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Taking your bike on the Nightjet from the Netherlands is an excellent option for a sustainable and comfortable start to your holiday, but unfortunately you cannot take your car or motorbike on these routes. Good preparation will ensure you start your journey feeling relaxed. We explain how to plan this smartly and what the alternatives are.
Taking your bike on the Nightjet: what you need to know
More and more travellers are discovering the convenience of the night train. You get on in the evening, wake up at your destination in the morning and have a full day ahead of you. If you are planning a cycling holiday in the Alps or another European region, the Nightjet is a practical solution. You avoid a long, tiring drive and start your trip well rested. You can take your bike on a number of popular connections, but you do need to plan this carefully. Space is limited and demand is high, especially in peak season.
Routes and availability from the Netherlands
From the Netherlands you can take your bike on the main Nightjet connections to Austria and Switzerland. These are the routes where special bike spaces are available. But the number of spaces is limited, ranging from six to sometimes as many as thirty per train, depending on the type of carriage the operator uses. Be aware that these spots are quickly fully booked.
- Amsterdam – Vienna/Innsbruck: This popular route takes you straight to the heart of the Alps. The train usually has six special bike spaces. You depart from Amsterdam in the early evening and arrive the next morning, ready to explore the Austrian mountains.
- Amsterdam – Zurich: You can also take your bike on the connection to Switzerland. Depending on the timetable and rolling stock, the number of available spaces varies. Always check this carefully when booking.
Other connections within the Nightjet network, such as between Vienna and Hamburg or Innsbruck and Hamburg, also offer bike transport. This is useful if you are planning a round trip and want to combine different legs.
Reservations and costs
Reserving a bike space is compulsory and must be done at the same time as booking your own ticket. You cannot add this separately at a later stage. The cost of a bike ticket is usually between 10 and 15 euros, on top of the price of your seat, couchette or sleeper. It is best to book via the official ÖBB Nightjet website. Experienced travellers suggest initially leaving the ‘take bike’ option unticked when searching for tickets. First look for available connections and only then tick the bike option. Sometimes the system will only then show trains that still have spaces available.
Book as far in advance as possible, especially if you are travelling in the summer months or during holiday periods. Bike spaces are often the first to sell out. If you are travelling with several people and bikes, it can sometimes help to book tickets separately to increase your chances of finding available spaces.
Practical preparation for your bike
Before you are standing on the platform, there are a few things you need to sort out. Make sure you arrive at the station in good time, as it can take a while to find the right carriage and the conductor. Staff will place your bike in a multifunctional carriage, often in special racks. In most cases you have to hang your bike in the designated hooks yourself. Sometimes staff will ask you to turn your handlebars a quarter turn or remove your pedals to save space, although this is not always compulsory. Make sure there is no loose luggage such as panniers attached to your bike. You must take these separately to your own compartment.
‘ This service is ideal for avoiding hundreds of kilometres of motorway, saving fuel and arriving rested for the onward part of your journey by car or motorbike. ’
Taking your car or motorbike: rules and restrictions
For travellers hoping to take their car or motorbike on the night train from the Netherlands, there is an important restriction: this is not possible. The Nightjet trains that depart from the Netherlands are not equipped with the special car-carrier wagons required for vehicle transport. Nightjet offers this service only on a select number of routes within Austria, Germany and from there to Croatia. This is an important consideration for anyone planning a road trip who wants to skip the long drive south.
On which routes is it possible?
Nightjet’s car sleeper service is a great solution for travellers who are already closer to their destination. For example, you can take your car on the following routes:
- Vienna (Austria) – Feldkirch (Austria): An ideal route for anyone wanting to cross the Austrian Alps.
- Graz (Austria) – Feldkirch (Austria): Connects the east and west of Austria.
- Vienna (Austria) – Split (Croatia): A seasonal connection that takes you comfortably to the Croatian coast.
- Munich (Germany) – Hamburg (Germany): A connection within Germany.
This service is ideal for avoiding hundreds of kilometres of motorway, saving fuel and arriving rested for the onward part of your journey by car or motorbike. Especially for families or those with a lot of luggage, this offers significantly more convenience than travelling with just a bike.
