The Golden Eagle Danube Express luxury sleeper train welcomes you aboard to experience the legendary rail tour from Venice to Istanbul.
Journeys to Istanbul across Europe made up part of an original luxury train route created by Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits way back in the late 1800's and the route through Venice has been in place since 1919. You can now embark on this highly sought after journey aboard one of Europe's most luxurious trains, The Golden Eagle Danube Express.
Enjoy an all inclusive rail tour commencing in Venice, stopping off at some of the most fantastically cultural cities in Europe along the way as you visit nine countries in twelve days; Italy, Bosnia, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey. You'll enjoy such experiences as a gondola ride through the waterways of Venice, explore Postojna Cave network in Slovenia, take a tour of the historic and compact city of Sarajevo, as well as visit the best preserved Roman amphitheatres in Bulgaria. These are just a few of the wonderful sights you will have the opportunity to visit along your rail tour across Europe.
Included in The Venice to Istanbul journey aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express;
ACCOMMODATION
DINING
EXCURSIONS
SERVICE
You will be transferred to your 5-Star hotel, located centrally for a two-night stay. On day one of your Venice to Istanbul luxury train journey, you will have the chance to explore Venice at your leisure. There will be a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel in the evening where you will have the chance to mingle with fellow passengers.
On day 2 a private walking tour for the train with a highly experienced tour manager will take you on an adventure where you will discover the highlights of Venice; walk the Grand Canal to St Mark's Square, visit Rialto Market and St Mark's Basilica. As with every day along this Venice to Istanbul luxury train journey, you will be served breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a generous serving of drinks.
On the morning of day 3 of the Golden Eagle Danube Express journey from Venice to Paris you will transfer from the hotel, by water taxi, to Santa Lucia station on the Grand Canal. At Santa Lucia you will first come into contact with the Golden Eagle Danube Express luxury train. You will board the Danube Express mid-morning to commence the rail tour through Europe. The Golden Eagle Danube Express will cross the 3-mile causeway over Venice Lagoon and journey towards our first stop at the Italian port city of Trieste. You will have the opportunity to take an afternoon tour of Trieste, stopping off at the majestic Miramare Castle, you will also visit the expansive Piazza Unita d’Italia. Standing proudly on a hill overlooking Trieste is the Church of San Giusto we will head towards the medieval church to take a look inside where you can view the beautiful Byzantine-style architecture and mosaics.
On the forth day of your Venice to Istanbul luxury train journey, you will arrive in Slovenia. Postojna Cave is considered a subterranean paradise, here you will ride an underground train to explore the cave network made up of fascinating halls, diverse fauna and mysterious animals.
After visiting Postojna Cave you will visit Slovenia's capital Ljubljana, a city of diverse architecture. You will have the opportunity to take an afternoon walking tour in Ljubljana where you will tour the Old Town, visit Preseren Square, Dragon Bridge, the Three Bridges and Plecnik Market.
The Golden Eagle Danube Express will arrive early morning into Bosnia. You will start your day in the capital Sarajevo, a delightful eclectic city combining Western and Eastern influences, with minarets, mosques, an ancient bazaar and an old Turkish quarter. Sarajevo has a deep poignant history, you'll be able to take a tour which will take you through the bloody history of the Balkan War, sadly Sarajevo suffered from the longest siege of a capital city in the history of modern warfare. Your expert guide lived through the 1992-1996 conflict and is able to offer first hand account of life a citizen during this horrific period.
You will take lunch on board the Golden Eagle Danube Express. The afternoon of day five you'll travel a scenic line to Mostar, the crossroads of many civilizations, cultures and three religions. An important city of the Ottoman Empire, Mostar is known now for stone arch bridge linking the Muslim and Christian areas which was re-built in 2004. There will also be visits to Turkish House and bazaar streets before travelling onto Dubrovnik by coach a one-night.
Dubrovnik is a 13th century city, which over the years has been attacked numerous times, these days Dubrovnik is a fully restored beautiful Mediterranean city. Your excursion today will take you through Ploce Gate to visit the Franciscan Monastery, here you will be able to visit one of the world’s oldest pharmacies. There will also be a visit to the Old Harbour, Rector’s Palace and St Laurence Fortress. Lunch will be taken overlooking the Adriatic, after lunch you will have some leisure time to wander and take in the local surroundings. At mid-afternoon you will head back to the Danube Express for dinner as the train travels towards Serbia.
You will arrive in the former Yugoslavian capital in the morning of day 7. Belgrade, the capital of Serbia is positioned at the point of where the Danube and Sava Rivers meet. Belgrade is cosmopolitan city with fortifications dating back from Celtic times. There are Turkish baths and medieval tombs to visit. You'll spend the whole day in Belgrade on a tour that includes the mausoleum of Josip Tito (‘House of Flowers’), the Town Hall, Knez Mihajlova Street, Republic Square, as well as ‘Varos’ Gate and a visit to the commanding Kalemegdan Fortress.
On the morning of Day 8, you'll arrive into the delightful Skopje, a city where Ottoman influences are still very prominent. This tour will allow to discover narrow streets of the Old Town where you will see mosques with ceramic-tiled interiors and charming tiny shops.
Lunch will be taken on board the train as the Golden Eagle Danube Express journeys through the afternoon into Greece where you will arrive early evening into Thessaloniki. At Thessaloniki you will be able to enjoy the evening soaking up the atmosphere of a vibrant city, you'll head to Aristotelous Square, to enjoy an al-fresco Mediterranean seafood dinner.
Occupied by the Thracian tribe of Serdi, Sofia sits at the foot of Mount Vitosha. Your morning tour will take you to visit sections of the Roman wall, St George, the golden domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Turkish Bashi Mosque.
Enjoy lunch aboard the Golden Eagle Danube Express as the train journeys from Sofia to Plovdiv. Plovdiv is Bulgaria's second largest city after Sofia, and known as ‘The City of Seven Hills’. Plovdiv is one of Europe's oldest cities with hundreds of archaeological sites. You'll enjoy the afternoon exploring the Amphitheatre and Roman Forum, you will also visit the Old Town and Ottoman baths.
You will arrive into Istanbul station on the morning of day ten of this luxury train tour from Venice to Istanbul. You will spend two nights in Istanbul staying a conveniently located 5-Star hotel.
The Sultan Ahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque is a classical Ottoman style mosque, which you will have the chance to visit on the tenth day of your luxury train journey through Europe. The Blue Mosque has six towering minarets and hundreds of windows which illuminate the main chamber, decorated with over 20,000 Iznik tiles.
You will also have the opportunity to admire Hagia Sophia's fine Byzantine mosaics.
Visit Topkapi on day eleven, a beautiful palace which was the main residence of the Ottoman Sultans between 1465 to 1853. With its treasury and exotic buildings overlooking the Golden Horn, your visit to Topkapi promises to be a truly fascinating experience.
In the afternoon you will visit the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s largest covered markets, containing over 4,000 shops spread over 58 streets. The Grand Bazaar has been a mainstay since it's inception in the 14th century. You will be able to shop for jewellery, spices, leather, carpets and pottery.
After a fabulous experience journeying through Europe, on the final day, you will take breakfast in the hotel before your transfer collects you for your onward departures.
You can find information about cabin types here.
Please note that the prices listed below are based on two people sharing. If you are a solo traveller, please get in touch to request the single-passenger price.
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