Night train Europe: the most beautiful routes & best tips
Imagine getting on a train in the evening, closing your eyes and - when you open them again - being in a whole new city. Fully recovered, you can now start your vacation and really enjoy your city trip.
With a night train you don't lose any time. You literally dream yourself directly to your vacation destination.
We packed our pajamas and went on a climate-conscious short trip with the sleeper train. Here we tell you which routes we recommend and what we particularly like about a vacation on a sleeper train.
Night train instead of flight: the five advantages
Whether it's Copenhagen or Vienna, Rotterdam or Stockholm - we love exploring European cities and leaving our everyday lives behind on a city trip. The best thing about it: we can travel to many of these exciting cities super comfortably by train. Germany is conveniently located in the center of the continent and is ideally connected to the extensive rail network.
We have already taken several vacations by train. Each time, we have enjoyed these five benefits:
1. traveling with liquids: For a city trip, we don't pack much. But sure, we want a drink for the road, body lotion and shampoo, a sample of our favorite perfume and hand sanitizer. While when flying we have to make sure that liquids stay under 100 ml and fit into a zip bag, we can pack our hand luggage for the train without any stressful "What can we actually take with us now?".
2. no crowded check-ins: there is no stressful baggage check-in and long queues. If you travel by night train, you can board directly.
3. less CO2: Those who travel by train reduce their CO2 emissions by about 80% compared to air travel. (Source: Federal Environment Agency)
4. in the middle instead of outside: main stations are usually located in the middle of the city. So you don't lose any more time and can start exploring right away. In addition, one saves the stress (and additional costs as well as CO2) to drive with another means of transport from the airport to the center.
5. rested: Board the train in Hamburg in the evening, wake up in Vienna in the morning. Travelling by night train is a dream. We can recharge our batteries while we sleep to explore our destination full power after our arrival.
Top Four: The most beautiful routes by night train in Europe
Night trains were considered particularly chic 150 years ago. It was the exclusive way to travel. Then, when low-cost airlines came along a few years ago, the popularity of night trains - literally - fell by the wayside. Fewer and fewer people were buying tickets. In 2016, it was time for Deutsche Bahn to discontinue its night trains.
Now, the sleeper train vacation is experiencing its renaissance - with a variety of providers and routes. These are our favorites:
#1 In the Nightjet from Hamburg to Vienna
Since 2016, the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) has been the main provider of night trains in Germany. Sounds strange? In fact, ÖBB's dense network extends far beyond the borders of its own country. The so-called Nightjet connects more than 25 major European cities with each other - for example, Venice with Vienna, Split (Croatia) with Graz (Switzerland) and Prague with Frankfurt.
We took the Nightjet from Hamburg to Vienna. The journey takes just under 13 hours - so we were able to get off at the station at 09:15 and then check into our hotel.
Unser Tipp: das „magdas “. Our tip: the "magdas ". The hotel is located just a few minutes walk from downtown Vienna and is particularly focused on sustainability. The rooms are designed in upcycling and equipped with organic care products, heated with geothermal energy and a photovoltaic system was installed on the roof.
Why the hotel is made for a trip by night train? If you arrive by train - like the Nightjet - and show your ticket at check-in, you get a 10% discount on the room rate.
#2 On the Berlin Night Express from Berlin to Malmö
On the night train from Berlin to Sweden? That's possible with the Berlin-Night-Express of the Swedish railroad company Snälltåget. On all days (except Saturday), the train departs from Berlin station at 8:57 p.m. - heading for Sweden.
We could travel all the way to Stockholm on the night train and arrive in the capital at 2:10 p.m. the next day. But we decide to travel "only" as far as Malmö. We feel like exploring the historic half-timbered houses, the 16th-century market square and the "Turning Torso" - Scandinavia's tallest building in the sustainable VästraHamnen district.
