna is a city of grandeur, music, and history, a legendary journey destination for those who appreciate the art deco era and golden age charm.

Why Combine?

Travelling from the luxury of your classic train route to Vienna’s magnificent palaces feels both natural and exhilarating. Whether attending a concert or savouring Viennese fine dining, you’ll be reminded of nights aboard the Venice Simplon, where classic piano performances and dinner in the three dining cars evoke memories of bygone glamour.

What to Do:

• Attend a Concert: Let live music transport you, as the rhythmic click of the tracks did aboard the Orient Express.

• Experience Café Culture: Enjoy the timeless elegance of a Vienna coffee house, as luxurious as sipping cocktails in the Art Deco bar car.

• Tour the Hofburg Palace: Marvel at imperial riches and grandeur that rival the Orient Express’s grand suite and historic cabin luxury.

5. Istanbul, Turkey: The Legendary Eastern Gateway

Experience a legendary journey by pairing your train adventure with Istanbul, an unrivalled destination that has inspired legendary stories on the Orient Express.

Why Combine?

Following the original Orient Express route makes your arrival in Istanbul both an adventure and an achievement. The transition from enjoying sumptuous cuisine and marble en-suites aboard your luxury train to the rich, layered tapestry of Istanbul is a classic way to create memories that last a lifetime.

What to Do:

• Explore Sultanahmet: Visit the famous Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, soaking in the vibrant energy that made Istanbul the endpoint of so many mythical legends in rail travel.

• Haggle in the Grand Bazaar: Here, the bustling marketplace matches the lively spirit and unforgettable moments found in the train’s dining cars and bar car.

• Take a Bosphorus Cruise: Marvel at iconic landscapes as day transitions to nightfall, echoing the sense of wonder you felt travelling across Europe in a lovingly restored carriage.

Your journey on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is more than an overnight stay; it’s a legendary train experience, a tribute to the golden age of travel. By combining it with romantic cities, iconic landmarks, and unforgettable destinations, you’re guaranteed a unique journey, full of true luxury and lasting memories.