Cover The bar car on board the Orient Express (Photo: Accor)
The bar car on board the Orient Express (Photo: Accor)
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Luxury train travel just got more exciting, with the fabled Orient Express due return to the tracks next year
The romance of train travel has many travellers in a chokehold—like this year’s relaunch of the Eastern & Oriental Express, a Belmond Train, on which Tatler had the privilege of joining its maiden journey through Malaysia’s jungle railway.
In 2025, after a 15-year hiatus, the revered Orient Express—arguably one of the most legendary luxury trains in the world—will return to the railway operated by the Orient Express brand, part of the Accor hospitality group.
The stuff of lore and legend, the first Orient Express route was inaugurated in 1883, connecting Paris and Istanbul (formerly Constantinople) via trains and ferries. Several operators used the Orient Express name, travelling various routes that crossed through Europe.
The elegant suites on board the Orient Express (Photo: Accor)
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17 carriages dating back to the 1920s and 1930s—formerly known as the Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express—have been restored and redesigned by renowned French architect Maxime d’Angeac.
In the Bar Car, scalloped banquettes sit beneath Second Empire-style glass domes. The dining car is an Art Deco masterpiece with mirrored ceilings, intricate marquetry and motifs inspired by 20th century illustrator, Suzanne Lalique.
The suites are spectacular. By day, a sofa and settee allow guests to relax and read, before it is transformed by night into a luxury sleeping cabin. The headboards are crafted from wooden embroidery with mother-of-pearl and bronze beads, and ensuite bathrooms are decked out in marble.
Worth the splurge is the Orient Express’ Presidential Suite, a 55 square-metre space that occupies an entire train car of the former Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient Express, complete with its own private entrance.
The 2025 revival of the Orient Express will travel on routes that retrace the train’s historic journeys, including the storied Paris to Istanbul journey, a 3,000-kilometre adventure that will take passengers through some of Europe’s most enchanting cities, including Venice, Vienna, and Budapest.
Coco Marett is a writer and editor who grew up between Hong Kong and Melbourne. She currently heads the travel section for Tatler Asia, and manages the Tatler Travel account on Instagram. She is known for her features on unique, under-the-radar properties and destinations. She's also known for her in-depth interviews that paint a refreshingly candid portrait of influential figures across various industries —from artists to political figures, CEOs to celebrity chefs. Follow her on Instagram @cocomarett
