Prague on the Orient Express route?
When the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits launched the Orient Express in 1883, the route linked Paris to Istanbul (then Constantinople), via Strasbourg, Vienna, Budapest, and Bucharest. Prague, despite being the historic capital of Bohemia and an imperial city at the heart of Europe, lay outside this itinerary.
Prague was not included in the original Orient Express for geographic and political reasons. The train followed the most direct corridor to Istanbul, passing through Vienna and Budapest—two major imperial capitals and strategic rail hubs. Prague, further north, sat outside this axis and did not carry the same political or diplomatic weight at the time. As a result, it never featured on the original route, which explains its present-day status as a “later addition” to the legend.
Prague joins the Orient Express itinerary
The prestige Orient Express operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits ceased in 1977. The legend was then revived in 1982 by the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, with painstakingly restored Art Deco carriages.
From the 1990s onward, Prague was added to selected itineraries, giving rise to what is sometimes called the Paris–Prague Orient Express. The timing was significant. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, Prague emerged as a leading cultural destination in Central Europe. By including Prague, the VSOE built on the city’s image as the “City of a Hundred Spires,” celebrated for its Gothic, Baroque, and Art Nouveau architecture, as well as its musical and artistic heritage.
Today, the VSOE offers Paris–Prague journeys, usually overnight. This route combines the prestige of rail tradition with the discovery of a capital that is less conventional than Venice or Istanbul, yet just as rich in history and heritage. Prague is also a stop on the grand Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Paris–Istanbul journey, operated annually by Belmond.
In 2018, Belmond introduced a “Prague” Grand Suite, a strong signal that the Czech capital is now regarded as an essential stop on luxury itineraries.
Art Deco heritage and gastronomy aboard a luxury train
The Paris–Prague luxury train is made up of historic carriages from the 1920s and 1930s, restored to their original splendor. Each compartment is a journey back in time, with marquetry woodwork, Lalique glass panels, and Art Deco detailing. Historic Twin cabins offer period elegance, while contemporary suites—such as the city-inspired Grand Suites—represent the height of luxury, with private marble bathrooms and dedicated service.
Onboard, the journey is punctuated by gourmet meals prepared by top chefs and served in restaurant cars adorned with lacquered panels and historic murals. A four-course dinner, breakfast served in the cabin, and brunch enjoyed as the scenery unfolds are all part of the carefully staged experience that defines luxury train travel.
Prague and the Belle Époque spirit
In the hierarchy of luxury rail journeys, Paris–Venice or Paris–Istanbul remain the classic benchmarks, with Istanbul retaining a unique historical prestige. Prague, however, offers a setting that resonates directly with the aesthetic of the Orient Express. The decorative refinement of the train’s carriages—Lalique glass, marquetry woodwork, Art Deco panels—dates from the same period as Prague’s architectural blossoming.
In the early 20th century, Prague acquired emblematic Art Nouveau landmarks such as the Municipal House (Obecní dům, 1905–1912) and the main railway station, Hlavní nádraží (1901–1909), whose frescoes and Secessionist ornamentation reflect the same attention to detail and Belle Époque elegance. This synchronicity gives the Paris–Prague journey a singular coherence: the refined world experienced aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express continues seamlessly in the architecture and atmosphere of the city itself.
Orient Express Paris–Prague (ref.)
