Best Night Train Journeys Around the World & India — what I actually rode and loved (and messed up a bit)#

I keep saying I’m not a train nerd and then I book another night train. Classic me. It started years ago with a slightly sticky 2A berth on the Delhi–Mumbai Rajdhani, chai sloshing in paper cups at 6 am while I tried to figure out which end of the coach the bathroom was. Since then I’ve kinda chased that cozy, rocking-to-sleep feeling around the world. This past year into early 2025 I doubled down. Europe’s night-train comeback, India’s new sleeper vibes, Japan’s last holdout… it’s been a blur of station snacks and the occasional missed alarm.

Why night trains are having a moment in 2025 (and why I’m on-board, literally)#

A few reasons, honestly. People are flying a bit less where they can, for climate stuff and, you know, the airport chaos thing. Rail operators in Europe have brought back routes (or made them nicer), and in India the sleeper experience keeps getting small upgrades that actually matter, like cleaner coaches and easier food ordering. Also money — a bed on a train can double as your hotel, which in 2025, with accomodation prices doing whatever they please, is… huge. Practical notes: Europe’s Entry/Exit System (EES) went live late 2024, so in 2025 non‑EU travellers get fingerprint/photo at the border; give yourself extra time at first entry into Schengen. ETIAS (that pre‑travel authorization for visa‑exempt folks) is slated to start later in 2025 — it’s not live as I’m typing this, but it’s coming, so check before you ride. In India, the IRCTC system is still the mothership for tickets, with UPI everywhere now, even for samosas on platforms. Things are changing, but in kind of a good way.

Overnight Europe with Nightjet: Vienna to Venice (and Berlin to Brussels)#

So, the Vienna–Venice Nightjet. I booked a “comfort” sleeper after convincing myself a seat would be fine, then imagining my neck the next morning and panicking. Worth it. The new Nightjet cars (you’ll see them on several routes in 2024/25) have nicer lighting, better doors (no more haunted-house slams at 3 am), and the mini-cabins feel very spaceship-y. Woke up rolling past misty Friuli vineyards and honestly got emotional over a very average croissant. Prices? Still dynamic, but in winter shoulder season I paid around €89 for a sleeper promo. You can get seats as low as ~€29 if you’re lucky, couchettes in the €50–€79 range. Berlin–Brussels was more practical than romantic, but I loved stepping off near dawn and just walking to a cafe. And yes, the coffee was too strong and exactly what I needed.

  • Booking window in Europe for popular sleepers can be 4–6 months; the cheap stuff goes fast. I set price alerts and still miss out sometimes, lol
  • Women-only compartments exist on some Nightjet routes; my friend used one Vienna–Hamburg and felt safer
  • If you’re crossing into Schengen for the first time of a trip, EES checks can add a few mins — build buffer time for onward connections in the morning
  • Pack snacks. The onboard breakfast is cute, not… filling

UK sleepers: Caledonian to the Highlands and the Night Riviera to Cornwall#

Me and a pal did the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Fort William because we saw one moody Highlands TikTok and immediately said, we need that. The train’s been under public ownership since 2023 and in 2025 it’s still chugging, with rooms that feel like compact hotel cabins. I splurged on a Club room once (shower! tiny, but hot!) but usually go Classic. Expect like £55–£85 for a seat, £155–£230 for a room depending on date. The Night Riviera (Paddington–Penzance) is more old-school charm; I love waking up as the sun hits the Cornish coast, then dumping my bag at a B&B and running for a pastry. UK’s ETA system is rolling out in phases — as of early 2025 it’s mandatory for some nationalities but not all visa-exempt travellers yet. If you’re American/European it’s still no-visa, no-ETA for now, but that can change; seriously check GOV.UK right before you book.

Turkey’s Touristic Eastern Express: Ankara to Kars, snowy windows and slow coffee#

Everyone posts the same dreamy shots, but yeah, the Touristic Eastern Express is… pretty special. We went in January (2024 into 25 season) for the snow fields. It’s a curated version of the classic Eastern Express, with sightseeing stops and slightly fancier cars. It sells out months ahead for winter, so don’t wait. Expect delays — part of the charm or annoying, depending on your vibe that day. Compartments are 2-berth, simple, comfy. Türkiye e-visa is still easy for a lot of nationalities in 2025, but check the official site only; the third-party “service” pages are sneaky. Safety-wise, I felt fine — standard station pickpocket caution, keep your bag close on platforms.

