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Want to discover Europe without putting a dent in your carbon footprint or your wallet? Why not take this Eurotrip exclusively by night train? It's a very environmentally-friendly way to get around, and it's also very economical, as you won't have to spend a night in a hotel. In fact, you might not even have to spend a single euro on accommodation! All right, it might be a bit tiring, and given the cities you'll be passing through, it would be a shame to spend just a few hours, but who are we to tell you what to do, after all? Here are our two final night train loops, departing from Brussels.
Watch out, you're in for an eyeful! If you don't already know them, this itinerary takes you through the crème de la crème of Europe's cities, so you may find it hard to choose your favorite.
For the first leg of the journey, head for Brussels Midi station to board the 6:32 pm Nightjet ÖBB bound for Vienna. It's an unforgettable fifteen-hour journey that will take you through Germany in your sleep, and wake you up in the heart of Europe (the train arrives at Vienna Central Station at 10:13 a.m.).
Then all you have to do is make the most of your day to discover Austria's superb capital! History, culture, architecture... There's something for everyone. And by the way, visit our guide for all our accommodation and activity recommendations. We've even made you a Top 10 places to visit for free !
Don't you just love it?
If you'd like to get an idea of what it's like on board, Tolt has produced a video of the Paris-Vienna night train. As this route is operated by the same company with the same trains, it will give you a good idea.
For this second leg, we return to Vienna Central Station to board another ÖBB Nightjet, departing at 7:18pm for the magnificent Italian capital. The journey is quite long, arriving at 11:05 a.m. at Rome's Tiburtina station. So we'd advise you to take something to keep you busy, even if, to be honest, the landscapes bathed in morning light should keep you occupied for quite a while.
If you want to enjoy the Trevi Fountain in these conditions, get up very early!
Take a look at our guide for good addresses vegetarian restaurants or know A day in Rome. If you're planning to stay a little longer, we've also got you covered. responsible accommodation.
Then we suggest you head back north, towards Bavaria. Go to Roma Tiburtina station to board the 5.25pm ÖBB Nightjet. After a good night's sleep, you'll arrive in the Bavarian capital at 9.22am.
Don't miss: the famous surf spot in the heart of the city!
For this 4th journey, return to Munich Central Station to board the 6.35pm EuroNight train operated by Polish Railways. Mind you, the final destination isn't Krakow, so we recommend you go to bed early and set an alarm clock (which may still sting a little...) to make sure you don't miss the 6:18 stop.
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Whether for its gardens, historic rooms or cathedral, Wawel Castle (a true national symbol) is well worth a visit!
For this penultimate leg, we return to Krakow Central Station to board a second EuroNight. This train, nicknamed the Chopin departs at 10.32pm and arrives in Prague at 7.48am. Expect to take in the sights of the Czech capital, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Prague Castle, the Old Town's astronomical clock, the superb architecture of the National Museum and the panoramic view from the Petřín Tower.
Prague and its famous Charles Bridge.
Finally, after all these discoveries, it's already time to head back to Brussels. Back to Prague Central Station to board the 6.04pm European Sleeper train. Sad to be going home? Don't worry, this new route, in addition to being great for meeting new people, winds along the Elbe valley, offering magnificent views. If you need it, you'll find a detailed article and video at this link.
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For this second itinerary, you'll spend 5 nights on the train. You can, of course, choose to go one after the other if you're short of time or want to avoid paying for accommodation, but we recommend that you stay at least one night in each city to have time to discover as much as possible.
You're going to tell us that we lied to you or that we made a mistake when we talked about 4 European capitals. Have you forgotten that Munich is the capital of Bavaria? Come on, can we have it this time? 😁
One of Munich's many green spaces
Departure at 7.07 p.m. for arrival in the Bavarian capital at 5.46 a.m. the next day, so you'd better get to bed early!
After a busy day exploring Munich, head to the station at 11:54pm for another night train to Ljubljana. You'll have a wonderful time visiting the castle, stopping off at the Dragon Bridge or discovering the alternative Metelkova district.
And if you're looking for a little inspiration, we've listed some of the best places to visit in Ljubljana. our seven must-haves for the perfect day out in Slovenia's capital!
Metelkova, Ljubljana's artistic and festive district
After dinner, departure again at 10.55pm for Budapest, arriving the next day at 8.59am thanks to a retro 80's night train ! If you're there on the right dates, don't forget to visit the Sziget, Europe's biggest festival. Alternatively, you can fill your day with a stroll along the Danube or a visit to Budapest's sublime opera house.
The Hungarian Parliament, a true icon of the city
After your day in Hungary, another night train at 7.30pm to Prague. The next day, if you miss the railway atmosphere, we recommend lunch at Výtopna, an unusual restaurant in Prague where your drinks are served on little trains that pass under your nose thanks to 700 meters of track!
After tasting the famous Czech beers, visiting the Museum of Modern Art or discovering Prague's pretty old town, return to Central Station at 6.04pm to catch the last night train back to Brussels.
As you can see, there's plenty to do in less than a week! No excuse not to discover Europe by train. 🥳
