Travelling by night train offers many advantages: you can cover long distances without having to take a plane, admire superb landscapes, enjoy the magical experience of waking up in a completely different environment, enjoy the comfort of a bed if you opt for a couchette or a cabin, and very often, save money. The Petit Futé team has therefore selected 12 night trains in Europe that are particularly interesting for the destinations they take you to and the landscapes they cross.
1. The night train from Munich to Rome
The NightJet 294 / 295, operated by ÖBB, the Austrian railway company, is undoubtedly one of the best night trains in Europe. It connects two exceptional cities, Munich and Rome, in just 14 hours. Its great advantage is that, between these two cities, it includes stops in other sublime towns that are well worth a visit: Rosenheim in Bavaria, Salzburg, Villach, Bologna and Florence. So you can imagine a multi-day itinerary with several stops between Munich and Rome.
2. The night train from Brussels to Prague
There is a night train running directly from Brussels to Prague, operated by European Sleeper. Tickets must be booked directly on the website of the same name. There is a departure on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at around 7:20 p.m. from Brussels, itself a destination accessible by train from France, or a departure at around 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from Prague. A total of 16 hours on the train. The line also makes stops in Antwerp, Amsterdam and Berlin.
3. The night train from Zurich to Slovenia and Croatia
Switzerland and Slovenia are linked by a Euronight night train. Specifically, this train, operated by ÖBB, runs to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The entire journey takes almost 15 hours. But on the way, the night train also passes through the Slovenian town of Celje. In this case, the journey takes just 13 hours. Celje itself is well connected to Slovenia's other must-sees. You can book a seat, berth or cabin. A couchette is a mattress with basic comforts, while a cabin is a more comfortable room. Either way, the views from this night train, in the evening or the morning depending on the direction of your journey, are superb. You'll be able to admire the Austrian landscape punctuated by lost farmhouses.
4. The night train from Bucharest to Istanbul
The Bosphorus Express: behind this dreamy name lies one of Europe's most beautiful night trains. It takes you to the very edge of our continent, to Turkey. It departs from Bucharest station, the capital of Romania. It's also possible to take the same train to Sofia, the Bulgarian capital. But beware: in either case, tickets can only be booked directly at the station. That's just as well, as we offer you another night train to Bucharest below. The Bosphorus Express takes you on a journey of around 20 hours, passing through sublime landscapes that you can admire through the window adorned with the crescent moon and star of the Turkish flag. In the early morning, at around 5 a.m., you'll make an obligatory stop at the Turkish border for passport control. This first stop, accompanied by stray cats, is already a change of scenery, but you still have a handful of hours before you reach Istanbul, the gateway to Asia.
5. The night train from Stockholm to Lapland
This is undoubtedly one of Europe's finest night trains, as it crosses the Arctic Circle. From Stockholm, a train takes you to Abisko in Swedish Lapland. Operated by SJ, Sweden's main railway company, the journey takes around 17 h 30. It is also possible to reach Stockholm, the starting point for this journey, by another overnight train, which we'll mention later in this article.
6. The night train from Paris to Briançon
It's possible to leave the hustle and bustle of the capital and breathe in the fresh mountain air. A night train connects Paris with France's highest town, Briançon, on an 11.30-hour journey. The train departs from the Gare d'Austerlitz at around 9 pm, arriving at 1,325 m above sea level at around 8:30 am. Beyond this superb fortified town, you can also visit ski resorts accessible by train, such as Serre-Chevalier, with its 250 km of pistes. The train also makes several stops, including Gap.
7. Night train from Hamburg to Stockholm
One of Europe's most useful night trains leaves Hamburg and, after a 12-hour journey, reaches Stockholm. You'll need to make a reservation on the website of SJ, the Swedish rail company. If you want to reach Hamburg by train, you'll need to take two trains: the first from Paris, Brussels or Liège to Cologne, and the second from Cologne to Hamburg. This means you can plan a trip as far afield as Stockholm, or even as far as Lapland with the night train mentioned above, for a real tour of Europe.
8. The night train from Rome to Sicily
This is one of the most original night trains in Europe, as it rides on a ferry! There's a 12-hour night train from Rome to Palermo, the capital of Sicily. The train will split into several carriages, allowing passengers to board a ferry. Tickets can be purchased on the website of TrenItalia, Italy's leading railway company.
The article to read: plan more train journeys with our selection of cities where you can travel by train for less.
9. The night train from London to Glasgow or Edinburgh
It's possible to reach Scotland by train! Just take the Eurostar to London, then hop on an overnight train to Glasgow, one of Scotland's most beautiful cities. The train takes almost 8 hours and leaves London Euston station at around 11:45pm, arriving in Glasgow in the early hours of the morning. The train in question is called the Caledonian Sleeperand you'll need to book your ticket on the official website. It also runs to Edinburgh.
10. The night train from Budapest to Bucharest
A night train connects the Hungarian capital with the Romanian capital. This journey takes around 15 h 30 and is operated by the Austrian company ÖBB. It is also possible to take this train directly to Vienna rather than Budapest. Again, you can reserve a seat, berth or cabin. The train isparticularly scenic, as it crosses the Hungarian plains at sunset.
11. The night train from Milan to Puglia
A night train from Milan takes you to Bari, Puglia's largest city, in almost 10 hours. Book your journey on TrenItalia. This journey is all the more convenient as Milan is easily accessible from France, thanks to direct high-speed trains from Paris or Chambéry.
12. The night train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi
We spoke earlier about reaching Swedish Lapland by night train, but it's also possible to reach Finnish Lapland by the same means. To do so, take a train from Helsinki to Rovaniemi. The journey takes 11 hours 30 minutes and can be booked on the VR website.
Tempted by one of these journeys? Book your train tickets now and take advantage of the best fares:
