Night trains in Europe: how to take them and what to expect

A night train turns a travel day into a night's sleep. You board in the evening, wake up in a different country and step off with the whole day ahead of you, with no airport and no hotel bill for that night. It is not always the fastest way to go, and it is not always comfortable, but when it works it is one of the best ways to travel.

Here is how to decide whether to take one, what to book, and how to make the night go well.

The three ways to ride

Night trains offer different levels of comfort, and the names vary by country and operator. The three main types are:

• Seat. An ordinary seat, sometimes reclining. It is the simplest option and the hardest to sleep in. It suits short overnight journeys or a tight plan, and it works best if you can sleep sitting up.
• Couchette. A compartment with bunks, usually four or six, sometimes shared with strangers. You get a flat place to lie, a blanket and a pillow, and a door that shuts. Compartments are often mixed, and some operators offer women-only ones.
• Sleeper. A private compartment with one to three beds, sometimes with a washbasin. It is the most comfortable and the most private, and it is the best choice if you are two or three people travelling together.

Check the operator's own website for what each type includes on your route, because the details differ.

Routes with a long history

Overnight trains have run for generations on certain corridors. The Caledonian Sleeper between London and Scotland is a long-established example. In central and eastern Europe, overnight services linking cities such as Budapest, Prague, Kraków and Warsaw have been part of the map for decades; the Poland guide has more on moving around there.

Routes come and go, and operators change timetables, so always confirm that the service you want is running for your date before you plan around it. The railway operator's own site, or the national railway of the country, is the place to check.

When a night train makes sense

A night train works best when:

• The journey is between about eight and fourteen hours, so you actually sleep.
• The two ends are places you want to be, and a day train would waste daylight.
• You would otherwise have to pay for a night's accommodation.
• You are not in a hurry, and you do not mind a different kind of rest.

It works less well if you need a full night of deep sleep before an important day, if you are a very light sleeper, or if the route stops often in the middle of the night. For general rail planning, train travel in Europe covers tickets, passes and how to read timetables.

Booking

Night trains have limited beds, and the cheapest or most private options can sell out. Book early when you know your dates, and book the bed type at the same time as the journey, because on some services the seat or berth is a separate reservation from the ticket.

A few things to check when you book:

1. Whether your ticket includes the berth or needs a reservation as well.
2. Which type of compartment you are in, and whether it is shared.
3. Whether the train splits during the night, with carriages going to different destinations. Make sure you are in the right one.
4. Whether breakfast is included, or whether there is a place to buy food on board.
5. Where the train arrives, and how you get from the station to where you are staying.

If you travel with a group, book together and ask for berths in the same compartment where you can. Keep each confirmation where everyone can find it.

What to pack for the night

You do not need much, but a few things make a difference.

• A small overnight bag with what you need for the evening and morning, so you are not digging in a large suitcase in a dark compartment.
• Earplugs and an eye mask. Corridors are lit and the train is noisy.
• A warm layer and socks. Compartments can be hot or cold, and you cannot always control it.
• A water bottle, a snack and your toothbrush.
• A padlock or a small cable lock for your bag, if you are sharing a compartment.
• A phone charger. Not every berth has a socket you can reach.

Keep your passport, wallet and phone close to you while you sleep, in a pocket or under the pillow. Border checks can happen in the night on international routes, so keep your passport easy to find.

Sleeping well

Take off your shoes, change into something comfortable and make the bed as soon as you board, so you are not doing it at midnight. Put your valuables where you can feel them. Decide what time you want to wake up and set an alarm for a little before the arrival time; announcements are not always reliable, and it is easy to sleep through the stop.

If you cannot sleep, do not worry about it. Lying down in the dark with the sound of the tracks still rests you more than you expect, and you can nap in the afternoon.

Arriving

You may arrive early in the morning, when shops and your hotel are not open yet. Plan for that: find out whether the station has left-luggage lockers, whether you can leave your bags at your accommodation before check-in, and where you can get breakfast. A coffee, a walk and a quiet first hour usually make the arrival feel like a bonus.

Choose one route you would like to try, check the operator's site for the real timetable, and put the date in the plan. If you are building a longer route, plan a multi-city trip shows how night trains fit between the stops.