Night trains
How do night trains in Europe work, and which berth should you book?
A seat, a couchette or a private sleeper: what you get, what it costs from, and who runs the trains in 2026.
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The short version
A European night train gives you three choices: a reclining seat, a bunk in a shared couchette compartment, or a sleeper cabin with fewer beds and more privacy. On ÖBB Nightjet's new Vienna to Zurich train, saver fares started at €34.90 for a seat, €54.90 for a couchette or solo Mini Cabin and €89.90 for a sleeper, per person and direction (June 2026). Cheap fares are limited, so book when sales open: up to 360 days ahead for Nightjet. Rail pass holders always need a paid reservation.
Who is this guide for?
Travelers from the US, Canada, Australia and the UK thinking about replacing a flight or a hotel night with a sleeper train, and who want to know what each berth type is like before paying for it.
What is the difference between a seat, a couchette and a sleeper?
| Type | People per compartment | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Seat | Up to 6, or an open-plan car | A reclining seat. Cheapest, least sleep. |
| Couchette | Up to 4 (comfort) or up to 6 | A bunk with bedding in a shared compartment. Nightjet runs separate ladies' compartments at the same price. |
| Mini Cabin | 1 | A private sleeping capsule with lockers, on new-generation Nightjets only. |
| Sleeper | 1 to 3 | A proper bed in a lockable cabin. Comfort and comfort plus versions add a private toilet and shower. |
If you book a single bed in a shared couchette or sleeper, expect to share with other passengers unless you buy the whole compartment. Nightjet's FAQ confirms the ladies' compartments; it does not publish a general rule on mixing strangers, so ask at booking if this matters to you.
How much does a night train cost?
Night trains are priced like flights: a few cheap fares per train, rising as they sell. The figures below are published starting prices, not typical prices.
Two things to know about saver fares. Nightjet's cheapest "Sparschiene" tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged, per its booking FAQ. And buying on board is a last resort that adds a surcharge.
Who runs night trains in Europe in 2026?
| Operator | Example routes | Booking opens |
|---|---|---|
| ÖBB Nightjet | Vienna to Zurich, Vienna to Venice, Munich to Rome, Vienna to Rome, Vienna to Amsterdam, Vienna to Brussels | Up to 360 days ahead |
| EuroNight (partner trains) | Sold through ÖBB and partner railways | Up to 180 days ahead |
| European Sleeper | Brussels to Prague via Amsterdam and Berlin; Paris to Berlin; Brussels to Milan | See operator |
| SNCF Intercités de Nuit | From Paris Austerlitz to Nice, Briançon, Toulouse, Tarbes and Lourdes, Latour-de-Carol, Cerbère and Portbou, Rodez and Albi, Aurillac | With other Intercités, about 4 months |
The map changes often. Nightjet stopped running from Vienna and Berlin to Paris on 14 December 2025 after French state funding ended; European Sleeper now lists Paris to Berlin among its routes. Construction work also cuts services: Nightjet has announced that in 2027 its Munich to Rome train will not run from 7 February to early May, and its Vienna to Venice train will not run from late May to 11 July. In France, a landslide on 18 February 2026 suspended the Paris to Latour-de-Carol night train, according to a Rail Europe trade notice; check whether it has resumed before planning around it.
Sources disagree on European Sleeper's Brussels to Milan start date: travel sites have given June, September and December 2026. Its own site lists the route as running. Check the departure calendar on europeansleeper.eu for your date.
How do I book a night train?
- Find the operator for your route in the table above, and book on its own site or app (nightjet.com, europeansleeper.eu, SNCF Connect).
- Choose the berth type. For a solo traveler who wants privacy at a low price, the Mini Cabin, where offered, costs the same starting price as a couchette.
- Book as soon as sales open for your date. Our guide on when European train tickets go on sale lists the windows.
- With a rail pass, you still pay for the berth. Nightjet requires reservations on all its trains in Germany and Italy; European Sleeper sells pass holders a Budget, Classic or Comfort reservation that is valid only with an Interrail or European Sleeper pass. See our seat reservation guide for how pass reservations work.
Night train, day train, or a flight?
| Option | Cost logic | Time cost | Main downside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night train, couchette or Mini Cabin | Fare includes a bed; saves a hotel night | Travel while asleep; city center to city center | Shared space, variable sleep, delays and route changes |
| Night train, private sleeper | Highest rail fare; compare with fare plus hotel | As above | Price, especially for one person |
| Day train | Advance fares can be low | Uses a day of your trip | Long journeys eat sightseeing time |
| Budget flight | Low headline fare, plus bags and airport transfers | Short flight, plus airport time at both ends | Baggage fees, transfers, early starts |
Who should pick what: solo travelers on a budget, a couchette or Mini Cabin. Couples and families who want to sleep, price a whole private compartment against fare plus hotel. If your train is late, you may be owed money: see train delay compensation in Europe.
Know your route? Check berth availability and saver fares while they last.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a couchette and a sleeper?
A couchette is a bunk with bedding in a shared compartment of up to 4 or 6 people. A sleeper is a proper bed in a cabin for 1 to 3 people, and the comfort versions on Nightjet add a private toilet and shower.
How much does a Nightjet ticket cost?
On the Vienna to Zurich route, saver fares started at €34.90 for a seat, €54.90 for a couchette or Mini Cabin and €89.90 for a sleeper, per person and direction, as reported in June 2026. Saver fares are limited and cannot be refunded.
Can I use an Interrail Pass on night trains?
Yes on many night trains, but you always need a paid reservation for your seat or berth. European Sleeper sells pass holders a Budget, Classic or Comfort reservation that is valid only with an Interrail or European Sleeper pass.
Is there still a night train from Paris to Vienna or Berlin?
Nightjet stopped running from Vienna and Berlin to Paris on 14 December 2025. European Sleeper lists Paris to Berlin among its routes; there was no direct Paris to Vienna night train as of October 2026.
How far ahead can I book a night train?
Nightjet sells tickets up to 360 days ahead, and EuroNight and other night trains sold by ÖBB up to 180 days ahead. Trips after the mid-December timetable change may open later.
Where the figures come from
Checked on 12 October 2026. Official operator pages first; secondary sources are labeled.
- ÖBB Nightjet: accommodation categories and 2027 construction notices
- ÖBB Nightjet: booking FAQ (360 and 180 days, Sparschiene, ladies' compartments)
- European Sleeper: routes, from prices and pass-holder reservations
- The Local, 18 June 2026: new Vienna to Zurich Nightjet, prices and features (secondary)
- Euronews: ÖBB ends Paris night trains (secondary)
- Ulysse: French night train lines in 2026, in French (secondary)
- Rail Europe trade help: Intercités de Nuit, Latour-de-Carol suspension (secondary)