Do you dream of crossing France while sleeping and waking up to a whole new landscape? The night trains departing from Paris are making a grand return and captivating travelers in search of smart adventure, change of scenery, but also practicality and savings. Whether it’s strolling along the Côte d’Azur, heading to the Alpine peaks, or exploring cities in Europe in complete tranquility, these sleeper trains take you, overnight, to the heart of mythical destinations, without wasting a precious moment of your stay. Ready to embark on a unique experience between wakefulness and sleep?
Looking to give yourself an enchanted interlude without losing precious vacation hours? Pack your bags and let yourself be carried away by the magic of night trains departing from Paris! Convenient, economical, and eco-friendly, these sleeper trains allow you to reach the sea, the mountains, or even abroad while you sleep. By boarding in the evening, you fall asleep in the capital and wake up, refreshed and ready, in a new setting at dawn. This article reveals everything you need to know to embark on a journey to the most beautiful French and European cities accessible by night train: direct routes, onboard comfort, companies, fares, services, and future prospects… Ready to travel differently? Here is the complete guide to escaping under the Milky Way.
A new era for night trains departing from Paris
After a few decades in the shadows, night trains are making a sensational comeback from Paris. They are attracting more and more adventurers in search of a smart travel option that optimizes both budget and time. Boarding an Intercités or a Nightjet is choosing a less polluting solution than flying, often more affordable and so much more convenient! No more waiting in airport lines, goodbye to complicated transfers: just settle in, close your eyes, and let yourself be rocked.
The Paris-Austerlitz and Paris-Est stations are the departure points to about fifteen French destinations and some mythical European cities. Whether you are tempted by the sea air of Nice, the charm of the mountains in Briançon, the sweetness of Toulouse, or even the vibrancy of Berlin, everything becomes possible… while sleeping!
Direct destinations: embark on an adventure without layovers
Discover the French gems by sleeper train
Taking the night train from Paris is to indulge in a true festival of landscapes. Here are the destinations waiting for you:
- Toulouse: board at Paris-Austerlitz around 10 PM and open your eyes 9 hours and 30 minutes later in the Pink City, ready to welcome you.
- Marseille: depart at 9 PM to arrive around 6:30 AM at the gates of the Mediterranean and enjoy a sunny wake-up.
- Nice: with a departure around 9 PM, let yourself be rocked for 12 hours and discover the Promenade des Anglais at dawn.
- Briançon, Latour-de-Carol, Bayonne, Albi, Aurillac, Nîmes, Tarbes, Cerbère: all these iconic cities await you without stress, for a city trip or a pure relaxation stay.
Tip: check the latest recommendations to know which destinations to avoid for your next holidays!
Head to Europe: Berlin and Vienna are on your itinerary
If most direct night trains from Paris currently head to French cities, two European lines remain and are definitely worth the detour:
- Berlin: depart from Paris-Est in the early evening (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays), cross the Rhine in a dream, and open your eyes in the trendy capital of Germany after about 13 hours of travel.
- Vienna: board (Monday, Wednesday, or Friday) and let yourself be transported with the Nightjet for an imperial wake-up in the heart of the Austrian capital after a 15-hour journey.
For lovers of railway combos and other horizons, there are also many intra-European connections to discover, for example, via Nightjet or European Sleeper. Need to know the administrative requirements? Find here the list of destinations requiring a visa for peace of mind when traveling.
Comfort and types of accommodation onboard: a tailor-made journey
The night train is not just a means of transportation; it is also a mini-adventure! The Intercités and Nightjet companies offer different levels of comfort, ranging from a reclining seat (for budget-conscious globetrotters) to actual private sleeper cabins. Here’s what you can choose from:
- A seat (around €30 one way) for tight budgets and fans of chic camping.
- A 2nd class sleeper compartment (4 to 6 bunk beds) to share and save (€40 to €90).
- A 1st class sleeper compartment (2 to 4 beds) for a little more space and quiet (€130 to €250).
- The privatization of a compartment, the ultimate luxury for traveling in a group or solo.
- The free option “single woman”, for peaceful travel among women (or with your children).
On board, expect to receive a night kit: bedding, a bottle of water, earplugs, an eye mask, a refreshing wipe, and a chewable toothpaste tablet. Some lines even offer the luxury of a personalized wake-up call, dinner or breakfast, and private bathrooms in premium compartments heading to Berlin or Vienna.
To prepare well for your stopover, take advantage of great deals to find a charming hotel at a low price and thus prolong the pleasure of your trip without breaking the bank.
The behind-the-scenes and the future of night trains
French sleeper trains have faced ups and downs, in the face of competition from TGVs, low-cost flights, and a lack of funding. After a significant reduction in offerings during the 2000s, demand is reborn: in 2023, nearly 800,000 passengers opted for this experience, double that of 2019.
On the European side, the dynamics are evolving. While some mythical lines have currently disappeared (Venice, Prague, Madrid, Budapest…), the European Commission aims to boost cross-border rail transport. Projects for connections to Spain, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, or Portugal are in the pipeline. For now, patience: only the fares for journeys to overseas territories are significantly decreasing.
In the meantime, nothing prevents dreaming of future expansions and monitoring the offers. To know the places to avoid during your next adventures, also check this useful page.
