Belmond Train Journeys
The enduring romance of train travel
Luxury train travel conjures up glamorous images of a bygone era. Belmond’s legendary trains provide a route into that Golden Age framing with renewed verve.
Enjoy breathtaking, untouched landscapes aboard the Royal Scotsman, take a whistle-stop tour of some of Europe’s most-loved cities on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, or dine in style on the Andean Explorer as it works its way across the Andean highlands. Whichever journey you choose, it’s sure to be unforgettable.
For further routes and inspirations, discover Belmond’s full range of journeys here.
Credit: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train
Credit: Fiona Leahy
EXPERT TIPS
Fiona Leahy
Fiona Leahy is a doyenne of the London events scene. Here, she shares details of a memorable rail journey with Belmond and offers tips for embarking on your own.
TRAIN TRAVEL ESSENTIALS:
- A really great set of pajamas or nightdress and a robe so you always look glamorous. Sometimes you will need to leave your cart and go into the corridor of the train.
- My rule of thumb is to dress as dramatically as your surroundings. The Orient Express is no exception; I wore a 1930s Egyptian Assuit dress.
- A Smythson notebook for recording dreams and observations. I always dream really amazingly on trains because of the motion. And to write my gratitude list too for being so lucky for being on the train in the first place!
- My Globe-Trotter suitcase. I always think trunks and traditional cases are perfectly fitting for train travel.
- A Hasselblad film camera – I like the delay in taking the pictures and developing them afterwards.
- Slippers. A train, in my mind, is like a sitting room on wheels, so wearing a lovely pair of velvet slippers is perfect attire wise (teetering in heels is not chic).
PACKING TIPS: Pack light! Bring a small case with all your essentials as train space is usually very limited and cabins are on the bijoux side – a big case won’t fit in your cabin. Pack as if you are going on the honeymoon of your dreams.
YOUR PREFERRED TRAIN ROUTE: Paris to Venice on the Simplon-Orient-Express is the dreamiest. I have also been on Belmond's train in Peru – I can't choose, so both.
YOUR FAVORITE FEATURE OF THE BRITISH PULLMAN: Designed by Wes Anderson, it has the most beautiful pink and green interior, and the marquetry panels and detailing is breathtaking.
THE DRINK TO ORDER ON BOARD: Classic Champagne cocktail.
DINING CAR DOS AND DON’TS…
DO: Do put your phone away, true of not only the dining car, but the whole journey. Soak up the experience and be in the moment.
Do bring an interesting, charming companion. As with many of these trips, good company is the cherry on top!
DON’T: Don't wear towering high heels as it can be tricky to navigate and balance with train movement. Don't wear leisurewear – dress up! Don’t be a phone bore, you don’t need to film everything, respect the privacy of those sharing an intimate, charming environment.
WHERE TO GO AFTER THE TRAIN TERMINATES: In Venice, go to the Gritti Palace or Harry's Bar for an Aperitivo for a Peach Bellini.
“My rule of thumb is to dress as dramatically as
your surroundings.”
TRAIN JOURNEY ONE: Royal Scotsman, A Belmond Train
Transport yourself to the Scottish Highlands aboard the Royal Scotsman, A Belmond Train. Choose from a selection of rail journeys including ‘Taste of the Highlands’ (two nights) and ‘Scotland’s Classic Splendours’ (four nights). Whichever route you pick, Scotland’s beautiful, untamed landscapes are certain to charm.
On board, your Edwardian-style cabin, fitted with mahogany marquetry and finished with wool tweeds, provides ample comfort. Beyond your personal quarters, travelers can unwind at The Dior Spa – the perfect place to indulge in a little mid-afternoon pampering. Evening meals can be enjoyed in one of two swish dining cars, Raven and Swift. Post-prandial, be entertained by a clansman’s tales or music from local players. Looking for a little nightcap? Choose from a broad selection of whiskys and toast to the journey ahead from the observation deck.