Conditions for car and motorbike transport
If you use one of the routes on which vehicle transport is possible, you must comply with strict conditions. When booking you must provide detailed information about your vehicle.
- Dimensions: Take into account the maximum dimensions. For most routes the maximum height is 158 cm and the width 200 cm. Some wagons have more space on the upper deck, sometimes up to 205 cm, which is useful for vehicles with a roof box. Staff usually transport motorbikes on the lower level.
- Booking information: You will need the make, model, registration number and the exact dimensions of your vehicle (including mirrors and any roof box).
- Procedure at the station: You must report to the special car terminal one to two hours before departure. A member of staff will check your ticket and you then drive into the wagon yourself. Next, leave the car in first gear with the handbrake on and lock it. Passengers and animals may not remain in the vehicle during the journey.
Comfort and smart planning: tips for your journey
The comfort level you choose has a big impact on how rested you feel on arrival. A seat is the cheapest option, but offers little comfort for a whole night. The seats recline slightly, but it is difficult to get a proper night’s sleep. For a small surcharge you can book a couchette in a compartment for four or six people. Here you get a blanket, pillow and a simple breakfast. The most comfortable option is a sleeper carriage. You sleep in made-up beds in a private compartment for one, two or three people. Some compartments have their own washbasin. You also get a more extensive breakfast. For anyone facing a long bike ride or drive the next day, a couchette or sleeper is definitely worth the investment.
A well-planned train journey is the basis for a relaxed holiday. On the Traveler Tips website you will find many more practical guides on train travel, route planning and preparing your road trip. Discover our articles and travel smarter.
Frequently asked questions
On selected Nightjet routes you can take a bike with a separate ticket and reservation; when partly dismantled it may be a maximum of 2 metres long. Cars and motorbikes can only be taken on routes in Austria, Germany and Croatia, not from the Netherlands. The maximum dimensions for cars are a height of 158 cm (with exceptions up to 205 cm including roof box) and a width of 200 cm; motorbikes may be a maximum of 158 cm high on the lower level. Reservations are compulsory for both bikes and vehicles, and for vehicles you must provide the make, model, registration number and exact dimensions.
A Nightjet journey with a bike costs between €10 and €15 for a bike ticket, excluding the cost of a seat, couchette or sleeper. Taking a car or motorbike is not possible from the Netherlands, only on routes within Austria, Germany and Croatia, and prices vary. These options offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to flying or driving yourself, especially for trips to the Alps or Italy. However, availability is limited, particularly in peak season, which can be a disadvantage compared with the flexibility of travelling entirely by car.
Combining the Nightjet with a bike makes it possible to plan cycling holidays in the Alps, allowing you to arrive well rested and immediately start exploring the area by bike. Taking your car or motorbike on selected Nightjet routes (within Austria, Germany and Croatia) saves long driving times and offers the flexibility of having your own vehicle at your destination. This combination contributes to a more sustainable journey by reducing CO2 emissions compared with flying or driving the whole way. It results in a comfortable and experience-rich holiday because you travel in a relaxed way while still enjoying full freedom of movement at your destination with your own means of transport.
You can take your bike on selected Nightjet routes from the Netherlands to Austria, Germany and Switzerland, such as Amsterdam – Vienna/Innsbruck and Amsterdam – Zurich. Cars and motorbikes can only be taken on routes within Austria, Germany and Croatia, not from the Netherlands. Reservations for a bike are compulsory and can be made via the official Nightjet website; for cars and motorbikes specific details such as make, model and dimensions are required.
Before taking a bike on the Nightjet, you should partly dismantle it (turn the handlebars 90° and remove the pedals) and arrive early. For cars and motorbikes, which can only be taken in Austria, Germany and Croatia, you must arrive 1–2 hours before departure, have your ticket checked, drive into the wagon, leave the vehicle in first gear with the handbrake on and lock it. For both, reservations via the official website are compulsory and availability is limited, especially in peak season.
