Imagine a journey that begins not with a destination, but with a feeling—the soft hum of anticipation, the gleam of polished brass, and the promise of a world that moves at a more graceful pace. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Belmond’s legendary train that has long been synonymous with luxury rail travel, is about to add a dazzling new chapter to its story. In 2027, for the first time in its storied history, Monte Carlo will join the train’s European itinerary, bringing an extra layer of glamour to an already spellbinding route. Beginning in May, the train will depart from Paris, glide along the sun-drenched Côte d’Azur, and arrive in Monaco before continuing onward to Venice. This isn’t just a one-off journey; Belmond has confirmed that Monte Carlo will become an annual addition to the iconic train’s schedule, a permanent invitation for travellers to experience one of the world’s most glittering destinations in the most romantic way possible. It is the kind of news that makes you pause, close your eyes, and picture yourself waving goodbye to the ordinary world from a window framed by midnight-blue lacquer and golden Art Deco details.
Monte Carlo itself is a place that needs no introduction, yet it deserves every word of one. It is a city that has built its reputation on the art of living beautifully, where the Mediterranean sparkles like a vault of sapphires and the streets hum with the quiet confidence of those who have arrived. Travellers will be drawn to the famously glamorous city for its landmarks, from the legendary Casino de Monte-Carlo—a palace of Belle Époque opulence where fortunes have been won and lost with a spin of the wheel—to the thunderous, star-studded spectacle of the Formula One Grand Prix, where the world’s fastest drivers race through narrow streets that are normally reserved for strolls and sunbathing. But Monte Carlo is more than just a checklist of famous sights; it is an atmosphere, a state of mind. The city has long attracted generations of artists, aristocrats, film stars, and dreamers, all drawn to the Côte d’Azur by its distinctive sense of style, culture, and occasion. To arrive there by the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express feels less like a simple vacation and more like stepping into a living postcard, a celebration of an era when travel was about the journey as much as the destination.
The journey itself is a work of art, beginning in the French capital, where passengers board the train’s midnight-blue carriages, each one restored to a level of perfection that borders on the obsessive. The interiors are a love letter to the 1920s and 1930s, with sleek lines, inlaid marquetry, plush fabrics, and the kind of soft lighting that makes everyone look like a star. Guests can choose from historic cabins, cosy yet refined havens that have carried travellers across Europe for nearly a century, or grand suites, which offer more space and an even deeper immersion into the train’s golden-age atmosphere. But the most extraordinary accommodation is L’Observatoire, a one-of-a-kind carriage designed by the French artist JR. This is not merely a place to sleep; it is a whimsical, dreamlike creation that transforms the train into a moving gallery. The suite includes a bedroom, an en suite bathroom with a freestanding bathtub where you can soak while watching the landscape race past, and a spacious living area. There is even a library and a secret tearoom, hidden away like a private joke for those lucky enough to know where to look. It is the kind of space that encourages slow mornings, lingering conversations, and the feeling that every moment on board is part of a larger, more beautiful story.
As evening falls, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express becomes a stage for one of the finest dining experiences in the world. Whatever your accommodation, you can choose to dine in one of the train’s two restaurant cars, Étoile du Nord or L’Oriental, each with its own distinct personality. Here, white tablecloths gleam under the soft glow of lamps, silverware is polished to a mirror shine, and the menu is a celebration of European cuisine, paired with wine selected by the sommelier. After dinner, the evening continues in the Bar Car, number 3674, where cocktails are shaken and stirred with theatrical flair and a pianist fills the air with lively melodies. It is easy to lose track of time in this intimate, wood-panelled carriage, listening to the gentle rhythm of the rails and watching the reflections of distant lights flicker across the windows. Morning, however, brings its own magic. As the train winds along the Côte d’Azur, breakfast arrives with fresh pastries, pressed fruit juices, and the unmistakable aroma of good coffee. The views through the windows are nothing short of breathtaking: the dramatic red cliffs of the Massif de l’Estérel rise sharply against the blue sky, and the train winds through Saint-Raphaël towards Cannes and Nice, offering sweeping panoramas across the French Riviera. It is the kind of scenery that makes you want to press your face to the glass, to capture every detail in your memory, to slow down time itself.
The approach to Monaco is perhaps the most theatrical part of the entire journey. As the train draws closer, the railway cuts into the mountainside, plunging through tunnels that obscure the light before emerging into the glittering reality of the principality. The train eventually arrives at Monte Carlo station, located deep beneath the rock, a fittingly dramatic entrance to a place that has always understood the art of arrival. According to Belmond, the decision to add Monte Carlo to the route was an easy one. “Monaco has long held a special place in the story of European travel, with generations drawn to the Côte d’Azur by its distinctive sense of style, culture, and occasion,” said Pascal Deyrolle, Area Managing Director for Trains – Continental Europe. “Introducing the destination feels like a natural continuation for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, bringing the romance of luxury rail travel to a locale that has always understood the art of arrival.” His words capture exactly why this new route feels so inevitable: Monte Carlo has always been a place of spectacle and sophistication, a destination that rewards those who make an effort to arrive in style. The train, with its history, its craftsmanship, and its unapologetic celebration of the good life, is the perfect partner for such a journey.
Of course, such romance does not come without a price. The journey is slated to start at €4,870 per person, based on two guests sharing a historic cabin, and that price includes a 24-hour steward service, all meals with the sommelier’s choice of wine, unlimited soft drinks, and transfers. It is a significant sum, enough to make many of us pause and think about savings accounts, future plans, and whether we can justify such an indulgence. But perhaps that is exactly the point. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express has never been about getting from one place to another; it is about the experience of being transported, body and soul, to another era. It is about sitting in a grand suite, watching the French countryside roll by, feeling the gentle sway of the carriage, and remembering that travel can still be a beautiful, unhurried ritual. For those who do make the journey, the memories will last far longer than the train ride itself. And for those who are still saving, still dreaming, still imagining what it would be like to wake up in Monte Carlo after a night of piano music and champagne, the mere existence of this route is a reminder that magic is still possible. So start planning, start dreaming, and perhaps, come May 2027, you will find yourself standing on a platform in Paris, ready to begin a journey that you will never, ever forget.
