Sleeper Trains in the UK and Europe

Buy your sleeper train tickets on Omio

With Omio, you can search and book a range of night trains across Europe, so you can take in the magic of the continent after hours. Buying a ticket for an overnight sleeper train on Omio is easy, after you've booked your tickets are sent directly to your mobile. Whether you plan to rest up, read the Omio magazine, Window Seat for inspiration, or simply enjoy the view, you can travel in style on a range of iconic night train routes in Europe.

Night trains connecting Europe

Night trains exude the charm of times gone by, yet they’re more convenient than ever—and practical. Depending on the fare, you can expect a comfortable bed or recliner, snacks and breakfast in the morning. In the evening, make yourself at home and let the gentle hum of the train lull you to sleep. In the morning, you’ll wake up refreshed at your destination and can start exploring right away.

The advantages of a night train are clear: you save both time and a night in a hotel, plus you don’t have to worry about luggage allowance. Night trains are also environmentally friendly, something that is becoming increasingly important to many travellers around the world with irreversible climate change on the horizon.

Discover how to make your trip by night train an unforgettable experience. Check out our tips and tricks for a pleasant overnight journey!

How to buy cheap sleeper train tickets in UK

It’s easy to buy cheap night sleeper train tickets with Omio. With tickets going on sale as far as six months in advance of the departure date, you’ll be able to search for cheap tickets well before your trip. If you are flexible with the date of your journey then you may also find this helps you find cheaper night train fares in Europe, as travelling a few days either side off your preferred date might cost less. If you are travelling on a shoestring then you can opt for the cheaper seating option on the overnight sleeper train rather than cabins, which tend to be more expensive.

Night trains are more sustainable than flights

Travelling on overnight sleepers in Europe is more sustainable than if you were to make the same journey flying. Studies have shown that flying releases more carbon dioxide per passenger than if you were to take the train on the same route. You will also find that taking a night train contributes less to noise pollution compared to flying, which not only has a positive impact on local wildlife, but also the welfare of urban and rural communities living close by to the tracks. With many trains running on electric energy too, compared to fuel in aeroplanes, it's clear that overnight trains are the winner when it comes to sustainable travel.

Sleeper trains in the UK

Fall asleep in one city and wake up in another—sounds like a dream to us. The UK might be small but there are still night trains to enjoy, such as the Caledonian Sleeper, which travels from London to Edinburgh and vice versa. Alternatively, you could also travel overnight from London to Penzance with Great Western.

For longer journeys, including both domestic and international trips, there are many European sleeper trains connecting major cities. The company ÖBB offers its Nightjet service between destinations in Austria to other major cities in Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France, with its latest night train running between Paris and Berlin. The European Sleeper Train company has a new route running between Berlin and Brussels via Amsterdam. To hit the slopes in the French Alps, travelers can take a Eurostar ski train from London. The French Intercités de Nuit, operated by SNCF, can take you to a variety of locations throughout the country. To go between London and Scotland, there is the Caledonian Sleeper.

Night train providers in Europe

To travel throughout Europe, there are a variety of companies that conveniently offer night trains. For example, Trenitalia has its Intercity Notte, which travels across the entire length of Italy. Trenitalia also offers Euronight, which can take customers between Italy and other countries such as Germany and Austria. ÖBB’s Nightjet runs between Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. The European Sleeper Train is a Belgian-Dutch company with routes between Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, while the Dutch company Nederlandse Spoorwegen has a selection of night trains that travel within the Netherlands. In France, SNCF has the Intercités de Nuit, which run from Paris and Toulouse between towns that are on the Italian and Spanish borders.

Popular destinations for night trains in Europe

There are many popular destinations that you can visit with a night train in Europe. Travleling with Trenitalia from Milan to Palermo is a common voyage, with the journey typically lasting between 15 and 21 hours. Trenitalia also runs services trains from Rome to Bari, a trip that lasts around 4 to 7 hours. You can also go from Paris to Nice with Intercités de Nuit, which normally takes anywhere from 6 to 12 hours. Travel from Milan to Vienna with the Euronight, a journey that takes 11 to 15 hours. The ÖBB Nightjet goes from Berlin to Vienna in 8 to 12 hours, and makes the Paris to Berlin night train in around 14 hours. The European Sleeper Train goes from Berlin to Brussels in just over 10 hours.

Popular sleeper train destinations in the UK

Whilse there aren’t too many night trains in the UK, there are two main routes that operate nearly every day of the week. You can travel on the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Edinburgh, which leaves at around midnight and arrives in the early morning, taking roughly 7hr 40min. Alternatively, if you’re heading to the southwest of the country, you can take a Great Western Railway train from London to Penzance in Cornwall. These night trains operate on a near-daily basis, departing just before midnight and arriving in Penzance in the early morning, in total this route takes about eight hours.

