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National Geographic Crowns New European Sleeper Train The Best For 2025

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At the turn of the calendar each year, many travel-related publications issue the latest travel trends for any said year.

While solo travel, digital nomadism, and a newfound intrigue in exploring off-the-beaten paths top the list, another trend rising, especially in Europe, is traveling by sleeper train.

Train traveler with luggage

Rather than slow down your trip by booking a hotel in one city only to rise and shine and hop aboard a train the next morning, sleeper trains have become the ultimate loophole to travel quicker and more efficiently.

Plus, it's fun and super comfortable to zoom through the night in what's essentially a hotel on rails, living up to the old expression, “killing two birds with one stone”.

National Geographic picked up on the latest trend, issuing a list of favorite sleeper trains for 2025 and #1 more than lives up to the hype.

European Sleeper: Not Your Average Train Ride

European Sleeper train in Dresden

In an attempt to shake up the status quo, European Sleeper sees itself as a game-changer in Europe's vast rail industry.

Already seeing success with trips to Brussels, National Geographic crowned the trendy startup's latest route from Brussels to Prague as the most exciting sleeper train new route for 2025.

So, what can you expect upon one of European Sleeper's trains? Lots!

Seating options are divided into 3 classes:

  • Sleepers
  • Couchettes
  • Seats
Woman sleeping on train

Obviously, being a ‘sleeper' train, Sleepers are the ideal spot to catch some shut-eye, with Couchettes being second best with less room than the Sleepers.

If you were to choose only a ‘seat', then expect to wake up with a gnarly crick in your neck from sleeping upright, but the bright side being these are the most budget-friendly.

Couchettes and Sleepers can be booked as private quarters, and women will surely appreciate a dedicated women-only section, especially with the rise of female solo travel.

Prices start at $81 and go up to $225 for private cabins. For a full list of amenities and layouts, click here.

First Stop: Brussels

Grand Place, Brussels, Belgium

Belgium's sprawling capital city is truly breathtaking. Although certainly not as popular as Europe's icons like London and Paris, Brussels won't leave you disappointed with staggering marvels like the Grand Palace, delicious cuisine, and fascinating museums.

The buzzing streets of Brussels are a delight to explore with jaw-dropping architecture dating back as far as 1400's if you include the Erasmus House.

Brussels is very vibrant cosmopolitan city full of rich culture and timeless charm.

Despite being a large city, Brussels is often considered a gateway to other European escapades given Belgium's convenient location neighboring The Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and France, perfectly fitting for the European Sleeper.

Vibrant streets in Brussels

Second Stop: Dresden

European Sleeper's Brussels-Berlin route was a big hit, and now they're adding to their German portfolio with a stop in Dresden, a fascinating city rebuilt from the ground up after being ravaged during World War II.

Nowadays, Dresden is booming with a thriving arts scene, numerous museums deep-diving into its treacherous past, and eye-popping architecture sure to lure you in.

Being the middle stop, travelers can choose to sleep through the night in a comfy Sleeper or Couchette bed, or perhaps this is the best option for an upright seat.

Dresden Old Town, Saxony, Germany, Central Europe

Any way you slice it, Dresden is an underrated city for history buffs and lovers of art and architecture such as Baroque masterpieces, Frauenkirche, and Zwinger Palace.

Final Destination: Prague

There may be no better city to arrive well rested. Prague is one of Europe's prettiest cities and also masters of staying up 'til dawn on weekends.

If nobody ever answered Lil Jon's question, “turn down for what?!”, the answer is Prague, hands down. That being said, Prague's famous nightlife is just as easy to avoid as it is to partake.

Old Town Square in Prague, Czech Republic

There are a ton of fascinating sites to see, especially at the turn of spring when the city transforms from a winter wonderland to much more enjoyable weather.

Exploring Prague's timeless Old Town is a must, along with other historic districts like the Jewish Quarter.

Best of all, after an all-night journey, you can treat yourself to affordable luxury at one of Prague's many high-end hotels.

For sample size, 4-star Charles Bridge Palace is going for only $51 this winter and only jumps to the $60's and $70s in March and April.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.