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Times
13-06-2025
- Times
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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • Best affordable hotels in Istanbul• Read our full guide to Istanbul
Elle
06-06-2025
- Business
- Elle
Inside the Reopening of Italy's Stunning Splendido Hotel
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Villa Beatrice sits perched atop a cliff, with a 180-degree view of one of the most stunning, secluded settings imaginable. Turn to the right, and you see the Bay of Portofino. Look left, and it's the Bay of Paraggi. The restored former palazzo, which is set within a national park and has private access to the sea, will be available to rent beginning this July for the first time in its 112-year history. It's the only accommodation of its kind for the hospitality group Belmond, which specializes in resorts, trains, river cruises, and safari lodges that recapture the glamour of an earlier era of travel. Belmond, which was acquired by LVMH in 2019, got its start in 1976, when James Sherwood, the company's original owner, purchased the Hotel Cipriani in Venice. Soon after, he bought two original Orient Express sleeping cars at auction. Air travel had cut into the popularity of luxury trains, and Sherwood was able to get the pair for $113,000, according to The New York Times. He soon collected additional cars, and his revamped Orient Express took to the rails in 1982. Since then, the Belmond group has expanded to include train lines in Europe, Asia, and South America; hotels like Maroma on the Riviera Maya and Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Palace; and seven river cruises. What connects them all is an emphasis on slow travel, amazing experiences, and classic design. Up the road from the Villa Beatrice is Splendido, a 16th-century Benedictine monastery-turned-52-room hotel, which opens for the summer season this month with a new Dior spa—the first in Italy—and a redesigned main building and cocktail bar. 'We haven't done anything crazy. We applied the modernity, but with respect for the past,' says Alfonso Pacifico, the hotel's general manager and Belmond's area managing director of Portofino. Belmond's properties are routinely restored and revitalized; in July, the group will unveil the Britannic Explorer, the first luxury sleeper train to tour England and Wales. Next on the list is Florence's Villa San Michele, which will reopen in 2026 after a renovation that helped conserve historical elements of the former monastery and redesigned the hotel's suites. Hotel Cipriani is set for an ambitious renovation led by famed architect and designer Peter Marino. 'The first approach is to understand the location and the existing history behind [the property],' says Ons Gherib, senior vice president of design and construction at Belmond, of the company's process for restoring hotels. The architecture and design teams examine the records of who lived and stayed at the property, and study the history, architecture, and types of craftsmanship used in its original construction. For train design, the bar is set even higher: Only pre-1945 technology is used. 'Trains push the know-how and the craftsmanship to a level that is absolutely unknown,' Gherib explains. 'There's real craftsmanship, to the smallest detail. Every detail is drawn, designed, and thought of in a very small scale, which is absolutely stunning.' The restorations can lead to delightful surprises. During the renovation of Villa Beatrice, the ceiling was removed to reveal the original, which was beautifully hand-painted. 'We really try to understand what was there and try to enhance it—bring it back to life and keep it alive.' A version of this story appears in the May 2025 issue of ELLE. GET THE LATEST ISSUE OF ELLE
Daily Mirror
31-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Luxury train with spa, Michelin-star chef and £11k tickets that tours the UK
The Britannic Explorer is set to be the first luxury sleeper train to operate in England and Wales - and will be taking passengers on a three night journey through Wales For a train fare of £11,000 per couple, one would anticipate an experience out of this world, and a luxury travel company promises to deliver just that. Luxury brand Belmond is set to launch The Britannic Explorer, offering a three-night journey through Wales this year. Passengers boarding the Britannic Explorer are advised to pack not only walking shoes but also a dinner jacket or cocktail dress. This is the first luxury sleeper train to operate in England and Wales, complete with an onboard spa. Guests will slumber in stunning suites, indulge in world-class dining curated by a Michelin-star chef, and partake in excursions such as hikes in the Welsh countryside, visits to a luxury pub, and clay pigeon shooting. Prices start at £11,000, based on a double cabin for three nights, inclusive of excursions, meals, wine, and alcoholic beverages on board. A three-night route through Wales departs from London Victoria, stopping at Llandrindod Wells and Machynlleth, via Haverfordwest, Porthmadog and Barmouth, before returning to London via the Cotswolds. The itinerary reveals that on the first day, guests will check-in and enjoy an afternoon tea crafted by Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan, featuring Welsh teacakes and Bara Brith, reports Wales Online. On the second day, visitors will disembark in Pembrokeshire, alighting at Llandrindod Wells for a guided hike that includes lavender fields, a pond dip or sauna. They'll then reboard the train to traverse the Heart of Wales line, journeying through Carmarthenshire and Powys into Eryri National Park. Other routes across England and Wales include to the Lake District and Cornwall with longer six-night trips also on offer taking in either both the Lakes and Wales or Cornwall and Wales. "Highlights on the Wales route include a picnic-style lunch