European Night Trains 2026: 10 New Routes You Need to Try

The citizen cooperative picking up the torch

Following the controversial discontinuation of the ÖBB/SNCF Nightjet in December 2025, the Belgian-Dutch cooperative European Sleeper is taking over the Paris-Berlin route from 26 March 2026. Founded in 2021 by two Dutch rail enthusiasts and funded by more than 6,000 citizen investors, this railway company has already carried over 230,000 passengers.

Unlike the former Nightjet, which ran via Strasbourg and Frankfurt, the new route goes through Bruxelles-Midi, enabling Eurostar connections from London. Train ES 496 departs Paris Gare du Nord at 17:45 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, arriving at Berlin Hauptbahnhof at 09:59 the following morning. From 13 July 2026, an additional stop at Hamburg will be added.

Four classes for every budget

An unprecedented north-south route through five countries

European Sleeper is launching its second major novelty of 2026: a night train connecting Amsterdam and Bruxelles to Milan, via Cologne, Berne, Brigue, and Stresa. The route follows the legendary Simplon Pass, offering spectacular Alpine views at dawn.

The inaugural departure is scheduled for 18 June 2026, with three weekly services. Fares start at just 29 € for a seat and 80 € for a couchette — unbeatable value for an overnight Alpine crossing. Return services from Milan run on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday evenings.

The stop at Stresa on Lake Maggiore is one of this route’s hidden gems: the Borromean Islands, accessible by shuttle boat, offer sumptuous Baroque scenery far less crowded than Lake Como. It is also an ideal gateway to the Val d’Ossola and its unspoilt valleys.

500 million euros to reinvent the night train

ÖBB, Europe’s largest international night train operator, is focusing less on new routes in 2026 and more on a major quality leap. The 33 new seven-car Nightjet trains represent an investment of over 500 million euros — more than any other European rail company.

The innovations are tangible: individual Mini Cabins for solo travellers (a first in the industry), sleeping compartments with private bathrooms including shower and toilet, electronic cabin access, and significantly improved soundproofing. These carriages are already running on Vienna-Hamburg and will be progressively deployed on Vienna-Rome/Milan and Munich-Venice throughout 2026.

Nightjet 2026 fares

A tourist train between Rome and Marseille via the Cinque Terre

After being completely sold out throughout summer 2025, the Espresso Riviera by FS Treni Turistici Italiani returns in 2026 with an expanded service. This unique train departs Rome Termini in the evening, travels through the night in sleeping car cabins, then switches to « day mode » in Genoa with lounge cars and a restaurant car.

The route then follows the Ligurian Riviera — Savona, San Remo — then the French Riviera via Monaco, Nice, Cannes, and Toulon all the way to Marseille Saint-Charles. This is a complete experience, not merely transport: vintage ambience inspired by the great international trains of yesteryear, with a bar and refined dining on board.

Couchettes in shared compartments start at around 100 €, while sleeper car private cabins range between 150 and 200 €, with dinner and breakfast included.

Eastern Europe opens its overnight routes

The Polish operator PKP Intercity is shaking up the night train map with three ambitious routes:

• Adriatic Express: Warsaw → Vienna → Ljubljana → Rijeka (summer, ~4x/week) — 5 countries in one night, all the way to the Croatian coast
• Baltic Express: Prague → Bydgoszcz → Toruń → Gdynia (April–Sept.) — the Polish Baltic coast, now a permanent service
• EN Carpatia: Przemyśl → Cracow → Bohumín → Munich/Budapest (daily) — launched December 2025

The Adriatic Express crosses Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia in a single night. Rijeka, European Capital of Culture 2020, remains largely off the beaten track compared to Dubrovnik or Split. Competitive fares: around 30–60 € for a seat, 50–90 € for a couchette.

The EuroNight Carpatia, launched on 14 December 2025, offers a fascinating experience: carriages from Munich, Prague, and Budapest merge during the night, turning several journeys into a single overnight connection. Przemyśl, on the Ukrainian border, is one of the most authentic destinations in eastern Poland.

Prague-Košice-Chop: the most affordable night train in Europe

The Czech operator RegioJet offers what is arguably the best value for money on the European overnight market. Its daily night train Prague-Košice-Chop (Ukrainian border) offers couchettes starting from just 15–20 € for a seat and 30–50 € for a couchette. Travellers can choose between mixed couchettes, women-only cabins, or private cabins.

