Travelling on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is like stepping into a dimension where time seems to stretch. The original carriages—authentic gems from the 1920s and 30s—retain hand-carved wood paneling, Art Deco inlays, crystal chandeliers, and details that belong to an era when travel was a ritual, not a mere formality. Crossing the narrow corridor, one has the feeling of stepping into a classic film.

The story of the train begins in 1883, when the first Orient Express linked Paris to Istanbul and became a symbol of continental elegance. Diplomats, spies, aristocrats, and curious travelers crossed Europe aboard this line, which inspired countless stories, including Agatha Christie's famous novel. Today's Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has recovered those historic carriages, restored them with almost museum-quality precision, and returned them to the tracks as a boutique hotel on rails.

Today, the train travels routes connecting iconic cities like Paris, Venice, Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. The day begins with breakfast served in your cabin, while the landscape slowly unfolds outside your window. At lunchtime, silverware, immaculate tablecloths, and dishes inspired by European tradition set the pace. In the evening, the dress code invites you to rediscover the charm of dressing up for dinner: long dresses, suits, bow ties, and that almost forgotten gesture of descending to the dining car as if it were a period drawing room.

The journey over the Alps is one of the most memorable experiences for travelers. Mountains, tunnels, valleys, and small villages unfold as the train travels at a leisurely pace. Between drinks in the bar with its live piano music, an ephemeral community of passengers forms, sharing stories, celebrations, and impromptu toasts.

Traveling on this train isn't simply about getting from one city to another; it's about stepping into a cinematic world. Everything is meticulously crafted so that passengers feel part of a larger narrative: that of the Old Continent as seen from its most legendary railway lines. It's a journey to celebrate, contemplate, disconnect, and rediscover the world with the wonder of someone experiencing the extraordinary.

If you're interested in journeys where aviation, literature, and meticulously crafted rituals intersect, you can continue exploring this universe at:

▸ Saint-Exupéry and the Concordia: when flying was writing in the sky , a look at the golden age of aviation and its stories.
▸ Japanese cooking ceremony , an experience where every gesture in the kitchen becomes an act of hospitality and art.

You can learn more about the history of the Orient Express in the entry for Encyclopaedia Britannica .