Danube Express Luxury Train: Paris to Istanbul

It is an eight-day, seven-night journey. One hotel night in Paris comes first, then five nights aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express through Champagne, Vienna, Postojna, Belgrade and Sofia, and a final hotel night in Istanbul before breakfast on day eight.

The route runs from France through Austria, Slovenia, Serbia and Bulgaria before reaching Turkey. Along the way the train stops for full days in the Champagne region, Vienna, Postojna, Belgrade and Sofia, with the journey ending in Istanbul on the Bosphorus.

It follows the corridor the original service made famous, Paris to Istanbul, but at a pace that allows a full day of sightseeing in the cities along the way rather than passing through them overnight. The train itself is the modern Golden Eagle Danube Express, a private charter with en-suite cabins.

You are met on arrival and transferred to a centrally located five-star hotel for one night, with a welcome reception dinner that evening. The next morning the group is taken to the station for a drinks reception before boarding the train for the run east into the Champagne country.

Deluxe Class and Superior Deluxe Class are offered, both private and en-suite, both with a cabin attendant and evening turndown. Superior Deluxe gives more space. Cabin numbers on a private train are limited, so the category you want is worth securing early; current fares for each are on this page.

Included are one hotel night in Paris, five nights on board, one hotel night in Istanbul, all meals and beverages on the train, authentic dining experiences at local restaurants, every guided excursion in the itinerary, arrival and departure transfers, luggage porterage, tour managers, a doctor on board and all gratuities.

No. All gratuities, both on the train and on the off-train excursions, are covered by the fare, so you do not need to budget separately for tipping staff, guides or drivers. Personal spending, travel insurance and flights remain your own cost.

The days involve a fair amount of walking, often on cobbles, steps and uneven ground in old city centres, and the cave visit in Slovenia has a long walking route. There is no strenuous climbing, but you should be comfortable on your feet for a few hours at a time and bring sturdy shoes.

Fares open from about EUR 19,900 per person with two sharing a cabin, and rise with cabin category and departure date. Rather than quote one figure that drifts, we show the exact fare for each departure on this page so you can see what your chosen date and cabin actually cost.

Yes, a cabin for sole use is available on request with a supplement, since the lead fare assumes two people sharing. Solo travellers are common on this style of journey and the shared dining and lounge cars make it sociable. Ask us for the single rate on the date you want.

A deposit of 30 percent of the tour price confirms your cabin and is non-refundable. The balance is due 125 days before departure, and bookings made within 125 days of departure are payable in full at the time of booking. Your written confirmation shows the exact amounts and the dates they fall due.

Yes, two child bands apply, under 5 and 5 to 12, with the age counted at the departure date. Bear in mind that cabins are small, the itinerary is paced for adults, and the excursions are city and culture focused, so it suits older children better than very young ones.

Departures currently on sale fall between 22 May 2027 and 6 October 2027, so the westbound season covers late spring through early autumn. Every available date and its fare are listed on this page and can be booked directly with us.

Late May and June give long evenings and green countryside through Austria and the Balkans, which suits the scenic rail sections. Late September and early October bring cooler city days for Belgrade and Sofia and a very pleasant arrival in Istanbul, where the summer heat has eased.

On the first day out of Paris the train reaches the Champagne region, a landscape of vineyards laid over rolling hills, with historic cathedrals and handsome regional architecture. The programme includes a visit to the cellars and time in the region before you rejoin the train for the overnight run east.

The train arrives in Vienna as evening falls, after an afternoon crossing the Austrian countryside and the Alpine foothills. Vienna gives you the imperial palaces, the famous coffee houses and a city built around classical music, and the evening there is one of the highlights of the westbound run.

Postojna in Slovenia holds one of Europe's most spectacular cave systems. You travel in by a purpose-built underground train and then walk through enormous chambers full of stalactites and stalagmites, learning about the unusual creatures that live in the dark. Lunch at a local restaurant follows before the train continues towards Serbia.

Belgrade gives you a traditional Serbian feast with local hosts and free time in the lively city centre. Sofia, one of Europe's oldest cities, sits below Mount Vitosha and offers the Roman ruins of Serdica, striking Orthodox churches and a mix of Western and Central European architecture.

You need a passport valid well beyond your travel dates, as the route crosses several national borders including non-Schengen countries. Visa requirements depend on your nationality, so check with the relevant consulates as soon as you book. Border formalities are normally handled on board while the train is stopped.

Write to travel@palacetours.com, call 786-408-0610, or message us on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/17864080610, where a travel specialist or our AI assistant will answer. The departure dates shown on this page are bookable directly, and we can add hotel nights in Paris or Istanbul at either end.