London/Paris to Venice/Verona or Venice/Verona to Paris/London

Few journeys in the world carry the romance and mystique of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. This legendary overnight crossing between Paris and Venice — or its reverse — traces the classic heart of the original Orient Express route through three countries, two Alpine crossings, and some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe, all aboard beautifully restored carriages from the 1920s and 1930s. Whether you board at Paris Gare de l'Est in the early evening or at Venice Santa Lucia at late morning, the rhythm of this journey is one of unhurried luxury: cocktails in the bar car, silver-service dining across Art Deco restaurant cars, and the slow revelation of the Alps through your cabin window at dawn.

The route links Paris with either Venice or Verona — Verona Porta Nuova is a scheduled stop en route to Venice, making it possible to begin or end your journey in the city of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Southbound, the train departs Paris in the evening and arrives in Verona mid-afternoon and Venice by early evening the following day. Northbound, it departs Venice late morning, calls at Verona, and delivers passengers to Paris the following afternoon. In either direction, the overnight crossing of the Swiss Alps and northern Italy is the centrepiece of the experience — a journey that feels as much like a voyage through time as through geography.

Operated by Belmond, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has been running since 1982, and its fleet of meticulously maintained vintage carriages — including the iconic Côte d'Azur restaurant car with its René Lalique glass panels — remain among the most celebrated train interiors anywhere. This is not simply transportation between two great cities; it is a destination in its own right.

Paris — The City of Light

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express departs from Paris Gare de l'Est, one of the city's great Haussmann-era railway stations and the historic gateway to eastern Europe. Passengers joining from London connect via Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel, arriving at Gare du Nord before transferring to Gare de l'Est. Paris itself needs little introduction — but for those extending their journey, the city offers the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, Notre-Dame de Paris (now magnificently restored), the Eiffel Tower, and the legendary dining and café culture of the Left Bank and the Marais. The train's departure from Paris in the early evening allows time for a final Parisian dinner before boarding.

The Swiss Alps — Europe's Rooftop

The alpine crossing is the centrepiece of the overnight journey. The train passes along the shores of Lake Zurich (Zürichsee) and the Walensee in the early morning — mountain-ringed lakes of extraordinary beauty, their surfaces catching the first alpine light. The route climbs through passes and glacial valleys that have defined European geography for millennia. On the southbound routing the train uses the Gotthard corridor, while northbound it crosses the classic Arlberg and Brenner passes. The chance to sit in your cabin with coffee and watch the Alps unfold is, for many, the most memorable hour of the entire journey.

The Italian Dolomites and Verona

Descending from the high Alps into northern Italy, the train passes through a landscape of dramatic limestone peaks, deep gorges, and terraced vineyards — the UNESCO-listed Dolomites, among the most beautiful mountain ranges in Europe. The scheduled stop at Verona Porta Nuova offers an arrival or departure point for one of Italy's most beguiling cities. Verona is famous worldwide as the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and its layered history spans Roman, medieval, and Renaissance eras: the magnificent Arena di Verona, a 1st-century Roman amphitheatre that still hosts opera performances each summer; the romantic Casa di Giulietta (Juliet's House) with its famous bronze statue and balcony; the grand Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori; and the Scaligeri family tombs. The River Adige curves through the city, and the hilltop Castel San Pietro offers panoramic views across the terracotta roofscape.

Venice — La Serenissima

The arrival into Venice Santa Lucia by train — crossing the Ponte della Libertà with the lagoon stretching to the horizon on both sides — is one of the great arrivals in travel. Venice needs no superlatives: built on 118 islands connected by 400 bridges, it has been among the world's most extraordinary cities for a millennium. The Piazza San Marco and its golden Basilica, the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace), the Rialto Bridge, the Ca' d'Oro, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and the labyrinthine calli (alleyways) of Dorsoduro and Cannaregio each reward extended exploration. Gondola rides through the smaller canals, vaporetto journeys to the islands of Murano (famous for glassblowing) and Burano (its brilliantly painted fishermen's houses), and the quiet early mornings before the crowds arrive are among the city's greatest pleasures. Venice is best savoured slowly — consider extending your stay before or after the train journey.