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BUDAPEST SIGHTSEEING (full day)

BUDAPEST SIGHTSEEING (half day)

any time of the day

2-2.5 hours long with lunch or dinner on demand

One of the most beautiful capital city in Europe wonderful trip

Guests can see the following spectacles:

Margaret Island - Saint Anna Church - Fisherman’s Bastion - Matthias Church - Royal Palace-Citadel - Statue of Liberty - University quarter - National Theatre - Palace of Arts - Central Market - Vigado Concert Hall -Parliament - The beautiful bridges of the Danube.

Synagogue - Rákóczi Avenue - Keleti Railway Station - Puskás Ferenc Stadium - Stefánia Avenue - City Park - Heroes Square - Vajdahunyad Castle - Here we have lunch - Zoo - Szecshenyi Bath - Andrássy Avenue - Opera House - Parliament - Margaret Bridge and Margaret Island - Quay-Rudas Turkey Bath - Buda Castle (there we get off, and visit the Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church and the Royal Palace) - Citadel - Statue of Liberty. Taking panorama pictures. Free programs

DANUBE BEND

The historic towns and natural beauties during a trip to Hungary

City of Arts and artists, together with a visit Skansen

A romantic trip to Sissi's favorite castle, then horse show

First we visit the Citadel/Matthias King’s Palace then travel to Esztergom, where we visit Esztergom Basilica, there we have lunch. After lunch we visit Szentendre, sightseeing and free programs.

Entrance fees:

Visegrád Castle: 1700 HUF/person

Matthias Palace: 1100 HUF/person

Esztergom Basilica: 1400 HUF/person

Serbian Church: 500 HUF/person

Szentendre can be found at the gate of the Danube bend. Tipical Greek-Serbian town, it is mainly famous about its culture and arts. First we visit Skanzen, where we get acquainted with arts, culture and handicraft of the 8 landscapes of Hungary.

Entrance fee: 2000HUF/person

We visit the Grassalkovich castle which was the stamping ground of Queen Elisabeth, wife of Emperor Franz Joseph called Queen Sisi in Hungary. Then we visit the Lázár horse park,  watch a rider performance, and get acquainted with Hungarian native animals. Having lunch is possible, not included.

Entrance fee: 2200 HUF/ person

FERTŐD - Eszterházy castle

while travel

Taste of Hungarian cuisine, a famous Pálinka in the context horse show

We have a restful walking in Győr and Komárom with sightseeing.

The country's best-known and most beautiful castle near the lake infection

Apaj: Guests gets welcome drink, then they watch a traditional riding show. After that visitors take part in a horse carriage ride around the territory. We have a traditional Hungarian lunch. Free programs.

Győr is a diverse, beautiful city where architectural, cultural and natural values are combined with each other. It is the third richest town in Hungary with their monuments; the outstanding Baroque downtown won the protection of historical buildings Europe award. After sightseeing and visiting the Basilica, the Castle and the City Hall, we have  lunch then continuing the route. After we visit Győr and Komárom Castle, we travel back to Budapest.

Castle: 550 HUF/person

Komárom Castle: 1500 HUF/person

Eszterházy kastély

„What the Emperor do, I can do the same” The biggest and most magnificent Baroque-Rococo buliding of the country was built in the spirit of this sentence next to the Fertő-Lake. The construction and splendour of the palace complex connects to Prince Esterházy „Bright” Miklós. The palace has been being built from 1762 to his death to create a residence which is worthy to royal households. Eszterháza was not only visited by the senior families of the era but Empress-Queen Maria Theresa also visited it, and there lived the great composer Josepf Haydn as well.

Entrance fee: 2500HUF/person

TRIP IN THE BUDA MOUNTAINS

RUIN PUB TOUR

whiée tavel

by walk and train

A pleasant sightseeing in the city of waters

Easy trip on foot and by small train

Explore Budapest youthful heart, enjoy an unforgettable night through

Tata is called the city of the water, it is situated at the west foothills of Gerecse. More popular monuments are the Saint-Cross Parish Church the Esterhazy Water Tower the Capuchin Churc, the Old Castle the English Garden the Small Castle and the Palm House. After sightseeing and visiting monuments we travel to Komárom and visit the Komárom Castle. Then we have lunch and continue the route to Budapest.

Entrance fee:

Departure at 9:00 AM to the mountains by children’s railway. We walk to the Elisabeth Lookout Tower, one hour free program. Then we go back to the foothills by chairlift.

Chairlift: 900 HUF/person

Pioneer railway: 600 HUF/person

Ruin pubs of Budapest are situated in the centre of the city. They are usually in the underground level, they are famous and provide a special experience to visitors. Participants start in the evening and visit three ruin pubs. Having fun is guaranteed by the cheap beverages and the unique ruin pub atmosphere. Participants get an insight into the nightlife of Budapest.

by bus and walk

Recommended for those who like variety in the stalactite cave visit

Sightseeing and excursions in the mountains, finally closed the day in wine cellars

Not every day visit the Korda film studio after dinner and wine tasting in a local cellar

Pálvölgyi Cave is situated suborb of Budapest in the Buda Mountains. We visit the cave which  takes about one hour, it is an easy tour and  recreation in hot summer. Of course it can be visited all year, its permanent temperature is 10 ⁰C. It is half an hour from the city by bus.

