The Best European Sleeper Train Routes for 2026
With a pending fuel crisis, flight cancellations and overfilled airports, what used to be routine travel has quickly become an expensive gamble. For those from Europe, a great alternative to still make the most of summer holidays are trains. Here are some of my favourite overnight routes from all over the continent!
Flight cancellations and delays have unfortunately affected a growing number of people and are throwing the summer plans of many for a loop. With tensions rising across the globe, a good alternative is to spend your holidays nearer to home.
For those in Europe, that means you can make the most of one of the most extensive and well-connected rail networks globally. The EU railway network alone has over 200 000km of railway lines connecting you to all corners of the continent.
Personally, I think train is one of the best ways to really experience Europe. Some of the most beautiful landscapes are visible via train travel, like the Glacier Express in Switzerland or the Flåm Railway through Norway.
But today, we are going to step away from scenery as we will be talking about those trains that get you from one destination to the next all while you are sleeping.
Sleeper trains are an amazing way to cross larger distances and see more, all without loosing any time as you are travelling overnight. Europe has an extensive network of sleeper trains (you can find a map of it here), so here are some of my favourites:
Best overnight train routes in Europe
Berlin to/from Amsterdam
Provider: European Sleeper
Average Cost: 40-80€ for a sleeper compartment
Time: 7-8 hours
I recently took this train and while it was 2/3 hours delayed, I actually slept super well and arrived rested in Amsterdam. They have seater compartments, or 5-person sleeper compartments.
As a solo, female traveller, I love that they have the option to book onto female-only compartments.
One thing to note it that the 5-person sleeper is definitely cosy, so if you are with 4 strangers, you have to be comfortable to be in close proximity for that journey. Still, would really recommend this train and it goes further to Brussels and Prague on either side.
Bratislava & Vienna to/from Split
Provider: Nightjet
Average Cost: seats from as little as 25€, sleepers from 100€+
Time: 17 hours for full journey, Vienna-Split 15 hours
Getting from Austria all the way to Croatia overnight is a fantastic way to head on holiday. I’ve personally had some good experiences with the Nightjet across Europe, with options of seater, sleeper and comfortable sleeper beds.
They even have small single compartments from around 200€, which is a great option for solo travellers!
Berlin to/from Gothenburg & Stockholm
Provider: SJ Euro Night
Average Cost: seat from 40€, sleeper options from 75€-200€+
Time: 15 hours
With options ranging from affordable seats to private sleeper compartments, this train is a great option to get from Germany to Sweden or vice versa.
There is another company called Snälltåget which does the same journey, it’s another great option with sometimes slightly cheaper ticket prices. It’s a more “old-school” option that’s great value for groups.
London to/from Scotland
Provider: Caledonian Sleeper
Average Cost: seats start around £50, sleepers around £120 and £300
Time: 8+ hours
The Caledonian Sleeper is an amazing option for staycations in the UK, getting you from London to Scotland overnight. Destinations include Glasgow and Edinburgh all the way up to Fort William or Aberdeen.
When researching your night trains, you might find that most have pretty bad reviews (I think as you’d only leave a train review if your experience was bad). The Caledonian Sleeper actually has good reviews, which speaks for its quality!
Paris to/from Toulouse
Provider: SNCF INTERCITÉS
Average Cost: seats start at 35€, couchette from 45€
Time: 9.5 hours
The night trains in France are actually SUPER affordable and a great way to experience more of the country.
They are called INTERCITÉS and will take you across France overnight, including destinations like Nice, Bayonne and Montpellier.
Helsinki to/from Rovaniemi
Provider: VR
Average Cost: seats start around 30€, compartments at 100€+
Time: 12.5 hours
Known as the Santa Claus Express, this is an amazing way to explore Finland. The experience is super unique and the restaurant car serves Finnish dishes.
The experience is more private than other sleeper trains, where you book a cabin with 2 bunk beds.
Milan to/from Sicily
Provider: Intercity Notte
Average Cost: seats from 60€+, sleepers over 100€
Time: ~21 hours
One of the longest routes and a pretty unique one as the entire train is rolled onto a ferry at the Strait of Messina. That makes for one of the coolest train journeys you could possibly take while also crossing the entirety of Italy to beautiful Sicily.
Vienna & Budapest to/from Bucharest
Provider: CFR/MÁV/ÖBB
Average Cost: seats from around 45€, sleepers from 60-100+€
Time: 17+ hours
Another long journey that crosses 3 countries and is a great way to explore more of Eastern Europe.
Bucharest is an affordable alternative to other European capital cities and still a very underrated travel destination.
Europe night and sleeper train map
Check the Back on Track night train map for all route information, where trains can take you and anything else you might want to know.
Taking an overnight train vs bus
I have taken a lot of sleeper trains, but also countless night buses in my travel time and I think both are good options. I would always book a train over a bus if it is feasible money wise as I tend to feel a little safer there.
Flixbus and BlaBla Car both have countless night bus options and they have taken me across Europe many a time with no major problems (barring broken toilets, stinky buses and delays). The reason I prefer trains is that in buses you are reliant safety wise on the driver.
On top of that, in trains I can often choose my seat or move if uncomfortable. If you get a “bad” bus neighbour, you’re stuck for the 12 hours journey.
So yes, I prefer trains but have and will continue to use both across Europe.
Hi, I’m Bell
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