EDINBURGH HIGHLIGHTS
Before you embark on your adventure on the Royal Scotsman, A Belmond Train take some time to explore the Scottish capital. A real charmer, ramble through the Old Town’s medieval alleys before ascending to the tippy top of Arthur's Seat to take in this great city from a height.
-
100princes-street.com
Address: 100 Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3AB
Phone: 00441312873100Newcomer 100 Princes Street is located inside a smart townhouse facing onto Edinburgh Castle. With the feel of a members’ club, bespoke tartans and other rich fabrics feature throughout this intimate hotel. During your stay, book a table at their ‘plush dining room’, The Wallace.
-
heron.scot
Address: 87-91A Henderson Street, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6ED
Phone: 00441315541242Co-founded by chefs Sam Yorke and Tomás Gormley, Michelin-starred Heron is a natty neighborhood restaurant plating up the best of Scottish produce. Open Wednesday to Sunday, try the tasting menu to sample Orkney scallops, sika venison and more. Wine pairings are also available.
-
thegardenerscottage.co
Address: 1 Royal Terrace Gardens, London Road, Edinburgh, EH7 5DX
Phone: 00441315581221Originally home to the Royal Terrace Gardener, this intimate restaurant blends cosified surrounds with more minimalist touches. Here, a season-led menu spotlights local produce, much of which is grown in their kitchen garden.
-
leithdistillery.com
Address: 11 Whisky Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6FH
Phone: 00441316000765Take a tour of the first vertical distillery, Port of Leith Distillery. The whisky distillery also boasts an impressive top-floor bar with great views of the city.
-
rbge.org.uk
Address: 20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR
Phone: 00441312482909One mile from the city center, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh spans some 70 acres. Once here, divide your time between the Woodland Garden and Inverleith House, the Garden's exhibition space.
-
Address: Holyrood Park, Queen's Drive, Edinburgh, EH8 8HG
Take in the city from a height by climbing Arthur's Seat. The hike takes approximately one hour (one way).
-
gleneagles.com/townhouse
Address: 39 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 2AD
Phone: 00448009174655The Strong Rooms, a ‘state-of-the-art wellness space’, is housed within the former bank vault of Gleneagles Townhouse. Access is available to hotel guests and members. Book a class, dip in for a cryotherapy chamber session, or a Dr. Barbara Sturm face treatment.
-
bard-scotland.com
Address: 1 Customs Wharf, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6AL
Phone: 00441312100106Founded by husbands Hugo Macdonald and James Stevens, this gallery and shop in Leith is certain to tempt. Celebrating Scottish craft and design, peruse an eclectic curation of pieces by Scottish makers. It’s unlikely you’ll leave here empty-handed.
Credit: Gleneagles Townhouse
Credite: Jorg Angeli
Luxury train travel conjures up glamorous images of
a bygone era.
TRAIN JOURNEY TWO: Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the epitome of luxury rail travel. Choose from a selection of journeys that crisscross Europe – will you venture to Venice, Vienna, Paris, Budapest, or beyond? – and opt for a one-way or return journey depending on your travel plans. We’re cherry-picking the Istanbul to Paris five-night trip where three nights are spent on the train, plus stopovers.
Peep out your window as the train pulls away from the station, then promptly turn your attention to your lavish Art-Deco surroundings (home for the coming days). Don glad rags for supper, choosing from one of three restaurant cars – L’Oriental, Cote d’Azur, and Etoile du Nord –on night one. Happily, you’ve time to sample them all. Bar Car '3674’ beckons after dinner, and planned pit stops over the days provide ample variety en route to Paris.
ISTANBUL HIGHLIGHTS
With so many districts to explore, basing yourself somewhere relatively central is a good strategy to stick to while in Istanbul. On the to-do list: a boat tour down the Bosphorus, shopping at the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar, and umpteen memorable meals (including one at a restaurant that everyone from Queen Elizabeth II to Audrey Hepburn has apparently dined in).
