I booked the cheapest accommodation on an overnight train in Europe. I'll never do it again.

Joey HaddenJul 4, 2024, 00:56 IST

Business Insider's reporter took an overnight train through Europe.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I spent 12 hours in a regular seat on an overnight train from Berlin, Germany, to Vienna, Austria.
For less than $50, I got a reclining seat in a seating carriage cabin with five other people.

In October 2022, I spent 12 hours traveling in a sleeping carriage on an overnight train from Berlin, Germany, to Vienna, Austria.

I had taken overnight trains in the US before, where I'd booked private cabins.

But this was my first time on a sleeper train in Europe — and my first time in an accommodation shared with other guests.

I thought an overnight train would be the best way to travel through Europe and maximize my time exploring during the day. And at $40, it was the cheapest overnight train ride I've ever booked. But ultimately, the ride was too cramped and bumpy to sleep, and I arrived in Vienna feeling exhausted.

To get from Berlin to Vienna in 12 hours, I took Austrian Federal Railway's OBB Nightjet train.

A Nightjet train stopped at a station.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Nightjet trains have sleeper cars with bunks of three, four, or six, as well as seating carriages.

A seating carriage on a Nightjet train.Nightjet - © ÖBB/Harald Eisenberger

"We recommend the sleeper or couchette car for night travel. There is enough space to stretch out. Seated carriages are recommended for shorter journeys," OBB Nightjet wrote in a statement to Business Insider.

A sleeper cabin on an OBB Nightjet train.Nightjet - © ÖBB/Harald Eisenberger

"We recommend the sleeper or couchette car for night travel. There is enough space to stretch out. Seated carriages are recommended for shorter journeys," OBB Nightjet wrote in a statement to Business Insider.

To travel by train, I bought a Eurail pass for $477, which gives access to most European trains for a set number of days.

The author's Eurail pass on a European train.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Without the pass, the ticket would have been about $40.

The author's ticket to ride.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

My journey began at Germany's Berlin Ostbahnhof train station.

The train station in Berlin.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Since my ticket didn't include a meal, I grabbed food from the McDonald's inside the station.

The author gets McDonald's in the train station.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Then I went to platform three after viewing on a screen that it was where my train would be arriving.

The author's train platform.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Once inside the seating carriage sleeper cars, I saw narrow, dimly lit corridors that opened to small enclosed cabins with six seats in each.

Corridors on the train lead to the author's room and seat.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

During my leg of the journey, three travelers were already in my room when I boarded.

The seats recline deeply.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I thought the seat was slightly wider than a typical train coach seat.

The author's seat in the reclined position.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Each seat came with a small table that slid out from the armrest.

My side table.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Right away, I thought the room was cramped and lacked enough legroom for each traveler.

Arrows point to luggage space in a seating carriage. The author's carriage is not pictured.Nightjet - © ÖBB/Harald Eisenberger

I wanted to charge my phone, but I only saw two outlets next to the window in my carriage. I had to communicate with other passengers to take turns using them.

Outlets in use in the train car.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Even though my ticket didn't come with a meal, I checked out the menu to see what was available for purchase.

The OBB Nightjet menu.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Since I had already eaten, I skipped the food and used one of the two shared bathrooms in the car to brush my teeth. The bathroom looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a while.

A bathroom in the author's train car.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Since I had already eaten, I skipped the food and used one of the two shared bathrooms in the car to brush my teeth. The bathroom looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a while.

Back in my room, someone had turned the lights off. I tried to fall asleep but found it impossible with the constant bumps on the ride and so many people around me.

The author stays awake on her journey to Vienna.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I reclined my seat all the way, but I thought the gap between the seat back and the bottom of the seat made it tough to get comfortable. I didn't see any pillows or sheets provided for guests, either.

The author's seat at bedtime.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I reclined my seat all the way, but I thought the gap between the seat back and the bottom of the seat made it tough to get comfortable. I didn't see any pillows or sheets provided for guests, either.

Although seats were assigned, I quickly caught on that other passengers were moving around the car to find less crowded rooms. I followed suit.

The author finds a less crowded room on the train.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

But I knew that someone boarding at one of the many overnight stops could kick me out at any time if the seat I switched to was assigned to someone else.

The door to the cabin the author switched to.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I ended up staying awake until the morning.

Views out the window in the early hours of the morning.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Splurging on a hotel room upon arrival for a few hours of sleep made me feel like the cheapest ticket on an overnight train ultimately wasn't worth it.

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I booked the cheapest accommodation on an overnight train in Europe. I'll never do it again.

To get from Berlin to Vienna in 12 hours, I took Austrian Federal Railway's OBB Nightjet train.

Nightjet trains have sleeper cars with bunks of three, four, or six, as well as seating carriages.

"We recommend the sleeper or couchette car for night travel. There is enough space to stretch out. Seated carriages are recommended for shorter journeys," OBB Nightjet wrote in a statement to Business Insider.

To travel by train, I bought a Eurail pass for $477, which gives access to most European trains for a set number of days.

Without the pass, the ticket would have been about $40.

My journey began at Germany's Berlin Ostbahnhof train station.

Since my ticket didn't include a meal, I grabbed food from the McDonald's inside the station.

Then I went to platform three after viewing on a screen that it was where my train would be arriving.

Once inside the seating carriage sleeper cars, I saw narrow, dimly lit corridors that opened to small enclosed cabins with six seats in each.

During my leg of the journey, three travelers were already in my room when I boarded.

I thought the seat was slightly wider than a typical train coach seat.

Each seat came with a small table that slid out from the armrest.

Right away, I thought the room was cramped and lacked enough legroom for each traveler.

I wanted to charge my phone, but I only saw two outlets next to the window in my carriage. I had to communicate with other passengers to take turns using them.

Even though my ticket didn't come with a meal, I checked out the menu to see what was available for purchase.

Since I had already eaten, I skipped the food and used one of the two shared bathrooms in the car to brush my teeth. The bathroom looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a while.

Back in my room, someone had turned the lights off. I tried to fall asleep but found it impossible with the constant bumps on the ride and so many people around me.

I reclined my seat all the way, but I thought the gap between the seat back and the bottom of the seat made it tough to get comfortable. I didn't see any pillows or sheets provided for guests, either.

Although seats were assigned, I quickly caught on that other passengers were moving around the car to find less crowded rooms. I followed suit.

But I knew that someone boarding at one of the many overnight stops could kick me out at any time if the seat I switched to was assigned to someone else.

I ended up staying awake until the morning.

Splurging on a hotel room upon arrival for a few hours of sleep made me feel like the cheapest ticket on an overnight train ultimately wasn't worth it.