Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: Paris to Vienna (Budapest Route)

It is a one-night journey. You board in Paris, settle in and dine on board as the train heads east across Europe, and arrive in Vienna the following day after breakfast. Exact boarding and arrival times are confirmed with your travel documents.

The journey begins in Paris and ends in Vienna, crossing Europe eastward overnight. It is a one-way itinerary, so your plans should start in France and continue from Austria. It runs on the schedule that also serves Budapest, and the westbound Vienna to Paris direction is available on other dates.

Accommodation on this departure is offered as a Historic Cabin, a Suite (double or twin), a Grand Suite or L'Observatoire. Each category is priced separately and the fare for every category on your chosen date is shown on this page. Cabin numbers are limited on a train of restored 1920s carriages, so the higher categories are usually the first to go.

The Historic Cabin is the classic category and the entry-level fare for this journey. Suites, offered as double or twin, give you more room, while the Grand Suites and L'Observatoire sit at the top of the range. Every category is in an authentically restored 1920s carriage with steward service throughout; what changes is the amount of space and the level of appointment. We are glad to talk you through the differences before you choose.

The fare covers one night aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, table d'hote dinners, brunch and afternoon tea served in the restored dining cars, a welcome beverage, onboard entertainment and steward service throughout your journey. The exact inclusions for each departure are listed on this page, and we confirm them again in writing before you pay anything.

Flights, airport and station transfers, hotel nights before or after the journey, travel insurance, sightseeing and items of a personal nature are not part of the rail fare. Anything that is not shown in the inclusions on this page should be assumed to be extra. Palace Tours can arrange the hotels and transfers around your journey so the whole trip is handled in one place.

Fares start from USD 5,194 per person sharing a cabin, and rise with the cabin or suite category you choose. Because pricing varies by departure date and category, the exact fare for each departure is shown on this page rather than quoted as a single figure. Ask us and we will price your preferred date and category in writing.

Yes - solo travellers are welcome, and a cabin taken for sole occupancy starts from USD 10,388. Because the cabin is being held for one guest rather than two, the sole-occupancy fare is higher than the per-person sharing rate. Tell us your preferred date and category and we will confirm the current single fare for that departure.

Dining is one of the signatures of this journey. Meals are served in the restored dining cars as table d'hote menus - dinner, brunch and afternoon tea are all part of your fare, prepared on board and served at your table. Let us know about any dietary requirements when you book and we will pass them on well ahead of your departure.

Bar Car '3674' is the train's own bar carriage and the social heart of the journey. It is where guests gather before and after dinner, with onboard entertainment included in your fare. Like the rest of the train it is a genuine 1920s carriage that has been restored, so the setting is part of the experience.

Evenings on board are a dressy occasion and most guests change for dinner, while daytime is smart but relaxed. Cabin space is limited, so plan one evening outfit per night rather than a full wardrobe. We send the current onboard guidance with your travel documents, and you can always ask us before you pack.

The carriages date from the 1920s and cabins are compact, so pack a modest overnight bag for the cabin itself and keep larger cases to a minimum. Current luggage guidance is confirmed with your travel documents ahead of departure. If you are travelling with bulky items, tell us before you book and we will check what can be handled.

Children can travel, and the fare bands are set by the age at departure: infants under 5 and children aged 5 to 12 are priced differently from adults. Cabins are sold by occupancy, so a family is usually accommodated across connecting or adjacent cabins. Tell us the ages of everyone travelling and we will price the right combination for you.

You make your own way to the departure city and join the train there; flights and transfers are not part of the rail fare. Paris is served by Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports and by high-speed rail from across Europe, so reaching the departure point is straightforward from most of the world. We recommend arriving the day before, and we can book a hotel night and the transfer to the station for you.

You need a passport that is valid well beyond your travel dates, and the journey crosses international borders, so carry it with you on board rather than packing it away. Visa and entry rules depend on your nationality and do change, so check the current requirements for every country on the route before you travel. Palace Tours does not issue visas, but we will tell you which countries your itinerary touches.

A deposit of 15 percent of the total confirms your cabin, and the balance is due 61 days before departure. If you book inside that window the full amount is payable at the time of booking. We send a written confirmation showing exactly what has been paid and what is still outstanding, with the due date on it.

Dates run from 17 December 2026 through to 21 October 2027, with around fifteen departures currently loaded across both seasons. The list of dates on this page is the live one and is bookable directly - if a date you want is not shown, contact us and we will tell you whether it can still be opened.

Yes - the loaded dates begin in mid-December 2026, so a winter crossing to Vienna is possible as well as the spring-to-autumn departures. Winter dates suit travellers who want Vienna at its most atmospheric and who like the idea of watching a cold European landscape pass from a warm dining car. Pack for the cities either side rather than for the train, which is comfortable year round.

Yes. Most guests spend at least one night in Paris before boarding so an air delay cannot cost them the train, and many add nights at the far end as well - Vienna is a fine place to linger, with the old city, its museums and its coffee houses within easy reach. We can book the hotels, the station transfers and any sightseeing alongside your rail booking so it all sits on one confirmation.

Email travel@palacetours.com, call 786-408-0610, or message us on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/17864080610 - a travel specialist or our AI assistant will reply. The departure list on this page is bookable directly, so you can also choose your date and cabin category here and we will confirm every detail with you before anything is paid.