Entrance fee: 1300 HUF/person

Eger is the gate of Mátra Mountain, the most important wine-growing region of the area. Its is also famous about its Baroque downtown, its Basilica and its castle. Eger is the northest city in the world where mosque can be found. Szalajka-Valley is a great tourist spot. Hikers can go to the waterfall by railway then walk back to the bus whitin one hour next to the stream. On the way they can stop to taste trout next to the lake. In the afternoon they visit a tipical Hungarian wine cellar, where we offer wine and dinner for our guest.

Eger Castle: 1500 HUF/person

Szalajka-Valley railway: 1000 HUF/person

Wine tasting and dinner: 3000 HUF/person

Dinner with wine tasting.

We visit the Korda Film Studio.

Entrance fee: 2600 HUF/person

BIKAL - RENAISSANCE THAME PARK

JAKABSZÁLLÁS

Time travel to the medieval Hungary

Hungary to move through in a day

We have a restful walking in Balatonfüred, Tihany  and Zirc with sightseeing.

Renaissance Theme Park

Renessaince Theme Park is the first thematic theme park of Hungary. It recalls and vivifies medieval Hungary uniquely; co-operation with masters, actors, archers, proficient fowlers, and battle-hardened cavalries.

Entrance fee: 2500 HUF/person

Magyarkert is the eco centre of Hungary. It is the terrain and hydrographic model of the country at 1:1000 scale. It covers 93.000 square metres. There can be found collective gardens of 3200 pieces of plants, integrated adventure park, creative art meeting point,  eco-recreation. This was bulit as the biggest garden in Hungary, and the largest model in Europe.

Entrance fee: 1500 HUF/person

Budapest - Balatonfüred - Tihany - Zirc - Pannonhalma - Budapest

We have a restful walking in Balatonfüred with sightseeing. Then we travel to Tihany, and visit the 1000 year-old Tihany Abbey and then have Hungarian lunch near the village. Then we visit Zirc and the Zirc library and arboretum finally the 1000 year-old Pannonhalma abbey. Free programs.

Pannonhalma Abbey: 2500 HUF/person

Reguly Antal Library: 1000 HUF/person

Featured Works

If you have decided your group travels to Hungary, it is worth to know it as well as you can. Even if you plan to travel to the capital, or may you visit other towns, monuments or  you are interested in cultural life we help you with advices and personal guide with foreign skills.

Why is it worth to demand our service?

- It is much more interesting to know the town or country with a guide

- Language problems don’t cause trouble

- You can reach places which is hidden away from the casual tourist

- You can save days and money by using an effective route

- Rapid, precise answer to every question, no mistake, rapid administration

We undertake transport from the small groups to the bigger ones. We provide your group with reliable, regularly maintained buses and also drivers with foreign language skills.

We can arrange transfer for groups by boat on the any part of the Danube even connected with lunch or dinner thus you can save time for your group.

GUIDE SERVICES

BUS RENTALS

SHIP TRANSFER

We Always Stand Out From The Crowd

Let me introduce our company; the Orient Travel Budapest, our parent company is Orient Shipping Ltd. We are the first and only one travel agency on a boat in Hungary so we are always on the move! The travel agency was founded in 2014, we deal with incoming travel and outgoing as well. Our travel agency is new but our colleagues’ experience is more than 20 years.

Our program is not different from others, but we try to make them more special and unique for groups and individuals too. It is important us to know the interests of the guests thus we can offer extra programs.

Our current offer contains the standard Budapest offers and towns which is worth to visit in Hungary, moreover we have ideas where they can stop to have a program for a few hours during they are traveling to Budapest. Every groups are provided with customized programs. We also organize trips for students.

Our aim is to visitors have a great holiday and enjoy the trips in Hungary.

Don't Hesitate To Connect With Us

+36 20 920 64 63

Our Work Hours is 10am to 6pm

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Szervezett hajóutak az Orient Travelnél

Foglaljon jegyet menetrendszerinti séta és vacsorás hajókirándulásainkra, illetve nézze át rendezvényes kínálatunkat!

Mikuláshajó

2023.08.20-i tűzijátékos séta

A programokban résztvevő hajók: 1 db háromszintes, 250 fős és 3 db kétszintes, 150 fős hajó.

Az Orient Travel Budapest 2013-ban lett alapítva dunai hajókirándulások, valamint nemzetközi és belföldi utazások szervezésének céljából.

A RÉSZLETEK gombra kattintva hajóinkról és programjainkról készült fotókat talál programtípus szerinti bontásban.

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Holidays with the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Venice simplon-orient-express.

You will have an opportunity to relax in your cabin and watch the landscapes change as you travel, taking in the opulence and comfort of the interior furnishings, polished wood and sparkling crystal. When you make your way to the restaurant car for the first of many sumptuous meals, you will undoubtedly encounter fellow travellers with the same ethos – that the journey is just as important as the destination itself.​

An impeccable level of service is one of the hallmarks of this lavish experience. All team members, from chefs and waiters to stewards and bar staff, are passionate about the train and its history.

