9 of the best sleeper trains in Europe

There's something special about a sleeper train — it can actually make the prospect of getting from A to B an appealing part of the trip. It comes with a romance that you won't find attached to overnight flights or coach journeys, rocking you to the rhythm of wheels on steel while you watch the sun drop outside the window. You'll avoid a stiff neck from trying to sleep upright — a sleeper train offers a bed that's properly, 180-degree flat — and there's ample chance to go for a wander without worrying about seatbelt signs or narrow aisles. What's more, the boarding experience is more relaxed than the cattle-herding so familiar to those using airports, and often you'll alight at your desired final destination rather than at an airport an hour away.
As you head to the dining car, or have a picnic in your cabin, read in your bunk or chat with a fellow passenger, you'll know too that you've chosen a greener way to go. Whether you're travelling on a budget or with the purse strings fully undone, sleeper services across Europe offer a range of options, from the pampering to the functional. Most services include compartments with cabins for two to four people and dormitory-style couchettes (seats that convert into sleeping berths) for six, as well as economy seat carriages. Here are the continent's best sleeper trains.
This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue
Newest to the tracks — and sprinkling some serious stardust along the way — is the Britannic Explorer, run by luxury heritage rail operator Belmond. The train, which has two dining cars, a wellness suite and an observation car with art deco-styled bar, offers comfort of the highest order. There are five journeys to choose between, each departing from London Victoria: three-night trips to Cornwall, the Lake District or Wales, or six-night trips featuring Wales and either Cornwall or the Lake District. As well as enjoying some of the country's choicest inland and coastal scenery, you'll make stops for several off-train excursions along the way, from art galleries in Cornwall and hikes in Wales to a meal in the two-Michelin-star Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in the Cotswolds. There are 18 classy suites, top-quality food and impeccable service. And, as you'd expect, whichever trip you choose, it will cost you a pretty penny.
belmond.com/trains/europe/uk/britannic-explorer
• Best places to visit in the Lake District• Best things to do in Wales
The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the grand dame of sleeper trains. After being featured in Agatha Christie's best-known novel, it's become the byword for yesteryear elegance and is one of the few surviving chariots of the golden age of travel. The interior has wood panelling and lush drapes, antique lamps and art deco mirrors, and a pianist in Bar Car 3764. Twin sleeper cabins have banquettes that are converted to beds after dark, while cabin suites have a pair of loungers. Splash out on one of the six grand suites for marble en suites, butler service and as much champagne as you can glug. The Eurostar will take you from London St Pancras to Paris where you'll join the Orient Express for the overnight leg to Venice. The following day, enjoy a lavish three-course lunch created by chef Jean Imbert, as well as afternoon tea, all served by liveried stewards.
belmond.com/trains/europe/venice-simplon-orient-express
• Best affordable hotels in Venice• Best things to do in Venice
The Caledonian Sleeper is not only a civilised way to travel between London Euston and Scotland but — if the moon is high — one that promises sweeping views of stately castles and remote Highland wilderness as night falls. There are several routes: the Lowland Sleeper service travels to Edinburgh and Glasgow, the Highland Sleeper to Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William. Accommodation options include the en suite Caledonian Double (with double bed; breakfast included), the en suite Club room (twin bunks; breakfast included), the Classic room (twin bunks and shared bathroom) and a seated coach. There are accessible double and twin rooms. Classic and contemporary dishes with a focus on Scottish fare are served in the Club Car, and when morning comes the menu features everything from porridge to a cooked full Scottish breakfast. Room service is available, cabins come with complimentary sleep kits and there's wi-fi throughout — these are new trains that provide proper 21st-century comforts.
sleeper.scot
• Most luxurious hotels in London• Best hotels in the Scottish Highlands
This option presents the chance to ride a train and a boat at the same time. The night train to Sicily departs Milan in northern Italy in the evening, heading south through the hours of darkness. Eat a small breakfast of coffee and a sweet and savoury snack in your cabin while admiring the coastal views around the toe of Italy's boot, before the train is divided into sections of four carriages and shunted on to a special ferry that takes you across the Straits of Messina to Sicily; you'll reach Palermo late that afternoon. Choose from four-berth compartments with couchettes (which can be converted to seats during the day) or one, two or three-bed compartments (with basins) in the sleeping car. The journey takes the best part of 20 hours; there's a trolley service with snacks and drinks, but no bar or restaurant car, so take provisions and fill up at the ferry café if you're running low.