featuring delights like rarebit and leek tart," the company reveals. "Each dining experience onboard will reflect the landscape outside the train's windows, using the freshest local ingredients to create an immersive culinary journey that celebrates the diverse flavours and stories of England and Wales." Dinner promises to be a "celebration of seasonal British fine dining, perfectly paired with an enchanting entertainment line up", with guests spending the night near Barmouth. On the third day, guests can opt for a visit to the wellness suite, or enjoy a lie-in followed by brunch. The train will make a stop in Machynlleth. "Machynlleth is a hub of creativity, sustainability, and exceptional cuisine. Our Concierge's curated black book of excursions offers a range of active pursuits such as clay pigeon shooting," the itinerary details. Lunch will be served while travelling through Montgomeryshire, passing Welshpool before crossing the border into Shropshire. The journey continues through the Midlands, concluding at Moreton-in-Marsh. The luxurious Britannic Explorer will then make its way to England, where it will stop for an "exclusive party" at The Fox in Oddington, a venue owned by Daylesford farm shop. Here, guests will indulge in traditional British fare such as Scotch eggs and sausage rolls, accompanied by local ales and artisan liqueurs. They'll even get to learn the art of pouring the perfect pint. The final day of the journey begins with breakfast as the train travels through picturesque Oxfordshire, ultimately returning to London in the early morning. The three-night Welsh excursions are scheduled to take place on select dates. Following a winter hiatus, the routes will resume in March 2026. The Britannic Explorer is set to launch in July 2025, offering luxury accommodations starting from £11,000 for a double cabin. This price includes a 3-night itinerary, excursions, meals, wine, and other beverages onboard.
Wales Online
24-05-2025
- Wales Online
Train coming to Wales has an onboard spa, Michelin-star chef, beds and £11k tickets
Train coming to Wales has an onboard spa, Michelin-star chef, beds and £11k tickets You can have a massage before putting on a dinner jacket and enjoying a world-class meal The Britannic Explorer will travel through Wales this summer, including the observation car (Image: Belmond ) For a train ticket with a fare of £11,000 per couple, you'd expect the world, and a luxury travel says it will deliver just that. Luxury brand Belmond will debut The Britannic Explorer for a three night journey through Wales this year. Anyone boarding the Britannic Explorer is advised to not only pack walking shoes but a dinner jacket or cocktail dress. It is the first luxury sleeper train to operate in England and Wales and even includes an onboard spa. Guests will sleep in incredible looking suites, tuck into world-class dining with menus drawn up by a Michelin-star chef, and enjoy excursions including hikes in the Welsh countryside, a luxury pub and clay pigeon shooting. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here Prices start at £11,000, based on a double cabin for three nights, including excursions, meals, wine and alcoholic beverages on board. The three night route through Wales will travel from London Victoria with stops in Llandrindod Wells and Machynlleth, via Haverfordwest, Porthmadog and Barmouth, before returning to London via the Cotswolds. The onboard spa (Image: Belmond ) Article continues below The itinerary says that on day one people will be checked in before having an afternoon tea, crafted by Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan which includes Welsh teacakes and Bara Brith. On day two, people will arrive in Pembrokeshire, they will leave the train at Llandrindod Wells for a guided hike including lavender fields, a pond dip or sauna. They will rejoin the train to travel the Heart of Wales line, going through Carmarthenshire and Powys into Eryri National Park. "Highlights on the Wales route include a picnic- style lunch featuring delights like rarebit and leek tart," the company say. "Each dining experience onboard will reflect the landscape outside the train's windows, using the freshest local ingredients to create an immersive culinary journey that celebrates the diverse flavours and stories of England and Wales." Dinner will be a "celebration of seasonal British fine dining, perfectly paired with an enchanting entertainment line up" with the night spent near Barmouth. One of the Grand Suites onboard (Image: Belmond ) On day three, guests are offered a trip to the wellness suite, or lie-in followed by brunch. They will stop in Machynlleth. "Machynlleth is a hub of creativity, sustainability, and exceptional cuisine. Our Concierge's curated black book of excursions offers a range of active pursuits such as clay pigeon shooting," the itinerary reads. They will eat lunch while travelling through Montgomeryshire, passing Welshpool before crossing the border into Shropshire. Wind down through the Midlands to reach Moreton-in-Marsh. The bar on The Britannic Explorer (Image: Belmond ) From there, they will go to England, where the first stop is for an "exclusive party" in The Fox in Oddington, owned by Daylesford farm shop and will eat Scotch eggs and sausage rolls, local ales and artisan liqueurs, and be taught how to pour a pint. The final day involves breakfast as they travel through Oxfordshire, arriving back in London in the early morning. The dates the three-night journeys are taking place in Wales are: July 21 August 4 August 18 August 25 September 1 September 15 September 22 September 29 October 20 November 10 Article continues below Routes will then pause for the winter period and continue in March 2026. The Britannic Explorer will debut in July 2025. Luxury accommodation onboard starts from £11,000 based on a double cabin. This includes a 3-night itinerary, excursions, meals, wine and alcoholic beverages on board.
