Night trains are celebrating a comeback: Discover the best routes for 2025!

Night trains are celebrating a comeback: Discover the best routes for 2025!

In recent years, night trains have made a remarkable comeback in Europe. The number of popular train journeys grows, especially during the holiday season. This environmentally friendly form of travel not only has the charm of a sense of adventure, but is also considered a sustainable alternative to flying. More and more travelers are opting for nighttime train journeys, which often offer a relaxed and comfortable journey.

One of the most exciting new connections is the route from Warsaw in Poland to Rijeka in Croatia, which runs through five countries from June 27, 2025 until the end of August 2025. Travelers can get on in Vienna and get off in Ljubljana or Rijeka. The connection from Vienna to Split (Croatia) has also been available from April 30, 2025 to October 13, 2025, with a route via Maribor to Zagreb and on to the coast. These travel destinations promise unforgettable experiences on Europe's most beautiful coasts.

Diverse connections in Europe

The Swedish company Snälltåget also offers an impressive night train connection. From June 25th to the end of September 2025, travelers can drive from Malmö to Storlien, which is particularly appealing to hiking enthusiasts. This connection can be easily reached from Hamburg via Copenhagen.

Another highlight is the seasonal connection from Bucharest (Romania) to Istanbul (Türkiye), which runs from June 14th to October 13th, 2025. The journey takes almost 24 hours, which includes border control. However, travelers must be prepared that getting to Bucharest can be challenging.

In addition, the Austrian Federal Railway operates trains from Berlin and Stuttgart to Budapest, from where Bucharest can also be reached. This variety of connections makes night trains an attractive choice for travelers.

Sustainability in focus

Night trains not only offer a comfortable way to travel from A to B, but also significant environmental benefits. On the route from Zurich to Hamburg, around 170 kg of CO2 per person is saved compared to air travel. In addition, the ÖBB Nightjet runs on 100% green electricity, which further improves the environmental balance. In contrast to cars, which cause microplastics through tire wear, night trains are a much cleaner transport alternative.

From 2020 to 2023, the number of night train connections in Europe increased from 90 to over 200. The latest investments include the order of 33 new trains from Siemens Mobility, to be delivered by 2025. These new night trains not only offer improved comfort and accessibility, but also bicycle transport. The sleeping capsules in the couchette cars guarantee more privacy with only four beds per compartment instead of six and offer private bathrooms with toilet and shower, but with a lower capacity of 20 beds per car.

Sustainable accommodation and tips

Travelers who want to live in an environmentally conscious way can choose from a variety of sustainable accommodation close to night train connections:

• Nach Wien (8 Verbindungen)
  • Nachzugverbindungen: Amsterdam, Berlin, Brüssel, Hamburg, La Spezia.
  • Nachhaltige Unterkunft: Gut Guntrams, 60 km von Wien, ökologisches Bio-Refugium.
• Nach München (10 Verbindungen)
  • Nachzugverbindungen: Brüssel, Hamburg, La Spezia, Rom, Venedig.
  • Nachhaltige Unterkunft: Gut Sonnenhausen, 30 km südöstlich von München, ökologisches Hotel.
• Nach Mailand (2 Verbindungen)
  • Nachzugverbindungen: München, Wien.
  • Nachhaltige Unterkunft: Hotel Milano Scala, Null-Emissions-Hotel im Zentrum von Mailand.
• Nach Paris (2 Verbindungen)
  • Nachzugverbindungen: Berlin, Wien.
  • Nachhaltige Unterkunft: Green Spirit Hotels, Boutique-Hotels im 7. Stadtbezirk von Paris.

Overall, the trend towards night trains shows that Europe offers an environmentally friendly and comfortable travel option for adventure seekers. For everyone who would like to discover the advantages of this nostalgic form of travel, the question now arises: Where should the next trip go?

Perspective Daily reports that demand for night trains continues to rise, while Green Travel Blog offers additional tips for sustainable travel.