Luxury Train Journeys in Europe: Orient Express, Belmond & Beyond (2026)

The European Luxury Train Experience

The luxury train journey is a genuinely distinct travel category — the combination of the extraordinary landscape passing at 60–100km/h (the Alps, the Scottish Highlands, the Douro Valley), the extraordinary 1920s–1930s Art Deco carriages, and the white-tablecloth dining car experience creates a mode of travel that is simultaneously the most romantic and the most unhurried in Europe.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

The Route and the Experience

Route: London → Paris → (via the Alps) → Venice → Rome (or Istanbul on special journeys)
Duration: 2–3 nights
Price: €3,000–30,000+ per person
Operator: Belmond

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) is the most famous luxury train in the world — the name “Orient Express” carries 140 years of mythology (Agatha Christie’s 1934 “Murder on the Orient Express” was set on the Calais-Istanbul route; Mata Hari and the kings of Europe were its passengers). The Belmond VSOE uses the original 1920s–1930s wagons-lits and Pullman carriages, restored to their original Art Deco condition (the inlaid wood marquetry panels, the brass fittings, the Lalique glass, the original 1920s cabin sizes).

The experience: The VSOE runs primarily from March to November (the special winter Venice journeys run December–February). The overnight journey from Paris to Venice passes through the Alps at dawn — the most famous single moment of the VSOE experience (the carriage buffet car at 06:00 as the train passes through the Brenner Pass or the Simplon Tunnel, the first light on the Alpine peaks, the coffee served in the original Pullman china) is the defining luxury train experience in Europe.

Cabin types:

Cabin (compartment with pull-down bed): The original single/double compartments — converted for sleeping with a pull-down berth, extremely small by hotel room standards (85cm wide). The romance is in the experience, not the space.
Suite: The converted double cabins that combine two compartments into a sitting room and bedroom — the finest accommodation on the VSOE, still small by hotel standards but the most complete experience.
Grand Suite: The three Grand Suites (Vienna, Istanbul, Prague — named for the cities of the original route) are the finest accommodation, each individually designed with the most extraordinary inlaid woodwork.

Dining: The three dining cars (the Côte d’Azur, the Chinoise, and the original Orient Express Restaurant) are the heart of the VSOE experience — the white-tablecloth dinner as the Alps pass outside the window, the extraordinary wine list, and the extraordinary Art Deco environment.

The Royal Scotsman

Scotland in Five Days by Private Train

Route: Edinburgh → Highlands → West Coast → Edinburgh
Duration: 2–7 nights (multiple itinerary options)
Price: £2,000–8,000 per person
Operator: Belmond

The Royal Scotsman is the finest way to experience the Scottish Highlands — the extraordinary private train (with only 16–36 passengers depending on the configuration) travels the extraordinary West Highland Railway (the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the Rannoch Moor crossing — the most desolate and extraordinary moor in Britain), the Kyle of Lochalsh line (toward Skye), and the Far North Line toward Thurso.

The experience: The Royal Scotsman’s carriages include observation car (open-ended rear carriage, the most extraordinary way to watch the landscape pass), the dining car (extraordinary Scottish cuisine using local Highland ingredients — Orkney scallops, Highland venison, Arran cheddar), and the Bamford Haybarn Spa carriage. The train stops at specific Highlands locations for guided walking, whisky distillery visits (Dalwhinnie, the highest distillery in Scotland, and others depending on the route), and Highland experience activities.

The overnight stops: The Royal Scotsman parks overnight in remote sidings — waking to the Highland landscape outside the cabin window, with no other train noise, is the most peaceful Scottish experience available.

The Glacier Express

Switzerland at Its Most Spectacular

Route: St. Moritz → Andermatt → Zermatt (or reverse)
Duration: 8 hours one-way
Price: CHF 200–1,400 per person (standard to Excellence Class)
Operator: RhB (Rhätische Bahn) and MGB (Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn)

The Glacier Express (“The slowest express train in the world” — the marketing tagline) crosses the Swiss Alps in one journey: 291 bridges, 91 tunnels, and the highest railway station in Europe (the Oberalp Pass, 2,033m). The 8-hour journey passes through the extraordinary Rhine Gorge (the “Swiss Grand Canyon”), the Furka Pass mountain scenery, and the extraordinary Matterhorn approach at Zermatt.

