Nothing screams Europe quite like a romantic train journey, and if you’re hoping to hit the railway for your next Transatlantic trip, you’ll be thrilled to learn a new overnight service has just launched between two of the continent’s most beautiful cities in time for fall.
As of this week, you can travel on a brand-new Nightjet from Vienna, the cultural and financial heart of Austria to Rome, Italy’s long-standing capital, calling at a number of beautiful spots in between, and going from around $44 at the cheapest rate.
It’s bye-bye to the stressful airport commute and long waiting lines and hello to cozy sleeper cabins with the kind of amenities you’d expect from a hotel:
Go To Bed In Vienna, Wake Up In Rome (Or Vice-Versa)
After decades of defunding, sleeper trains are back en vogue in Europe, with ÖBB, Austria’s national railway company, significantly expanding their signature Nightjet service and announcing a host of new routes between key cities.
One of the most exciting launches is the Vienna-Rome train, departing from the Austrian capital early evenings, and arriving in the Eternal City just in time for you to grab a cheeky cappuccino and a first-batch pistachio-filled cornetti from a local bakery.
The train will leave Vienna (Wien Hbf) daily at 7:18 pm, arriving to Rome (Tiburtina) the following day at 11:05 am, completing the journey in 15h47––for Vienna-bound passengers, the departure time is set for earlier at 5:25 pm, pulling up to Vienna at 9:04 am the next morning.
One of the most beautiful capital cities in Europe, Vienna plays host to a high concentration of Habsburg-era palaces, ornate medieval churches that have survived all but unscathed, most notably St Stephen’s Cathedral, and opulent State Opera.
As for Rome, it’s an open-air museum that would probably take you decades to discover in full, with its Colosseum, Fontana di Trevi, Spanish Steps, the Vatican Museums, lively Trastevere district and a scenic Tiber riverfront.
Besides reaching its Rome terminus, the train is calling at several Austrian and Italian stations along the way, including Villach, a laid-back spa town at the foot the Alps, Bologna, famous for its set of twin leaning towers, and a dreamy Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance.
What’s Special About This Train?
The long-awaited train made its debut on September 10 to much fanfare in Vienna, with a ceremony attended by big names such as Austria’s Climate Protection Minister, the Italian Ambassador, and Austria’s national railway CEO.
The latter was recorded saying the Nightjet is a ‘game-changer‘ for nighttime train travel in Europe, bringing a ‘huge leap’ in comfort, as well as offering ‘significantly more privacy’ to travelers commuting between both capitals.
Indeed, the newer, modernized carriages are a beauty to behold:
The seven-car convoy comprises two seating cars, three couchettes, and two sleeping cars, with a total of 254 seats––irrespective of seating category, guests benefit from more luggage room compared to previous models and even free WiFi.
All carriages come equipped with a more-sophisticated passenger information system, phone-permeable windows, meaning there won’t be much smudging ruining your panoramic view this time, as well as plenty of conveniently-placed charging plugs for electronic devices.
This sounds great already, but wait until you see the cabins:
Hotel On Wheels
The Nightjet is effectively a hotel on wheels, and if you’re booking the top-end sleeper car, starting from $216.74, you can expect the same amenities you’d get in a mid-range hotel, including private toilet and shower facilities, a fully-made bed and breakfast à la carte.
The compartments can be booked for one, two or three people, and you’ll also be getting free soap, slippers and earplugs to muffle the rattling sounds of the moving train, and our favorite perk, you can request a wake-up call at a specified time.
The next one down is the couchette, accommodating groups of up to four, perfect for families or friends traveling together, going for $61 per person, and for the Vienna-Rome route, we’ll be getting adjacent Mini Cabins, a new concept for lone travelers (or couples).
This cozy sleeping pod has a higher level of privacy than the standard couchette, and it has plenty of shelf space for small items, a storage pouch for your bags, two coat hooks, and a control display with multiple lighting functions.
For couples, the two mini cabins on the same level can be connected by opening the small sliding door between them. Alternatively, for female solo travelers who have reservations, there are designated ladies’ compartments available.
In the couchettes and Main Cabins, toilet facilities are shared, and a modest breakfast is included, typically coffee or tea, a bottle of mineral water, 2 bread rolls and jam.
Finally, in the seat car, starting from $44, you will travel in a compartment of up to 6 people, or in an open coach: it’s by far the most affordable option, and though there is some comfort, with a folding armrest, an integrated reading lamp and all-round headrest, it could be a long night.
There’s one toilet per coach, and drinks and snacks can be purchased off the menu.
Why Taking The Nightjet Is Better Than Flying
If you’re wondering how exactly taking a 16-hour sleeper train is better than flying, have you considered you’re effectively combining costs of both accommodation and transportation into a single ticket?
Imagine paying $207 on average for a hotel room just to get the next morning flight to Rome.
Then there’s the commute to the airport itself, the flight tickets costing anywhere between $25 and $106 (no baggage included), and secondary expenses.
Even if you’re unsure about booking the top-end option, you’ll likely be spending a lot more than $216 on an additional overnight in Vienna or Rome––as we pointed out already, the Nightjet functions like a moving hotel:
You’re essentially going to bed in your departure point, and waking up at your destination without having to worry about other travel arrangements, much less getting to and from airports that are miles out the city center.
You’ll be leaving from Vienna Central Station (Wien Hauptbahnhof), which is a short 11-minute metro ride from the cathedral square, and arriving at Tirbutina Station in Rome, an equally-short 13-minute metro commute to the Colosseum and all the main sights.
Book your tickets for traveling on the Nightjet this fall here.
Credit: Source link
