22 | THE SLEEPER WAY TO TRAVEL


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April/May 2026 Top Routes to Try Milan, Italy


One of Europe’s most popular and convenient routes that connects two major European cities, it takes roughly fourteen hours depending on the amount of stops that occur. This particular route passes through Brussels, Belgium and then onto your final destination in Milan, Italy. Travelling through the night, you will arrive in Milan the following morning with a full day to explore the city. This service is due to operate in June 2026. Rome, Italy


Venice, Italy


An opportunity to explore Italy’s beauty, this service runs daily and travels through Lazio, Umbria and Tuscany. Berlin, Germany Running


seasonally,


Stockholm, Sweden this


service


operates on fixed dates and will run through Sweden’s second largest city. The service will leave


Sleep Your Way Through Europe: Are Night Trains Making a Comeback?


BY CARA THOMPSON cara@nitravelnews.com


MODERN sleeper trains are turning


travel into a comfortable, time-saving and affordable way to experience destinations as well as allow travellers to explore places they might not normally go. But are they making a comeback or will they stay a thing of the past?


Once considered a remnant of the


past, sleeper trains are slowly starting to become an appealing adventure to the modern traveller wanting to explore Europe.


From


spacious sleeper cabins,


scenic


routes along with the growing demand for ‘slow travel’,


overnight


train journeys are starting to become a popular alternative to flying especially for those who enjoy site-seeing and exploring hidden gems! Leading the way for their comeback are services such as Austria’s Nightjet and EuroNight connecting travellers to popular cities while they sleep. Forget having to wake up to early alarms and stand in long airport queues, instead you can travel through the night and wake up in multiple destinations seeing hidden places you wouldn’t have seen flying on a plane.


Boarding


in one city and waking up in another. It seems to be that the main reason why travellers are making the switch to rail


travel is for convenience and efficiency. If you are travelling while you sleep, you aren’t wasting valuable time during the day, you can spend those daylight hours exploring


the destinations more modern and


cities you arrive in. Services are now offering a


experience


than they have ever done before, with fully equipped rooms, comfortable beds, breakfast and charging ports in your room. Another reason sleeper trains are becoming a popular means of travel is because the journey travelling onboard is actually


becoming rail travel


part of the holiday experience instead of just a means of getting from one place to another. Travellers are starting to want a more relaxing experience, they want to forget about the stressful aspects of travelling on the plane, and one thing with is, tourists don’t have to


think of strict baggage allowances, security checks offering a smoother, more enjoyable start to their holidays. ‘Slow travel’ - something we all keep hearing, but is proof traveller behaviours are changing and shaping to prioritise engaging in local culture and sustainable transportation.


It


encourages travellers to unwind and enjoy the experience rather than trying to see and experience lots of places in a short period of time. The fact that they have all of their daylight hours to delve into the culture of the destination they are visiting.


Berlin


late afternoon and passengers can enjoy beautiful views of the Swedish countryside throughout their journey.


Top Tips for First Time Night Train Travellers


•Make sure to book your excursion early as possible as popular routes tend to sell out quickly. So if there is a destination you have always wanted to explore make sure to get your tickets as soon as you can.


•Make sure to pack comfortable clothes as this will make a difference to your experience.


•Book ahead as private rooms can sell out very quickly. This is particularly important if you are a light sleeper and would enjoy a private cabin. There is the option to book shared cabins, privacy,


however if you’d like these accommodation options sell very quickly.


•Pack ear plugs - Sleeper trains can be noisy so if you are a light sleeper this is something you will need to consider. The obvious noise of the train moving along the tracks is inevitable along with the noise of other travellers however, if you are up for the unique experience you will get to enjoy the


changing


l a n d s c a p e s throughout every destination


you travel to.


Travelling overnight adds an extra layer of fun to your holiday, whether you are wanting to and it is no surprise that this is an up and coming experience for travellers wanting to explore Europe’s top cities. It’s no longer an old-fashioned means of travel, it links big European cities with demand growing every year with additional routes being added to accommodate travellers


in 2026. However, with


growth comes some challenges and these night trains rely on funding to run, even if there is high demand as they are expensive to run and risk being cancelled if funding isn’t met. The rise of night trains is an alternative way of travel for those interested, and not something that is going to replace air travel altogether. They offer a unique experience that is convenient and will become a major means of travel in Europe. Its dominance will depend on the outcome of the


challenges


that it is faced with. One thing is clear about sleeper trains - falling asleep in one city and waking up in another is becoming an increasingly popular way to travel.


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