Our holidays with the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

The Compartments

From the moment you step inside your oak-panelled, lavishly-furnished compartment, you will know that you are in a different world. The vintage cabin, which has been painstakingly restored to its 1920s glory, contains a luxury washbasin with top amenities as well as a luxury white bathrobe.

Appreciate the triumphs of interior design as you admire the floral Art Deco patterns of René Prou and eye-catching designs by Morrison, Dunn, Nelson and Maple.

During the day, there is comfortable seating, which is magically converted into luxurious bunk beds while you are the restaurant car enjoying dinner.

During the day, your cabin has banquette seating and a small table by the window, where you can enjoy the scenery as you pass along.  While you are enjoying your gourmet evening meal, your cabin is transformed into a cosy bedroom, with one upper and one lower berth dressed with crisp, damask sheets.  In single cabins, there is only a lower berth.

Suites are designed to reflect the landscape our train travels through whilst retaining their Art Deco feel. Plush fabrics and furnishings channel famed Art Deco designers, such as Dufrene and Lalique. These luxurious cabins have double or twin beds which convert into seating during the day. There’s also an en suite bathroom with marble flooring. Complimentary amenities including a kimono and slippers to take home.

Grand Suites offer an unprecedented new level of comfort aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, with en suite facilities and double or twin beds. Guests travelling in the Grand Suites will enjoy a dedicated 24-hour butler service. Extra touches include free-flowing Champagne, a the option for private dining in your cabin, bespoke amenities and a complimentary art-deco bathrobe. Please ask us for more details.

The pleasure of dining

One of the great pleasures of travelling on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the gastronomy. The three restaurant cars are beautifully prepared with sparkling silver and glassware along with fresh white linen.

Carefully curated table d’hôte menus are an inclusive part of any journey with dishes such as roast gilt-head bream and carpaccio of scallops with finger lime caviar. An à la carte menu is also available at an additional cost.

A lavish setting for pre-dinner cocktails as well as a perfect location for a post-dinner digestif as you are serenaded by the gentle notes of a baby grand piano, played by the resident pianist.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to sample a delicious Agatha Christie Bellini, named for the famous crime writer who used the original train to join her husband on archaelogical digs in Iraq.

Travel on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is a chance to dress up, in the spirit of the occasion.

Many gentlemen choose to wear a dinner jacket in the evening, while at the very least a jacket and tie is required.

Smart-casual dress is encouraged during the day, which excludes jeans and trainers.

Tailor Make Your Holiday

Unlike with most of the suggested itineraries on our website, a holiday with the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is restricted by date as the train does not run every day. However, there are many ways of planning a holiday around a set departure so that you are away for a special occasion or for the dates you have free to travel. (The only exception to this is the period between mid-December and early March when the train doesn’t run).

For example, you can board the train in Venice, Budapest, Verona or Florence and take a luxurious journey back to London. It’s also possible to take the train in both directions on selected departures, for the ultimate in indulgence!

As ever, the holiday ideas we offer are just suggestions. We can create a tailor made package to fit around your plans and the Orient-Express departure of your choice, so just get in touch and we’ll do the rest.

0800 122 33 64

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – London to Budapest

Depart st pancras / arrive budapest keleti.

You need only glimpse its gleaming carriages and be greeted by the steward in his distinctive uniform to know that the most memorable journey of your life has begun.

Travel between two inspiring cities in glamour and style. Board your mid-morning Eurostar from London and join the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in Paris, savouring every moment aboard the vintage carriages as you travel towards your destination, Budapest.

We can enhance your trip with a stay in Budapest following your overnight rail journey, as well as arrange flights and in resort transfers at the best possible price. With our selection of stunning luxury hotels, you can ensure the trip of a lifetime.

This itinerary includes Euorstar from London, boarding of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express takes place in Paris.

• Fine Dining
• Food Included
• Unique Experiences
• Authentic Vintage Cabins
• Combine into longer journey
• Available as Inclusive Tour

Guide Price £4,275 pp

• Other Destinations

London to Budapest Train Itinerary & Timetable

Travel on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train from London to Budapest. Depart from London mid morning for your overnight journey to Budapest, where you arrive early evening the following day.

Day One: Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

• Board a mid morning Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare Du Nord
• Board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train at Paris Gare De l’Est.
• Enjoy a delicious four-course dinner, prepared by our skilled French chefs.
• After dinner retire to your cabin, which has now been transformed into a cosy bedroom.

Day Two: Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

• You awake to the magnificent scenery of the Swiss Alps as breakfast is served in your cabin at a time to suit you.
• Continental breakfast is brought to you by your steward as you gaze at the beautiful scenery through your window.
• Enjoy a delicious three-course lunch as you admire passing Alpine peaks, undulating meadows and crystal-clear lakes.
• Enjoy an afternoon at leisure on the train, take a seat in the Bar Car and chat with fellow guests or relax in your cabin.
• As the picturesque Hungarian countryside glides by, soak up the views over pastries, tea and coffee before arriving into Budapest.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Destinations

Current Venice Simplon-Orient-Express destinations are London, Paris, Venice, Verona, Istanbul, Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Florence, Rome, Portofino, Innsbruck, Geneva, Amsterdam, Brussels, Albertville, Moûtiers and Bourg-Saint-Maurice.

