One Of The World's Most Expensive Tourist Attractions Is An Overnight Train Ride That Costs $107,000 Per Night

The Venice Simplon, better known as the Orient Express, proves that sometimes the way you travel to destinations can be more iconic than the destinations themselves. The European train line has a filmography longer than some of your favorite Hollywood actors, providing the backdrop and scenery of several famous movies with its name in the title — 1974's "Murder on the Orient Express" and its remake in 2017 are among the most well-known. As per SNCF Groupe, the modern day Orient Express is based on the original conceived concept by Belgian engineer Georges Nagelmackers, who took inspiration for a luxury version of an American Pullman train after riding one while traveling through the U.S. in 1868. Considered "the king of trains and the train of kings" by the wealthy elite of their day, the Orient Express launched on October 4, 1883, with all the signs you've made it to the upper class including private cabins, silk sheets, fine crystal and silverware, marble bath fixtures, and several train cars serving as lounges.

The key word here is luxury, and if you want to experience the Orient Express in 2025, it will still cost you a pretty penny. Keep in mind that even within the generally expensive sphere of riding this luxury hotel on wheels, there are different tiers based on cabin size and amount of guests that can make the cost even more astronomical. 

While the Orient Express won't travel to the most expensive place to visit in Europe, anywhere it takes you to in Europe will likely be one of the most expensive rides to anywhere you've ever been. According to Luxury Train Tickets, the base rate per traveler on a standard Twin Cabin — art deco style rooms that can be set up by staff as private lounges by day and twin bedrooms by night — is priced at $3,600 per person. Depending on your destination, the price increases. For example, a one-way trip from Prague to Paris in a Twin Cabin would cost around $5,109 per person, while continuing on from Paris to Istanbul on a Twin Cabin would cost $23,532 per person. Remember, this is the lowest tier of travel on the Orient Express.

The next tier, a Cabin Suite — twice the size with a bedroom and lounge — starts at $11,699 per guest, but like the Twin Cabin, prices skyrocket based on destination to a maximum of around $51,099 per person if you were take the trip from Paris to Istanbul.

To give you some perspective, an adult Eurail Global pass with three months of unlimited travel through Europe would set you back $1,099 per person. If you don't happen to be one of the upper crust and enjoy the thought of traveling by train through Europe, this is a good way to avoid spending too much while on vacation.

As per Luxury Train Tickets, the Grand Suite starts at a base rate of $10,350 per person. Like the other tiers, this ticket includes a continental breakfast, a three-course lunch or brunch, a four-course dinner, and champagne. There are only six Grand Suites available on the Express at any time, each with its own special theme and design. This ticket also pays for your own dedicated steward, who can pour the aforementioned champagne for you while you ride. Each suite is named after a destination the Orient Express covers, including a few European cities with tourist traps that will waste your money.

While that's the starting rate per traveler, like the other tiers, destination also affects the cost of your ticket. A one-way trip from Paris to Istanbul in a Grand Suite costs $84,638 USD per person. Also keep in mind, the prices are also affected by demand for accommodations, with all levels of travel on the Orient Express requiring an advance deposit of 25% of the cost of your ticket. In other words, just to book a ride in a Grand Suite, you'll need to have anywhere from $2,588 to around $21,160 per person ready as a deposit to book your trip. For a more grounded vacation, learn how to find and book a cheap flight to Europe, then do your wallet a favor and vacation in a cheap European city where a beer will cost you less than two dollars.

The final boss of luxury train travel on the Orient Express is hard for the average traveler to fathom. The original concept of the l'Observatoire Private Carriage came in April 2024 during one of the art world's better known art fairs, the Venice Biennale, when the private carriage was introduced with a skylight for gazing at the stars as you ride. Hence the name l'Observatoire, French for the Observatory, an astronomical reference for a place built for the study of stars. With design reminiscent of the Renaissance period, features include stained glass and artisanal design framing a double bed, bathroom and tub, lounge, personal library — which makes sense considering reading is one of the everyday habits of the world's wealthiest people — a hidden tearoom to enjoy your reading in, and a wardrobe closet. This carriage was officially added to the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train as of March 2025.

The million dollar question of course is, how much all this luxury would cost you. According to the Luxury Train Club ticket information for the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the L'Observatoire Suite comes at a cost of £80,000 per person, the equivalent of $107,445 as of June 2025, making it easily pricier than another one of the world's most expensive train rides and tourist attractions in Europe.