In 2026, RegioJet is accelerating its expansion: after trial services in September 2025, full commercial operations in Poland begin on 1 April 2026. Routes are planned between Warsaw, Cracow, Gdynia, and internationally to Prague and Vienna.

Two intermediate stops are worth the detour: Poprad Tatry, the gateway to the Slovak High Tatras (an under-the-radar Alpine hiking paradise), and Košice, Slovakia’s second city, still surprisingly off the tourist trail.

Two private operators to keep the Scandinavian link alive

When the Swedish state operator SJ announced the end of its overnight Stockholm-Berlin service from September 2026, two private operators rushed to save the route: RDC Deutschland and Snälltåget, with a service alternating every other night.

The Stockholm-Malmö-Copenhagen-Hamburg-Berlin journey features an iconic moment: crossing the Øresund Bridge at night, between Denmark and Sweden. On board Snälltåget trains, a « Krogen » restaurant offers full dining, and private compartments are available from 1,499 SEK (~130 €) for 1–2 people.

Snälltåget also plans to expand across Scandinavia in 2026 with the launch of the first night trains to Norway: seasonal routes from Malmö to Oslo and Trondheim, with a possible long-distance route all the way to Narvik, beyond the Arctic Circle — which would make it the northernmost overnight route in Europe.

100 million euros to revive French night trains

The SNCF Intercités de Nuit allow you to reach Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Toulouse, Perpignan, Latour-de-Carol, Cerbère (Spanish border), Briançon, and Tarbes from just 29 € with a berth included. Thanks to 100 million euros in public investment, the network gained two additional stops in December 2024: Biganos-Facture (Arcachon Bay) and Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse (Landes).

The trains offer 1st class couchettes (4 berths) and 2nd class couchettes (6 berths), as well as reclining seats. You can book a 4-berth compartment for private use for extra privacy — ideal for families or groups of friends.

• Paris-Nice: wake up on the French Riviera, with stops at Cannes and Antibes
• Paris-Briançon: skiing in the Hautes-Alpes, access to Serre Chevalier
• Paris-Cerbère: gateway to Barcelona by train
• Paris-Latour-de-Carol: the Pyrenees and onward connections to Spain

Two additional options for 2026

Travelski Night Express: Paris-Alps (December–March)

The Travelski Night Express runs on weekends from mid-December to late March. The train departs Paris Austerlitz on Friday evening to arrive Saturday morning at Moûtiers, Aime-la-Plagne, or Bourg-Saint-Maurice. The atmosphere is unique, with a DJ set in the buffet car on the Dijon-Chambéry stretch. Available as a package deal (train + accommodation + ski pass from ~400 €) or as a standalone ticket.

Prague-Copenhagen: a new gateway to Scandinavia (May 2026)

Deutsche Bahn, DSB, and České dráhy are launching a direct Prague-Copenhagen connection via Berlin on 1 May 2026, using the new ComfortJet trains. A seasonal summer night train is planned along the same corridor. ComfortJet trains feature an on-board restaurant, Wi-Fi, bicycle storage, a children’s cinema, and radio-transparent windows. Dynamic fares starting from around 30 €.

The night traveller’s survival kit

Choosing your category

• Seat: only suitable for short journeys or ultra-tight budgets
• Couchette: best value for sleep — you get a flat bed at a reasonable price
• Sleeper car: privacy, better rest, often with breakfast included
• Mini Cabin (Nightjet): the 2026 novelty for solo travellers — compact but private

Booking at the best price

The golden rule: book as soon as tickets go on sale. Dynamic pricing means the best fares sell out first, especially for summer travel or weekends. Nightjet opens bookings up to 6 months in advance. For Interrail/Eurail pass holders, a mandatory reservation supplement applies (10–30 € for a seat, more for a couchette).

Preparing for your journey

• Essential sleep kit: earplugs, sleep mask, warm layer (temperatures vary)
• Small overnight bag: charger, water, toothbrush, snacks — avoid rummaging through your suitcase at 2 a.m.
• Food: do not always rely on the restaurant car — pack a picnic
• Offline entertainment: most trains do not have reliable Wi-Fi — download your content in advance