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Train travel is back en vogue in Europe, with numerous train routes launching simultaneously and demand for the railway having increased significantly.
It seems as if travelers have had it with airports in general: from the stressful security check-up, to the long wait in line, and even the super-strict luggage rules low-cost carriers impose, it’s no wonder they’re flocking into the nearest train station instead.
Not only are they a (far more) scenic experience, but trains can literally be hotels on wheels.
Europe’s new fleet of Nightjet trains cover long distances overnight, and with their lie-flat seats and incredible onboard catering, you hardly ever notice the passing of time.
If you’re fed up with the airport chaos yourself, and you’re not on a rush to be anywhere on vacation, you’ll be ecstatic to learn there are 3 new Nightjet sleepers launching in the Old Continent this fall––and they will be connecting 6 completely unique destinations:
New Trains Launching Between Austria, Germany And Italy
In the latest expansion of its Nightjet service, Austrian operator ÖBB will start operation between six cities across Austria, Germany and Italy from September 10, 2024.
The Nightjet is ÖBB’s overnight service, with each train being seven cars long, including two sleeper cars with private cabins, three couchette cars, equipped with 28 compartments, a multi-functional car with both seating and accessible sleeper arrangements, and a seats-only car.
Traveling on the Nightjet, tickets for a standard seat start from only €29.90, or around US$33 based on the current exchange rate. A couchette, or a seat in a shared sleeper cabin costs around $85, while private cabins can go as high as US$192 on some routes.
The list of amenities in the latter category is quite extensive, with guests having enjoying both a seating area and a bed (with softer mattresses and pillows), a private washbasin, adjustable temperature control, multicolored mood lighting, and breakfast the following morning.
For those in ‘comfort plus’, cabins even come with a shower cubicle.
In general, seats are for travelers covering shorter distances, who won’t be traveling the whole extent of the Nightjet, the couchette cars are perfect for families and groups of friends, as it accommodates up to four people, and the private cabins are reserved for solo travelers or couples expecting privacy.
Now that you know what to expect from the Nightjet, let’s move on to the most important part: where can you go this fall?
Munich to Bologna
Munich is a major German city, capital of the state of Bavaria, and a cultural hotspot of the first order, with a central square (Marienplatz) flanked by historical landmarks, and a thriving brewery scene––to our fellow beer buffs out there, it’s also where the traditional Oktoberfest originated.
If you’re visiting Munich this fall, other than signing up for this $68.76 Bavarian Beer and Food Evening Tour, you can now go on a little weekend escapade to Italy––more specifically, the romantic Bologna, an offbeat gem often bypassed by first-time visitors.
Leaving from Hauptbahnhof (the Central Station) in the evening, the Nightjet crosses the state of Bavaria, and the whole of Austria overnight before reaching Italy, for a total travel duration of 10h28 (don’t worry, you’ll be fast asleep in your comfy couchette bed before you even notice).
Arriving in Bologna, you can go on a gastronomic tour guided by a local, packed with cheese boards, freshly-baked bread and homemade tagliatelle pasta, for only $87.62, or simply admire the city’s stunning architecture:
Bologna is famous for its Renaissance-era monuments, picturesque piazze surrounded by arched colonnades and casual historic cafes, and its twin Asinelli and Garisenda Towers, which similarly to Pisa, have also leaned forward over the years.
Outbound
- Departing from Munich 8:15 p.m.
- Arriving to Bologna 5:39 a.m.
Return
- Departing from Bologna 10:54 p.m.
- Arriving to Munich 9:22 a.m.
Salzburg to Florence
Austria’s famous alpine city, Salzburg has become a popular alternative for travelers keen on escaping the scorching Mediterranean heat this year, thanks to its milder mid-year temperatures and most importantly, inestimable cultural value:
With its perfectly preserved Old Town, dotted with domes and towering church spires, winding cobbled streets, and lush green gardens, set against the backdrop of snow-capped peaks, it is often called Rome of the North.
The Italy associations don’t stop there: from September 10, you can go to sleep in the ÖBB Nightjet in Salzburg and wake up the next morning in Florence, one of Europe’s prettiest cities, and the birthplace of the cultural and intellectual movement that was the Renaissance.
Florence is best-known for its UNESCO-listed Historic Center, dominated by a red-colored Brunelleschi Duomo, that rises above a maze of medieval streets––in the midst of it, there are museums housing iconic Western art, from Michelangelo’s David to Botticelli’s Birth of Venus.
Besides being a cultural behemoth, Florence is a renowned foodie hotspot, and in case you’re looking for an authentic restaurant, we’d warmly suggest La Buchetta: a bistro with a timeless interior, it has a near-perfect 4.7 rate on Google Reviews (and it’s where we had the best gnocchi ever).