Credit: Copyright Soho House Istanbul
Credit: Begüm Khan
-
sohohouse.com
Address: Evliya Çelebi Mahallesi Meşrutiyet Cad. No:56, Beyoğlu, Istanbul 34430
Phone: 00902123777100Opened in the Beyoğlu district in 2015, this 87-key hotel ticks many proverbial boxes – views of the Golden Horn waterway, a gym with a hammam, a speakeasy-style bar, rooftop terrace… we could go on. Make this 19th-century Palazzo Corpi your home away from home while in Istanbul, requesting the spacious Playroom for a one-of-a-kind stay
-
karakoylokantasi.com
Address: Kemankeş Mahallesi, Kemankeş Caddesi, No:57 Karaköy, Beyoğlu, İstanbul 34425
Phone: 00902122924455Acquiring a seat on the terrace at this smart family-run restaurant come lunchtime is a triumph. Choose from a selection of approximately 40 mezze and re-energize ahead of an afternoon of further sightseeing.
-
pandeli.com
Address: Rüstempaşa Mah. Balık Pazarı Kapısı Sokağı Mısırçarşı İçi 1, D:2, Fatih, İstanbul 34116
Phone: 00902125273909Located inside the Egyptian Bazaar, you’ll find Pandeli on the first floor. Established in 1901, everyone from Queen Elizabeth II to Audrey Hepburn has apparently dined here. Gorgeous turquoise mosaics line the walls, and the menu is made up of traditional Turkish dishes: charcoal grilled eggplant salad, oven-baked seabass in curl paper, roast lamb with rice. It’s also suitably delicious.
-
www.miklarestaurant.com
Address: The Marmara Pera, Meşrutiyet Caddesi No:15, Beyoğlu, İstanbul 34430
Phone: 00902122935656A classic restaurant with contemporary flair, Mikla turns tradition on its head. Open from Monday to Saturday from 6pm, after dinner, head to the bar on the eighteenth floor of the Marmara Pera hotel for 360° views of the city.
-
www.mesher.org
Address: Istiklal Caddesi No: 211, Beyoğlu, Istanbul 34433
Phone: 00902127085900Takes its name from the Ottoman Turkish word meaning ‘exhibition space’, Meşher promotes creations which prompt ‘new dialogues across time and cultures’. Located on the pedestrian Istiklal Street, stop in to discover its varied programme.
-
www.muze.gen.tr
Address: : Cankurtaran, Fatih, İstanbul 34122The former court of the Ottoman Empire, Topkapi Palace is a warren of pavilions and beguiling jewel-toned spaces. Closed Tuesdays.
-
kilicalipasahamami.com
Address: Kemankeş Mahallesi, Hamam Sokak, No:1 Tophane, Karaköy, Beyoğlu, İstanbul 34425
Phone: 00902123938010A traditional Turkish hammam is a must-try on a trip to Istanbul. This one is amongst the city’s oldest, with dedicated hours for women and men. Prepare for bathhouse attendants to take you through your bathing experience in a matter-of-fact manner.
-
begumkhan.com
Address: Harbiye, Mim Kemal Öke Cd. 14/3, Şişli, İstanbul 34367
Phone: 00905384418419Adorn your wrists and lobes with dreamlike designs from Begüm Khan. Visit their whimsical flagship boutique, complete with pea-green walls, in Istanbul’s Nişantaşı district to spy at (and shop) Surrealist designs.
-
misela.com
Address: Evliya Çelebi Mah. Meşrutiyet Caddesi No:107E Beyoğlu Istanbul, 34430
Phone: 00902122435300Serra Türker’s MISELA store in Pera, Istanbul opened in 2012. Shop her collection of beautiful, understated bags featuring the brand’s trademark herringbone monogram pattern.
Credit: Andean Explorer, A Belmond Train
TRAIN JOURNEY THREE: Andean Explorer, A Belmond Train
Departing from Cusco and venturing across the Andean highlands, lap up sights of Lake Titicaca, the Sumbay Caves, and Colca Canyon while aboard South America's first luxury sleeper train to Arequipa.