Japan’s last true overnight: Sunrise Izumo/Seto, the tatami-ish dream#

I did the Sunrise Izumo from Tokyo to Izumoshi and it was like time travel. Booked a “nobinobi” space — basically a carpeted sleeping platform with your own rectangle — which is covered by the JR Pass, by the way. Private cabins cost extra. Booking opens exactly one month prior at 10:00 JST and the nobinobi sell out fast; I failed the first day and snagged one on day two after a konbini coffee and pure stubborness. Rolling into western Honshu at sunrise, face smushed against the window like a kid. 10/10. Japan visa rules for many nationalities remain visa-exempt in 2025, but double‑check because policies do shift by country; also note temporary event crowds can make the train harder to book.

Vietnam’s Reunification Line: Hanoi to Da Nang overnight, lemongrass air and clacky tracks#

Soft sleeper on SE19, Hanoi–Da Nang. I always bring wipes for the window because the views over the Hai Van Pass at dawn are ridiculous and I’m that person leaning out for photos. Booked via DSVN (the official site) once, and via 12Go another time when my card was being weird. Prices in 2025 are still super fair: roughly $35–$55 for a soft sleeper berth, but if you want one of the snazzier privately-branded cars it’s more. Vietnam’s e-visa now goes up to 90 days multiple-entry (huge change from 2023), and that’s still the case in 2025 from everything I’ve seen. Trains can be noisy — bring earplugs — but I kinda love the soundtrack of it.

India at night: Rajdhanis, Konkan rain rides to Goa, and the new sleeper vibe#

I keep coming back to India because there’s nothing like waking up to station chai and that warm diesel smell (don’t @ me). The Delhi–Mumbai Rajdhani is still my go-to when I need to actually arrive on time; meals are typically included again and better than they used to be, or maybe I was just hungry. The Konkan line overnight to Goa is magic in the dry season — palm silhouettes and tunnels — but in monsoon (June–Sept) expect delays or even cancellations from landslides. South India? The Chennai–Trivandrum leg overnight, then you wake up to coconut trees and dosa for breakfast, what else do you want. IRCTC’s e-catering is a lifesaver when pantry car vibes are meh; I’ve ordered thalis to my berth and felt fancy for like 6 minutes. And yes, the buzz is that Vande Bharat sleeper variants are coming into service in 2025 — I haven’t caught one yet but friends in rail circles swear pilot routes are rolling out this year. Sleeper classes I book: 2A when I can, 3A if it’s a quick hop, 1A when I’m pretending I’m in a film. Pricing in 2025 is still wildly good value: a long 2A can be ₹1800–₹3500, 1A more like ₹3000–₹7000 depending distance and dynamic fares.

  • Tatkal tickets open at 10 am (AC classes) and 11 am (non-AC) the day before travel — blink and you’ll miss it, but it’s saved me more than once
  • Keep your small bag chained; bring a tiny lock. I once dozed off and woke up to my bag slowly migrating. Not today, sir
  • Helplines: 139 for info, 182 for security/RPF — I’ve called for a creepy situation once and got help at the next stop, no drama
  • Fog delays are a thing in North India in Dec–Jan; I never plan tight morning connections then

One more sleeper I didn’t expect to like: Egypt’s Cairo–Luxor–Aswan night train#

It’s not glamorous, but the Watania sleeper did exactly what I needed: I boarded in Cairo after koshari and tea, woke up near Luxor with temples on the brain. Cabins are 2-berth with dinner and breakfast, and 2025 pricing for foreigners hovers ~US$90–130 per person in a double, depending on season. Book via the official sleeper site or a reputable agent. Security was visible. I kept my passport on me and slept fine. Side note: Cairo Ramses station is a whirl — arrive early or you’ll be sprinting like me, half a falafel in hand, not cute.

