Golden Age of Rail: Riding the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Art Deco marquetry, crystal flutes of champagne, and black-tie dinners gliding past the snow-draped Swiss Alps to Venice.

Elena Rostova Elena Rostova - February 15, 2026
8 min read • 1.8k views
Golden Age of Rail: Riding the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Featured photography by City / Global Roamings contributors on location.

Step aboard the midnight-blue carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and contemporary hurried transit dissolves into timeless elegance. Polished brass fittings, Lalique glass panels, and live baby grand piano melodies accompany your journey across Europe.

Vintage luxury train passing through mountain landscape
The historic carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express crossing the Swiss Alps.

Black-Tie Dining on the Rails

Dinner aboard the Orient Express is a formal affair where tuxedoed stewards serve pan-roasted Brittany lobster and truffled venison, accompanied by grand cru Burgundy wines as the moonlit peaks of Switzerland glide past the mahogany windows.

Elena Rostova

Elena Rostova

Nordic Explorer

Investigative travel journalist and photographer specializing in remote geography, cultural heritage, and mountaineering stories. Has reported from over 65 countries across six continents.

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