Train service
OBB
ÖBB is Austria’s national rail operator, known for its Railjet trains and Europe’s largest night train network, Nightjet.
Check times & pricesOfficial website
Check times & prices
Trenitalia
Trenitalia is Italy’s state-owned rail operator, running high-speed, intercity, and regional trains across the country and beyond.
Check times & pricesOfficial website
SJ
SJ is Sweden’s state-owned train operator, running high-speed, regional, and long-distance services across the country and into neighboring nations.
Check times & pricesOfficial websiteTrain tickets
Raileurope
Rail Europe is a leading travel tech company specializing in European train bookings for over 15,000 travel professionals worldwide.
Trainline
Trainline sells rail and coach tickets worldwide on behalf of major UK and European transport companies.
Omio
Omio connects you with over 1,000 transport providers - trains, buses, flights, and more - to simplify your travel planning.
Night trains in Europe usually need more planning than daytime trains. For Interrail and Eurail pass holders, treat the overnight reservation as compulsory unless the train company says otherwise for your exact departure. The pass covers the rail travel element, but the seat, couchette or sleeper space is normally a separate paid reservation.
As of June 2026, most pass-holder reservation fees in this guide are shown in the currency used by the operator or booking channel. Interrail's night-train fee table is mostly in EUR, while SJ examples also list SEK. Check the exact train before booking, especially for seasonal services and sleeper cabins, because fees can change by route, accommodation type and availability.
Quick comparison
Use the table to compare the main booking rule first, then check the exact train before paying for a reservation.
| Country or service | Booking window or check point | Current pass-holder fee examples | Booking rule to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria and ÖBB Nightjet | Usually up to 6 months | Seats €4.90-€24.90; 6-bed couchettes €19.90-€64.90; single sleepers €114.90-€479.90 | Reservations are compulsory on Nightjet, and pricing is dynamic. |
| France and Intercités de Nuit | Up to 90 days | Reclining seat about €10-€11; 4- or 6-bed couchettes about €19-€25 | Pass-holder places are limited, so reserve early when your date matters. |
| Italy and InterCity Notte | Up to 6 months | Seat €3; 4-bed couchette €41; private sleeper €122 | Reservations are compulsory for pass holders. |
| Sweden and SJ | Check the exact SJ train | Seat SEK 40; 6-bed couchette SEK 250; 3-bed sleeper SEK 405; private sleeper with bathroom SEK 800 | Keep SJ separate from Snälltåget because the fee structures differ. |
| Sweden and Snälltåget | Check the exact Snälltåget train and season | Low-season seats €4.60-€19; high-season seats €4.60-€47; private 6-bed compartments €94-€329 by season | Snälltåget uses seasonal fee bands. |
| Finland and VR night trains | Check the exact VR train and season | Seat €5-€32.70; double sleeper cabin €39-€150; deluxe double sleeper €39-€160 | Pass reservations cost 50% of a full fare, with availability-based pricing. |
| European Sleeper | Book early before the reservation class sells out | Budget seat €11-€21; Classic 5-berth cabin €64-€74; Comfort single sleepers €149-€179 | Pass holders need a paid reservation, and exact prices depend on distance. |
| Hungary and Romania night trains | Varies by route and booking channel | EN Ister seat €3; 6-bed couchette €13; single sleeper €98 | Be ready to use carrier, station or pass-reservation channels. |
Austria: ÖBB Nightjet
ÖBB Nightjet pass holders should reserve their overnight place early, especially for May to September travel.
ÖBB Nightjet links Austria with countries including Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Interrail also lists Nightjet and partner destinations such as Vienna, Munich, Rome, Berlin, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris and Zurich.
Reservations on ÖBB Nightjet are compulsory and dynamic. Interrail's June 2026 fee table gives ranges rather than one fixed pass-holder price: seats cost €4.90-€24.90, 6-bed couchettes €19.90-€64.90, 4-bed couchettes and Mini Cabins €29.90-€94.90, 3-bed sleepers €59.90-€184.90, double sleepers €69.90-€224.90 and single sleepers €114.90-€479.90. Plus sleeper categories cost more, with single sleeper Plus cabins listed at €149.90-€624.90.
Nightjet and EuroNight train numbers can usually be booked up to 6 months in advance. A few Nightjet routes have a seating carriage operated by Deutsche Bahn where seat reservations are not mandatory, but that exception does not remove the need to reserve couchettes, Mini Cabins or sleepers.
France: Intercités de Nuit
France's Intercités de Nuit services require reservations, and pass-holder places are limited.
The network runs from Paris to destinations including Toulouse, Latour-de-Carol, Tarbes, Nice and Briançon. Reservations can be made up to 90 days before departure.
The current pass-holder accommodation range is simple: reclining seats and couchettes. For June 2026 fee guidance, use about €10-€11 for a reclining seat and about €19-€25 for a 4- or 6-bed couchette, depending on the service and season.
Interrail self-service bookings add €2 per person per train. If a paper ticket is required, Interrail lists an additional €9 per order.
Italy: InterCity Notte
InterCity Notte reservations are compulsory for pass holders and can usually be made up to 6 months ahead.
InterCity Notte is Italy's domestic night-train network, with routes from northern cities such as Milan, Turin, Venice and Trieste to Rome, Naples, Calabria, Sicily and Apulia.
