Orient Express Artisan Of Travel

Orient Express Artisan Of Travel Since 1883

Accor is developing a new global collection of Orient Express hotels, taking travellers on a new journey into absolute sophistication.

Please note: the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is a separate train (owned by Belmond) to the Orient Express mentioned in this post.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has many journeys available for reservations by individual travellers and groups.

The Orient Express is available through Train Chartering for private hire or charter.

Orient Express Hotels, Shopping, and Train

Text and photos below from Orient Express, of Accor.

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 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.

Embrace the past / Create the future

A unique heritage. An extraordinary human adventure. An unprecedented industrial success. An exclusive artistic project. For more than a century, Orient Express has embodied not just a legendary heritage, but has become its own unique way of life.

Luxury Trains Travel / Dream

On October 4th, 1883, the most luxurious train in the world left the Gare de l’Est.

It linked Paris to Constantinople in less than 76 hours, marking the success of an incredible technological challenge.

A veritable “rolling palace”, the Orient-Express showed travelers the splendour of its décor: precious wood marquetry, glass panels, fabrics, refined leather and pillows and bedding that guaranteed a good night’s rest. Not to mention a visit to the restaurant for an incredible gastronomic experience.

Today, on board seven fully restored historic cars, Orient Express has brought its legend to life. From tea-time in the lounge car to the grand luxury of the restaurant car, from the refined cuisine to the cocktail piano in the bar car, each on-board evokes all the wonder of the past. Nothing has changed.

Embark on the legendary train

Orient Express is proud to unveil seven cars from the late 1920s. Classified as Historical Monuments, they take the Art Deco style on a journey through time.

The Orient Express train cars - Seven legendary cars

The Orient-Express has seven historic cars, each with their own particular vibe and rich history. They are the epitome of luxury and absolute comfort and thanks to the creativity of the greatest artists and decorators of the time and restoration by the best French artisans.

Leave / Return

In 1894, 11 years after the launch of the first Orient-Express, Georges Nagelmackers founded the Compagnie Internationale des Grands Hôtels.

Inspired by the legend and the luxury of the trains, sumptuous palaces embodying the Art of Living in Orient Express style were built in the various countries crossed. Today, the story continues…

Reinventing the legend of the Orient Express

Born to travel, the Orient Express’ legacy has been passed down through the generations, proud of its heritage that is constantly being reinvented.

Preserve tradition / Dare to dream

For 140 years, Orient Express has continued to reinvent its history. A historical, cultural, artistic and literary heritage that is always in motion and guided by a single principle: the art of travel as a way of life.

The king of trains

From kings and queens to philosophers and writers, divas and femmes fatales, journalists and politicians, spies and assassins, geniuses and thinkers, the one-of-a-kind travelers of the Orient Express have made it legendary.

Whether real life or fictional heroes, famous or anonymous, these travelers spanning all nationalities and all ages all have always shared a common love of travel.

Then and now, Orient Express has the same vision of the future: a desire to bring together a diverse group of incredible people in the heart of the world’s most beautiful cities.

A bridge between worlds

In 1883, Georges Nagelmackers made his dream a reality when he launched the Orient-Express.

This daring entrepreneur created the first luxury train linking Paris to Istanbul via Munich, Vienna, Sofia, Bucharest. This meeting of East and West completely redefined the world of travel.

Tomorrow, Orient Express will once again cross borders and push boundaries with the opening of its first hotels.

A new adventure, but the same ambition since the start: to open the world up to new cultures and new territories.

Talented designers

From Art Deco legends to the finest marquetry craftsmen and treasured goldsmiths, from outstanding perfumers to beautiful trunk makers and couturiers, Orient Express is indelibly marked by the work of talented artisans.

Together, they created a unique art de vivre.

An art of living that cultivated beautiful gestures, revealed a unique savoir-faire and blended tradition, innovation and limitless creativity visible through rare objects and exclusive collections. This eternal quest for elegance and the experience of a true journey inside of a train continues today.

A factory of dreams

Orient Express has luxury running through its veins.

This grand history was born in 1883 with the launch of the first trains complete with richly decorated cabins, absolute comfort and high-end gastronomy on board.

Expanding the frontiers of traditional luxury, at the end of the 19th century, the legendary train company also launched hotels stamped with the seal of high-end travel then went even further to propose services in Rolls Royce cars to accompany its travelers in major cities across the world.

Orient Express is always dreaming bigger and bigger and transcending the limits of the imagination.

A universal icon

For more than a century, writers, poets, artists and filmmakers have brought the legend of the Orient Express to life.

From Agatha Christie’s legendary stories to Sarah Moon’s black and white photographs to Guillaume Apollinaire’s poems, the Orient Express has fascinated people all over the world through the ages.

This has crossed the globe through exhibitions and events, from the 1900 Universal Exhibition in Paris to Once Upon a Time on the Orient Express in 2020 in Asia.

A cultural icon, Orient-Express has become a universal star.