Does the Orient Express Go From London to Istanbul?

By Michael Ferguson

The Orient Express is a legendary train that has been immortalized in literature and film. It conjures up images of luxury travel, elegant dining cars, and scenic vistas.

But does the Orient Express go from London to Istanbul? The answer is not so straightforward.

The Original Orient Express

The original Orient Express was a long-distance passenger train service that began in 1883. It was a joint venture of several railway companies and ran from Paris to Istanbul. The route passed through several iconic cities such as Vienna, Budapest, and Bucharest.

Changes Over Time

Over the years, the route of the Orient Express underwent many changes. The service was suspended during World War I and resumed in 1919 with a new route that went through Switzerland instead of Germany. In later years, additional routes were added, such as the Simplon Orient Express that ran from Paris to Venice.

The End of an Era

The original Orient Express service ended in 1977 due to declining demand for long-distance train travel. However, a new company called Venice Simplon-Orient-Express started operating a luxury tourist train using restored vintage carriages from the original service.

The Current Route

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express offers several routes through Europe, but none directly from London to Istanbul. However, it is possible to take a combination of trains and buses to travel between these two cities.

  • One option is to take the Eurostar train from London to Paris.
  • From there, take the TGV high-speed train to Zurich or Vienna.
  • Then transfer to another train or bus for the remaining journey to Istanbul.

This may not be as glamorous as traveling on the original Orient Express service, but it is still an exciting adventure and offers an opportunity to see several iconic European cities along the way.

In Conclusion

While the original Orient Express service no longer operates, its legacy lives on through luxury tourist trains like the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Although there is no direct route from London to Istanbul, it is still possible to travel between these two iconic cities by combining different modes of transportation. So, if you are planning a trip to Europe and want to experience the romance of train travel, consider taking a journey on one of these historic routes.