LONDON TO PORTOFINO

SPECIAL EDITION JOURNEY

LONDON TO VENICE

Includes Journey on Eurostar

Return Journey (no air)

VENICE TO LONDON

PARIS TO ISTANBUL

5 Night Unique trip

ISTANBUL TO PARIS

LONDON TO VIENNA

VIENNA TO LONDON

LONDON TO VERONA

Combine with Arena di Verona

VERONA TO LONDON

LONDON TO BUDAPEST

BUDAPEST TO LONDON

LONDON TO PRAGUE

PRAGUE TO LONDON

PARIS TO VENICE

Stay in Paris & Venice

VENICE TO PARIS

Stay in Venice & Paris

LONDON TO FLORENCE

FLORENCE TO LONDON

LONDON TO ROME

ROME TO LONDON

PARIS TO INNSBRUCK

Runs only on select dates

GENEVA TO INNSBRUCK

GENEVA TO VENICE

Also available to Verona

VENICE TO AMSTERDAM

Also available from Verona

AMSTERDAM TO VENICE

VENICE TO BRUSSELS

BRUSSELS TO VENICE

PARIS TO CANNES

Runs once a year

LYON TO CANNES

LYON TO VENICE

PARIS TO ALBERTVILLE

Runs only in December

ALBERTVILLE TO PARIS

PARIS TO MOUTIERS

MOUTIERS TO PARIS

PARIS TO BOURG-SAINT-MAURICE

BOURG-SAINT-MAURICE TO PARIS

Departure Dates

2024 & 2025 Train Timetable

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Departure Dates

2024 DEPARTURE DATES

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2025 DEPARTURE DATES

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The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

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ORIENT EXPRESS, ARTISAN OF TRAVEL SINCE 1883

Invent / reinvent.

For the past 140 years, Orient Express has been sublimating the Art of Travel with luxury trains, unique experiences and collections of rare objects. And soon the heritage of this legendary train will be transported to a collection of hotels and sailing yachts around the world. Introducing a new art de vivre, a different kind of journey that promises unforgettable moments along the way and the same destination since the beginning: to make dreams come true.

La Dolce Vita Orient Express

Once upon a time... There was the future Orient Express Train

Orient Express Silenseas

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Orient Express to open its second hotel in Italy

Steam Dream

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High-Life and its stories

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High-speed rail improves travel, economy in balkans.

The railway linking the Serbian capital Belgrade and the Hungarian capital Budapest dates back to 1883, when the Orient Express traveled between Paris and what is now known as Istanbul at an average speed of about 40 kilometers per hour.

More than 140 years later, a 342-km high-speed railway linking the capitals will travel at a top speed of 200 km/h and upon completion will shorten the trip to three hours from the current eight.

In Serbia, the 80-km Belgrade-Novi Sad section of the railway began operation on March 19, 2022, and has facilitated the movement of people and even brought a new commuter lifestyle.

More than 7 million passenger trips have been made, according to China Railway International.

An average of 62 passenger trains operate every day, with peak daily passenger volume reaching 15,059.

"The safe, efficient, convenient and comfortable high-speed railway has created a better travel experience for passengers, and has been widely favored by people along the line. The volume of passenger trips has continued to increase significantly, with the train occupancy rate remaining at a relatively high level," the company said.

"As the line shortens travel time between the two cities, more and more people are embarking on a new commuter lifestyle as they travel between the two cities," it said.

The railway facilitates the movement of people, cargo, capital and information, driving the development of commercial and tourism industries.

The number of passengers traveling to historical and cultural attractions along the line is increasing, creating a large number of job opportunities, bringing development opportunities to more enterprises and greatly promoting socioeconomic growth in the region, according to the company.

Twenty-seven-year-old Aleksandra Radovanovic lives in Belgrade and works in Novi Sad. The operation of the Belgrade-Novi Sad railway section has shortened her commute from 90 minutes to about 30.

Serbian engineer Milan Banovic, an engineer with the Hungary-Serbia Railway, now commutes to work every day on this line.

"It has brought revolutionary changes. With the high-speed railway operating at 200 km/h, the difference compared to the past is incomparable. People are satisfied, the train's occupancy rates are high, and the passenger volume continues to increase," Banovic said.

Marko Jeremic, an engineer at Serbian Railways, said the ticket prices are affordable.

He said that collaboration with China Railway International on the high-speed line made it possible for Serbia to be the railway leader in the western Balkans.

"In that way, we became the leader because no other neighboring countries — Croatia, Hungary and Bulgaria — have high-speed lines over 160 kilometers per hour," he said.

The 108-km remaining leg of the line in Serbia — between Novi Sad and Subotica — completed tracklaying work last month, a step in preparation for the line's operation in Serbia by the end of this year.

The 342-km Serbia-Hungary Railway is an important Belt and Road Initiative project in Europe. Upon completion, the Serbian section of the railway will total 183 km, with a designed top speed of 200 km/h. The Hungarian section will be 159 km and have a top speed of 160 km/h.

The Serbian section is expected to be operational by the end of this year. The Hungarian section is under construction. Upon completion, travel time between Belgrade and Budapest will be reduced from eight hours to about three.

The railway is the flagship cooperation project between China and Central and Eastern European countries, and the first project to align China's railway technology and equipment with the European Union's technical specifications for railway connectivity.

