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December 28, 2025 • 6 min read

Night Trains in Europe: Skip the Hotel, Wake Up Somewhere New

Board in Vienna at 9 PM. Wake up in Venice. Skip a hotel night. Here's how.

The first time I took a night train, I thought I'd made a mistake.

Cramped couchette. Some guy's feet near my head. Weird sounds at 3 AM when we crossed a border and officials wanted passports.

Then I woke up in a new country at 7 AM, stepped off the train into morning light, and had an entire day ahead of me. No red-eye fog. No airport at 5 AM. Just... there.

I've taken maybe 15 night trains since. It doesn't always work out. But when it does, it's magic.

Why Night Trains Work

  • You save a hotel night. Train ticket + bed = less than flight + hotel.
  • You don't waste daylight. Travel while sleeping.
  • City center to city center. No airport transfers.
  • No security theater. Just... get on the train.
  • Better for the planet. 90% less CO2 than flying.

What the Sleeping Options Actually Are

Seat (€20-40)

Regular train seat. Reclines a bit. You probably won't sleep great, but it works for shorter routes or if you're really broke.

Couchette (€40-80)

Shared compartment with 4-6 fold-down bunks. You get a pillow and blanket. This is what most backpackers book. It's fine. Not luxury, but fine.

Sleeper (€80-150+)

Private or semi-private cabin. 1-3 beds. Sometimes includes breakfast. This is what you book when you're tired of hostels and want one nice night.

Routes That Are Actually Worth It

  • Vienna → Venice (9h) — The Nightjet. Well-run. Wake up to Italian breakfast.
  • Paris → Barcelona (10h) — Through southern France. Classic.
  • Budapest → Krakow (10h) — Cross Central Europe while you sleep.
  • Stockholm → Narvik (18h) — Into the Arctic. Serious scenery.
  • Prague → Budapest (7h) — Short but saves a hotel night.
  • Amsterdam → Zurich (11h) — Through the Rhine valley.

How to Book

  • Nightjet (nightjet.com) — Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland
  • SNCF (sncf-connect.com) — French routes
  • Trainline (thetrainline.com) — Aggregates multiple operators

Book 2-4 weeks ahead. Night trains are popular again. Couchettes sell out, especially summer and holidays.

What to Bring

  • Earplugs + eye mask. Non-negotiable.
  • Water + snacks. Dining cars close. You'll want something at midnight.
  • Layers. Compartments can be hot or cold.
  • Something to change into. You're sleeping with strangers.
  • Small bag for essentials. Main bag goes in overhead storage.

Security

Night trains are generally safe, but:

  • Keep passport and wallet under your pillow or in a money belt
  • Lock compartment from inside if possible
  • Store bags overhead, not accessible from the corridor

Honest Assessment

Sleep quality is hit or miss. Some people sleep great—the rocking motion helps. Others wake up every time the train stops.

I get maybe 5-6 hours of actual sleep. Good enough to function. Not good enough if you have something important the next day.

For the right routes—long ones where you'd lose a day to travel anyway—totally worth it. For shorter trips where you need to be sharp, maybe just take a morning train.

Planning a multi-city trip? Polo helps you figure out the order and connections—including where night trains make sense.