Six top overnight train journeys in Europe

What makes travelling on an overnight train so special? For some it's the epitome of slow travel - the long, slow teleport from the urban grit and grind to the mountainous fresh and wild. For others, it's tucking into a three course meal with a bottle of Rioja as the countryside whizzes past, or being gently rocked to sleep as the train chugs across national borders.

There are numerous benefits to taking the train, not least is the fact that it means you save a night in a hotel en route to your holiday destination. Plus there's always the likelihood of that romantic chance encounter... Here are some of our favourite overnight train journeys:

London to Copenhagen in less than 24 hours. Photo: Paul MilesLondon to Copenhagen via Brussels and Cologne (17hrs 02 mins)
Copenhagen, well known as Europe's greenist city, is a pleasure to travel to by train. With it's romantically named 'Borealis' overnight sleeper, you can dream about The Little Mermaid then peacefully wake up to see her statue. Paul Miles wrote about this route on his way to the Copenhagen summit, see his blog article: London to Copenhagen by Train
Journey time: 17 hrs 02 mins
Sample itinerary: Take the 1604 from St Pancras, arriving in Brussels at 1908, in enough time to catch the 1928 on to Cologne, before boarding the 2238 sleeper service to Copenhagen.
Price: from £197 return
See our detailed itinerary: Train from London to Copenhagen

London To Inverness (11hrs 15 mins)
A perfect day trip to get away from the smog:  visit the river Ness and hintherlands and be back in London by the next morning. Or take a longer journey to the captial of the Highlands and go hiking or visit the Ness Islands.
Journey time: 11 hours and 15 minutes
Sample itinerary: Catch the 2115 from London Euston and arrive in Inverness by 0831
Price: From £112 return
For more details and to book your journey: Caledonian Sleeper

Santa Lucia train station next to the Gli Scalzi church. Photo: Jen Wen LuohLondon to Venice via Paris (17hrs 30 mins)
Venice's gondolas are luxuriously relaxed travel, so why not take an equally laid back mode of transport on your way to the city of love and culture?
Journey time: 17 hours 30 minutes
Sample itinerary: The 1502 from St Pancras gets you into Paris in enough time to grab a bite of dinner before taking the 2033 sleeper service from Gare de Bercy to Venice, where it arrives at 0934 the next day.
Price: from £135 return (booked as a return journey outward from London)
See our detailed itinerary: Train from London to Venice

London to Penzance (8hrs 15 mins)
Whether you want to take the ferry to the Scilly Isles or simply visit some of England's beautiful countryside, taking First Great Western's Night Riviera service means you can wake up in Cornwall fresh for a day of adventure. And Cornish pastries. Read Philippa Jacks's blog post on travelling on the Sleeper Train to Penzance.
Journey time: 8 hours 15 minutes
Sample itinerary:  Departs from Paddington at 23:45, arrives in Penzance at 08:00
Price: from £15 single
See our detailed itinerary: Train from London to Penzance

See the Cote d'Azur beaches from your window.London to Corsica via Paris and Nice (from 16hrs)
Taking this sleeper train is worth it just to be woken up by the sun as you hit the Cote d'Azur. Wake up early so that you can enjoy the wonderful scenes of the French Riviera on the final stretch of the journey from Marseille to Nice. Then have an espresso on the Promenade des Anglais before taking the ferry to Corsica.
Journey time: 16 hours or about 20 hours via the overnight ferry.
Sample itinerary: Take any Eurostar to Paris in time to catch the 2225 from Paris Austerlitz, which arrives Nice at 0854. From Nice you can either take the 1430 ferry to Bastia or the 2345 overnight ferry to Calvi.
Price: from £212 return
See our detailed itinerary: Train from London to Nice | To book ferry tickets from Nice to Corsica, see greentraveller's secure Ferry Booking Section.

London to Madrid via Paris (18hrs approximately)
The Elipsos Trenhotel is like no train you will have been on before: not only does it have a fiesta of a restaurant carriage with an á la carte restaurant and a glitzy full-length bar but the luxury 'Gran Class' couchettes can host two and have a private bathroom. You'll hit Madrid refreshed and ready to make the most of the great capital.
Journey Time: About 18 hours
Sample itinerary: Take any Eurostar to Paris in time to catch the 1947 from Paris Austerlitz, which arrives Madrid at arrives Madrid at 0955. 
Price: from £202 return 
See our detailed itinerary: Train from London to Madrid

The impressive Atocha train station in central Madrid. Photo: © flickr Darren Krape