Experience the Holiday Season Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Picture yourself in a lavishly adorned banquet car, enjoying a pre-dinner Negroni while a golden sunset casts its glow over the snowy landscape outside. Afterward, retreat to your sleeping compartment to refresh before an evening filled with exquisite dining, live piano melodies, and a midnight brunch aboard a classic navy-blue train journeying from Venice to Paris during the festive season.

This isn't a fantasy. It's the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, a storied train service run by Belmond, which has announced its inaugural December departures, allowing travelers to experience this timeless journey during Europe's vibrant winter celebrations.

Typically, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express operates from March to November, but this December, it will offer 10 routes, including new service to and from Florence.

Discover the routes and dates for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express this December

• Venice to Paris: December 2 and 12
• Verona to Paris: December 2 and 12
• Venice to Paris (via Rome and Florence): December 7
• Florence to Paris: December 7
• Paris to Florence: December 8
• Paris to Venice (via Rome and Florence): December 8
• Paris to Vienna: December 17
• Vienna to Paris: December 18
• Paris to Venice: December 20
• Paris to Verona: December 20

These overnight trips, starting at $3,410 per person, include a private sleeper cabin—ranging from cozy “Historic Cabins” with shared bathrooms to spacious Grand Suites with en-suite facilities—and feature a selection of gourmet meals, afternoon tea, and classic cocktails in elegantly appointed dining and bar cars. For December journeys, Belmond will offer winter-themed menus showcasing local ingredients from the route.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express features 17 meticulously restored carriages from the 1920s and 1930s, each with its own captivating tale. In 2023, the train will introduce eight new Suites with private marble en-suite bathrooms, available starting in June. These suites will also include a lounge area that can transform into two twin beds or one double bed at night.

To find out what it's truly like to travel on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, check out our first-person review of this iconic rail journey.