Excellence Class: The Excellence Class upgrade (the premium observation car, with the extraordinary panoramic windows, the seated chef’s tasting menu, and the personal service) transforms the Glacier Express from a sightseeing train to a genuine luxury experience — the CHF 1,400 Excellence Class ticket includes the meal, the exclusive observation car, and the superior service.

The best season: June–October for mountain visibility (the winter months have extraordinary snow scenery but limited mountain-top visibility). December–March for the extraordinary winter Alpine landscape (the train continues operating year-round).

The Douro Valley Train Journey

Portugal’s Most Beautiful Train Route

Route: Porto (Campanhã) → Pinhão → Pocinho
Duration: 4–5 hours to the end of the line
Price: €15–30 (standard); wine train excursions €60–150
Operator: Comboios de Portugal (CP)

The Douro Valley railway (from Porto’s Campanhã station along the south bank of the Douro River to Pocinho in the upper Douro) is one of the most beautiful train journeys in Europe — the 4-hour journey traces the river through the extraordinary terraced vineyards of the UNESCO World Heritage Douro Valley, through 26 tunnels, and through 30 bridges.

The wine trains: The Comboios de Portugal Wine Train (a historic locomotive, vintage carriages, port wine tastings, and the extraordinary Douro views) operates specific excursion dates from May to October — the most atmospheric way to experience the Douro Valley by train, with the added interest of onboard port wine service.

The Rovos Rail (Beyond Europe)

Route: Cape Town → Pretoria → Victoria Falls (South Africa and Zimbabwe)
Duration: 3–15 nights
Price: $5,000–15,000+ per person
Operator: Rovos Rail

For travelers extending beyond Europe: Rovos Rail is the finest luxury train experience in the world — the extraordinary restored 1930s South African carriages, the extraordinary Edwardian dining car cuisine, the most personal service of any luxury train (maximum 72 passengers), and the extraordinary game-viewing from the observation car as the train crosses the Kruger area and the Hwange National Park approaches.

Booking Luxury Trains

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express: The VSOE sells out 6–12 months ahead for the most popular periods (Venice departure in spring, the special Istanbul journey, the Christmas journey). Book directly through Belmond (belmond.com) or through a luxury travel specialist. The special theme journeys (the murder mystery journey, the Atelier Beauté journey) sell out fastest.

The Royal Scotsman: The 5–7 night journeys in June–September sell out most quickly. The 2-night short journeys have more availability. Book 6–12 months ahead for the finest cabin allocations.

The Glacier Express Excellence Class: The Excellence Class seats (the observation car, full service, chef’s menu) are limited — 22 seats per train. Book 3–6 months ahead for peak season (July–August). Standard class can be booked with 1–2 weeks notice in shoulder season.

FAQ

Is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express worth the price? For the specific experience — yes, once. The VSOE is not a travel bargain (the same Paris to Venice journey by ordinary train takes 11 hours and costs €60–150, vs. 24 hours on the VSOE at €3,000+). The VSOE is an experience purchase — the Art Deco carriages, the white-tablecloth dinner as the Alps appear, and the mythology of the route are the products, not the efficient transit. For travelers who value experience over efficiency: yes, unequivocally.

Are the cabins on the Orient Express very small? Yes — the original 1920s cabins were designed for a different era of traveler size and comfort expectations. The single/double compartments are approximately 85cm wide; the bathroom is shared (in the corridor). The suite configurations (combining two compartments) are more spacious but still small by contemporary hotel standards. Travel with less luggage than usual; the experience compensates for the space.

What is the best luxury train for first-timers? The Glacier Express in Excellence Class — the most accessible price point (CHF 1,400 vs. £2,000+ for the Royal Scotsman or €3,000+ for the VSOE), the most extraordinary scenery per hour, the 8-hour format (no overnight commitment), and the Switzerland framework (which provides extraordinary reliability and catering quality). A complete luxury train experience in one day.