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The night train is regularly cheaper than flying, especially if you take luggage and book in advance. While a flight with checked baggage quickly costs €100 or more, you can get a couchette on a night train from €50. You also save a hotel night, gain time by sleeping on the way and avoid long waiting times at the airport. Curious about the total costs per mode of transport?
When is the night train cheaper than flying
Think of routes to cities such as Berlin, Vienna and Prague. The night train is often two to four times cheaper there than flying. A return to Berlin by train costs on average €180, while you pay around €367 for a plane ticket. For families the difference becomes even greater: children up to 14 years old travel for free on German long-distance trains, whereas you need a separate plane ticket for every child.
Dont forget that airfares are often excluding luggage. For checked baggage you pay between €20 and €50 per flight with budget airlines. On the night train your luggage is included as standard, with no extra fees or weight limit. Transfers also play a role: from the airport you will quickly pay €30 to €50 for a taxi or train ticket to the city centre, whereas night trains often arrive at central stations.
On longer routes to Barcelona or Edinburgh, flying is still cheaper. There you pay between €160 and €180 for a return flight, compared with €370 to almost €1,000 for the train. Looking for more information about night trains such as the Nightjet and other European night trains? Compare prices and routes in advance.
Book, for example, three months in advance and prices start from €10 to €35 per journey.
Why booking night trains early pays off
Promotional tickets (discount fares) make travelling by night train extra attractive. Book, for example, three months in advance and prices start from €10 to €35 per journey. Nightjet regularly offers discounted fares for popular destinations, and with a bit of flexibility in your travel dates you can take advantage of these lower prices.
For families with two children the train saves on average 62 per cent compared with flying to ten European destinations. The average return trip by train costs €497, versus €761 for four plane tickets. Add luggage fees and transfers on top of that and the difference can rise to several hundred euros per family.
- Book early for tickets from €10 per single journey
- Avoid peak seasons to get up to 50 per cent discount
- Children travel for free on long-distance trains in Germany
- Check promotions from Nightjet and other European night train providers
Night train versus car: what is cheaper for families
Driving seems cheap. The total costs are often disappointing. For a return trip to Berlin you will quickly pay between €100 and €200 in fuel for four people. Add tolls, parking at your destination and possibly vignette costs and you end up with amounts comparable to the night train. The difference is mainly in comfort and time.
Think of destinations such as Vienna or Munich. By car you are on the road for about 6 to 8 hours. That means a full day of travelling. The driver has to stay alert and you need regular breaks. On the night train you sleep during the journey, arrive rested and dont lose holiday days on the outward journey. For families with young children this is an important advantage. Children sleep peacefully. There is space to move around. You dont have to sit still all the time.
Parking at your destination costs on average €20 to €50 per day. For a weekend away or longer holiday that really adds up. The night train arrives at central stations, where you can continue your journey straight away by public transport. In many cities a public transport day pass is cheaper than one day of parking in the city centre.
Time gained by travelling in your sleep
The night train combines travelling and sleeping. As a result, you save a full day. If you leave Amsterdam at 20:00 in the evening, you arrive in Vienna around 08:00 the next morning. You have slept, had breakfast on the train and are ready to head into the city. By plane you often leave early in the morning. You have to be at the airport two hours before departure. You lose more time again on the transfer to the city centre.
For business travellers and active holidaymakers this time gain is valuable. You dont use up holiday days on travelling. You start your first day feeling fresh. Compare that with driving: after eight hours in the car you are tired and need time to recover. The night train eliminates that fatigue and also offers the possibility to work or relax on the way.
The lack of VAT and excise duty on kerosene keeps airfares artificially low, but it doesnt make flying any less polluting.
Lower CO2 emissions: up to 90 per cent reduction
Besides cost, sustainability plays an increasingly important role in travel choices. The night train emits up to 90 per cent less CO2 than flying or driving. That is a substantial reduction in greenhouse gases. For anyone who consciously chooses to travel with less impact on the environment, the train is a logical choice. This reduction applies to almost all European routes where night trains run.
The lack of VAT and excise duty on kerosene keeps airfares artificially low, but it doesnt make flying any less polluting. Trains run on electricity and carry many passengers at once. That significantly lowers emissions per traveller. For families who travel several times a year, this choice makes a measurable difference to their annual CO2 footprint.
