Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to arrive in Istanbul on Sept. 30

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, one of Europe's iconic trains, will arrive in Istanbul on Sept. 30, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said Thursday.

Uraloglu provided details in a statement about special passenger train services traveling between Europe and Istanbul.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, operated by UK-based luxury hospitality company Belmond, runs on the Paris-Istanbul-Paris route.

The train is scheduled to arrive at Bakirkoy Station in Istanbul at 5.40 pm (1440GMT) Sept. 30 after traveling from France through Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria, he said.

Passengers will disembark before the train departs empty for Halkali Station at 7.10 pm, where it will remain for two nights.

After completing technical and operational procedures, the train will return to Bakirkoy Station to pick up passengers.

The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express will depart at noon Oct. 2 and leave Türkiye through the Kapikule border crossing at 10.05 pm.

The first Orient Express service of the year entered Türkiye on May 30 and left June 1, said Uraloglu.

- Special services from Venice, Paris, Rome

Uraloglu provided details of other special passenger train services traveling from Europe to Istanbul.

Hungary-based MAV Passenger Transport Co. operates special train tours from Venice, Paris and Rome to Istanbul, he said.

Six Hungarian special train services are planned for 2026, according to Uraloglu.

"The third Hungarian special train of the year departing from Venice arrived in Istanbul yesterday," he said.

The first service ran from Venice to Istanbul on May 16-18, while the second traveled from Paris to Istanbul on May 29-30.

"Special train services will continue in October. Two separate services from Paris to Istanbul will operate on Oct. 10-12 and Oct. 24-25, while one service from Rome to Istanbul will operate on Oct. 26-31," he added.