Berlin – Vienna
via Dresdendep.evening
arr.morning
Currywurst for dinner, Viennese coffee for breakfast.
Night train special · 2027 timetableFall asleep in Berlin.
Fall asleep in Berlin.
Wake up in Vienna.
Night trains are back and suddenly cool again: board in the evening, rattle across Europe overnight and step off in the city centre in the morning. We picked 28 routes that are genuinely worth it.
The night train constellation
Tap a line or a ticket. Every route runs in both directions.
Hamburg – Vienna
via Hannoverdep.evening
arr.morning
Swap the harbour for the opera, with one long sleep in a new-generation Nightjet.
Munich – Rome
via Bologna, Florencedep.evening
arr.morning
Fall asleep in Bavaria, wake up to pine trees and espresso.
Engineering works 2027: no service 7 Feb to 4 May 2027; 5 May to 29 Aug 2027 only as far as Bologna (no Florence or Rome).
Munich – Amsterdam
dep.evening
arr.morning
From beer halls to canals without a single change.
Berlin – Paris
via Hamburg-Harburg, Lüttich, Brüsseldep.17:52
arr.10:45
Berlin and Paris are linked by night train again. Croissant beats currywurst. You can also board in Hamburg-Harburg at 21:55.
Departs Berlin-Spandau. Return from Paris Nord Tue, Thu, Sun at 16:57.
Amsterdam – Prague
via Berlin, Dresdendep.21:34
arr.10:54
Canals at night, the Vltava by lunch. You simply sleep through Berlin.
The train starts in Brussels at 18:06. Return from Prague Tue, Thu, Sun at 18:00.
Cologne – Milan
via Gotthard, Lugano, Comodep.22:07
arr.12:40
Cross the Alps in your sleep, wake up at the Gotthard, lunch in Milan.
From the timetable change on 13 Dec 2026 the train runs via Breda and Eindhoven; times may change.
Hamburg – Stockholm
via Kopenhagen, Lunddep.evening
arr.morning
Cross the Øresund Bridge and wake up to cinnamon buns.
The train starts in Berlin. Operated by RDC instead of SJ since September 2026.
Vienna – Venice
dep.evening
arr.morning
Schnitzel for dinner, gondolas for breakfast.
Engineering works 2027: no service 24 May to 11 July 2027.
London – Edinburgh
dep.evening
arr.morning
The classic: fall asleep in London, wake up in Scotland.
Departs London Euston. Seats or cabins, no couchettes.
Sofia – Istanbul
via Plovdivdep.evening
arr.morning
Adventure mode: passport check in the middle of the night, Istanbul in the morning.
Everyone gets off briefly for passport control at Kapıkule. Arrives at Halkalı on the city outskirts.
Hamburg – Munich
via Bremen, Augsburgdep.21:22
arr.08:14
- Seat ↗
- Couchette
- Sleeper
New from 23 March 2027: your own little suite with a lie-flat seat instead of a bunk.
The Nox Suite is a large screened seat that turns into a lounge position at night. Return from Munich Sun, Tue, Thu at 21:20.
Stuttgart – Budapest
dep.evening
arr.morning
Swabian noodles for dinner, the Danube for breakfast.
Zurich – Hamburg
via Basel, Hannoverdep.evening
arr.morning
Lakeside in the evening, the Elbe by morning. On the new-generation Nightjet, with mini cabins for solo travellers.
Since December 2025 this route runs with the new-generation Nightjet.
Vienna – Amsterdam
via Linz, Nuremberg, Würzburg, Münsterdep.evening
arr.morning
Schnitzel goodbye, stroopwafel hello. In between you sleep your way right across Germany.
New-generation Nightjet with mini cabins. You can also board in Linz, Passau or Nuremberg.
Vienna – Rome
via Villach, Bologna, Florencedep.evening
arr.morning
Out with the waltz, in with la dolce vita. You sleep through the Alps and almost have breakfast in Tuscany.
Engineering works 2027: on 5 and 6 May 2027 the train only runs as far as Bologna.
Vienna – Zurich
via Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruckdep.evening
arr.morning
All the way across Austria without seeing a single mountain. Instead you wake up by Lake Zurich.
Zurich – Prague
via Basel, Dresdendep.evening
arr.morning
The Canopus: Czech sleeping cars, light breakfast included, and the Vltava waiting for you in the morning.
No couchettes. Deluxe compartments with private shower and WC are only offered on this route. Bookable 120 days ahead.
