The Danube Express: Europe's Newest Luxury Train

A joint Hungarian-British venture seeks to recreate the glamour of a bygone era with "luxury train cruises" across Europe on the private Danube Express. Taking its cue from the Royal Hungarian Express (the train of Hungary's last Communist president), the Danube Express offers itineraries through some of Europe's most gorgeous scenery and cities: Istanbul, Prague, Vienna, Transylvania, Moravia and Bulgaria.

After a soft launch last fall, Europe's "first luxury hotel on wheels" now offers fascinating routes including The Transylvanian 2009 (a 4-day journey from Istanbul through rural Bulgaria and the legendary land of Count Dracula), The Bohemian from Budapest, and The Bosphorus Voyager to Istanbul. Though there's no formal dress code, there's a dining car and lounge car serving complimentary meals, wine, beer, and soft drinks. The brass-fitted Deluxe sleeping compartments are spacious and have ensuite showers and toilets.