The world's best sleeper trains, from Austria's £30 Nightjet to India's lavish Maharajas Express

Charles Dickens once said: 'All locomotive engines are low-spirited in damp and foggy weather.' 

Certainly, a one-hour train commute through industrial landscapes in dreary British weather is hardly the stuff of dreams.

But it doesn't have to be this way – in fact, travelling by train can be one of the most atmospheric ways to cross a country, whether it's a sunrise journey by the coast or a cosy, rainy ride through the Scottish Highlands.

From a £2,119-per-person Australian outback trip to some of the UK's top choices and European routes for less than £50, the Daily Mail has compiled a list of the best night-time railway experiences money can buy.

Caledonian Sleeper

London – Inverness, UK

Kicking off the list is a UK sleeper train everyone should try, the Caledonian Sleeper

The Scotland route takes you past many key landmarks including St Andrews and Loch Lomond

Spanning approximately 500 miles across 12 hours and 45 minutes, the Caledonian Sleeper now holds the title of the UK's longest direct rail route.

There are plenty of landmarks to look out for on the journey, including Rannoch Moor, Loch Lomond, Loch Ness and coastal views of St Andrews and Arbroath.

The early morning light across the Highlands is particularly spectacular as you approach your destination.

The Caledonian Sleeper departs from London Euston at 9.15pm six days-a-week (Sunday to Friday), travelling through Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness during the night.

Accommodation options vary, from basic reclining seats from around £50 to private compartments featuring beds, charging points, washbasins, or even fully en suite facilities in premium cabins for £570, sleeper.scot.

Royal Canadian Pacific

Canada 

The Canadian Pacific Railway passes through the incredible landscape

Made up of restored trains built between 1916 and 1931, the Royal Canadian Pacific Railway was formed to unite the country and make travel from one end to the other possible.

Now, it's more than just an exercise in convenience – it's the height of luxury, too.

'The silver settings, brass fittings, burled tables, brocade chairs, wall paneling of Circassian walnut and bird's eye maple imported from Russia, and open vestibules are the pinnacle of a bygone tradition of elegance,' the website reveals. 

Celebrities who have ridden the train include US President John F Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy as well as the late Queen Elizabeth II, royalcanadianpacific.com

Maharajas Express

India

The Maharajas' Express runs trips across India - for a hefty price

The Maharajas Express is one of the country's more luxurious travel options – here, live bands play music for departing passengers.

Measuring almost half-a-mile in length, it runs four routes that take round trips from Delhi, and from Delhi to Mumbai and back.

The cabins of the train are set inside carriages named after gemstones and there are four types to choose from – deluxe, junior suites, suites and a presidential suite.

Ticket prices for a deluxe cabin on the three-night Treasures of India itinerary start at $4,000 (£3,025), while the presidential suite costs up to $26,800 (£20,268), the-maharajas.com.

Santa Claus Express

Helsinki – Rovaniemi 

Book a magical winter trip on the Santa Claus Express, which can take you to Rovaniemi

Lapland trips top Christmas season wish lists, and this night train can take you direct into the heart of this Finnish wonderland. 

With the Santa Claus Express, you can travel to Lapland by taking the original train from Helsinki or Turku to Rovaniemi. 

The double-decker night train has several daily connections, and you can choose between a seat or a sleeper cabin. 

The trains feature Wi-Fi, cabins are equipped with power sockets and at your choice even your own shower and toilet. 

Tickets start from €67 (£57), vr.fi/en/santa-claus-express

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Paris to Venice 

The legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is one of the most lavish options

The dining car provides a decadent array of treats with a 1920s feel

Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express you can travel to destinations including Paris and Venice, with extended routes to Vienna and Prague, in what can only be described as the utmost glamour.

1920s carriage accommodation includes historic cabins, suites, grand suites, and the extraordinary L'Observatoire, a private carriage designed in collaboration with world-acclaimed French street artist JR. 

Each category has been restored or designed to reflect the heritage of the train, with grand suites offering additional space, private bathrooms and 24-hour dedicated butler service. 

An uber-exclusive Paris-Istanbul journey is the creme de la creme of luxury, taking place only twice a year, and costing around £19,900 per person, belmond.com/en/trains/europe/venice-simplon-orient-express

Royal Scotsman

Scotland 

Cinematic tours are the order of the day on board the Royal Scotsman

As the train weaves through the awe-inspiring peaks and valleys of Scotland, you can settle into your luxury cabin while being serenaded by bagpipes.

With 18 sleeper cabins, two dining cars and a lavish Dior spa, the Belmond train offers incredible trips, including a three-night Highland tour passing through Edinburgh, Keith, Kyle of Lochalsh and Boat of Garten, as well as a seven-night Grand Tour of Scotland.

In 2026, the train has introduced a 'Tastes of Scotland Culinary Series', a celebration of Scottish cuisine across three exclusive journeys. 

