Venice: The Simplon-Orient-Express
First, a point of confusion worth clearing up: the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is a luxury train, not a place in Venice. It is a way of arriving in the city, or leaving it, in restored 1920s and 1930s carriages, and it is one of the most storied rail journeys in the world. If you have seen the name and wondered whether it is a neighbourhood or a hotel, it is neither.
What it is
Operated by Belmond, the train is a set of lovingly restored vintage Wagons-Lits carriages, all polished marquetry, brass fittings and Lalique glass, running scheduled journeys across Europe from spring to autumn. The signature route links London and Paris with Venice, crossing the Channel and threading the Alps, an overnight trip that is as much a moving hotel as a means of transport.
The experience
This is theatre as much as travel. Days are spent watching Europe roll past from a private cabin or the bar car with its resident pianist; evenings mean black-tie dinners cooked on board and served across several courses. There is a genuine dress code, formal in the evening, and the whole point is to slow down and dress up rather than to get anywhere quickly.
Cabins and cost
Accommodation ranges from historic cabins, which convert from a daytime sofa to sleeping berths and traditionally shared corridor facilities, up to grand suites with private bathrooms, double beds and free-flowing service. Fares are high, running well into the thousands of pounds per person for the London-to-Venice journey, with suites costing several times more (verify current fares and routes on site with Belmond). It is a splurge, not a transfer.
Is it worth it?
Honestly, only if the journey itself is the holiday. For getting to Venice on a normal budget, a scheduled train or a flight to Marco Polo does the job for a tiny fraction of the price. The Simplon-Orient-Express is for a milestone trip, an anniversary or a lifelong ambition, where the point is the ritual of the train rather than the destination. Judged that way, admirers find it unforgettable.
Practical notes
The service is seasonal and departures are limited, so book months ahead, especially for the popular Venice runs. Journeys are one or two nights depending on the route, and luggage handling and transfers are arranged as part of the fare. Confirm the exact 2026 timetable, routes and prices directly with the operator before planning around it.
Read more: the Venice place page covers the city you are travelling to, the full Venice guide ranks what to do once you arrive, and the Venice stay guide helps with where to sleep after you step off the train.