A railway track stretches toward a star-filled night sky, with the Milky Way visible above.

Sleeper train holidays

Which? Recommended Provider - Rail Holidays

From classic sleeper trains crossing countries to ferries with cinemas traversing seas as you snooze. Cover long distances without losing daylight on these overnight journeys where sleeping on the move is part of the adventure.

European sleeper train breaks

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grey concrete castle under blue sky during daytime

Transylvanian adventure

Budapest, Brasov, Vienna

Explore Brașov and the Carpathians, visiting Bran Castle and travelling by sleeper train with morning views of rural Transylvania.

11 nights

Italian cities by sleeper train

Turin, Naples, Rome

Stop in Turin before an overnight InterCityNotte to Naples, returning north via Rome and Milan by rail.

10 nights

A blue and red Nightjet sleeper train carriage pictured on the tracks at sunset.

Amsterdam to Vienna by sleeper train

Amsterdam, Vienna

Take the sleeper from Amsterdam to Vienna, pairing canal houses and museums with coffee houses and Secession landmarks.

8 nights

a group of people walking down a street next to a body of water

Sleeper train to Sicily

Turin, Rome, Catania, Syracuse, Naples

Ever seen a train board a boat? Ride the Intercity Notte across the Strait of Messina and wake up to Sicily’s island life.

16 nights

Snow-covered timber cabins glow with fairy lights among pine trees at dusk in Lapland.

Sleeper train to Lapland

Hamburg, Stockholm, Helsinki, Rovaniemi, Osnabrück

Travel by sleeper train to Lapland, discovering Arctic landscapes, foraging traditions and northern food culture.

21 nights

a river with a bridge and a building in the background

Italy & Sicily's Roman ruins

Rome, Catania, Syracuse, Messina, Naples

Get under the skin of Italy’s Roman ruins as you head through Rome, Naples and across the Strait to Sicily by sleeper.

14 nights

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Caledonian Sleeper trips to Scotland

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Inverness by sleeper train

Inverness

Travel overnight by sleeper to Inverness, then enjoy riverside walks, Loch Ness boat trips, castles, bookshops and pubs.

3 nights

West Highland Line

Fort William, Oban, Glasgow

Ride the Caledonian Sleeper and both branches of the famed West Highland Line, one of the world's most scenic railways.

8 nights

a group of rocks sitting on top of a lush green hillside

Skye by sleeper

Portree, Isle of Skye

Take the sleeper train to Skye, waking up in the Highlands before Portree, the Cuillins and the elemental Hebrides.

6 nights

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Night Riviera to Cornwall

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Night Riviera to Penzance

Penzance

Take the Night Riviera from London to Penzance, arriving for breakfast beside the harbour and a first swim along the coast.

2 nights

Cornish coast by sleeper

Penzance, St Ives, Newquay

Travel from western Cornwall to its north coast by sleeper train, linking Penzance, St Ives and Newquay with beaches and surf.

14 nights

Explore Cornwall

Penzance, St Ives, Falmouth

Experience Cornwall by rail, from daytime journeys along the St Ives Bay line to nights on the soothing Night Riviera sleeper.

6 nights

A small bridge over a river with a church in the background

Slovenia by sleeper train

Drift asleep as your sleeper train crosses Europe, waking to sunrise in Vienna. Wander its grand boulevards before heading south to the shores of Lake Bohinj, followed by wine beside the river in Ljubljana, Salzburg’s Baroque streets and Innsbruck below the Alps.

The route home crosses the Semmering Line and the Arlberg Railway, with snow-capped peaks and forested valleys rolling past the window, before a final sleeper back to Utrecht and its canals.

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Transport

Customisable, beautiful routes across Europe by land and sea

Accommodation

Chosen by you, booked by us, favouring local stays

Support

Personalised trip guide, 24/7 in-trip support, free disruption replanning

A lit sleeper train crosses a moonlit desert dotted with rocks and joshua trees.

Journal

What to expect on a sleeper train journey

If you're curious about what to expect on an overnight train journey, read our in-depth guide to sleeper trains.

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Frequently asked questions about sleeper trains

What exactly is a sleeper train?

A sleeper train (or night train) is a train that combines travelling with a place to sleep. You’ll usually get on at night, after dinner and you will get off in the morning at your new destination.

There has been a renewed interest in sleeper trains as a sustainable and comfortable alternative to air travel for medium to long-distance journeys. Several countries, particularly in Europe, maintain and have even expanded their sleeper train networks to meet the demand for overnight travel with comfortable accommodation.

What room will Byway book for me?

We book standard private cabins on overnight journeys. Depending on availability, that may be a whole private couchette (which usually has four to six berths) or it will be a private 1-, 2-, or 3-berth cabin. On sleeper trains, we will book a cabin with shared toilet facilities, but if you’d like to upgrade to a cabin with a toilet and/or shower let us know in advance and we can check if this is available on your route and book it for the price of the upgrade.

Are sleeper trains/ferries included with an Interrail pass?

Most sleeper trains are covered by an Interrail pass, but require reservations at an additional cost. The price depends entirely on the train operator and for many sleeper trains that offer different cabin classes, the type of cabin you’re in will depend on the class of your Interrail pass. For sleeper ferries, they are not usually included with your Interrail pass, so these are booked separately.

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Learn how to book and enjoy an overland trip yourself in 10 clear steps (or book with us, and we’ll handle the lot).

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Top destinations

Countries

Routes

Sleeper train holidays

European sleeper train breaks

Caledonian Sleeper trips to Scotland

Night Riviera to Cornwall

Transport

Accommodation

Support

Frequently asked questions about sleeper trains

What exactly is a sleeper train?

What room will Byway book for me?

Are sleeper trains/ferries included with an Interrail pass?

Looking for something else?

Prefer to book it yourself?

Top destinations

Countries

Routes

Sleeper train holidays

European sleeper train breaks

Caledonian Sleeper trips to Scotland

Night Riviera to Cornwall

Transport

Accommodation

Support

Frequently asked questions about sleeper trains

What exactly is a sleeper train?

What room will Byway book for me?

Are sleeper trains/ferries included with an Interrail pass?

Looking for something else?

Prefer to book it yourself?