Crossing Europe by night train, in style
There is a particular kind of luxury in falling asleep in one country and waking in another, having travelled the whole way at ground level. Europe's sleeper network — quietly written off a decade ago — is in the middle of a revival, and for the conscious traveller it is the most civilised way to cover a continent.
A single short-haul flight can produce several times the emissions of the equivalent rail journey. But the case for the night train is not only environmental. It is the romance of the dining car, the slow reveal of the Alps at dawn, and the simple fact that the journey becomes part of the holiday rather than a tax on it.
The night train turns the worst part of any trip — the getting there — into the best.
The routes worth planning a trip around
Vienna has become the beating heart of the network, with sleeper services fanning out across the continent. From there you can wake in the Italian lakes, the German capital, or the foothills of the Alps. Paris is steadily reconnecting too, and the Scandinavian lines offer some of the most beautiful overnight stretches anywhere in the world.
Choosing your cabin
- Private sleeper: your own compartment with a proper bed, basin and breakfast — the closest rail comes to a boutique hotel on wheels.
- Couchette: a shared berth that costs a fraction of the private cabin and still beats a budget flight for comfort.
- Seat: fine for shorter hops, less so for a full night.
How to book without the headache
Cross-border rail booking is improving but still fragmented. Book as early as you can — the best cabins sell out months ahead — and consider splitting longer journeys with a night in a city you have always meant to visit. A trip becomes far richer when the route is the point.
Pack for the rails, not the runway
Soft luggage, a small overnight bag within reach, and layers for changing climates. Our note on choosing where to stay at the other end pairs naturally with any rail itinerary.