The Austrian railway company ÖBB announced this weekend the opening of a night train line connecting Brussels to Vienna from January. At a time when awareness is awakening to the particularly heavy carbon footprint of air travel, night trains seem to have once again become an attractive alternative. If no night train leaves directly from Brussels yet, let’s go back to the “sleeper train” trips already available near us.

Travel through Europe

Austrian railways ÖBB already offer different night trains called “night jets”, to 4 different countries. In Germany, you can go to Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hanover, Hamburg, Mannheim or Munich. In Switzerland, the train will stop at Basel and Zurich. On its land, the Austrian company serves the cities of Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Kurfstein, Linz, Salzburg, Villach and Vienna. Finally, you will also be able to reach the Italian cities of Bologna, Florence, Livorno, Milan, Padua, Pisa, Rome, Venice and Verona. What to discover a beautiful part of Europe or to go to winter sports well rested.

Italian sweetness at your fingertips

With the Thello railway company launched by Trenitalia, embark in Paris and wake up in Milan, Verona or even Venice. An espresso and your Italian stay can start in the best conditions.

Pearls of the East

• Departing from Munich, Zurich or Vienna, you can reach Zagreb, the medieval pearl of Croatia, Bucharest, the surprising Romanian capital or even discover the splendors of the former Austro-Hungarian empire in Budapest.

• From Paris or Berlin: embark for the great East in Belarus and even Russia in Minsk or Moscow.

Scandinavia

Fancy snowy landscapes and the Northern Lights? Travel through Sweden. The night train serves the cities of Stockholm, Malmö, Gothenburg, Sundsvall, Östersund and Boden. You will even be able to take a trip to Norway! From Stockholm, travel overnight to Oslo or Narvik

From Finland to Russia

Finland has a large network of night trains. You can thus reach Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Oulu, Kemi or Kolari. Departing from the Finnish capital, you can even discover the wonders of Moscow and Saint Petersburg with the Tolstoy night train!

All the railway companies offer different formulas: the most economical is the compartment with 4 to 6 berths, ideal if you are going with family or friends. If you are traveling alone or as a couple, you can opt for the more luxurious formula. You will then have a private compartment for one or two people, your private shower, breakfast included as well as aperitif and drinks at your disposal. If overnight travel has lost the charm and luxury of the Orient Express, there is still an alternative that is both ecological and original to travel. If these trips are obviously much longer than by plane, they often have the advantage of going much faster. Finally, wouldn’t the greatest luxury be arriving at your vacation spot well rested?