Choose from four journeys, based on one- or two-night routes. ‘Spirit of the Water’ (a one-night option) sets off from the ancient Inca capital to Puno, while the ‘Andean Plains and Islands of Discovery’ journey extends over two nights, departing from Arequipa. An enchanting experience, the Andean Explorer traverses one of the highest train routes in the world. The journey is made more magical still, thanks to local culinary specialities, carriages decorated with delicate Peruvian motifs and other fine touches, and a relaxing spa car.
CUSCO HIGHLIGHTS
Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire, is an urban center known for its artisans as well as its Baroque churches and ancient ruins. Here’s where to stay, eat, and drink while in town.
-
belmond.com
Address: Calle Plazoleta Nazarenas 337, Cusco 08000
Phone: 005184604000This historic hotel, dotted with Baroque artwork and anchored by a main courtyard, complete with 300-year-old Andean Cedar tree, is a peaceful place to retreat to after a busy day. On your return, order a Coca tea or a Pisco sour to your spacious suite to further unwind.
-
milcentro.pe
Address: Moray, Maras, Cusco
Phone: 0051970645908Located in the Sacred Valley, over an hour’s drive from Cusco, The Mil Immersion experience is a day-long outing, beginning at 9.30am. Priced at US$620 per person, after a day spent visiting local communities and surrounding farmlands, you’ll arrive at your final destination: the table, for an eight-course tasting menu made with products found in the environment surrounding Mil. Alternatively, opt for the meal only, which runs from 12 pm to 2.30 pm and costs US$360 per person.
-
belmond.com
Address: Calle Plazoleta Nazarenas 223, Cusco 08002
Phone: 084582222 ext. 733In the historic heart of Cusco, in Palacio Nazarenas, Mauka champions ‘hyper-local diversity’. Helmed by Peruvian chef Pía León, the menu blends ‘native crops, grains, seeds’ and other ‘time-honored ingredients’ with contemporary knowhow. Interiors are suitably modern-meets-rustic.
-
One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is a must-visit while in Peru. The Inca citadel is protected by mountains and rich vegetation and is accessible by foot or train.
-
Vinicunca, also known as the Rainbow Mountain, has become an Instagram sensation thanks to its vivid mineral stripes. Located in the Andes, it’s a worthwhile day trip from Cusco’s center, though hikers should be mindful of the high altitude.
-
belmond.com
Address: Calle Plazoleta Nazarenas 223, Cusco 08002Inspired by Andean and Inca culture, many of the treatments at Hypnôze Spa incorporate their in-house organic product line which champions ‘indigenous healing ingredients’.
-
Browse Centro Artesanal Cusco’s many stalls of artisanal goods, crafts, and knick-knacks. A great place to pick up souvenirs.
-
Made up of narrow streets, this neighborhood is peppered with art galleries. Stop by Xapiri Ground, an exhibition space for ‘Amazonian Art and Culture’.
Credit: Mil, Gustavo VIvanco
Credit: Rainbow Mountain, Michael Busch
PLANNING SERVICES
Let Glimpse founder Jordan Rhodes help you plan your next vacation.
As an advisor independently affiliated with Brownell Travel, a luxury, Forbes endorsed, Virtuoso Agency, Jordan has a whole team helping plan her clients’ vacations.
PACKING LIST
Aboard a Belmond train, there’s no such thing as being overdressed. For dinner, formal evening attire is suggested, so do pack those plumes and your favorite paillettes-embellished gown.
• A smart suitcase
•Chic luggage stickers (for ID purposes)
•A fabulous robe
•A stylish pair of slippers
• A feathered gown
• A statement shoe
• A sophisticated, sleek evening option
ON OUR RADAR
For the first time, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is heading to the Ligurian coast. Connecting Paris and Portofino this June, the three-night trip (concluding at Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino) will include a memorable tasting menu created by renowned French Chef Jean Imbert.
Take a whistle-stop tour of some of Europe’s most-loved cities.
IMMERSE YOURSELF
PLAYLIST: Download our Train Journeys playlist, available on Spotify.
READ: From Russia with Love, The Railway Children.
WATCH: Strangers on a Train, The Darjeeling Limited, Murder on the Orient Express.