Zurich – Zagreb
via Innsbruck, Ljubljanadep.evening
arr.morning
Bahnhofstrasse at night, Ljubljana gliding past in the morning, then coffee on Ban Jelačić Square.
The Tauern railway is closed from 8 Feb to 9 Jul 2027. Check timetable and diversions with the operator for that period.
Vienna – Split
via Graz, Zagrebdep.evening
arr.morning
The beach train: board in Vienna, wake up to the Adriatic. Your car can come too.
Seasonal train: in 2026 it ran from 29 May to 27 Sep. Check 2027 dates with the operator. Return from Split Mon, Thu, Sat.
Vienna – Warsaw
dep.evening
arr.morning
Coffee in Vienna at night, pierogi in Warsaw by morning. At just under ten hours one of the shorter night trains.
Budapest – Bucharest
via Arad, Sibiu, Brașovdep.evening
arr.morning
Right across Transylvania: the Carpathians outside the window in the morning, Bucharest by lunchtime. Or hop off in Brașov.
Reservation is compulsory. A long ride, but you see the most scenic stretch in daylight.
Paris – Nice
via Marseille, Toulon, Cannesdep.evening
arr.morning
- Seat ↗
- Couchette ↗
- Sleeper
The Seine at night, the Côte d’Azur by morning. Practically from couchette to beach.
No sleeping car: couchettes with 4 berths (1st class) or 6 berths (2nd class); whole compartments can be booked.
Paris – Briançon
via Gap, Embrundep.evening
arr.morning
- Seat ↗
- Couchette ↗
- Sleeper
The ski train: Paris at night, the Hautes-Alpes by morning. France’s highest town is waiting with mountain views.
During overnight engineering works some journeys are replaced by buses. Check before you go.
Paris – Toulouse
dep.evening
arr.morning
- Seat ↗
- Couchette ↗
- Sleeper
Under ten hours to the Pink City. Croissant on board, cassoulet for dinner.
In autumn 2026 the train continued to Latour-de-Carol in the Pyrenees on Fridays and Saturdays; otherwise it terminates in Toulouse.
Rome – Palermo
via Naples, Messinadep.evening
arr.morning
The train boards the ferry: you cross the Strait of Messina still sitting in your carriage.
Several Intercity Notte trains a night, also from Milan. Classes are called Relax (sleeper), Comfort (couchette) and Easy (seat).
Belgrade – Bar
via Bijelo Polje, Podgoricadep.evening
arr.morning
One of Europe’s most spectacular railways, 254 tunnels included. In the morning you roll past Lake Skadar to the sea.
Departs Beograd Centar. In summer there is also a day train, so you get to see the Mala Rijeka viaduct.
London – Inverness
via Aviemoredep.evening
arr.morning
Euston at night, the Highlands by morning. Wake up between moorland and whisky country.
No service on Saturday nights. No trains over the holidays (24 to 26 Dec 2026 and 31 Dec 2026 to 2 Jan 2027).
YEAH night train tours
Sleep on the train. Wake up on holiday.
Short trips built from the routes above: the night counts as travel time, the day belongs to the city.
Vienna without the Friday hotel night
Board after work on Friday, back fresh on Monday. Two nights on the train, one in a hotel.
🚆 2 nights on the train🏨 1 hotel night🎉 For two + squad
Affiliate link: Vienna- Fri evening
Board in Berlin, picnic dinner, lights out somewhere past Dresden.
- Sat morning
Arrive in Vienna. Breakfast in a coffee house, then Naschmarkt and the MuseumsQuartier.
- Sat evening
A wine tavern on the edge of town or bar hopping in the 7th district. Night in a hotel.
- Sun
Prater, Danube Canal, one last Melange. Bags in a station locker.
- Sun evening
Nightjet back to Berlin. You are home on Monday morning.
The twistThe Melange ranking
Three coffee houses, three Melanges, scores from 1 to 10. Whoever ends up furthest from the group average buys breakfast on the train.
Check 2027 days and times with Nightjet before booking.
The Paris sprint
Board in Spandau at 17:52 on Friday, breakfast in Paris on Saturday, back in Berlin at ten on Monday.
🚆 2 nights on the train🏨 1 hotel night💞 For two
Affiliate link: Paris- Fri 17:52
European Sleeper from Berlin-Spandau. Coming from Hamburg? Board at Harburg at 21:55.
- Sat 10:45
Arrive at Paris Nord. Croissant, Canal Saint-Martin, Montmartre at night. Night in a hotel.