West Australian
03-05-2025
- West Australian
Europe cities, five for 2025
Amsterdam. Paris. Brussels. Just some of the storied destinations you can reach on the Eurostar from London. But from July there will be another tempting train to ride, a new luxury sleeper service by Belmond, the company behind the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Departing from London Victoria, the Britannic Explorer will offer upscale multi-night rail journeys to some of the most picturesque pockets of England and Wales. Three and six-day itineraries will showcase gorgeous slices of coast and countryside in Cornwall, the Lake District, Pembrokeshire and Snowdonia. The window scenery will be complemented by lots of swanky features and flavours on board. Each of the train's 18 elegantly-furnished cabins have ensuite bathrooms — and you'll get a butler if you book a grand suite. In the dining cars, there's afternoon tea and modern British menus curated by Simon Rogan, chef-patron at L'Enclume, a three Michelin star restaurant in Cumbria, with Sven-Hanson Britt, formerly of The Ritz in London, now the Britannic Explorer's executive head chef. There's one catch for this train. Fares are not exactly inexpensive. Bank on paying from around $13,000 per passenger. It's expected that services will run annually on dates between March and November. Distinctly less taxing on the wallet, but requiring a bit more intestinal fortitude, is the prospect of swimming in the Seine. Inspired perhaps by watching the triathletes crawling through the river in last year's Olympics, ordinary folk will be able to test out their strokes in Paris' famous waterway this northern summer following the completion of a $2.4 billion clean-up project to enhance the water quality. There are three new quayside sites where members of the public can swim freely from, including Bras Marie, which is in the heart of Paris, within strolling distance of the rejuvenated Notre-Dame Cathedral. The Seine swims will add an extra layer to the Paris-Plages project, which has tried to bring a touch of the Cote d'Azur to the French capital's river and canals since 2002, with pop-up beaches and activities from July to early September. If you're still wary about ducking beneath the surface of the Seine — this will be the first public swimming allowed in the river since it was previously banned in 1923 — you could go kayaking or canoeing instead. Krakow may hog the tourists, but those who make the effort to visit Warsaw are usually impressed by Poland's phoenix-like capital. In ruins after World War II, and under communist rule until 1989, the city has rebounded in recent decades and is now spoken about in glowing terms, similar to when it was dubbed the 'Paris of the East' before all the 20th century turmoil. From the buzzy cafe terraces in the meticulously-restored old town (Stare Miasto) to the promenades and natural beaches hugging the Vistula River, to the sprinkling of Michelin-starred restaurants and slick galleries, Warsaw is also the setting for one of Europe's most keenly-anticipated cultural openings in 2025. After being shifted around from temporary home to temporary home for two decades, the city's Museum of Modern Art finally has a permanent base: a purpose-built, light-filled space facing the Palace of Culture and Science, a towering landmark from the Soviet era. Designed by New York-based architect Thomas Phifer, the museum exhibits pieces by late Polish icons Magdalena Abakanowicz and Alina Szapocznikow (who was a Holocaust survivor), as well as from overseas talents like Sandra Mujinga, a Congo-born Norwegian abstract artist who's making waves with her inventive audio-visual installations. Birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, backdropped by snow-dusted alps, stirring tunes enlivening its postcard-pretty streets and gardens, Salzburg is rarely anything other than a delight. This year it's upping the ante further with a medley of themed events, exhibitions and experiences to mark the 60th anniversary of The Sound Of Music, a much-loved movie shot in and around the Austrian city. Whether you're attending a live performance of the musical in one of Salzburg's endearing theatres — such as the Salzburger Marionettentheater, with puppeteers pulling the characters' strings — or admiring the nostalgia-inducing filming locations with charismatic guides (or on new self-guided audio tours), don't be surprised to find yourself grinning and humming along to classic tunes like Do-Re-Mi, Edelweiss and My Favourite Things. Malta is a perennial favourite on the Mediterranean cruise ship circuit, both a port of call and a hub for embarking and disembarking, But the dreamy UNESCO sites, cinematic coastline and quaint fishing villages of this sun-baked archipelago makes it worth sticking around for several days at least. You could easily spend a week here, hopping between the three main islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino. From mid-2025, you'll be able to base yourself at the Romegas Hotel, a snazzy 23-room boutique number in a converted 500-year-old aristocratic palazzo in the honey-hued streets of Valletta, Malta's compact yet vibrant capital. Many of the building's original features have been preserved, including the traditional enclosed Maltese balconies, while there will be a contemporary fizz to the hotel's bar, restaurant and rooftop pool, which looks out towards the sparkling Med. Step out the front door and you're just a five-minute amble from St John's Co-Cathedral, built in the 16th century for the Order of the Knights of St John and renowned for its breathtaking baroque interior and paintings by Caravaggio.
