Whether you’re after stunning window views, wanting to avoid the general chaos of a busy airport, or simply looking for a greener way to travel, nothing beats travelling Europe by train.
But if you were looking to travel between the likes of Vienna, Berlin and Paris this autumn, there’s bad news: two sleeper services have just been cancelled.
Austrian national rail company ÖBB confirmed that it’s goodnight Vienna for the night services between the Austrian capital and Paris, as well as Berlin and Paris.
Wanting to make the trip before the routes slip away into the night? They’ll be making their final calls on December 14 – but there are still tickets available online, starting at €79.90 on the Vienna-Paris route (£69.58) for a standard seat, and €99.90 (£87.00) for a bed inside a couchette carriage.
According to the Nightjet website, the decision was made to pull the routes because of the ‘cancellation of government subsidies in France from 2026.’
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The silver lining, though, is that these are the only two lines impacted. The Vienna-Brussels route has been left unscathed, and services will continue to run three times a week.
The course from Vienna back to the City of Love currently takes 15 hours and 25 minutes, with scheduled journeys currently leaving Wien Haupbahnhof at 6.13pm and arriving in Paris at 9.38am – just in time for breakfast. Coffee and croissant, anyone?
For some dreamy sunset (or sunrise) views, there’s enough to spy on the way, too, as the route covers the likes of Salzburg, Munich, and Mannheim – if you’re able to book off the annual leave in time, that is.
As for the Berlin to Paris route, the train currently leaves Berlin Haupbahnhof at 7.08pm, and takes a scheduled 14 hours and 30 minutes to reach Paris Est at 9.38am.
Tickets are ever so slightly cheaper for this one, coming in at around €44.90 (£39.10) for a simple seat and increasing to €249.90 (£217.64) for an entire sleeper cabin, which includes an à la carte breakfast, private bathroom facilities, and a nicely made-up bed. You’ll even have your own blanket and pillow.
Things to do in Vienna, Berlin and Paris
Berlin is famous for its nightlife scene – but be warned, the Berghain is notoriously difficult to get into. Rumour has it that if you wear all-black, your chances of getting in are higher.
If you don’t manage to charm the bouncers, though, there’s also the famous KitKat, a hedonistic sex club complete with a swimming pool and countless sex swings, or more PC options available at SchwuZ and Sisyphos.
First opening its doors in 1985, the Schwules Museum (AKA, the Gay Museum) has long been a mainstay for documenting LGBTQ+ life.
When it comes to foodie spots, if you’re after a life-changing Currywurst, you’ll be sure to find it at Konnopke’s Imbiß, which started off as a sausage cart and later went on to serve East Berlin’s first Currywurst in 1960.
And of course, Burgermeister is known for its mouthwatering menu. If you want our recommendation, it has to be the chilli-cheeseburger.
Over in the Austrian capital, Vienna is famous for the humble sausage stand, a place where street sweepers and celebrities alike converge for the same signature snack. And, so treasured is this institution that it was recently inducted into Austria’s heritage hall of fame.
If you’re into impressive architecture, there’s plenty of that to see here, too, at the likes of the baroque Belvedere Palace, which also documents 800 years’ worth of art.
Of course, film lovers will know Vienna as the setting of Before Sunrise, which follows a young Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy around the city.
It ticks off a whole host of attractions on the way, including the famous Wiener Riesenrad (AKA, the giant Ferris wheel), the gothic Votive Church, and the iconic Maria-Theresien-Platz.
And, in the oft-referenced City of Light, there’s no shortage of spectacular sights, from the Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre.
You certainly won’t go hungry here, either, with culinary highlights including Chez Janou (don’t neglect to order the famous chocolate mousse), the French Bastards (which does an excellent pain aux raisins), and Polidor (boeuf bourguignon, si vous plait).
Elsewhere in train news, the famous Caledonian Sleeper is launching a brand new route, making travelling in style even easier.
Serving around 300,000 passenger journeys each year, the train offers a premium experience, with private, ensuite cabins allowing travellers to sleep peacefully through the journey.
Until now, the service only operated two routes from London to Scotland: the Highlander and the Lowlander – but on January 15, 2026, the Highlander route will have a stop added at Birmingham International, the biggest timetable change in 30 years.
And, if you’re looking to travel straight from the Big Smoke to Berlin, you’ll soon be able to do just that, as earlier this year, plans for a direct train from London were announced.
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