Night trains are so back. From Arctic crossings to Alpine adventures, these sleeper services let you drift off in one country and wake up in another — often for less than a hotel room.
Interrailing may be nothing new — over 700,000 travellers buy Interrail passes each year, using them as a golden ticket to explore Europe’s vast rail network — but the resurgence of sleeper trains has given overnight rail a glamorous second act.
Savvy travellers know that a sleeper train isn’t just transport; it’s also accommodation. One ticket can replace both a flight and a hotel night, and often delivers a far more memorable journey.
It’s also one of the most environmentally conscious ways to travel. According to SNCF Connect, travelling by train can generate around 90% less CO₂ emissions than equivalent journeys by car or plane.
Yet while some luxury sleepers now command eye-watering prices, Europe still offers plenty of affordable overnight routes where you can cross borders while you sleep.
Read more: 6 of the most luxurious train journeys in the UK
Best affordable European sleeper trains
European Sleeper — Multiple routes
A relative newcomer revitalising night travel, European Sleeper already operates routes linking Brussels to Prague and Paris to Berlin, with an ambitious expansion underway.
Its most anticipated addition is a new Brussels-Milan overnight service, expected to begin running in September 2026, offering travellers a seamless journey from northern Europe to northern Italy.
The train will glide through Belgium, Germany and Switzerland before reaching Milan the following morning, with stops including Cologne and Zurich. Budget seats are expected to start from around €49.99 (£44) one way, with couchettes and private cabins also available.
For more information or to book, visit European Sleeper.
ÖBB Nightjet — Multiple routes
Run by Austrian Federal Railways, Nightjet is Europe’s largest sleeper train network, connecting more than 25 cities including Vienna, Amsterdam, Zurich and Hamburg.
Passengers can choose between seats, couchettes and private sleeper cabins. Higher-tier cabins include a made bed, private bathroom facilities and breakfast.
Typical entry fares start from:
- €49 (£43) for a six-berth couchette
- €59 (£51) for a four-berth couchette
- €89 (£77) for a double sleeper cabin
- €129 (£112) for a private single sleeper
Popular routes include Vienna-Amsterdam, Graz-Berlin and Zurich-Hamburg.
For more information or to book, visit Nightjet.
Read more: Discover the Alpine retreat proving that true luxury travel is sustainable
Santa Claus Express — Helsinki to Rovaniemi, Finland
Finland’s VR night train, often nicknamed the Santa Claus Express, travels north from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland and widely recognised as Father Christmas’s official hometown.
The 12-hour journey passes forests, frozen lakes and Arctic landscapes via cities including Tampere and Oulu.
The double-decker sleeper trains offer compact bunk-bed cabins with shared or private bathrooms.
Private cabins start from €49 (£43), while cabins with private showers begin from €74 (£64).
For more information or to book, visit VR.
InterCity Notte — Italy
Italy’s InterCity Notte trains connect the country’s northern cities with southern destinations.
Routes run from Milan and Rome to Palermo, Sicily — a particularly unusual journey as the train is transported by ferry across the Strait of Messina before continuing on the island. It’s one of the most atmospheric ways to cross Italy overnight.
For more information or to book, visit Trenitalia.
Intercités de Nuit — France
France has been steadily reviving its sleeper network, and Intercités de Nuit now connects Paris with destinations across the south of the country.
Routes include:
- Paris to Nice via Cannes and Antibes
- Paris to Toulouse
- Paris to Perpignan
- Onward connections to Barcelona through the towns of Cerbère and Latour-de-Carol on the Spanish border
Second-class couchettes can cost as little as €29 (£25) one way.
For more information or to book, visit SNCF Connect.
Best affordable UK sleeper trains
Night Riviera — London to Cornwall
One of just two sleeper trains operating in the UK, the Night Riviera runs from London Paddington to Penzance in Cornwall.
The train typically departs at 11.45pm, arriving in Penzance at about 7.50am the next morning.
Standard return tickets usually cost around £150, with sleeper cabins available from £49 extra.
Cabin passengers enjoy access to station lounges in Paddington, Penzance and Truro, a complimentary breakfast served in their cabin and an onboard lounge bar serving drinks and light bites.
For more information or to book, visit Great Western Railway.
Caledonian Sleeper — London to the Scottish Highlands
The Caledonian Sleeper is one of Britain’s most iconic rail journeys, connecting London Euston with Scotland’s cities and Highlands, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William. The service also stops at Birmingham International.
Passengers can book reclining seats, bunk rooms or hotel-style en suite cabins.
Seats typically start from £54, while private sleeper cabins range from roughly £210 to £420, depending on route and availability.
There’s also a Club Car lounge where guests can enjoy Scottish dishes and a nightcap before turning in.
For more information or to book, visit Sleeper.
Feature image: Freepik