Xi attends welcome ceremony held by Serbian President Vucic

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• Environment

High-speed rail improves travel, economy in Balkans

The railway linking the Serbian capital Belgrade and the Hungarian capital Budapest dates back to 1883, when the Orient Express traveled between Paris and what is now known as Istanbul at an average speed of about 40 kilometers per hour.

More than 140 years later, a 342-km high-speed railway linking the capitals will travel at a top speed of 200 km/h and upon completion will shorten the trip to three hours from the current eight.

In Serbia, the 80-km Belgrade-Novi Sad section of the railway began operation on March 19, 2022, and has facilitated the movement of people and even brought a new commuter lifestyle.

More than 7 million passenger trips have been made, according to China Railway International.

An average of 62 passenger trains operate every day, with peak daily passenger volume reaching 15,059.

"The safe, efficient, convenient and comfortable high-speed railway has created a better travel experience for passengers, and has been widely favored by people along the line. The volume of passenger trips has continued to increase significantly, with the train occupancy rate remaining at a relatively high level," the company said.

"As the line shortens travel time between the two cities, more and more people are embarking on a new commuter lifestyle as they travel between the two cities," it said.

The railway facilitates the movement of people, cargo, capital and information, driving the development of commercial and tourism industries.

The number of passengers traveling to historical and cultural attractions along the line is increasing, creating a large number of job opportunities, bringing development opportunities to more enterprises and greatly promoting socioeconomic growth in the region, according to the company.

Twenty-seven-year-old Aleksandra Radovanovic lives in Belgrade and works in Novi Sad. The operation of the Belgrade-Novi Sad railway section has shortened her commute from 90 minutes to about 30.

Serbian engineer Milan Banovic, an engineer with the Hungary-Serbia Railway, now commutes to work every day on this line.

"It has brought revolutionary changes. With the high-speed railway operating at 200 km/h, the difference compared to the past is incomparable. People are satisfied, the train's occupancy rates are high, and the passenger volume continues to increase," Banovic said.

Marko Jeremic, an engineer at Serbian Railways, said the ticket prices are affordable.

He said that collaboration with China Railway International on the high-speed line made it possible for Serbia to be the railway leader in the western Balkans.

"In that way, we became the leader because no other neighboring countries — Croatia, Hungary and Bulgaria — have high-speed lines over 160 kilometers per hour," he said.

The 108-km remaining leg of the line in Serbia — between Novi Sad and Subotica — completed tracklaying work last month, a step in preparation for the line's operation in Serbia by the end of this year.

The 342-km Serbia-Hungary Railway is an important Belt and Road Initiative project in Europe. Upon completion, the Serbian section of the railway will total 183 km, with a designed top speed of 200 km/h. The Hungarian section will be 159 km and have a top speed of 160 km/h.

The Serbian section is expected to be operational by the end of this year. The Hungarian section is under construction. Upon completion, travel time between Belgrade and Budapest will be reduced from eight hours to about three.

The railway is the flagship cooperation project between China and Central and Eastern European countries, and the first project to align China's railway technology and equipment with the European Union's technical specifications for railway connectivity.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

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Paris to Budapest 4 Night Return Journey - Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

An exquisite return journey from Paris to Budapest

Enjoy an exquisite luxury train journey from Paris to Budapest onboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, all-inclusive with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 24-hour steward service, and your very own private cabin. A truly exceptional journey that includes one night onboard, two nights at leisure in Budapest, and another night onboard for the return journey. A fully-restored 1920s luxury train, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is one of the most famous and luxurious trains in the world. Made up of 17 beautifully restored carriages, each with its own unique décor, there is no better way to see the world. Admire the fine details, the craftsmanship, and the fine fabrics as you recline in the bar car, drink in hand, watching the ever-changing landscape pass by Enjoy a four-night, five-day adventure as you depart one beautiful city and head to another in the most luxurious way possible. Enjoy a lively night with exceptional cuisine in the form of a four-course dinner followed by an evening of music and cocktails in the bar car. Once in Budapest, the time is yours to explore the city as you please, before heading back to the train for the final time and one last night onboard. Please note: Hotels in Budapest are not included in the ticket price but can be added.

Your journey includes:

• Two nights onboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
• Two nights in Budapest
• Welcome glass of sparkling wine
• Four-course dinner each night onboard the train
• Continental breakfast in your cabin
• Three-course lunch each day
• 24-hour steward service
• Time to spend at leisure in Budapest

Your Journey Starts Here

Welcome aboard.

The Belmond Venice Simplon-Orient-Express at a glance

Day 1 Paris

Your journey begins at the Paris de l’Est Station where you are welcomed onboard by the stewards. Marvel at the sight of the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express as you are one of the special few who will experience a journey of this magnitude. Settle in to your cabin, relax, and unwind for the evening is set to be a lively and luxurious one. As evening falls, head to one of the dining cars for an exquisite four-course dinner, prepared fresh onboard by the talented French chefs. After your feast, the evening is yours to relax in the bar car with a cocktail or two as you mingle with fellow passengers. After an evening to remember, head back to your cabin for a restful night’s sleep.

