For the first time this year, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is embarking on some adventurous new routes, taking in cities such as Amsterdam and Brussels, as well as Geneva and Florence.  It is also making a welcome return to Rome for the first time in over a decade, linking the Italian and French capitals in an overnight journey in comfort and style.

For a full list of our suggested holidays, please visit our dedicated Rail Holidays on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express page.

The four new routes starting in 2021 are:

Venice-Rome-Florence-Paris

Departures on 26 May and 14 July 2021

10:30 Depart Venice Santa Lucia ⇒ 17:00 Rome Ostiense ⇒ 20:00 Florence Santa Maria Novella ⇒ 11:00 (the next day) Arrive Paris Gare de l’Est

Travelling from Venice to Paris is nothing unusual, the Orient Express plies the route between these two magical cities several times a month, taking a spectacular route through the Alps via the Brenner and Arlberg Passes.  This time, however, the Venice-Paris journey winds its way down through the Italian countryside at a leisurely pace and collects passengers in Rome, before heading north to Florence.  The following morning the train glides into Paris Gare de l’Est where the decadence ends, unless of course you opt for one of Paris’s more sumptuous hotels on arrival!

You can travel this route on our Rome & the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express holiday

Paris-Geneva-Innsbruck-Verona-Venice

Departures on 27 May and 15 July 2021

15:00 Depart Paris Gare de l’Est ⇒ 21:50 Geneva ⇒ 12:00 (the next day) Innsbruck Hbf ⇒ 17:00  Verona Porta Nuova ⇒ 19:07 Arrive Venice Santa Lucia

With a civilised mid-afternoon departure from Paris, the train takes the slow tracks down to Geneva, during which time the timeless gourmet evening meal will be served in the restaurant cars.  On departure from Geneva, the train takes a route through northern Switzerland as you sleep, then you will be awoken gently for breakfast in your cabin as the picture-perfect Austrian Alps pass by the window, before arriving into Innsbruck at midday.  You can alight in Innsbruck to enjoy the famous Tyrol region, or stay on board for the crossing of the Brenner Pass into Italy, pulling into Verona in time for dinner or across the causeway into Venice Santa Lucia station, right on the iconic Grand Canal.

Venice-Verona-Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam

Departure on 21 June 2021

11:30 Depart Venice Santa Lucia ⇒ 13:45 Verona Porta Nuova ⇒ 10:00 (the next day) Paris Gare de l’Est ⇒ 14:15 Brussels Midi ⇒ 19:30 Arrive Amsterdam Centraal

This exciting new incursion into the low countries is a welcome addition to the portfolio of the Orient Express in 2021.  Departing from Venice in much the “normal” way, the train takes in the glorious scenery of the Brenner Pass and Arlberg Pass in the Alps, and reaches Paris in the morning.  Ordinarily, the train then winds its way up to Calais, where a coach transports guests through the tunnel to Folkestone and back to London on the British Pullman train.  However, this time, the luxury of the continental train is “maxed out”, as you take in three capitals in one day.  Travelling north through the green countryside of Picardy, the train breaks into Belgian territory and arrives with great fanfare into Brussels Gare du Midi, where you can alight should you fancy moules-frites, iconic art galleries and the fabulous Grand’Place.  However, for the full experience you should remain on board, as you travel even further north into Holland, arriving in the evening at the spectacular 19th-century Amsterdam Centraal station.  Why not cap off your luxurious experience with a stay at one of the Dutch capital’s iconic hotels such as the Pulitzer, the Dylan or the Sofitel The Grand?

Amsterdam-Brussels-Paris-Innsbruck-Verona-Venice

Departure on 24 June 2021

10:30 Depart Amsterdam Centraal ⇒ 15:20 Brussels Midi ⇒ 20:00 Paris Gare de l’Est ⇒ 12:00 (the next day) Innsbruck Hbf ⇒ 17:00 Verona Porta Nuova ⇒ 19:07 Arrive Venice Santa Lucia

A reverse of the above journey, the Orient Express returns to Venice after a two-night sojourn in the Dutch capital.  Winding its way south through the polders, the train passes the immense port-city of Antwerp, before pausing to pick up more passengers at the Belgian capital Brussels.  On entering France soon after, dinner is served as the train glides through the fields of Picardy at a leisurely pace.  The final group of passengers board in Paris, and then the train heads on through the night, and breakfast is taken in your cabin, with the unforgettable scenery of the Austrian Tyrol to serenade you into a new day.  Some passengers may disembark in Innsbruck, ready to explore this picture-perfect landscape, whereas the majority continue south over the Brenner Pass, into Italy and the uniquely beautiful city of Venice.

You can experience this route with our Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Amsterdam to Venice holiday.