Legendary Orient Express links Rome and Istanbul on a luxury journey

The legendary Orient Express, the world’s most famous luxury train, will begin operating its iconic route between Rome and Istanbul this autumn, offering travellers a five-day dream rail journey through several historic European cities – a trip that is not for the budget-conscious.

The Orient Express, which retains the name that made it world-famous, will take passengers on a journey from Rome to Istanbul whilst they enjoy meals prepared by Michelin-starred chefs and some of the most iconic landscapes on the European continent. According to reports in the Turkish media, the new service – operating under the name La Dolce Vita Orient Express – is scheduled to depart on 22 October from the Italian capital, reviving one of Europe’s most celebrated rail routes and combining nostalgia, haute cuisine and refined elegance.

Passengers on the Orient Express will be welcomed with every luxury and glamour in the Orient Express Lounge, located at Roma Ostiense station and designed by architect Hugo Toro; here they can enjoy sparkling drinks, Italian-style appetisers and live Italian music. Once on board, they will stay in suites and cabins inspired by 1960s Italy, designed to recreate the golden age of European rail travel, as well as enjoy menus created by three-Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck.

During its journey, the train will stop at some of Europe’s most historic cities. Passengers, who will pay a ticket price starting from 20,000 euros, will have the choice of a luxurious 75-square-metre cabin or a 118-square-metre suite.

A luxury train immortalised by the writer Agatha Christie

After departing from Rome, the Orient Express will arrive in Venice as the second stop on the journey, and will then continue on to Budapest. The following day it will cross the Carpathian Mountains, with stops in the medieval Romanian city of Brașov and the tourist town of Sinaia, located in the mountains of Romania. Finally, on the afternoon of the following day, the train will complete its historic journey with its arrival in Istanbul, thus concluding the route immortalised by literature and cinema.

Launched on 4 October 1883 by the Belgian company Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, the Orient Express quickly became one of the most prestigious trains in the world. Its original route linked Paris with Constantinople —now Istanbul— and throughout its history it carried prominent figures, including members of royal families, diplomats, businesspeople, artists and writers, earning international fame for the luxury of its carriages, its refined service and its journeys through historic European cities.

Among its most famous passengers were French President Paul Deschanel, the spy Mata Hari, King Ferdinand of Bulgaria and the crime novelist Agatha Christie, who immortalised this legendary train in her novel Murder on the Orient Express.

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