Europe's 5 Most Spectacular Sleeper Trains For Your Next Ski Getaway

Traveling overnight by sleeper train conjures up images of an elegant, romantic past, filled with magic, mystery, and luxury. From sophisticated couples sipping champagne in the exquisitely-appointed dining car to the faded landscapes zipping by outside, there's something truly special about a train journey at night.

Once a feature of European rail travel, night trains fell out of favor as travelers prioritized cost, convenience, and speed over comfort and luxury. However, in the last few years, there's been a significant resurgence in sleeper trains across Europe, driven by nostalgia, a desire for greater sustainability in vacation choices, and the rise of Slow Tourism. Rather than being seen as old-fashioned or inconvenient, the extra time it takes to travel at night is a feature, not a bug, a chance to combine accommodation and transport, and the journey has become part of the excitement. According to European travel expert Rick Steves, overnight trains can even save you time and money while exploring Europe!

Last year saw the launch of a whole host of new sleeper routes, speeding tourists to every corner of Europe. Some of the most exciting and spectacular routes are designed specifically for travelers searching for frosty winter getaways, and powder hounds chasing snowy slopes. From the Alps to the Arctic Circle, there are night trains connecting transport hubs with some of the best ski and winter vacation destinations in Europe. Here are five of the best and most beautiful overnight train journeys to take for your next ski getaway.

While the U.K. might not be the first European destination that springs to mind when considering a ski vacation, the slopes in Scotland can be excellent. The Nevis Range has pistes up to 3900ft on the mountain of Aonach Mor, just outside the town of Fort William, with a range of green and blue runs for beginners, as well as several excellent red and black runs, and the challenging off-piste of the Back Corries.

The Caledonian Sleeper is one of the U.K.'s two sleeper train routes, and a genuinely exceptional experience. More like a hotel on tracks than a standard sleeper, this legendary route boasts luxury accommodation, unparalleled service, and, thanks to its gentle progress north, truly sumptuous views of the Scottish Highlands over breakfast as the sun rises. According to some, it has a claim to being the world's greatest train journey, and it's hard to argue.

The accommodation is excellent, particularly the double en-suite option, which feels just like a hotel room. The dining car serves up amazing traditional Scottish fare, including venison stew and haggis with whisky sauce for dinner, and porridge oats for breakfast. The decor is wonderfully kitsch, a vision of Harris tweed, and creates a wonderful ambiance for the trip. And while it has to be said that it's not the cheapest option (the lowest-price cabin starts at $340 for two people), it's well worth the money.

Night trains are particularly popular in Scandinavia, taking passengers from the relatively mild winters of the southern cities to the far north, deep into the Arctic Circle. And with a name like the Santa Claus Express, it's easy to see why this particular train journey is such a wonderful winter route! Departing from the grandiose Central Station in Helsinki, Finland, it speeds its way through the frozen countryside, past deep, dark pine forests, all the way to Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, one of the world's most magical Christmas towns, and the official home of Santa Claus!

For most of the year, this is a regular route, but during the winter, the train is decked out in gorgeous green and white seasonal livery outside, with tinsel and holly entwined throughout the interior. Delicious meatballs, reindeer stew, and creamy mash keep passengers full before they settle in to their exceptionally comfortable berths, complete with underfloor heating and innovative en-suite toilets that fold down to become private showers.

The train arrives at Rovaniemi, just a few miles from the Santa Claus Village, where the Big Man and his elves await. Kids will love taking their photographs with Saint Nick, as well as sending postcards from Santa's official Post Office. Rovaniemi also boasts great skiing and snowboarding at the Ounasvaara Ski Resort, with ten slopes and five lifts, making it an amazing combination vacation for families.

Located on the Ofotfjorden in Norway's far north, Narvik is a charming fishing town surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. It's also one of the main gateways to the thrilling mountain adventures on Norway's gorgeous Lofoten Islands.

Getting to Narvik is tricky, thanks to the extreme terrain, and there are no train routes south in Norway and few road connections. However, one extraordinary way to get to Narvik is on the magnificent Norrlandståget or Norrland Night Train, a remarkable 20-hour journey from beautiful Stockholm that encompasses the best of Swedish Lapland, including pristine snowy wilderness, endless forests, and towering mountain peaks. The trains are old but serviceable, rustic but comfortable, with both shared and private cabins.

Narvik might be best known for its stunning fjords, but it's also a great place for passionate skiers. Located near the town center, Narvikfjellet Ski Resort is the largest in northern Norway, with slopes suitable for all skill levels, as well as fantastic off-piste areas. It offers one of Scandinavia's largest drop heights, alongside 16 trails, and the chance to ski at night on floodlit slopes. Skiing in Narvik also gives tourists the opportunity to enjoy the natural light show of the Northern Lights, thanks to its Arctic Circle location.

One of the newest rail routes in Europe, the Travelski Night Express brings back the classic ski-train vibe, a rolling apres where almost no one sleeps. This exciting, raucous sleeper service whisks passengers from the bright lights of Paris to the picturesque town of Bourg-Saint-Maurice in the Savoie Alps, stopping off at some of the biggest and most famous ski resorts in the world along the way.

If you want to enjoy the best powder in Europe at Courchevel, Les Arcs, La Plagne, Tignes, Méribel, Val d'Isère, Val Thorens or Les Ménuires, this is the ideal route.

The train itself is relatively basic, with none of the luxuries of other overnight trains. Sleeping cabins are all six-person couchettes, but there's both a restaurant car and a bar carriage, so the atmosphere is extremely sociable. Most importantly of all, the train can only be booked as part of a ski package, starting at roughly $1,461 per person, which includes transport, transfers, accommodation, and lift passes.

Nightjet is the brand name for Austrian Railways (ÖBB) sleeper trains, and has a decent claim to being the pioneer of the new generation of Europe's night trains. While most operators were downgrading their sleeper services in the early 21st century, Austrian Railways took a punt, expanding their service, buying up stock, and taking over the services previously operated by Deutsche Bahn in Germany. Since 2020, they have expanded significantly, and now run overnight routes linking the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy.

For skiers, there are several fabulous options, but the best has to be the Amsterdam to Innsbruck line. Passing through the fabulous German cities of Dusseldorf, Cologne, and Munich, the Nightjet ends in Innsbruck in Austria, in the heart of the Tyrolean Alps. With six different ski areas in the immediate vicinity of Innsbruck (and a further 26 in the wider region), you'll be spoiled for choice, whether you prefer the family-friendly vibes of Patscherkofel or the off-piste, freeride challenges of Axamer Lizum.

Traditionally, Nightjet trains have been comfortable rather than luxurious, relying on older Comfortline sleeping-cars built in 2003-2005 for German Railways' City Night Line, but the latest generation of trains launched in 2023 are different. With state-of-the-art cabins all with private bathrooms, four-berth couchettes, and innovative individual sleeping pods called Mini-Cabins, the experience is now a brilliant combination of affordable and luxurious.

To compile this list, we used Back on Track, an independent European network of volunteers committed to promoting more, better, and affordable night trains in Europe, to explore all the sleeper routes on the continent. We then identified those serving winter vacation destinations, before taking into account the quality of sleeper compartments, onboard facilities, price-quality ratio, and the route itself. To assess these factors, we sifted through the train operators' websites, as well as relying on review websites, travel guides, blogs, and personal experience.