Venice Simplon Orient Express to arrive in Istanbul on September 30

The Venice Simplon Orient Express is scheduled to arrive in Istanbul on September 30. Operated by the UK-based company Belmond, the luxury train follows a route from Paris through Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria.

According to Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, the train will enter Turkey at 08:00 and arrive at Bakırköy Station at 17:40. After passengers disembark, the train will move to Halkalı Station for technical and operational preparations, where it will remain for two nights. It is scheduled to depart Bakırköy again on October 2 at 12:00, exiting through the Kapıkule border crossing at 22:05.

In addition to the Orient Express, other special rail tours are active in the region. MAV Passenger Transport Co., based in Hungary, organizes tours from Venice, Paris, and Rome to Istanbul, with six Hungarian special train services planned for 2026.