The Orient Express: A Golden Age of Travel

In the Golden Age of Rail, passengers could buy a ticket from London to Istanbul on the Orient Express network. En route to Paris, the train passed the home of a forgotten villain, whose journeys on the legendary train transformed his fortunes. While an evening at the birthplace of the Can-can in the French capital was something they'd never forget in the Moulin Rouge.

Retrace the Orient Express' 2,000-mile journey from Paris to Istanbul. Heading east, stop at Germany's "City of Gold," where most of its jewellery is made. Then on to Munich, a city haunted by its dark past. Finally, the train reaches Salzburg, a city that pays tribute to its famous musical family in a most unexpected way.

Passengers could buy a ticket from London to Istanbul on the Orient Express network. Travelling east through Austria, they might stop in its capital to meet the father of psychoanalysis, whose own flight to freedom is forever linked to the legendary train. Then on to the City of Spas, home to one of the world's longest and fastest tram lines, run entirely by children.

A ticket from London to Istanbul on the Orient Express network meant crossing continents in style. Beyond the Balkans, Sofia offers a stark reminder of a country with a troubled past. Further south, a royal palace hides exotic surprises in its grounds. The train's final destination: Istanbul, where East meets West, and the unexpected always feels possible.