‍ Day 2 Budapest

Breakfast is served in your cabin as you awake to glorious views from your cabin window. Admire the alpine peaks, rolling hills, and crystal-clear lakes as you spend the morning at leisure. Later that day, enjoy a thrilling three-course lunch, and later that afternoon teas, coffees, and pastries are served by the stewards. Admire the Hungarian landscape as it floats by before arriving in Budapest for two nights at leisure.

into Day 3 Budapest

The time is yours to explore this beautiful city as you wish. Enjoy two nights and a full day at leisure.

Day 4 Budapest

After an adventure of your own, it’s time to re-board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express for the final time. Welcomed back by the stewards, head to your cabin and unwind as we set off towards Paris. Make your way to one of the dining cars for a three-course lunch, after which the time is yours to relax. As the train winds through the Hungarian landscape, the stewards serve tea, coffee, and pastries, during which you are free to converse with fellow passengers and share stories of your time in Budapest. Later that evening, another four-course dinner signals the final night onboard before you head to your cabin.

Day 5 Paris

Enjoy a continental breakfast served in your cabin before we arrive back at Paris Gare de l’Est Station, where your journey concludes.

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This is a brief overview of our booking terms and conditions. Please note each individual operator has their own terms and conditions and by booking with LuxuryTrainTickets.com you are also accepting the operator's terms. For more information regarding operator terms and conditions please contact us or the operator directly. PLEASE NOTE: Receiving receipt of payment is not confirmation that your booking has been successful. We will contact you one to 10 working days after you have paid to confirm your booking, take further details of those travelling and send your itinerary. In the rare instance your booking cannot be fulfilled for any reason, such as the operator cancelling a journey or anything else beyond our control, we will be in touch with alternative options or will refund your payment. All prices shown are for one adult ticket. Sleeper journeys are based on two adults sharing accommodation. Single occupancy of cabins may incur additional charge. Prices are set by the operator and may change at short notice. We endeavour to ensure prices are always accurate and update our own website as soon as possible. All timings and details of included tours and activities are for guidance only and will only be confirmed in your travel documents that will be emailed to you 7 days before departure. For any questions including discounts, offers or group pricing, please contact [email protected]. As an authorised ticketing agent of luxury train journeys, we may need to pass some of your details (such as your name and dietary requirements) on to the train operators in order to complete your booking. This is done so the operators can add you to their guest list, send you your tickets and ensure the meals served to you onboard meet your dietary requirements. By booking with LuxuryTrainTickets.com, you are agreeing that you allow such necessary details to be shared with the operators under the cause of legitimate interest. If you have any questions, please contact us by phone or email [email protected]. There are a limited number of private tables and cabin types onboard. While we keep our website updated regularly, there may be occasions when private tables or cabin types become fully booked meaning we are unable to fulfil your booking requirements. Should this be the case, we will contact you to discuss alternative options and refund any payments made. We have the right to refuse the request of a deposit when a journey is scheduled to depart in less than 16 weeks. If you choose to book with a deposit you must pay the remaining balance in full 15 weeks before departure at the latest. Should you fail to pay the remaining balance 15 weeks prior to departure, you will forfeit your deposit and your booking. Deposits are accepted by request. Most journeys require a 25% deposit to secure a booking however some specialist journeys do require a 50% deposit. Please contact us for confirmation. Tickets are sent electronically around 5 days before departure. You will not receive tickets or any form of 'gift pack' in the post. This is in an attempt to reduce paper use and do our part for the environment. By booking a journey you agree to these terms, the terms set out by each individual operator and our cancellation policy . Please contact LuxuryTrainTickets.com for further terms or for clarification.

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High-speed rail improves travel, economy in Balkans

By LUO WANGSHU | China Daily | Updated: 2024-05-09 09:15

The railway linking the Serbian capital Belgrade and the Hungarian capital Budapest dates back to 1883, when the Orient Express traveled between Paris and what is now known as Istanbul at an average speed of about 40 kilometers per hour.

More than 140 years later, a 342-km high-speed railway linking the capitals will travel at a top speed of 200 km/h and upon completion will shorten the trip to three hours from the current eight.

In Serbia, the 80-km Belgrade-Novi Sad section of the railway began operation on March 19, 2022, and has facilitated the movement of people and even brought a new commuter lifestyle.

More than 7 million passenger trips have been made, according to China Railway International.

An average of 62 passenger trains operate every day, with peak daily passenger volume reaching 15,059.

"The safe, efficient, convenient and comfortable high-speed railway has created a better travel experience for passengers, and has been widely favored by people along the line. The volume of passenger trips has continued to increase significantly, with the train occupancy rate remaining at a relatively high level," the company said.

"As the line shortens travel time between the two cities, more and more people are embarking on a new commuter lifestyle as they travel between the two cities," it said.

The railway facilitates the movement of people, cargo, capital and information, driving the development of commercial and tourism industries.

The number of passengers traveling to historical and cultural attractions along the line is increasing, creating a large number of job opportunities, bringing development opportunities to more enterprises and greatly promoting socioeconomic growth in the region, according to the company.

Twenty-seven-year-old Aleksandra Radovanovic lives in Belgrade and works in Novi Sad. The operation of the Belgrade-Novi Sad railway section has shortened her commute from 90 minutes to about 30.