Practical tips if you choose the night train
Opt for a couchette (berth on the train) or a sleeper cabin if you want to sleep well. A seat is cheaper but less comfortable on longer journeys. Book early, especially in high season, to get the best prices and availability. Take earplugs and a sleep mask for extra rest, and check whether your train has a dining car for breakfast.
- Book couchettes for comfort and a better nights sleep
- Compare prices across different booking platforms
- Check whether children travel for free on your chosen route
- Take a bottle of water and snacks for the journey
- Download offline entertainment in case there is no Wi-Fi
Take arrival times into account. Most night trains arrive early in the morning. That is convenient if you want to start your programme straight away. Check whether your accommodation offers early check-in, or plan a morning activity before you go to your hotel. That way you make optimal use of your first day.
When flying is still the better choice
For destinations in Southern Europe such as Barcelona, Rome or Lisbon, flying is often still cheaper and faster. A return to Barcelona by plane costs on average €176 and takes four and a half hours. The train costs €706 and takes more than 12 hours. For solo travellers to more distant cities, the price of a couchette on a night train does not always outweigh a cheap air ticket either.
If there is no direct night train to your destination, you have to change trains. That increases journey time and complexity. In those cases, flying can be more practical, especially if you have limited holiday days. It is a matter of weighing things up: do you want to minimise travel costs or give priority to comfort and sustainability?
The night train scores particularly well on routes where time and comfort count for more than the lowest ticket price.
Choose consciously based on your travel purpose
The night train is not always cheaper than flying or driving. The overall experience is often better though. You save a hotel night, travel in comfort, arrive centrally and significantly reduce your CO2 emissions. For families and travellers to Central Europe, the night train is often the most economical option, especially if you book early and include all costs.
If you drive, add up fuel, tolls, parking and wear and tear. If you fly, factor in luggage, transfers and check-in time. The night train scores especially well on routes where time and comfort weigh more heavily than the lowest ticket price. It depends on your priorities, your travel party and your final destination.
On the Traveler Tips website you will find much more information about train journeys, routes across Europe, practical tips for planning your trip and comparisons between different modes of transport. Discover which choices best suit your travel plans. Make your next trip even smarter.
Frequently asked questions
Transfers to and from airport or station, parking costs for the car and any taxis account for a large part of the real price difference. With flying there are often extra costs for checked baggage, seat selection and sometimes meals or drinks on board. On the night train, luggage and often basic comfort are included, but you pay more for a private compartment or sleeper. When driving, fuel, tolls, parking and any overnight stays on the way are the main factors in the total cost.
The investment in a night train journey partly pays for itself because you travel while you sleep and thus gain one or more holiday days. As you do not need a hotel on the way, you save a hotel night and sometimes also transfers to and from airports. This means that the total costs of a night train, especially on medium distances or with several people, are often more favourable than the bare ticket price suggests. The extra cost compared with a cheap flight therefore often weighs up against the time gained, the comfort and the saved overnight stay.
The class of comfort on the night train (couchette compartment, sleeper compartment, private bathroom) makes the ticket considerably more expensive, but can save a hotel night and thus compensate for part of the extra cost. Extras such as included luggage, bedding and possibly breakfast are often already in the price, whereas you pay these costs separately when flying (luggage, transport to the airport, possible hotel). Compared with driving, the direct ticket costs per person for a comfortable night train are usually higher than just fuel and tolls, but you have no parking costs, fatigue or extra overnight stay. All in all, a higher level of comfort increases train costs compared with flying or driving, but the difference shrinks once you factor in all additional costs and the saved hotel night.
Yes, there are often special early booking discounts and promotional fares for night trains, especially with operators such as Nightjet or Eurostar, which can reduce the price considerably. Some providers offer flexible or semi-flexible tickets with low or no change fees, which can be financially attractive if your plans are uncertain. There are also discount schemes for children, young people or families, which can make the train cheaper per person than flying. These discounts and the flexibility can be a decisive factor in the overall cost comparison.
The night train is usually more expensive in bare ticket price than a budget flight, but you save a hotel night, luggage fees and time because you travel while sleeping and arrive in the city centre. Especially with a family or on routes such as Germany/Austria, the night train can therefore turn out to be financially competitive or even cheaper. In addition, you get a unique, relaxed travel experience and a more sustainable choice in return. In that sense, the night train is often less of an extra cost and more a different, smart way of investing in your entire holiday.