trenitalia.com/en/intercity-notte.html
• Best hotels in Milan• Best hotels in Sicily
Linking London Paddington and the West Country, the Night Riviera Sleeper runs back and forth between the bright lights of the capital and the beaches, fishing villages and wild corners of Cornwall. Services leave London shortly before midnight, taking a little over eight hours to reach the end stop at Penzance, where you can stroll across to the tidal island of St Michael's Mount. Trains the other way leave earlier in the evening and get into Paddington at around 5am, but cabin guests can remain on board until 6.45am, so you needn't rise with the lark. The train has a slick lounge area complete with art deco-style bar where you can stock up on snacks and drinks. Cabins have washbasins and are available in singles and twins; bookings include breakfast and access to first-class lounges (with showers) at Paddington, Truro and Penzance. Pets are welcome on board.
gwr.com/travelling-with-us/night-riviera-sleeper
• Best places to visit in Cornwall• Best hotels in Cornwall
This route links two of Europe's grandest, most romantic cities. Taking just under 15 hours, the train leaves Vienna in the early evening and reaches Rome at the civilised hour of 10.05am, giving you the whole day to explore the sights. Book a sleeper compartment (single, double or triple) — either standard or Comfortline (the former with basin and the latter fully en suite); or there are four and six-berth couchettes (shared bathroom), including a female-only option, and seating carriages. You'll be served either a Viennese breakfast of a roll with ham, or choices from a more substantial à la carte menu if you're travelling in a sleeping car. There's a bistro too, where you can buy snacks.
obbtrains.com/nightjet-train.html
• Best affordable hotels in Vienna• Best Airbnbs in Rome
Although built just 40 years ago, the Royal Scotsman is already a legendary train, with lacquered wood and plush fabrics that evoke an earlier, golden age of travel. Today, it whisks you from Edinburgh into the romantic wildness of the Scottish Highlands, with a series of experience-led itineraries ranging across two-night trips focused on food, four-night journeys into the world of malt whisky, and week-long extravaganzas taking you on a looping tour right around the Highlands. Choose an ensuite twin cabin, or properly splash out on a Grand Suite, complete with personal butler service and a complimentary treatment at the onboard spa. The two mahogany-panelled dining cars offer haute cuisine that focuses on fresh Scottish produce, together with a selection of more than 50 whiskies. Prepare yourself for ancient castles, rugged landscapes and a dram or two of Scotland's finest.
belmond.com/trains/europe/scotland/belmond-royal-scotsman
• Best affordable hotels in Edinburgh• Best restaurants in Edinburgh
This is a double-decker train that charts a 12-hour northward course from the capital of Finland up to the heart of Finnish Lapland. The night journey takes you above the Arctic Circle, offering a chance to see the midnight sun or the northern lights (depending on when you travel) as well as meet Father Christmas at his village in Rovaniemi, where most passengers alight. There are cabins that sleep up to two and three passengers, and pairs of '2+2' connected cabins downstairs for groups of four. All cabins have bunk beds; those on the upper deck have en suite bathrooms. Cabins on the lower deck share facilities, but can be a better bet for families due to the adjoining rooms. Accessible and pet-frieldy cabins are available. The cheapest ticket is simply a seat only and there's a restaurant carriage that sells snacks and drinks.
vr.fi/en/santa-claus-express
• Best northern lights igloos• Best northern lights tours
Take an 11-day journey gliding through nine countries to tick off some of the world's most historic cities, including Ljubljana, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Skopje and Sofia. Most nights are spent aboard your hotel on wheels: the Golden Eagle Danube Express, which is firmly in the five-star category. Choose between deluxe (twin beds) and superior deluxe sleeper cabins (king-size doubles), each with wood-panelled rooms for relaxing during the day that are converted to bedrooms come night time. The restaurant serves up fine dining and you can enjoy a digestif in the bar lounge car, where a pianist plays in the evening. This is an inspiring, high-end trip with a price-tag to match.
goldeneagleluxurytrains.com/balkan-explorer-2025
• Best affordable hotels in Istanbul• Read our full guide to Istanbul