- Sun
Flea market or a picnic by the Seine, then back to Gare du Nord.
- Sun 16:57
Train from Paris Nord via Brussels and Hamburg-Harburg.
- Mon 10:10
Arrive at Berlin Gesundbrunnen. Work from home after lunch, croissant crumbs in your bag.
The twistThe baguette relay
Everyone buys a baguette in a different neighbourhood. Blind tasting on the Seine, the winning loaf rides home with you.
European Sleeper leaves Berlin Mon, Wed, Fri and Paris Tue, Thu, Sun. Times as per the October 2026 timetable.
A Munich weekend on the Nox
New from March 2027: your own suite from Hamburg on Friday night, Bavarian breakfast in Munich on Saturday.
🚆 2 nights on the train🏨 1 hotel night🎉 Squad
Affiliate link: Munich- Fri 21:22
Nox from Hamburg, stopping in Bremen. Recline, headphones in.
- Sat 08:14
Arrive in Munich. Viktualienmarkt, watch the Eisbach surfers, beer garden in the afternoon.
- Sat evening
Glockenbach district. Night in a hotel.
- Sun
English Garden or a lake trip, back to the station in the evening.
- Sun 21:20
Nox back, arriving in Hamburg at 08:27 on Monday.
The twistWhite sausage before noon
Munich tradition says white sausage is eaten before noon. Can you make it after arrival, with a pretzel and sweet mustard?
Nox leaves Hamburg Mon, Wed, Fri and Munich Sun, Tue, Thu, starting 23 March 2027. Hotels are especially pricey during Oktoberfest, book early.
The big Alpine loop
Three nights on trains, three countries, two hotel nights. Cologne, Milan, Venice, Vienna and back to Germany.
🚆 3 nights on the train🏨 2 hotel nights🎉 Squad
🚆 Cologne → Milan🚆 Vienna → Venice🚆 Berlin → ViennaHotels in Milan ↗Hotels in Venice ↗Hotels in Vienna ↗Explore Milan →Explore Venice →Explore Vienna →
Affiliate link: Milan, Venice, Vienna- Sat 22:07
European Sleeper from Cologne. The Alps start somewhere in the night.
- Sun 12:40
Arrive at Milano Garibaldi. Aperitivo instead of a nap. Night in a hotel.
- Mon
Day train to Venice. Alleys, cicchetti, sunset by the water.
- Mon evening
Nightjet from Venice to Vienna.
- Tue
Vienna in one go: coffee house, Naschmarkt, Danube Canal. Night in a hotel.
- Wed evening
Nightjet to Berlin or Hamburg. Home on Thursday morning.
The twistThree-country espresso
Score the first coffee in every country. Whoever predicts the winning cup becomes squad barista.
From 13 Dec 2026 the Cologne-Milan train runs via Breda and Eindhoven; times may change. Venice-Vienna does not run 24 May to 11 July 2027.
Seat, couchette or sleeper?
The honest version, no brochure talk.
Seat
The budget hack. Sleeping upright is for the tough, the young and anyone who can sleep anywhere.
Couchette
The shared-flat compartment: four to six bunks, bedding included, strangers included. Sweet spot for squads: book the whole compartment.
Sleeper
A proper bed, often with a washbasin, sometimes with your own shower. For couples, the upgrade that pays off.
Pack list for the night
Is it worth it?
- You save a hotel night
- You arrive in the city centre
- No airport security queue
- Far less CO₂ than flying
- It takes longer
- Not everyone sleeps well on rails
- Timetables and engineering works change often
- Popular dates sell out early
Quick questions, quick answers
Do I need a reservation?
Yes. Almost all night trains require a reservation, even with an Interrail pass.
When should I book?
Early. Nightjet sells up to 360 days ahead, and four to six weeks ahead is a good rule of thumb.
Is breakfast included?
On Nightjets it is included in couchettes and sleepers. European Sleeper charges extra.
Can women travel in a women-only compartment?
On Nightjets women-only compartments and private compartments can be booked.
What if a connecting train is late?
If you combine trains from different operators there is usually no connection guarantee. Plan a buffer.
Status: 2 November 2026. Timetables change, especially at the December timetable change. Please check with the operator before booking. No prices on purpose: they change daily.
Sources: europeansleeper.eu · nightjet.com · ADAC: Nachtzug durch Europa 2026 · RDC / nachtexpress.de · Caledonian Sleeper · nighttrainmap.com