Serbian engineer Milan Banovic, an engineer with the Hungary-Serbia Railway, now commutes to work every day on this line.

"It has brought revolutionary changes. With the high-speed railway operating at 200 km/h, the difference compared to the past is incomparable. People are satisfied, the train's occupancy rates are high, and the passenger volume continues to increase," Banovic said.

Marko Jeremic, an engineer at Serbian Railways, said the ticket prices are affordable.

He said that collaboration with China Railway International on the high-speed line made it possible for Serbia to be the railway leader in the western Balkans.

"In that way, we became the leader because no other neighboring countries — Croatia, Hungary and Bulgaria — have high-speed lines over 160 kilometers per hour," he said.

The 108-km remaining leg of the line in Serbia — between Novi Sad and Subotica — completed tracklaying work last month, a step in preparation for the line's operation in Serbia by the end of this year.

The 342-km Serbia-Hungary Railway is an important Belt and Road Initiative project in Europe. Upon completion, the Serbian section of the railway will total 183 km, with a designed top speed of 200 km/h. The Hungarian section will be 159 km and have a top speed of 160 km/h.

The Serbian section is expected to be operational by the end of this year. The Hungarian section is under construction. Upon completion, travel time between Belgrade and Budapest will be reduced from eight hours to about three.

The railway is the flagship cooperation project between China and Central and Eastern European countries, and the first project to align China's railway technology and equipment with the European Union's technical specifications for railway connectivity.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

These 3 Classic Forms of Travel Will Dominate in 2024

Venice. Budapest. Nairobi.

The names set a hook: circles inked on a map, fingers tapped on a drawing room globe, stickers layered on a valise. We set off from here. We head there—to a great city, up a grand river, into the African wild. We plan and thrill at what’s to come. A journey that echoes of historic provenance and links us with travelers of the past but that seizes us by the collar amid the high-velocity hurly-burly of 21st-century life and says: Slow down. Regard. Savor.

These are grand journeys—these are the Great Journeys. But can something distinctly old resonate as powerfully today? Can we find the slow gear and inhabit the deeper beauty of such travel? With the murmurs of diarists and explorers in my ear, I set out on three Great Journeys to test the theory: Paris-bound aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE); cruising the snow-flecked Danube to Christmas markets in Hungary and Austria, Germany and Slovakia; and flying into the Kenyan bush for a week on safari. What did I discover? Where do I begin?

"How do you find your cabin?”

My steward, Melissa, flicks her glance warmly at me while never losing track of the Veuve Clicquot she’s pouring. I’m dumbstruck—by her crisp posture amid the gentle shudder of our train car as it lumbers across the watery landscape outside Venice but also by the wild under-statement of the question

Simply put: My cabin is gorgeous. All I can manage is to blurt in clumsy French that I want to live here forever—but we both know that in less than 24 hours I’m going to step onto the platform of the Gare de l’Est and my life on the Orient Express will be over.

But what a cabin to inhabit until then. A jewelry box to human scale, this triumph of restoration and imagination is one of eight Suites installed in a pair of circa 1920s and 1930s cars that joined the VSOE this summer. The Suites are a new category between the train’s Historic Cabins and their haute-opulent cousins, six Grand Suites with full or twin beds, sofas, dining tables, and full baths.

The new Suites lie literally between the categories. Each has a commodious banquette and table—a setup that converts to a double bed (or two twins) with crisp white sheets—and an en suite bath. Rachel Johnson of London’s Wimberly Interiorsconjured the four distinct designs, each inspired by the train’s Art Deco heritage and the landscape we traverse (mine is La Forêt, the forest) and rich in French marquetry, ArtNouveau–style textiles, hand-blown and-etched glass fixtures, brass hardware, and a marble bath that would charm an aristocrat.

It’s enough to pass an entire day in this intimate Arcadia, but three dining cars beckon with their ebullient patterns and palettes, ample velvet and tassels. It’s said one can never overdress for dinner on the Orient Express, and jolly travelers oblige, with some in fully formal attire, others in thoughtful semiformal dress. The service brandishes lots of Champagne, while the rhythm of cocktail shakers and standards at the grand piano in the famed Bar Car “3674” sing a post-prandial siren song.

And this—brilliantly—is the sum of life aboard the Orient Express. It’s a journey of jostled, colorful mini journeys from my cabin down hallways so narrow they require side-ways slides, smiles, and nods; luxuriating at meals; chatting and laughing in the bar; and repeating with the cadence of lunch, dinner, nightcap, midnight brunch, and breakfast in my cabin as Paris looms to the west.

My only duty, really, is to discover I can roll down my window to let the cool Alpine air refresh my cabin, then lean my head out and spy my train’s gorgeous curves as it rounds bends north through Italy and Austria, then turns west across Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

To count cows and chalets, to wonder at the world sliding past. To look down at a book, to feel the soothing conversation of old wheels with stalwart rails. And to pause at border stops to step down to the platform, examine the navy shine of our cars with the gold letters telling the world who we are, and catch the curiosity of passersby. We lucky overnighters.

Here's to you, Maria Theresa, I think, lifting my steaming mug of glühwein in tribute.