2025 visa and rules quick-notes I wish someone texted me the night before#

Schengen: EES is live, so first entry scans take a little longer; ETIAS isn’t active yet but expected later in 2025 for visa‑exempt travellers (US, UK, AUS, etc). India: e-Visas are still the move for many nationalities; always use the official government portal, not the lookalike ones, and carry the printout because some TTEs still like paper. UK: ETA program is expanding in phases; some travellers already need it, many don’t yet — check your nationality. Türkiye: e-Visa is simple but avoid 3rd-party sites. Vietnam: 90‑day e-visa still a win in 2025. Stuff changes fast; I screen-shot the official page the day I apply, just in case a border agent and I remember different rules.

Money and beds in 2025: what I actually paid (or cried paying)#

Europe overnight ballparks I’ve paid this season: €29–€49 for a seat, €59–€89 for a couchette, €89–€160 for a sleeper, depending on route/date. UK sleepers: seats ~£55–£85, rooms £150–£250+. US Amtrak roomettes for true overnights can be eye-watering still — I’ve seen $450–$900 on popular routes — but sometimes you’ll snag deals off-season. India: still the best value on earth tbh. Vietnam: $35–$55 soft sleeper. Egypt: around $100. If you’re comparing to hotels, remember 2025 accomodation prices are punchy: summer city hostels in Western Europe are easily €35–€55 for a dorm bed and midrange hotels €120–€200; in India I’m seeing decent guesthouses in the ₹1800–₹4500 range and boutique stays ₹6000–₹9000 in big cities. Book early for Friday nights, everywhere.

Little survival kit that saves my neck (literally) on sleepers#

  • Cheap rubber doorstop for older sleepers — wedge it at night and sleep easier
  • Earplugs + eye mask. If I forget either, I don’t sleep, then I’m feral by 10 am
  • Slip-on sandals for the midnight bathroom dash; trust me
  • A tiny microfiber towel and a couple of wet wipes — I call it the 3-minute shower
  • Offline maps and the train pinned in your notes with coach/berth. I have boarded the wrong coach at least twice, which is two times too many

Where I stayed when I wasn’t rolling#

I hop between places. Brussels: a simple business hotel near Midi at €130 midweek saved my 6 am connection. Vienna: dorm bed at a clean hostel for €39 felt like a steal during a conference week. Istanbul: cute Beyoğlu guesthouse at €70 breakfast included. Goa: Candolim homestay ₹2500 with a family that fed me bebinca untill I couldn’t move. London: I basically don’t stay there without points anymore, but I did squeeze a £115 last‑minute deal in Paddington on a Sunday. 2025 is still the year of book-early-or-pay-later, especially around festivals and school holidays. Shoulder seasons are your friend if your dates are flexible.

Honestly the best part isn’t the destination reveal at dawn — it’s the weird midnight moments, like watching a tiny station float by, someone waving from a platform, the feeling you’re in on a small secret.

Stuff I messed up (so you don’t have to, or you’ll ignore me and do it anyway)#

I once assumed my Berlin–Brussels sleeper would have plug points that fit my chunky adapter. It did not. Phone at 8% at 3 am? A character-building excercise. Another time, I didn’t print my India e-visa and got a polite lecture at immigration; they let me through, but still. In Japan I missed the 10:00 JST booking window by like 2 minutes because I was daydreaming, and those 2 minutes matter. Turkey? I bought snacks but forgot water. Rookie. Also, in North India fog season, I booked a 9 am meeting the morning I was arriving on an overnight train. Hahah no. Don’t do that.

Would I go back, and what I’m eyeing next#

In a heartbeat. I want another winter run on the Touristic Eastern Express, a southbound Night Riviera when the heather’s purple, and I want to be on one of India’s new Vande Bharat sleepers the month they launch them on longer routes. Also maybe the European Sleeper expansion again — their Brussels–Berlin–Prague link has been a reliable plan B for me, and I’m hearing they’re stabilizing timetables more in 2025 after a hectic start. Night trains aren’t perfect — they rattle, coffee’s mid, you might get a chatty neighbor at 1 am — but when the sun slides in the window and you’re almost there… it’s the best kind of travel.

Final travel thoughts (before I go make tea)#

If you’re on the fence, pick one overnight route this year and just go. Book a proper berth if you can. Bring snacks. Be nice to the attendants. And leave room in your plans for trains to be trains, you know? They don’t move fast to please our spreadsheets. If you want more rambling stories and very honest tips, I jot a bunch of them down over on AllBlogs.in — I read it too when I’m planning, so maybe I’ll see you in the comments.