The Central Europe overnight train itinerary (one-week loop): detailed stages

Stage 1: Paris (or Lille) → Brussels (Eurostar)

You're off to a good start: since Paris or Lille you can join Brussels very quickly in Eurostar. It's the perfect stage to get you in the "Europe by train" mood.

📍 To be done on site (at least half a day) A great walking tour of the city center, with its Belgian atmosphere, architecture and gourmet breaks!

🚆 Price Depending on your dates and your level of anticipation, you can find Eurostar tickets. Brussels ↔ Paris from €29.

Stage 2: Brussels → Prague (European Sleeper train)

In the evening, you climb into a European Sleeper night train objective Prague. The real thrill is "earning" a night's sleep on board and waking up in a new city.

🚆 Price European Sleeper tickets are available depending on the date and comfort level chosen. from € 59.99.

Stage 3: Prague → Gdańsk (PKP night train)

📍 For a day out in Prague, you can stroll through the city's architectural splendor. Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau ! Then it's off to Poland.
In the evening, you board at 18h49 direction Gdańsk.

🚆 Price Prices: prices vary enormously depending on the sales channel and anticipation. Don't hesitate to compare prices on a platform like Trainline!

Stage 4: Gdańsk → Krakow (PKP night train)

📍 Early morning arrival at Gdańsk the pearl of the Baltic: colorful facades, maritime vibes, perfect for recharging your batteries. Then you continue with a new night train to Krakow!

🚆 Price Depending on the booking platform, you can find tickets for Gdańsk-Cracow from €18 ! Once again, don't hesitate to compare prices on Trainline.

Stage 5: Krakow → Vienna (EuroNight)

📍Welcome to Krakow, the city where you let yourself be carried away by its lively streets and incredible energy... Then you're off again for one of the best moments of the trip: Austria in EuroNight à 22h45 to Vienna !

🚆 Price Depending on the dates and the level of anticipation, you can find tickets for Krakow-Vienna from €25.

Stage 6: Vienna → Zurich (Nightjet ÖBB train)

📍 À Vienna takes advantage of the stopover to see the Sissi's palace (and, more broadly, the imperial atmosphere). Take the rails back to 21h30 for Zurich.

📍 On arrival, it's a complete change of scenery, with the old town and mountain views in the background.

🚆 Price : depending on availability and anticipation, you may find tickets seats from €29, berths from €49.

Stage 7: Zurich → Cologne (Nightjet ÖBB train)

Last big night: you board 21h59 at Nightjet direction Cologne !

📍 To complete your exploration of Central Europe in style, you absolutely must visit Germany. Arrive in the early hours of the morning for an unparalleled cultural immersion before returning to France.

🚆 Price : depending on availability and anticipation, you may find tickets from €45.

Stage 8: Cologne → France (Eurostar)

After Cologne, back to France in Eurostar (often via Brussels).

🚆 Price Eurostar tickets for Cologne ↔ Brussels may be available, depending on dates and anticipation. from €19 and Brussels ↔ Paris from €29.

Our practical tips for the road

• Time & budget : of course, if you have the budget and the time, we recommend that you spend at least one night in each city to really discover the destination before moving on to the next stage! But for those on a tight budget or schedule, this itinerary still allows you to explore Central Europe. in just one week (and save a heck of a lot of money on hotel nights)!
• Reservation On night trains, the price depends very much on comfort (seat/couchette/sleeper) and anticipation. On Nightjet/EuroNight, the logic of "introductory price + supplements according to comfort" is the norm. In short, the golden rule is always the same: the earlier you book, the cheaper your tickets will be!
• Where to buy your tickets For the clearest terms and conditions, use the operator websites (Eurostar, European Sleeper, PKP Intercity, ÖBB Nightjet) whenever possible, but don't hesitate to compare prices on the Internet. Trainline to make sure you pay the best price.

Paris - Brussels

The step from Paris to Brussels lasts 1h22. You'll travel in a Eurostar.

Brussels - Prague

For more information (timetables, frequency, cities served, prices, comfort...), go to this article!

The step from Brussels to Prague lasts 16h30. You'll travel in a European Sleeper.

Prague - Gdańsk

The step from Prague to Gdańsk lasts 8h37. You'll travel in a PKP Intercity.

Gdańsk - Cracovie

The step from Gdańsk to Cracovie lasts 11h38. You'll travel in a PKP Intercity.

Cracovie - Vienna

The step from Cracovie to Vienna lasts 5h50. You'll travel in a PKP Intercity.

Vienna - Zurich

From Wien, take the 9:35pm train for a comfortable journey to Zurich, where you'll arrive at 8:20am the next morning.

The step from Vienna to Zurich lasts 10h45. You'll travel in a Nightjet operated by ÖBB.

You can find tickets from 64.9 euros.

Zurich - Cologne

The step from Zurich to Cologne lasts 8h00. You'll travel in a Nightjet operated by ÖBB.

Cologne - Paris

The step from Cologne to Paris lasts 3h20. You'll travel in a Eurostar.