‘I’m a train expert – these are the very best sleeper journeys in Europe’

Europe has many sleeper trains that connect various cities in the continent, allowing passengers to enjoy some of Europe’s best routes. 

Tom Chesshyre, who wrote his travel book about his sleeper train adventures on 55 train rides, has now shared the best routes in Europe.

Belgian-Dutch co-operative European Sleeper operates thrice-weekly trains between Brussels and Prague, which stop at Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Berlin and Dresden. 

The operator’s motor is ‘The Good Night Train’, emphasising comfort with beds that have duvets and quality linen. Passengers are also offered a bottle of water and a continental breakfast with a hot drink.

The compartments that have three-tier bunks can be booked for 1-3 people, or there are couchettes which are cheaper and fit 5-6 people. The carriages are made of fluted stainless steel, from the US in the 1950s.

There is also a dining car on some services where three-course meals are offered. Reservations are required for the dining car.

The 630-mile journey takes around 15 and a half hours and a sleeping compartment for two costs from £350. A sharing couchette would cost £132 per person.

To enjoy the fine highland scenery, people should hope on the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Scotland. The service goes from London Euston to Fort William, Inverness, Edinburgh, Glasglow and Aberdeen and operates daily in each direction.

A one-way fare starts from £310 for two in a ‘Classic’ compartment or £350 for two in a ‘Club’ compartment.

Another great trip is from Budapest to Bucharest via the Ister sleeper train, the journey which travels in the direction towards the Black Sea. The 505-mile journey takes 11 hours and 20 minutes to get between the two capitals. Passengers get to experience a view of the Carpathian Mountains between Brasov and Bucharest.

The train has sleeper compartments for two from £146, or for those travelling individually opting for a cheaper option, it costs £40 for a couchette which holds six.

Norwegian Nights, a daily sleeper train which takes passengers from Trondheim to Bodo, covers the 435-mile journey in 10 hours.

The train offers seats, standard from £60 and premium from £82, as well as sleeper compartments from £144 that come with two single beds, water bottles, and sinks. 

The city of Trondheim and the town of Bodo are said to both be great for the Northern Lights, and through the journey, the train passes by Norwegian fjords and mountains making a pleasant view.

There are many more sleeper trains that take passengers between cities in Europe that are worth checking out.