Night moves: Riding the world’s greatest sleeper trains
Ben Jones, CNN
(CNN) — You’ve spent the day exploring Vienna, one of Europe’s great capital cities. You’ve visited its wonderful museums and galleries, taken a spin on the giant Ferris wheel in Prater Park and indulged in a slice of Sacher torte at Café Central, but now it’s time to move on.
Vienna’s Hauptbahnhof (main station) is one of the continent’s foremost transport hubs. A glance at its giant departure boards offers possibilities in every direction — Rome, Warsaw, Bucharest, Kyiv, Amsterdam, Hamburg and Zurich.
Where should we go tonight?
More than any other type of train, sleepers offer a palpable sense of adventure, a journey into the unknown and the thrilling prospect of waking up somewhere far from where you started. Whether it’s Agatha Christie, James Bond, Wes Anderson’s “The Darjeeling Limited” or legendary songs by the likes of David Bowie, they’ve been a fixture of popular culture for almost as long as they’ve existed.
Overnight trains can be found on six of the world’s seven continents. And they range from deluxe hotels on wheels ferrying guests to places like Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal or Venice in staggering comfort to the transcontinental giants of Canada and the USA with their legendary “Vistadome” panorama cars. You can cross the parched Australian Outback, thread high alpine passes or visit little-known parts of Japan’s main islands.
Whether you want to curl up in your solo sleep pod and arrive refreshed in a new city or spend nights socializing with fellow travelers in a fabulously restored Belle Époque bar car, somewhere in the world there’s a sleeper train to suit you. Here are some of our favorites.
Britannic Explorer – England and Wales
For more than 30 years, the UK’s most luxurious hotel train was The Royal Scotsman, but it now has a rival for that crown. Owned and operated by Belmond, the same company as its Scottish sister train, The Britannic Explorer is the first luxury sleeper train to showcase the iconic scenery of Wales and England’s Lake District and Cornwall regions.
With just 18 sumptuous cabins, including three grand suites, the Art Deco-style accommodation is inspired by the landscapes of its destinations. The exquisitely refurbished 1980s carriages feature velvet sofas, luxury striped wallpaper, a cocktail bar, observation car and even an onboard spa to help you relax as you travel.
And no luxury hotel train is complete without an extraordinary gastronomic experience — in this case menus focusing on seasonal, locally sourced and sustainably produced ingredients for lunch, dinner and afternoon tea.
Best For: Exploring the iconic landscapes of England and Wales in exquisite luxury. More information and booking
Italy’s La Dolce Vita train
Italy’s latest contribution to the world of super-deluxe hotel trains is the La Dolce Vita Orient Express, which made its debut in 2025.
Forgoing the traditional Belle Époque style of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express for interiors that celebrate Italian decor, art and architecture of the 1960s, its stunning exterior look is inspired by luxury motorboats such as the legendary Riva Aquarama.
Criss-crossing Italy from north to south on six regular itineraries, La Dolce Vita is a sumptuous showcase for the country’s myriad historical treasures and unique landscapes — from the Italian Alps and Venice in the north to Rome, Matera and Palermo in the south. Journeys to Sicily include an unforgettable hop across the Strait of Messina on Europe’s last passenger train ferry.
The hyper-luxurious 11-car train features a bar car with live music and games, 12 glorious wood-lined cabins and 18 master suites complete with double beds, a sofa, armchairs and private bathroom. Travelers enjoy five-star service featuring Italian gastronomy, regional and seasonal produce and the finest wines.
Most journeys feature one- or two-night itineraries from Rome starting at around $3,000 per person. But if you want a real adventure, October 2026 sees the train making its first international trips from Rome to Istanbul. This epic five-day, four-night journey starts at around $18,000 per person and takes in Venice, Vienna, Timisoara, Sofia and Plovdiv on its way to the far eastern edge of Europe.
Best For: Extraordinary luxury, Italian design, culture and cuisine. More information and booking
Nightjet European network
Over the last few years Austria’s Nightjet sleeper trains have been the catalyst for a remarkable revival in overnight rail travel. New routes and a fleet of superb new custom-built trains have significantly expanded and improved Nightjet’s offerings to European travelers.
