The Orient Express: no train rides engenders a greater sense of mystique or promise of luxurious intrigue. And while the actual journey implied by the title has changed many times since the service’s first departure in 1883, the magic remains. This six-day exclusive adventure starts from Istanbul, crosses Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Austria, looping eventually into glorious Venice, the Italian city of canals and carnivals. The train stops long enough to take in regal sights at Sinaia and Budapest, but with an indulgent private cabin and superb cuisine aboard, you might not even want to get off.
