Night Trains You Need to Try from Europe’s Railway Renaissance

Once considered quaint relics of a bygone era, Europe’s overnight trains are enjoying a vibrant resurgence. From carbon-conscious travellers to those seeking a more fluid way to journey across borders, the “hotel on wheels” is back in style. Here, then, is a look at why night trains are returning to Europe, their enigmatic evolution, and three compelling services worth trying.

Also read: Train Ride From Aberdeen to Penzance: The Longest Train Journey in the UK

A Sleeper Hit

Several factors are converging to bring night trains out of hibernation and back into the spotlight. For one, there is a huge environmental and experiential appeal. A night train travel option allows you to sleep instead of flying, eliminating the need for a hotel night and reducing your carbon footprint. According to commentators, the revival is driven in part by sustainability concerns and a renewed love of slower travel.

Moreover, improved infrastructure and new services have paved the way to travel in style. Operators such as Nightjet, the night-train brand of Austria’s ÖBB, and the cooperative European Sleeper are expanding routes, investing in modern rolling stock, and making overnight trains more accessible. For example, Nightjet has introduced new generation trains with showers and Wi-Fi.

While long-distance daytime rail has boomed, overnight services have dwindled, especially for international routes. The revival fills a niche: travel through the night, arrive refreshed in the morning. News outlets and rail enthusiast sources alike describe a “night-train renaissance” across Europe.

Night trains re-imagine the journey itself, and it is no longer simply a means to an end. With private cabins, ample amenities, and scenic routes, overnight trains are becoming part of the travel experience rather than just a mode of transport.

Tracks through Time

Europe’s love affair with the railway began in the early nineteenth century, when steam power transformed the continent’s sense of distance and possibility. By the mid-1800s, grand stations were rising in Paris, Vienna, and Berlin, and the iron web of rails began to stitch together empires and republics alike. The Orient Express, launched in 1883, became the ultimate symbol of cross-continental glamour, connecting Paris and Istanbul with mahogany-panelled carriages, fine dining, and a sense of intrigue that inspired countless novels and films.

After the Second World War, as cars became affordable and air travel took off, the romance of the night train began to fade. By the late 1990s, many sleeper routes had disappeared, deemed too slow or unprofitable in the age of budget airlines. Yet, just when it seemed sleeper trains had been shunted into history, a quiet revival began gathering pace. What was once seen as outdated is now distinctly desirable as a way to travel sustainably, skip airport queues, and wake up in a new city, all while reclaiming a touch of old-world romance.

Three locomotive luxuries that await your next adventure:

1. All aboard the European Sleeper from Brussels to Prague

The European Sleeper is a seamless cross-Europe continental adventure without the airport. This newcomer has already earned cult status among rail enthusiasts. Depart from Brussels in the evening and settle in as the train glides overnight through Amsterdam, Berlin, and Dresden, before rolling gracefully into Prague the next morning. The starting point can be easily reached from London via the Eurostar. 

Fares start from around €79.99 for a shared couchette, with private compartments available for added comfort. The route combines scenic landscapes, major cities, and the novelty of waking up somewhere entirely new. Minimalist Dutch design meets thoughtful touches with reading lights, locally sourced snacks on board.

The European Sleeper embodies a new spirit of cooperative rail travel,  a project by passionate travellers reviving the romance of the rails. As you wake, the train skirts the Elbe River near Dresden before the pastel skyline of Prague appears. One night, three countries, countless memories.

2. Ride the OBB Nightjet, your new-age Roman Holiday Express

A true classic that never lost its charm, Austria’s Nightjet whisks you from Vienna’s imperial grandeur to the heart of Italy in around 13 to 15 hours, all while you drift off to sleep. As dawn breaks, you will find yourself gliding past Alpine peaks and Apennine valleys before rolling into Rome, rested and ready for exploration.

This is a cinematic journey through some of Europe’s most spectacular landscapes, with options for every traveller ranging from reclining seats to plush private cabins complete with showers. After departure from Vienna’s main station or Hauptbahnhof, the train crosses the Danube, Europe’s second-longest river. 

Next, it passes through Graz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its Renaissance architecture and red-tiled roofs. In the early hours, you’ll catch flashes of Tuscan dawn at Bologna and Florence through your window. By the time the Eternal City appears, the hum of the rails has turned into the promise of Roman cobblestones.

3. Highland Hues on the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Scotland

For those who prefer something closer to home, this British gem offers one of the most enchanting rail journeys in the world. The Caledonian Sleeper glides overnight from London Euston to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fort William, or Inverness, blending practicality with poetry. 

You can fall asleep in London and wake to Scotland’s wild beauty, complete with moors, mountains, and more. The Club Rooms are remarkably comfortable, with double beds, crisp linens, and private showers. A warm Scottish breakfast awaits upon arrival, best enjoyed as the train slows into its final station. 

After a nightcap of single malt in the Club Car, you will drift past the lights of Crewe and Preston before darkness swallows the English countryside. By morning, the train is deep in the Highlands, the windows framing scenes straight from a storybook: glassy lochs, lonely bothies, and the curling track of the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Fans of a certain boy wizard will recognise it instantly, for this is where the “Hogwarts Express” puffed through the mist. 

Also read: Direct Berlin to Paris High-Speed Train Launched by Germany and France

Full steam ahead

In the age of instant flights and endless queues, the night train offers the rare gift of time. Time to read, to dream, to watch the lights blur into landscapes. Each departure is a gentle rebellion against hurry, a reminder that travel is about the rhythm of the road, not the speed of the arrival. Your next stop? Nostalgia.