It’s the perfect place to toast the 18th-century empress: I stomp my boots against the frost-glazed forecourt facing Schönbrunn, Vienna’s Baroque masterpiece that was her favorite palace, and take in the glimmering goodwill of the market stalls that surround me.

With mulled wine in hand, I’ve spent an hour in besotted stroll among vendors offering the bounty we imagine the idealized European Christmas market would contain: gifts and decorations made from blown glass, carved wood, pottery, needlework, even dried fruit—where plastic or paper cups seem never to have existed (all glühwein comes in decorative ceramic mugs, to keep as souvenirs or return for a small refund).

Despite the December chill the market is rich with aroma—roasted nuts, waffles, and crepes, with top notes of cloves, cinnamon, and citrus. Crimson-cheeked schoolchildren roam in excited packs, queuing up for chocolates. Crystal lights wink overhead, and I swear I hear classical music. Perhaps from the palace, perhaps in my head. It doesn’t matter, because this journey—up Europe’s Danube River—occupies that gently liminal geography between history and dream.

The empress is with me for the entire week—not just this Viennese afternoon. My journey is aboard the SS Maria Theresa, a cruise ship designed to honor her historic empire along the river. (And reign she does, overlooking the lobby’s marble double staircase from a massive 18th-century portrait.)

Fittingly Uniworld’s interior designer Toni Tollman has created the closest thing to a Habsburg palace on the water: My stateroom’s walls are covered in fabric; my bed canopied; my bathroom lined in marble. Antiques and artwork from the period keep company with gilded reproductions; in the resplendent lounge and bar, five murals by decorative artists at London’s Croxford and Saunders wrap the scene in Austrian rurals.

It would already be a Great Journey to ply this historic artery through Europe as we do, linking centers of art, politics, and culture. From Budapest we sail overnight into Slovakia and Bratislava, which, although rich with Gothic, Baroque, and Art Deco architecture, feels like a new European discovery after its years hidden away under Soviet rule.

Gliding through Austria we tour the museums and walk the grand boulevards of Vienna, meander and marvel at the sky blue Baroque tower in the riverfront village of Dürnstein, and leave our ship for the day to drive up to cinematic Salzburg. Finally, we cross the German border and to Passau, another startling discovery of Baroque and Rococo architecture both church-like and civil. Each day we tread nimbly down our gang-plank into each world to feel the overlapping sunbeams—and shadows—of empire.

And of course, at this time of year, the journey takes on the additional patina of the Christmas markets, each speaking its own dialect of history, food, and crafts. From honey wine in Bratislava to spun sugar in Passau, I taste (and try to pronounce) something new every day. I collect a few glühwein mugs. And I thank, again, Maria Theresa for her imperial inspiration and for the water that ties this world together.

Today is a day for elephants.

We can feel them out there, roaming the Kenyan grasslands; it’s just a question of finding them. We joke that the only elephant we’ve seen so far has been on our bottle of Amarula, the creamy African liqueur that plays a sweet role in our sundown ritual. But today, my safari-mates and I assure one another, climbing into our Land Cruiser, is a day for elephants.

This is the optimism of the adventurer, and a safari of any length, anywhere, hands you the chance to occupy that exotic position. But it’s a double down to anchor that safari at Mahali Mzuri, the luxury tented camp created by Sir Richard Branson’sVirgin Limited Edition. For one, the camp leaps forward in design, leaving the traditional silhouettes (and colonial aftertaste) of pale canvas tents behind for swooping shelters inspired by the bows carried by Maasai hunters. Secondly, Branson chose land adjacent to Kenya’s famed Maasai Mara reserve (where so many safari operators go) and helped steer it, with other partners and Maasai people, into conservancy.

So we spend a week here in the Olare Motorogi Conservancy, sometimes in pursuit of spotting the fauna famed for this part of East Africa—lions, cheetahs, leopards, Cape buffalo, antelope, giraffes, warthogs, hyenas, jackals, and yes, elephants—but other times in conversations with Mahali Mzuri’s partners at a nearby school, with elders who work to manage cattle movement to ease the burden on the habitat, and with leaders of a handicraft collaborative offering financial independence to local women. After so many years of tourism taking from Kenya’s ecosystem and cultural currency, this approach to parity and partnership with people and animals and habitat feels like a new form of an adventurer’s optimism.

In other words, it might be enough to bounce merrily along river valleys and across ancient volcanic plains, seeking encounters with these astonishing members of the animal kingdom, pausing for bush picnics, and gathering after dark below the spread of a baobab for a campfire, songs, and dancing. But it’s far more to know that my Great Journey into the African bush treads lighter and joins a forward-looking relationship with this fragile global treasure.

And then, one brilliant late morning under the Kenyan sun, we find our elephants. It’s a threesome: a newly born calf, trotting gamely to keep up with its older sibling, then nuzzling the rear leg of its mother, who gracefully allows her baby back into the family’s rhythm.

I watch from the quiet of our SUV, as I had watched from my ship pulling into a historic port, as I’d watched from the cabin of my train, and think yet again: This is the gift of the Great Journey. An opportunity to be small, to observe, to be led. To be slow. To be taught. To draw memories close to the chest, and to dream of the next great chance. To spin the globe and let the globe spin us.

Featured in the November/December issue of VERANDA.