Forget scouring through questionable websites to find a cheap hotel in Europe.
There’s both a loophole and a new adventure awaiting!
Europe has taken on the ‘kill 2 birds with 1 stone’ approach as sleeper trains have become the trendy way of getting around.
Why waste money on a hotel when your hotel can get you where you need to go?
That’s like going home to take a nap when you can sleep in the backseat of an Uber.
Okay, not quite, but still… Sleeper trains are becoming super popular, especially in places like Europe, where so many amazing cities are connected.
The latest exciting European sleeper train, operated by the European Sleeper, is set to launch this winter.
No Sleep ‘Til Brussels
Save night-night time until you get to Brussels since you’ll have at least a 15 hour journey ahead to rest up.
Belgium, for whatever reason, is often overlooked as a premiere European getaway, even in close proximity to some of the most iconic cities across the continent – Paris. and Amsterdam.
Underrated as it may be, this city actually makes for an easy gateway for the adventure of a lifetime connecting to one of Europe’s most famous destinations, the astounding, romantic city of Venice.
First, you gotta get here.
Despite being flying under the radar for many, there are ample direct flights from the U.S. between Belgium’s own Brussels Airlines and the more familiar names of United and Delta.
According to FlightConnections, these 4 U.S. cities currently fly nonstop to Brussels:
- Newark (EWR)
- New York City (JFK)
- Chicago (ORD)
- Washington DC (IAD)
Next Stop: Cologne
Germany is one of those countries you never get tired of exploring, from bustling cities like Berlin to storybook castles of Baden-Wurttemberg.
In this case, however, unless you just want to take a quick nap on a train, you’ll be passing through Cologne on an epic trip to Venice.
The new sleeper train is set to depart Brussels at 5:00 PM, traveling overnight to Cologne, where it arrives just in time for bed at 11:00 PM.
You’ll awake in the wondrous city of Munich, arriving at 7:00 AM before continuing on.
In total, there will be 9 cities visited with the grand finale being Venice. You’ll pass through a beautiful route filled with other canal-lined cities like Utrecht, the winter wonderland of Innsbruck, and another Italian gem, Verona.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
Listen, don’t hate the player…hate the game.
As great as this itinerary sounds, there are a couple of notable ‘Karens’ on the list, and if this were 2019, this would be a bright green light.
Unfortunately, bright red lights are shining in more ways than one. It’s been well-documented Amsterdam hasn’t exactly rolled out a red carpet for tourists this year.
Same goes for Venice with overtourism concerns and pesky entry fees.
But hey, that leaves some other really cool cities to visit.
There are dozens of recognizable Italian destinations to captivate you. It’s not just limited to Venice.
However, Amsterdam hogs the spotlight in The Netherlands.
Travelers should know there are plenty of other storybook cities beaming with scenic canals and 2 of them are on this route – Rotterdam and Utrecht.
Best of all, they both welcome tourists with open arms.
Now, there are plenty of ways to reach this Dutch secret beyond this sleeper train, so the real question is if this particular train is right for you.
There’s probably no need to hop aboard unless you’re up for the full journey unless you’re up for exploring Germany or Austria, pretty much the halfway marks along the trip.
If it’s any consolation, you will arrive just in time for Venice’s famous Carnival festivities.
Launch Date And Pricing
Tickets will be available to purchase in the coming weeks, expected September 1st. Keep an eye out on European Sleeper’s official website for more details.
The initial launch date was set to February 5, 2025, and the seasonal service will end in March 2025, so tickets will probably sell lightning fast!
Departures are twice weekly, with conflicting reports of 15-hour and 20-hour trips.
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