Shorter journeys start from £4,500 per person, making this a once-in-a-lifetime break for many, belmond.com/en/trains/europe/uk/royal-scotsman 

Belmond Andean Explorer

Peru

The Belmond Andean Explorer is one of Peru's best travel experiences

Passengers can admire the scenery from the observation car on the train

The Belmond Andean Explorer is a super-luxury piece of transport taking passengers from Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire to the reflective beauty of Lake Titicaca, onto Arequipa, a Unesco World Heritage site.

Customers can choose from a range of cabins for their accommodation, including suite/double, twin and bunk bed configurations. 

These bedrooms all come with their own en suite toilet and shower. 

There are also two dining cars where chefs from Belmond Hotel Monasterio, Cusco, will serve up dishes using locally sourced ingredients from the Peruvian Andes. 

Prices start from £2,500, belmond.com/en/trains/south-america/peru/andean-explorer

The Ghan

Adelaide-Darwin, Australia

The Ghan, which makes a return journey twice a week, is for those wishing to explore the Australian Outback

In Australia, the fabulous Indian Pacific sleeper train goes across from Perth to Sydney, but our pick of the top train is The Ghan, which goes from north to south.

With 44 carriages and two locomotives all measuring at 0.7 miles in length, The Ghan is one of the longest trains in the world. 

The journey from takes four days and three nights, and departs on Wednesdays and Saturdays from March to November.

Occasionally, the train stops early morning (around 5.30am to 6am) if there's a particularly good sunrise.

Prices start from £2,119 per person, journeybeyondrail.com.au/journeys/the-ghan

Seven Stars 

Kyushu, Japan

Inside a deluxe suite of the Seven Stars excursion train

Those wishing to sleep on the move might want to journey to the Japanese island of Kyushu for the luxurious Seven Stars train experience. 

Travelling through breathtaking scenery, this train hotel offers five-star service with spacious suites for its guests and a fine dining room where food is served from Japan's top chefs. 

There is also a cocktail bar, so travellers can relax in style as they stare at the scenery out of the panoramic windows and listen to live piano performances. 

Following cancelled journeys due to the Kumamoto earthquake of 2026, the service is back up and running again, cruisetrain-sevenstars.jp/english/train

SJ Norge

Norway 

SJ Norge is another European sleeper train, ideal for exploring Norway

A daily sleeper is operated by SJ Norge, with standard seats, premium plus rest seats' (with more recline) and sleeper compartments. 

'This is an especially good summer ride when it's light into the early hours of the morning and you can watch Norwegian fjords and mountains pass by,' writes the Daily Mail train expert Tom Chesshyre, author of Ticket To Ride: Around The World on 49 Unusual Train Journeys.

He adds: 'But the journey is enjoyable at any time of year.'

Trondheim and Bodo on the route are both great for the Northern Lights, sj.no/en/front-page

Blue Train

South Africa

The Blue Train travels from Cape Town to Pretoria in South Africa

The Blue Train, which runs from Pretoria to Cape Town, dates back to the 1900s and tickets include meals, drinks and deluxe suites with full-sized baths. 

On your journey, you can expect views to range from vast savannahs to sculpted mountain ranges.

Private suites have butler service, while all passengers can make the most of the classic private club-style Club Car, and even enjoy a handmade Cuban cigar.

'Everything was perfect,' one guest wrote of their experience on board. 'The service and meals were excellent! The staff were friendly. It was my first time on The Blue Train - this journey was unbelievable, you will see me again.' 

Visit bluetrain.co.za

Nightjet

Across Europe 

Nightjet trains provide budget-friendly journeys between many major European cities

On board Nightjet services, you can travel between Vienna, Brussels, Amsterdam and Berlin – among other routes.

The best value is achieved by booking tickets early. 

For example, the Sparschiene ticket for the Vienna – Amsterdam or Innsbruck – Amsterdam route in a seated carriage is available from just €34.90 (£30) per person and direction.

For families or groups, saver fare tickets in couchette cars (compartment space for four to six people) are available from €54.90 (£47.20), and the new Mini Cabins for solo travellers are also offered with a saver fare ticket from €54.90 (£47.20). 

For extra sleeping comfort and even more space and privacy, a berth in a sleeper compartment can be booked with a saver fare from €89.90 (£77.30), nightjet.com

European Sleeper

Brussels-Amsterdam-Berlin-Prague 

Instead of jetting off around Europe this summer and worrying about luggage and flight times, you can go from Paris to Berlin by sleeper train

The European Sleeper is easy to incorporate into travel itineraries and allows travellers to wake up in a new destination. It may not be fancy, but it's not too pricey either.

There are routes to some of the most popular cities in Europe including Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels and Prague.

European Sleeper launched the new route on March 26 and it operates three times a week.

The journey from Paris, to Brussels, to Berlin provides a direct, overnight connection between the three bustling cities.

It takes around 15 hours and is one of the best budget-friendly routes on the list, with budget Paris-Berlin seats from €80 (£68), europeansleeper.eu