Night trains in Europe

Enjoy the romance of a night train in Europe, with one of many night train companies on the continent. No matter if you’re travelling with Great Western Railway or the Caledonian Sleeper in Britain, or with the Intercity from SNCF in France, there are a great range of overnight sleeper trains for you to enjoy. Travel from Germany and Austria, with DB and the OBB Nightjet respectively, to numerous locations across Europe, such as Vienna to cities such as Rome, Hamburg, and Amsterdam.

In Italy, you can choose between Trenitalia’s Intercity Notte train or the Frecciargento night train, both of which will get you to various locations with ease—Palermo to Milan is a particular popular night train route. SNCF in France is another night train operator which has a range of routes including those from Paris to Nice. You can also take a night train from Malmö to Berlin with the Swedish operator Snalltaget, whilst another Swedish company, SJ, operates night sleeper trains on routes such as Stockholm to Narvik. Germany also has a very comprehensive schedule of night train routes with DB. All trains that operate these routes provide the option of a sleeper cabin or comfy seating, so you will arrive at your destination feeling well-rested.

Popular sleeper train destinations in Europe

Take an overnight sleeper train to a city of your choice and explore Europe in style—and more efficiently, too! Opt for an overnight sleeper from Berlin to Vienna with DB. These trains depart every evening and arrive around mid-morning, taking just over 12 hours.

In Sweden you can travel with Snalltaget from Malmö to Hamburg on a night sleeper train, taking just over 7 hours. SJ in Sweden also operates internal night trains from cities such as Stockholm to Kiruna. These trains depart in the early evening each day, arriving at Kiruna in the morning, taking around 15 hours.

There are also a lot of sleeper trains in Italy with Trenitalia, so you can explore this fascinating country with ease. For example, you can jump on a train from Milan to Lecce, with there being two-night trains that operate daily. The earlier train from Milan to Leece takes in the region of 11hr 35min, whilst the later train takes a bit longer at about 12hr 47min. You can also travel from Rome to Padova on an overnight sleeper train, with a night train departing every day.

France also operates many sleeper trains throughout the country, with SNCF Intercity operating two sleeper trains daily to Nice from Paris, both of which leave in the early evening and arriving before noon the next day, both sleep trains take an average of 15 hours. You can also catch these same night trains from Paris, if you are going to Cannes, with the trains arriving slightly earlier. depending on which one you take. Travel with OBB if you want to go from Hamburg to Basel on an overnight train, with there being daily sleeper trains taking about 10 hours.

Travelling by sleeper train in Scandinavia

Scandinavia has many options for night trains, especially if you are travelling from Sweden. One of the main night routes from Malmö in Sweden is to Hamburg in Germany. This route is operated by Snalltaget daily and takes just over seven hours, departing in the evening, arriving in the very early morning. If you want to travel internally in Sweden, you can take a night train on a popular route from Stockholm to Abisko, which departs in the early evening daily and arrives the following day in the mid-morning. This journey tends to take approximately 16 hours, so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the ride.

Couchette vs Sleeper

When you take an overnight train in Europe, you’ll get the option of travelling in regular seating, a couchette or a sleeper carriage. What’s the difference between a couchette and a sleeper carriage? Well, a couchette is normally a seating compartment by day, which is converted into a bunk bed style sleeper by night. Sleeper carriages on the other hand are normally more luxurious, with there being freshly made beds and a sink for you to freshen up in.

If you're on a budget, it's cheaper to opt for a seat rather than a couchette or sleeper cabin on a night train. The seats are normally larger than on normal trains, making them comfier and better for sleeping. Couchettes and sleepers will ensure better sleep but the costs are much higher. They're definitely worth it though, especially if you're planning on exploring your arrival city as soon as you get to the train station.

Tips for travelling on a night train

Travelling on sleeping trains can be a very exciting experience, especially if you’ve not travelled on one before. To make sure you get the most out of your experience, follow these simple tips. If you’re a light sleeper, take some earplugs and an eye mask with you, this will ensure a more peaceful nights sleep. To enhance your comfort, why not take a blow-up pillow with you? Besides, no one wants to have a cricked neck when they wake up! Also, remember to dress comfortably, so you can stretch out to your heart’s content. Lastly, bring plenty of water onboard the train with you as well as some snacks, just in case you get the urge for a midnight feast.

FAQ: Night trains in Europe