Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) has upgraded its Nightjet sleeper service, offering a comfortable and exciting way to travel between Vienna and Rome. The new-generation trains, launched at the end of 2023, now operate on 20 routes across Europe, providing a modern alternative to flying.
Boarding at Vienna Hauptbahnhof, passengers are greeted by freshly furnished carriages with soft carpets and adjustable lighting in neon blue and punk pink. The couchette carriage features mini cabins for solo travellers, accessed by keycard, as well as four-person private compartments ideal for families. Our writer, travelling with her two daughters aged eight and five, booked a whole compartment to avoid disturbing other passengers.
The upper berths have raised sides for safety, and there is no dining car, so passengers are advised to bring food from the station. The train departs Vienna silently and smoothly, curving south-west through the Alps. The journey to Rome Tiburtina takes about 15 hours, arriving at 10am.
Before boarding, the family spent two days in Vienna, staying at the Superbude Wien Prater hotel near the Prater amusement park. They visited the Children's Museum at Schönbrunn Palace, where the girls dressed up in historical costumes, and the Technical Museum, which features interactive exhibits like human-sized hamster wheels. The children were so tired from the activities that they fell asleep as the train entered the Semmering mountain pass.
Once in Rome, the family planned to enjoy classic carbonara, dark chocolate gelato, and bike around Villa Borghese before continuing to Florence. The Nightjet service offers a unique way to travel between two absorbing, family-friendly cities, combining the thrill of a night train with modern comfort.
