Is It Legal To Sleep In Train Stations? What Travelers Should Know Before Snoozing

Shoestring travelers are always on the lookout for affordable places to spend the night. In some countries, overnight accommodation can be prohibitively expensive, even in budget hotels or cheap guesthouses, so finding alternative options when it comes to somewhere to sleep is one of the best ways to save money. Many travelers turn to dorm rooms in hostels, which are usually inexpensive. Camping is another great budget-friendly option, sacrificing a certain level of comfort for the excitement of sleeping out under the stars.

But if you really want to keep costs low, there are places where you can sleep without spending a dollar. Travel expert Rick Steves says that "a train station can be a free, warm, safe, and uncomfortable place to hang your hat," and that "most popular tourist cities in Europe have stations whose concrete floors are painted nightly with a long rainbow of sleepy vagabonds." Train stations in Europe are often unique places worth visiting anyway, so spending a night in one isn't as weird as it might initially seem.

However, sleeping in a train station isn't quite as simple as just rocking up with a sleeping bag and bunking down for the night. The legality of sleeping in a train station will vary depending on where you are, so it's important to check local laws before getting some shut eye. And even if it's not strictly illegal, not all train stations stay open 24 hours a day. There are a few rules and regulations that prospective sleepers need to know about, so as not to end up moved on or detained by the local constabulary!

For starters, if a train station isn't open 24 hours, staying there overnight is unlikely to be successful. Rick Steves says, "Some stations close for a few hours in the middle of the night, and everyone is always cleared out at dawn before the normal rush of travelers converges on the station." Even if the station is open, security will often move people on if they appear to be homeless.

However, there are a few methods that can make staying overnight at a train station a viable option. One would be to find a cafe or a fast food restaurant that stays open all night, grab a cheap coffee or a bite to eat, and sit there for as long as you need. It's unlikely you'll get any sleep, but you'll have a warm place to stay. Another option is the waiting room of the station. Rick Steves says, "Any ticket or train pass entitles you to a free night in a station's waiting room. You're simply waiting for your early train." He goes on to recommend using the station lockers or baggage storage to keep your belongings safe.

A more adventurous option comes from Redditor u/NiagaraThistle, who says, "if you have an UNLIMITED Eurail/Interrail pass, [you] can just buy a very cheap ticket to and from a nearby city." This means you get on a late train heading to another town or city, sleep on the train, change trains when you arrive for a train returning to your original destination, and get some sleep on the way back as well! You'll need to familiarize yourself with the train route and timetable, but it might be an interesting adventure.