Nights on Tracks

Do you love travelling by train but are wondering how you can get the most out of your travel budget? Then take a look at the following comparison between travelling by day train and travelling overnight. In total twelve randomly selected day and night trains in the German-speaking part of Europe are compared. The prices are assumed for a 2nd class passenger without a railcard who has no seat reservation if this is not required. In addition, the price is looked up one month in advance. The cheapest ticket price on the reference date is listed. For couchettes and sleeping cars in the night train, the price is selected for a bed in a shared compartment.

The following tables show the data for trains from Austria, Switzerland and Germany:

Trains starting in Austria:

From	To	Daytrain(s)	Seating car	Couchette	Sleeper car
Vienna	Zurich	39,90€	69,00€	114,00€	139,00€
Vienna	Warsaw	27,90€	27,90€	94,90€	104,90€
Vienna	Bucharest	n.a.	57,60€	71,00€	n.a.
Innsbruck	Amsterdam	64,10€	44,90€	114,90€	134,90€
	⌀	43,97€	49,85€	98,70€	126,27€

^{Prices for June 30th retrieved on May 31st 2025. Prices from the ÖBB ticket shop.}

For trains departing from Austria, it can be stated that the average price of a seat in a night train is almost the same (+13,37%) as the cheapest day train connection when booked one month in advance. At this point, it is worth mentioning the connection Vienna – Warsaw, which stands out with super cheap 27,90€ tickets during the day as well as at night in the seating car. At an average of almost 100€, a berth in a couchette is 124,47% more expensive than the cheapest day train connections. The sleeping car is the most expensive at an average of 126,27€.

Trains starting in Switzerland:

From	To	Daytrain(s)	Seating car	Couchette	Sleeper car
Zurich	Prague	46,99€	74,99€	121,00€	143,00€
Zurich	Amsterdam	54,99€	76,84€*	99,90€	154,90€
Zurich	Graz	39,90€	39,90€	94,90€	124,90€
Zurich	Budapest	48,40€	69,00€	114,00€	159,00€
	⌀	47,57€	65,18€	107,45€	145,45€

^{* ≙ 72,00 CHF (exchange rate from June 9th 2025)}

^{Prices for July 8th retrieved on June 9th 2025. Prices from the DB, ÖBB & SBB ticket shop.}

The average price of the cheapest day train is here also less than 50€ for the selected connections starting in Switzerland. In comparison, a seat in a coach on an overnight train costs 37,02% more. Only for the Zurich – Graz connection the ticket prices for the day and night train are the same if booked one month in advance. The couchette, on the other hand, costs 125,84% more than the cheapest price for a trip during the day. It should also be noted that the sleeping car is here also the most expensive comfort category at 145,45€.

Trains starting in Germany:

From	To	Daytrain(s)	Seating car	Couchette	Sleeper car
Berlin	Zurich	69,99€	n.a.	99,90€	189,90€
Hamburg	Zurich	49,99€	91,75€*	n.a.	204,90€
Hamburg	Innsbruck	55,99€	44,90€	159,90€	384,90€
Hamburg	Vienna	59,99€	64,90€	159,90€	n.a.
	⌀	58,99€	67,18€	139,90€	259,90€

^{* ≙ 86,00 CHF (exchange rate from June 9th 2025)}

^{Prices for July 8th retrieved on June 9th 2025. Prices from the DB, ÖBB & SBB ticket shop.}

In general, it should be noted that trains departing from Germany are the most expensive in all 4 ticket categories considered. Passengers have to pay almost 60€ for a day train starting in Germany. A seat on an overnight train therefore costs 13,89% more than during the day. One exception is the Hamburg – Innsbruck route, where the overnight seat carriage is around 11€ cheaper in comparison. The berth in a couchette is on average 137,10% more expensive than travelling by day train. Travelers even have to pay an average of almost 260€ for a bed in the sleeper car.

General overview: Train tickets only

	Daytrain(s)	Seating car	Couchette	Sleeper car
⌀	50,74€	60,15€	113,12€	174,03€

As you can see, the day train is the cheapest on the routes examined, at around 50€ per journey. However, it should be noted that the cheapest connections usually include several transfers and are usually only bookable once a day for this price. You should also bear in mind that when traveling by day train, you will have to pay an additional hotel night compared to the night train. According to data from Luxury Resorts (n.d.), the average price of a 3-star hotel in Europe is 126$ (converted 109,32€) per night. In addition, there is the cost of breakfast, which, unlike on the day train, is included in the overnight train with a ticket for a couchette or a bed in the sleeping car. According to Tophotel (2017), the average cost of such a breakfast in European hotels is 11,90€. If all cost components are now added together, the following overview results:

General overview: Train tickets + hotel + breakfast

	Daytrain(s)	Seating car	Couchette	Sleeper car
⌀ Ticket costs	50,74€	60,15€	113,12€	174,03€
+ 3-star hotel	109,32€	–	–	–
+ Breakfast	11,90€	11,90€	included	included
= Total	171,96€	72,05€	113,12€	174,03€

As you can see, the total cost of the day train with hotel and breakfast is about the same as traveling in a bed in a shared sleeper compartment. Of course, it is questionable whether you will be as refreshed the next day after the overnight train as you would be if you stayed in a hotel. The breakfast in the hotel is usually also much more extensive than on the night train. On the other hand, you gain time on the night train, as you travel from A to B in your sleep.

In summary, for travelers with a small budget and not too high comfort requirements, the seating car can be a really lucrative option. For night train fans with a medium budget, a berth in a couchette / the new Mini Cabin if available offers the best price-performance ratio. For travelers with a higher budget, either the daytime train(s) in combination with a night in a hotel or a bed in the sleeping car are the most suitable options. But whichever option you choose: A train journey is always an experience, regardless of your travel budget!

Sources:

Luxury Resorts (n.d.). 193 Must-Know Hotel Statistics and Travel Trends in Europe for 2025. Retrieved on 20.06.2025, from https://luxury-resorts.world/statistics/hotels/europe?utm

Tophotel (2017). HRS-Frühstücksanalyse: Preise in deutschen Hotels im Schnitt am höchsten. Retrieved on 20.06.2025, from https://www.tophotel.de/hrs-fruehstuecksanalyse-preise-in-deutschen-hotels-am-hoechsten-17538/?utm