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Independent

6 hours ago

• The Independent

Calls for change to motorhome rules after Brexit sparks ‘clear demand'

A lobby group is calling for a significant increase in overnight parking options for campervans and motorhomes across the UK, citing a surge in demand driven by post-Brexit travel restrictions. The Campaign for Real Aires (Campra) argues that boosting provision for these vehicles would not only generate more revenue for local businesses but also extend the tourist season beyond peak summer months. The term "Aires," a French word, refers to designated stopping places for motorcaravans – the collective term encompassing both motorhomes and campervans. Such facilities are a common sight across continental Europe, offering dedicated spaces for travellers, but remain far less prevalent in the UK. The push for more domestic facilities comes as new post-Brexit rules limit UK passport holders to a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period in the Schengen area, which covers most of the European Union and several other European nations. This restriction is believed to be encouraging more UK residents to explore their own country in their recreational vehicles, increasing the need for suitable overnight parking infrastructure. That means many UK-based motorcaravan users are seeking domestic destinations for overnight trips. But a survey of 6,731 users suggested 88% are dissatisfied with the UK's availability of overnight parking in desirable locations. The poll also indicated that motorcaravaners spend an average of £51 per day in local businesses and £23 per night on overnight parking or campsite fees. Many respondents commented on the UK's lack of infrastructure and welcoming attitude compared with continental Europe, Campra said. Last month, Hampshire County Council approved plans to ban campervans and motorhomes from staying overnight at the south coast beauty spot of Keyhaven, near Lymington. It claimed the move would 'bring order' to the area. Campra managing director Steve Haywood said welcoming motorcaravans to an area 'can be a hugely positive move'. He went on: 'There is a clear demand – emphasised by post-Brexit travel restrictions – for more overnight stay options in UK towns and cities, and those towns and cities could benefit hugely by embracing motorcaravans. 'More councils are seeing the benefits of providing facilities, instead of suffering the cost of enforcement and bans, not to mention the loss of potential revenue to businesses. 'In Fleetwood, Lancashire, for example, the introduction of overnight parking in the seafront car park for £5 per night has seen a huge boost in revenue for local shops, and has been so successful that additional facilities are now being planned for motorcaravanners. 'Every council that has operated a 12-month trial aire has been successful and made the overnight parking permanent.' Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency figures show more than 416,000 motorcaravans are registered in the UK. A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: 'Policies around overnight motorcaravan parking and the provision of facilities are a matter for local councils.'

Daily Mail​

8 hours ago

• Daily Mail​

Barcelona star confirms new partner just three months after announcing split from his wife of almost eight years