With a network of routes rather than a single service, Nightjet operates from hubs in Vienna and Zurich to destinations including Berlin, Hamburg, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rome and Milan.
A multimillion-dollar investment in new equipment by Austrian Federal Railways over the last few years has added much-needed extra capacity, greater comfort and increased privacy.
Each new-generation Nightjet train features cutting-edge interior design including pod-hotel-style mini-cabins for solo travelers, sleeping compartments with en suite showers and toilets and a fully accessible multi-function car with café-bar, secure bike parking and space for bulky luggage and winter sports equipment.
Best For: Fast, high-quality travel between major European cities. More information and booking
Seven Stars in Kyushu, Japan
Thanks to its lightning-fast Shinkansen trains, Japan has gradually abandoned its once-extensive network of sleeper trains linking Tokyo to the country’s extremities. All that remains are a handful of luxury hotel trains catering to both Japanese and international visitors.
Of these, Seven Stars in Kyushu is one of the world’s most exclusive luxury trains. It accommodates just 28 lucky passengers per trip and is fully booked years in advance.
The train features seven bespoke coaches — five sleeping cars, a panoramic lounge car and a salon car with tea room, all painted in a rich wine-red livery with gold stars. While everyone travels in exceptional luxury, the best is reserved for Car 7, which has two deluxe suites, including one with a huge observation window so you can watch the world go by as you relax.
This very special train is designed to showcase the best of Japan’s third-largest island through its crafts, traditions, culture and cuisine. Fusing Japanese and Western styles as well as classic and modern, the interiors of the cars are an homage to Japanese craftsmanship and natural materials.
The seven stars are a reference to Kyushu’s seven prefectures, the seven major attractions of the island and, of course, the seven cars of this unique train. Itineraries range from two days to four days and include unforgettable off-train experiences unique to this unspoiled and traditional part of Japan.
Best For: Exclusivity, exploring Japan off the usual tourist trail. More information and booking
The Ghan, Australia
Vast and hostile, the Australian Outback is not an environment to take lightly. Fortunately, we can experience this otherworldly landscape from the comfort of The Ghan. Widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest rail journeys, it runs twice weekly over an 1,851-mile (2,979 kilometer) route spanning the length of Australia from Adelaide in the south to Alice Springs and Darwin in the Northern Territory.
Each trip takes more than 53 hours, including extended stops at outposts such as Coober Pedy for passengers to experience the Outback during off-train tours. For an additional $1,600 per person, you can take a one-hour flight from Alice Springs to the iconic red rocks of Uluru.
Today’s luxurious stainless-steel carriages (36 per train in total!) featuring dining cars and private cabins with personal attendants are a far cry from the notoriously unreliable trains that plied the route between 1929 and 1980. Three classes of travel — Gold, Gold Premium and Platinum — offer simple but comfortable accommodation with all food and drink included.
The origins of the train’s unusual name are debatable but hark back almost a century to its previous nickname “The Afghan Express” — a reference to Afghan camel drivers brought to Australia by the British in the late 19th century to help open up the country’s interior.
Best For: Experiencing an Australia that most visitors never see. More information and booking
The Canadian, Canada
Sitting somewhere between regular scheduled overnight services and luxury hotel trains are the epic transcontinental routes of North America. Canada is one of the greatest examples of the influence of railways on a young country and its last remaining transcontinental train is a celebration of its breathtaking landscapes.
In this age of instant communication and air travel, VIA Rail’s Canadian is a throwback to a different time, where long-distance travel was more comfortable and more communal. Sharing dining tables and open saloons over a four-day trip allows you to get to know your fellow passengers, enhance the experience and share stories. The train itself is a throwback, too, using beautiful 1950s stainless-steel passenger and sleeper cars, with spacious cabins and panoramic dome cars that offer a unique window on Canada’s amazing landscapes.
Over four days and 2,775 miles, this unique train connects Toronto with Vancouver via forests, lakes and seemingly endless prairies. If you’re heading west, the train saves the best for last as it climbs up and over the Rockies to reach its destination on the Pacific Coast.