By the way, get off the train and onto your bike in Malmö. If you stay at the "Oh Boy Hotel" - the world's first bike hotel - you get a bike with your room. The bike paths in the city center are so well developed that 100,000 journeys are made here every day by this environmentally friendly means of transport. And who knows, maybe you'll soon cycle the 100,001 ride.
#3 The European Sleeper from Berlin to Amsterdam
Since 2021, there is the European Sleeper - a night train that travels through Belgium and Holland and now also stops in Berlin. You can easily board the train in the German capital at 20:30 and be in Amsterdam at 06:26 the next morning. Now you have the whole day to visit the Dutch capital.
What you should do in any case to get the absolute "Amsterdam feeling": a canal trip. From the water, you can appreciate the charm of the many bridges, the old town (built on wooden stilts, by the way), and the landmarks much better.
Instead of getting into the typical "tourist motorboat", we recommend you rent a pedal boat to leave a positive IMPACT on the city. Or even better, join the Plastic Fishing. Together with like-minded people, you can paddle through the canals, see the beautiful city and fish plastic out of the water along the way. See when the next tour is at PlasticWhale.
#4 With Green City Trip from Hannover to Prague
Several times a month, the GreenCityTrip train rolls out of the Netherlands and heads to the Czech Republic. We join it in Hanover. Our destination: Prague, one of the oldest cities in Europe.
Here you will find a historic city center that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With the second largest castle area in the world, the Golden Lane (where, by the way, writer Franz Kafka also lived), and many sights right on the banks of the Vltava River.
Since the night train arrives at the main station at 10:30, it is the perfect time for an extensive brunch. We go to the "Moment" and order from the 100% vegan menu. The "beer goulash with soy meat" sounds a bit unusual at first, but it's totally delicious!
Even more night trains in Europe
Now we have told you our favorite travel connections by night train. But of course, there are many more routes. To help you discover them all at a glance, "Back on Track " has published a cool map.
You will see: You can travel all the way north to Narvik in Norway, and all the way south to Palermo in Sicily.
Not connected to our German cities, but also recommended, are for example the night trains Intercités de nuit , which travel in France. And the Sofia-Istanbul Express , which connects Turkey with Bulgaria.
Night train booking: what you should consider
In order to arrive at your destination truly refreshed, you should choose the most comfortable option when booking. Most providers distinguish between deluxe, comfort and budget seats. Be sure to book a Deluxe or Comfort seat if you want a comfortable bed. Budget seats are simple seats that you can only easily extend.
Also, we advise you to book as early as possible and keep in mind that some night trains only run in certain seasons.
Tips for even more sustainability on the night train
1. e-tickets: Simply save your tickets on your smartphone. This saves paper and conserves resources. Plus, you don't have to remember to pack your printouts.
2. your own water bottle: Zero waste - the avoidance of waste - is also possible on the road. Pack your own water bottle. You like to snack on the train? Take fruit, nuts and sandwiches in reusable cans.
3. vegan meals: If your journey takes a little longer, it can happen that snacks are not enough. If you get "really hungry", you can choose between different dishes in the on-board bistro - among them are now also many vegan options. Who lives vegan, saves 47% CO2. (Source: Deutschlandfunk )
4. reduce luggage: If you consciously pack only what you really need, not only you have less load, but also the night train. It has to use less energy, saves some fuel and avoids even more CO2. Our IP1 in size S is perfect for a weekend trip.
5. own cosmetic products: On the overnight train, it's like being at home. You brush your teeth before sleeping, you wash yourself after getting up. So that your care routine on the train is as sustainable as in your own bathroom, pack your organic cosmetics. Ideal for this: our beautycase - in which you have everything at hand and do not have to open your suitcase.
Are you totally inspired now? You can get more ideas for your next trip by train in the books "Zug statt Flug " and "Nachtzugreisen - Die schönsten Strecken Europas ".
Going on vacation with a lot of CO2 in your luggage? Well, that train has long since left the station. Have fun on your next trip.