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Ande ter Stegen has gone public with his new relationship just three months after announcing the split from his wife of nearly eight years. The first of two photos shared on the German's Instagram account showed what appeared to be his hand held by another and resting on the knee of a person in a floral dress, with the accompanying caption 'junts', which means 'together in Catalan'. A second image featured a smiling woman sitting by the sea and looking out to the sunset. According to Bild, the shotstopper's new flame is rumoured to be Ona Sellares. She also appeared to confirm the romance by posting images from their Athens getaway and sharing Ter Stegen's story. Additionally, after German's 2-1 Nations League defeat by Portugal earlier this month - Ter Stegen's first International minutes since returning from a ruptured patella tendon - she posted a photo of herself wearing a Germany shirt at the Allianz Arena. Little is known about Sellares, who has almost 19,000 followers on Instagram. Barcelona star Marc-Andre ter Stegen confirmed he was separating from his wife Daniela in March It comes just three months after the 33-year-old announced that he and wife Daniela are separating after almost eight years of marriage. The Blaugrana star began dating Daniela Jehle back in 2012, when Ter Stegen was still playing for Borussia Monchengladbach. Jehle followed Ter Stegen to Barcelona when he joined the club in in 2014 in a £9.7 million move. The couple married on May 15 in 2017 with a small ceremony near Barcelona, before having a church wedding in Tuscany. Ter Stegen and Jehle have two children together. The couple confirmed their split in a joint statement on social media. 'After careful consideration, Dani and I have decided to go our separate ways,' the joint statement read. 'This decision was not an easy one, as you can imagine, but we both believe it is the best step for us. 'Our joint focus is on doing what is best for our children, ensuring they continue to have a loving and stable environment. 'We remain committed to working together as parents and treating each other with respect and appreciation as we always have.

The Sun

9 hours ago

• The Sun

Full list of banned food and drinks passengers cannot bring onboard on TUI, easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2 flights

PASSENGERS flying with TUI, easyJet, Ryanair or Jet2 this summer are being urged to check the full list of banned food and drinks before heading to the airport – or risk having their items taken away. From cold snacks to hot drinks and alcoholic beverages, the rules on what you can and can't take onboard vary between airlines – and breaking them could lead to your items being confiscated before take-off. 4 4 Passengers travelling from the UK are being urged to double-check airline guidelines before heading to the airport, especially as rules continue to tighten, particularly on flights to EU destinations. That's because under current post- Brexit regulations, any food products containing meat or dairy – including sandwiches, yoghurts or even packed lunches bought in the airport – are banned from being taken into the EU, regardless of where they were purchased. Here's a breakdown of what's banned or restricted on flights operated by the UK's biggest budget carriers: TUI offers complimentary meals and drinks on flights lasting over seven hours. For shorter journeys, snacks and beverages can be bought onboard via a trolley service – but passengers are also allowed to bring their own food. However, TUI is clear that any food brought onboard must be 'low-risk,' such as cold snacks or pre-made sandwiches. The airline also warns it cannot heat food for passengers, aside from baby bottles. Crucially, passengers are not allowed to drink any alcohol they've brought from home or bought in duty-free – even if it's sealed. Alcohol must be purchased on the flight if you want to enjoy a drink in the air. EasyJet is fairly relaxed about food onboard, and passengers are welcome to bring their own meals. However, they should be aware of liquid restrictions and destination-specific rules. According to the airline: 'You can bring food into the cabin, although we do sell a range of delicious food and drink on board. "There's a 100ml limit for liquid food, like soup or custard.' Hot drinks are allowed if purchased at the airport, but they must have a secure lid to reduce the risk of burns during turbulence. The airline also reminds passengers to check rules at their destination – some countries have stricter customs policies around food items. Ryanair takes a mixed approach, allowing passengers to bring their own cold food and soft drinks under its 'feel free' policy – but strictly banning hot drinks and alcohol. The airline advises: 'In the interest of safety we cannot allow passengers to board the plane with hot drinks or consume their own alcohol during the flight.' That means even if you've bought alcohol in duty-free or at the airport, you won't be allowed to drink it onboard. Cabin crew are authorised to confiscate items if rules are broken. Jet2 operates one of the strictest policies when it comes to food and drink. According to the airline: 'You may not bring hot food or hot drinks onboard the aircraft.' Passengers are also warned not to carry any items that are 'unsuitable for carriage' – this includes food that is strong-smelling, fragile or perishable, and anything that may impact the comfort or safety of others. Despite these rules, Jet2 does offer a wide selection of food and drinks for purchase during the flight, with options for most dietary requirements. 4