Current Interrail pass-holder fees are in EUR: seat Easy €3, 4-bed Cuccetta Comfort €41, 3-bed Vagone Letto Relax €48, double Vagone Letto Relax €58 and private Vagone Letto Relax €122. Couchettes and sleepers include more overnight comfort, while seats are the cheapest listed option.
Use the operator or pass-reservation channel that can issue the exact accommodation you want. Interrail lists InterCity Notte booking through its self-service system, other platforms, Italian stations and the Trenitalia call centre.
Sweden: SJ and Snälltåget
Sweden has more than one night-train operator, so check whether your train is SJ, Snälltåget or Vy Tåg before comparing fees.
Interrail lists SJ, Snälltåget and Vy Tåg as Swedish night-train operators; the current fee examples here cover SJ and Snälltåget.
Current SJ pass-holder examples use local SEK fees: seat SEK 40, 6-bed couchette SEK 250, 3-bed sleeper SEK 405 and a private sleeper with private bathroom for up to two people at SEK 800. These are reservation fees, not full public fares.
Snälltåget fees are seasonal. In low season, Interrail lists seats at €4.60-€19, 6-bed couchettes at €37-€61 and private 6-bed compartments at €94-€235. In the listed high-season periods, seats are €4.60-€47, 6-bed couchettes €37-€80 and private 6-bed compartments €188-€329.
Compare SJ and Snälltåget separately because they use different booking channels and accommodation rules.
Finland: Santa Claus Express and VR night trains
VR night-train reservations are availability-based, and pass-holder reservations cost 50% of a full fare ticket.
Finland's long-distance night trains link Helsinki, Turku and Tampere with northern destinations such as Oulu, Rovaniemi, Kolari and Kemijärvi. Interrail describes the Santa Claus Express as especially popular around Christmas and the rest of winter.
The June 2026 fee guidance lists seats at €5-€32.70, double sleeper cabins at €39-€150 and deluxe double sleeper cabins with private bathroom at €39-€160. Prices depend on the route and availability, so book early if you need a sleeper during winter high season.
Belgium, Netherlands and Germany: European Sleeper
European Sleeper requires a paid reservation for Interrail and Eurail pass holders.
Interrail lists a Brussels-Prague route through cities including Amsterdam, Berlin and Dresden, plus a Paris-Brussels-Berlin route. It also lists Brussels-Milan from September 2026, so do not treat Milan as a June 2026 operating service.
Current pass-holder reservation fees are listed by product band: Budget seats €11-€21, Classic 5-berth cabins €64-€74, Classic private cabins €229-€269, Comfort Standard triple cabins €79-€99, Comfort Standard double cabins €119-€139 and Comfort Standard single cabins €149-€169. Comfort Plus costs more, with triple sleepers at €89-€109, double sleepers at €129-€149 and single sleepers at €159-€179.
European Sleeper says its reservation prices are fixed year round, with travel distance making the smaller price difference. Availability can still sell out, so book early when you need a specific accommodation band.
Hungary and Romania: Budapest to Bucharest
Pass holders on the Budapest to Bucharest night-train corridor still need paid reservations.
The corridor uses EuroNight-style reservation fees, and booking may involve carrier channels, station booking or pass-reservation tools.
For EN Ister between Budapest, Sibiu, Brasov and Bucharest, current pass-holder examples include seat reservations at €3, 6-bed couchettes at €13 per person, 4-bed couchettes at €20 per person, triple sleepers at €28 per person, double sleepers at €42 per person and single sleepers at €98. EN Dacia via Vienna, Budapest, Brasov and Bucharest is similar, with a 6-bed couchette at €13.40 per person and the same €98 single-sleeper anchor.
Treat these as reservation fees, not full tickets. If one channel cannot issue the accommodation you need, check the railway carrier or book at a staffed station before assuming the train is unavailable.
Booking rules that apply across Europe
Most European night-train planning starts by choosing a seat, shared couchette, private sleeper or premium cabin.
A rail pass can cover the rail journey, but the overnight accommodation reservation is normally a separate paid item.
Check the actual train and date before relying on a fee. Interrail says its night-train reservation fees are indicative and subject to change. Nightjet pricing depends on route, season and demand, VR prices vary by route and availability, and European Sleeper prices vary by distance.
For the best outcome, decide on your accommodation type before comparing travel dates. Book early for high-demand services such as Nightjet high season, Finland winter trips and European Sleeper dates where your chosen reservation class could sell out.
Frequently asked questions
Do Interrail and Eurail passes cover European night trains?
Most European night trains accept Interrail or Eurail passes for the rail travel element, but you normally still need a paid reservation for your seat, couchette or sleeper space.
How much do night-train reservations cost with a rail pass?
Fees vary by train company, route and accommodation. In June 2026 examples, basic seats were usually the lowest-cost option, while couchettes, sleepers and private cabins cost more and could use dynamic or seasonal pricing.
When should I book a European night-train reservation?
Book as soon as your train opens for sale if your date or accommodation type matters. Some services open around 90 days ahead, while Nightjet, EuroNight and InterCity Notte examples can open up to about 6 months ahead.
Does a night train use one or two Interrail or Eurail travel days?
For a direct night train that departs before midnight and arrives the next day, the pass normally uses the departure day as the travel day. If you take another train after the night train arrives, that onward journey uses a new travel day.