Best For: Time travel, mountains, lakes and prairies, slow travel. More information and booking
Qinghai-Tibet Railway, China
For centuries, the remote mountain plateau known as “the roof of the world” was visited only by the hardiest travelers and explorers, but the opening of the remarkable Qinghai-Tibet Railway in 2006 created a permanent connection with the Chinese rail network.
Direct trains run to Lhasa from Beijing in around 40 hours and from Shanghai in about 47 hours, featuring unique pressurized carriages, designed specifically for the route, that help minimize the effects of altitude sickness caused by the low oxygen levels on the world’s highest railway.
Sometimes called the “Railway to Heaven” or “The Sky Road,” the 1,215-mile (1,955 kilometer) route from Xining to Lhasa tops out at the Tanggula Pass — 16,627 feet above sea level (5,070 meters). Almost half of this incredible feat of engineering sits above 13,123 feet (4,000 meters) above sea level. Challenges included building in a high-altitude region prone to earthquakes, dealing with freezing temperatures and low atmospheric pressure, and constructing the trackbed on permafrost.
Outside the train, travelers can enjoy amazing views of the fragile plateau environment, where yaks graze on grasslands dominated by the towering snow-capped mountains.
Highlights include the Qiangtang Prairie, Kekexili Nature Reserve, the legendary Namtso Lake and the Tanggula Mountains at the highest point of the journey.
Best For: Himalayan landscapes, visiting Tibet. More information and booking
Trondheim-Bodø, Norway
Few journeys can boast a visit to Hell and a crossing of the Arctic Circle, but Norway’s wonderful Nordland Railway is exceptional by any measure. Running for 453 miles (729 kilometers) from Trondheim to Bodø, it is the longest and most isolated railway in Norway, traversing deep valleys, high mountain plateaus and skirting countless lakes and fjords on its epic 10-hour journey to the north.
Just two trains a day make the full trip — a daytime train that makes the most of the views and a comfortable sleeper train connecting with trains to and from Oslo. The Nordland night train is currently paused, awaiting the arrival of powerful new hybrid electric-diesel locomotives. The railway hopes the night service will be fully operational this fall.
Travel in the height of summer to make the most of the long daylight hours.
Construction of the railway proceeded at a glacial pace from 1882 until 1940 when occupying German forces pushed it forward. Even so, the full route to Bodø was not completed until February 1962, 80 years after the first section from Trondheim to Hell welcomed its first passengers.
It provides a vital lifeline for the sparsely populated regions it serves, especially in winter. If you’re heading even further north, to Narvik and Tromsø, buses connect with trains at Fauske, taking a spectacular route through rugged mountain landscapes and over countless fjords.
Best For: Arctic mountain wilderness. More information and booking
European Sleeper to and from Milan
September 2026 will see the launch of a brand-new route linking Amsterdam and Brussels with Switzerland and Milan — Italy’s fashion and industry powerhouse. The 680-mile (1,100-kilometer) journey across four countries will be the first regular overnight service between the Benelux countries and Italy for many years.
The new venture by Dutch-Belgian startup European Sleeper (which already runs Brussels-Berlin-Prague and Paris-Brussels-Berlin sleeper trains) will run three nights per week in each direction, calling in Cologne, Aarau in Switzerland (for local connections to Zurich), Bellinzona (for local connections to Locarno and the Swiss Alps), Lugano and Milan.
There’s no doubt that the train could prove extremely useful for business travelers and holidaymakers alike, providing a comfortable and convenient way to travel between northwest Europe and perennially popular destinations in Italy and Switzerland.
Best For: Low cost, sustainable overnight travel, links to the Alps and Italy. More information and booking
Vivek Express, India
Carrying more than 23 million passengers every day, Indian Railways serves as the backbone of the world’s most populous nation, its largest employer and an unmissable experience for any visitor.
No fewer than four luxury hotel trains — Deccan Odyssey, Maharajas’ Express, Golden Chariot and Palace on Wheels — deliver a lavish five-star service for the lucky few. But for a full-on adventure, Indian Railways’ regular, long-distance sleeper train service has been an essential part of any trip since the days of the British Raj.
