THE BEST SLEEPER TRAIN JOURNEYS

Air travel is the most practical means to travel across the country. But do you ever wonder what it would be like to take time to enjoy the journey? While the ride may be long, it will be memorable. Train journeys are a great source of adventure besides being romantic. Imagine going to bed in one location and wake up in another. With sleeper trains, you get to experience the charm of a bygone era. Despite being a thing of the past, some sleeper trains are holding firm. Here are some of Europe’s best train rides.

London to Fort William

The most common train service for the journey is the Caledonian Sleeper. It leaves London at dusk and reaches the Scottish Highlands at dawn. You won’t enjoy the scenery at night, but it is still a romantic way to travel. After a delicious dinner and a late night drink, retire to your cabin to rest. If you are an early bird, you will get to watch the sun rise over the highlands. The journey takes almost 12 hours and every minute of it will be a thrilling experience.

Paris to Venice

Paris and Venice are Europe’s most romantic cities. Paris has an array of train services, therefore boarding a train is a desirable way to leave the French capital. Imagine the opportunity to go to bed in Paris and rise in Venice in time for breakfast. The French and Italian cuisines dominate the dinner carts. After dinner, you can sip wine as you watch the passing scenery. If you stay up late get a glimpse of the Alps. Early in the morning, you will get a view of amazing Italian lakes before you alight in Venice. The train ride takes about 14 hours.

Madrid to Lisbon

The Trenhotel Lusitania overnight service whisks passengers from Madrid to Lisbon and back. The journey takes approximately 10 hours each evening and has luxury class cabins which have en-suite bathrooms. However, every passenger can take advantage of the café bar. You get to interact with fellow passengers over drinks late into the night. Wake up and alight in Lisbon’s historic station. You will arrive in Lisbon early enough to sightsee before the morning crowd.

Malmo to Berlin

The Berlin night express traverses Sweden and Germany as you sleep. It boards a ferry across the Baltic Sea before picking up the rails again in Sweden. A lot of time is spent to sync the train and ferry schedules. The Berlin night express operates during summer only, and the train ride is available thrice a week. The journey takes 14 hours, and you will have a lot of fun.

Budapest to Prague

The train leaves Hungarian capital at dusk for Prague. The Keleti station is a beautiful place to begin your journey to a pretty city. You will get to Prague early enough to enjoy the scenery before the crowd.

Prague to Krakow

The nine-hour trip connects two essential locations in central Europe. It is a familiar journey found on most train itineraries and goes through the amazing Czech countryside. You can rest in private and shared compartments before arriving in Krakow. The royal castles and imposing squares provide a beautiful morning view. You can take the trip any day of the week.

Innsbruck to Cologne

Innsbruck is in the Tyrolean Alps which makes it a great spot to explore before the journey. There are hiking trails and skiing during the cold season. The Night jet Sleeper train offers unique services to make your trip memorable. They have double decker sleeper compartments and deluxe berths. The train travels along the Rhine Valley Line. The historic castles and vast vineyards are a sight to behold. Not to mention the Cologne’s cathedral which is a great icon of Europe neighbours the railway’s station.

Exeter to Paignton

Board a train in Exeter if you wish to explore the Riviera line along the Devonshire coast. You will pass through resort towns and watch the surf on Dawlish beach. The Teignmouth town is also an exciting place to traverse. The train service runs daily, and the tickets are affordable.

Whitby to Pickering

The Whitby-Pickering railway is among the oldest train routes, having been built in the 1800s. Volunteers work hard to sustain the railway. The restored carriages transport passengers away from Whitby. This steam train slices through the eye-catching sceneries in the North Yorkshire Moors. Travellers can enjoy a cup of cream tea while at the Pickering station. The voyage runs between March and November.

Newcastle to Edinburgh

Travellers reach their destination in less than 90 minutes. The high-speed trains traverse the east coast mainline passing by the small towns in a few seconds. They pass through the Northumbrian cliffs and Berwick-upon-Tweed. The views are picturesque, but the train offers limited time to enjoy the fantastic landscape. The train services run daily throughout the day.

Settle to Carlisle

This railway is quite a dramatic line in England. It is a scenic route taking the passengers through rugged hills and farms of Yorkshire. The highlight of your journey will be crossing the Ribblehead Viaduct which is a Victorian masterpiece.

European railways used to be the pride of the world. Even though many people prefer other means of transport, travelling by train still has its charm. The services on-board the train make the journeys thrilling and worth the trouble.