Outbound
- Departing from Salzburg 10:02 p.m.
- Arriving to Florence 6:42 a.m.
Return
- Departing from Florence 9:48 p.m.
- Arriving to Salzburg 6:49 a.m.
Vienna to Rome
Habsburg-era palaces, sprawling lush gardens dotted with ornate fountains and postcardy gazebos, and essentially a stately Baroque monument per square mile (not literally, but it surely feels like it): Vienna is the quintessential European city.
The Austrian capital is notorious for its State Opera, considered one of the best in the world, glazed tile-roofed Stephansdom, a Gothic wonder rising 447.5 feet tall, and artsy coffee shops––our favorite, and one tourists often miss when visiting if they’re inattentive, is Fenster.
They’re nothing but a window opening onto a cobbled street where you can only get takeout coffee, and our go-to order has to be the milk espresso served in an ice cream cone; some say it’s overrated because it costs $12, but the presentation is cute, and it is really high-quality stuff.
If you’re coming all the way to Vienna for the culture and the coffee, you might as well add a little side trip to a fellow capital that’s developed a solid reputation entirely on those exact two things–of course, we’re talking about Rome, now linked to Austria via the Nightjet.
More than just great coffee and ancient sites, however, Rome is a vibrant metropolis with a jovial atmosphere and diverse tourist offer.
Unlike New York, it does go to sleep eventually, but if you know where to go, you can still have an enjoyable time.
Be it the endless streets of Trastevere, with its local-owned osteria and hidden courtyards, or the lively San Lorenzo, a student quarter full of bars, your Sunday evenings in Rome don’t have to be spent in a museum, or admiring Roman ruins if, you know, you’re in need of a Bohemian weekend away.
Outbound
- Departing from Vienna 7:18 p.m.
- Arriving to Rome 11:05 a.m.
Return
- Departing from Rome 5:40 p.m.
- Arriving to Vienna 9:04 a.m.
Why Take A Sleeper Train Instead Of Just Flying?
If you’ve never taken a sleeper train before, you may be wondering how exactly it’s any better than flying, and why would people choose to deliberately be in a train for 8 hours or longer when they could simply take the quickest, ‘easiest’ route.
Environmental wiffle-waffle aside, have you ever stopped to think how long you actually spend traveling by plane?
Sure, flights are mostly short-distance, particularly in Europe where it normally takes a maximum 3 hours to get anywhere, but how about the airport commute and wait?
If you’re flying from Paris Beauvais, an airport a whopping 41 miles outside the city of Paris itself, you’re advised to leave for the airport between five and three hours in advance, as the transfer time can take as long as 1h30, and there’s usually big lines at security.
However short that flight is, and let’s say it’s roughly 2 hours, your overall travel time has already bumped up to at least 7 hours, airport commute, wait time and actual flight included––and we haven’t even factored commuting upon arrival.
Most major international airports in Europe are located miles out of the city center, or even the city they serve, which is the case with Beauvais, and for that reason, flying typically takes up the best part of a travel day, if not the entire day.
Sleeper trains take between 8 to 10 hours to complete their journey, which is either equivalent or slightly longer, the difference being that you’re traveling overnight, going to bed at your departure point, and magically waking up at your destination.
No stress, no hopping on and off airport shuttles and trams in between, no sitting up straight.
Are Trains Really That Much More Expensive?
Lie-flat cabins are pretty expensive, sure, but have you pondered it’s almost as if you’re combining the cost of accommodation and travel into a single booking?
Think about it: if you choose to stay another night in a three-star hotel in Rome, basic amenities, only to fly to Vienna in the morning, you’ll be set back by $93–$146 this season, plus the flight tickets: booked through Austrian Airlines, that’s as high as $128 on certain dates.
We haven’t even added the cost of airport transfers, hold luggage (which is free on trains), whether it’s Ubers or trains, nor the usual airport expenses––who can resist a cheeky KFC as they wait for their gate to open, or browsing through DutyFree?
It’s not that airports are bad (not at all), but is $192 for a private sleeper cabin, or even $85 for a couchette in a shared compartment really that expensive?
Not to mention the scenic views, ability to take a walk and stretch your legs without being told off by overly-strict flight attendants, and comfy seating.
Lastly, trains don’t arrive miles outside a city.
Instead, they take you straight to the city center, probably in proximity of your hotel, making getting around much easier. Sleeper trains are perfect if you’re not in a rush to be somewhere, but if you’re actually smart about it, they’re rarely ever not the best choice.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.