Indian Railways’ longest sleeper route is the Vivek Express linking Dibrugarh in Assam with Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu — India’s southernmost railway station. The 2,600-mile journey (4,184 kilometer) across the length of India takes up to 75 hours but tickets start at just $16, depending on which class of accommodation you choose.
If that sounds like too much for your first visit, the railway also provides an extensive network of sleeper trains linking most of the country’s major cities, including the premium Rajdhani Express network linking New Delhi with the capitals or largest cities of various states. It is also investing heavily in comfortable new Vande Bharat electric sleeper trains, the first of which was introduced in January 2026.
Best For: Experiencing Indian life, low-cost long-distance travel. More information and booking
Caledonian Sleeper, UK
Seasoned sleeper travelers know that the anticipation sometimes struggles to live up to the reality; overnight trains can be hot, noisy, uncomfortable and, thanks to adverse weather or diversions, subject to truly epic delays. But they can also be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a great way to leap across countries or continents and avoid soul-sapping early morning flights.
One journey that rarely disappoints is the Anglo-Scottish Caledonian Sleeper, linking London with Scotland’s main cities and the incredible scenery of the Highlands. Our favorite is the legendary Fort William portion, which winds its way through deep valleys and over lonely moorlands to reach the west coast port of Fort William, at the foot of Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain.
Nothing beats leaving London in the evening, enjoying haggis, neeps and tatties (a classic Scottish dish with haggis, turnips and potatoes) and maybe a glass of good whisky in the comfortable lounge car before retiring to your compartment. By morning, an extraordinary transformation in landscapes is complete as you traverse the West Highland Line, frequently voted the world’s most beautiful railway journey.
Best For: Visiting Scotland’s incredible scenery, haggis, neeps and tatties! More information and booking
Andean Explorer, Peru
Another of Belmond’s superb hotel trains, the Andean Explorer offers the opportunity to sample some of Peru’s most spectacular landscapes on one of the highest railways in the world, reaching a summit of 14,150 feet (4,300 meters) at La Raya.
South America’s first luxury sleeper train features 20 modern carriages painted in a stunning midnight blue livery running against the incredible backdrop of the Andes. Unlike many luxury trains, the Andean Explorer eschews nostalgia for a clean, modern aesthetic. The two-night trip links Cusco, ancient capital of the Inca Empire, with Arequipa via a stopover in Puno and a visit to Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America.
The menu is as colorful as the scenery, with seasonal dishes prepared using fresh local ingredients. Socialize with fellow guests in the lounge car and sip a pisco sour to the tune of sweet piano melodies or retreat to the spa car for a soothing massage. Oxygen masks and medical assistance are provided for anyone struggling at high altitude.
Best For: Rural mountain landscapes, stunning Peruvian food and drink. More information and booking
Rovos Rail, South Africa
South Africa is home to two of the world’s best luxury trains. By far the most famous is the iconic “Blue Train,” which runs weekly over a 990-mile (1,593 km) route between Cape Town and Pretoria. Its origins go back as far as 1923, but it gained its nickname when new blue-painted steel carriages were introduced in 1937.
Rovos Rail is a somewhat more recent addition to the South African rail scene but is nevertheless regarded by some aficionados as the world’s best luxury train. Using meticulously restored vintage wooden-bodied carriages, since 1989 the train has developed an international reputation for world-class travel experiences.
Carrying a maximum of 72 passengers per trip in 36 sumptuous suites (Pullman, Deluxe or Royal, depending on your budget), Rovos Rail offers trips between two and 11 nights ranging right across southern Africa, combining stunning landscapes and experiences with superb regional cuisine and incredible comfort and service.
Most itineraries are within South Africa, but the train also ventures farther afield to Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Malawi and Angola, reaching as far north as Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Highlights of the trips include Victoria Falls, the Cape Winelands, the Kalahari desert, the diamond mines of Kimberley and off-train safaris in some of the world’s best nature reserves.
Best For: Experiencing the best of southern Africa in comfort, safaris, stunning scenery and regional cuisine. More information and booking
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