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After a quiet few months, with no major announcements, Europe’s Railway Renaissance is back, making headlines, and charging full speed ahead like never before.
Starting next year, a new direct sleeper train from Basel, in Switzerland, to the Swedish city of Malmö is expected to hit the tracks, connecting the Alpine Central European hub to southern Scandinavia (and passing through Germany and Denmark on the way).
Here’s everything you need to know about the ambitious night train, set to cover a whopping distance of 718 miles in 16 hours:
A Direct Train From Central Europe All The Way To Scandinavia
As announced by Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) on October 30, they will operate a EuroNight train between Basel, Switzerland’s third most populous hub, and Malmö, an equally important port city in southern Sweden, three times a week starting April 15, 2026.
This will greatly improve connectivity between Central Europe and Scandinavia, and widen travel options for country-hoppers in the Old Continent.
Though Basel is served by the relatively large EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, jointly administered by Switzerland, France, and Germany, and offering low-cost flights to numerous destinations across Europe, it lacks a direct connection to Sweden specifically.
Starting from Basel, trains will depart at 5:35 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, arriving in Malmö at 9:35 am the following day.
From Malmö, departures are set for 6:57 pm on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Mondays, pulling up to the Swiss city at 11:30 am.
More On The Train Itself
As per the SBB press release, this EuroNight train can accommodate up to 350 travelers in sleeping, couchette, and seating categories.
One-way fares for the new Switzerland-Sweden route have not yet been announced, but based on previous NightJet rates, they start from around $70 for a couchette reservation in a shared cabin with 3 other people.
Private sleeping cabins start from $215, while seats are a much cheaper $27 per person. Then again, we wouldn’t recommend you book a seat traveling overnight by train. Chances are, you won’t get to your destination well-rested.
The full list of stops includes:
Germany
- Freiburg (Breisgau)
- Karlsruhe
- Mannheim
- Frankfurt (Main) Süd
- Hamburg
Denmark
- Padborg
- Kolding
- Odense
- Hoeje Taastrup
- Copenhagen Airport
Sweden
Photo courtesy of SJ – www.sj.se/en
A stop at Copenhagen Central Station is not included as a result of ‘time constraints’, but if you’re heading from Basel or any German cities serviced by the train to Copenhagen, Copenhagen Airport is a short 15 minutes away from the city center by regional train.
Alternatively, you may also take the metro (line M2) to either Nørreport Station or Kongens Nytorv, both centrally located.
The Stars Of The Show
Basel
One of the most historic cities in Switzerland, with a well-preserved medieval core peppered with cozy cafés and artisanal chocolate shops, and a spectacular riverfront, Basel is the quintessential European getaway.
At its heart, there is the Altstadt, or ‘Old Town’: a maze of cobbled lanes lined with cream-colored buildings (and their typically-Swiss red-and-green shutters), which is nothing short of a living postcard, and if you happen to be wandering around at leisure, make sure you don’t miss Spalentor:
A medieval city gate topped with a conical tower, it is decorated with sculptures and coats of arms, and it’s the classic Basel photo spot.
Additionally, the city’s cathedral, Basel Minster, built in a distinct red sandstone, is a great viewpoint overlooking both the Old Town and the River Rhine.
Malmö
It may not be as popular or trendy as Stockholm or Gothenburg, but Malmö, Sweden’s often-overlooked ‘third city’, has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.
For starters, it is a short train ride away from Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark: it lies at the eastern end of the Öresund Bridge, the iconic bridge that transforms into a tunnel, linking both countries, and it’s among Sweden’s finest cultural centers.
Its main attraction, Stortorget, is a vibrant public space flanked by beautiful, classic buildings and traditional restaurants, and the historic center around it has many more cobble-surfaced lanes, half-timbered houses, and picturesque squares to explore.
It may be a chain, but if you’re looking for some good old fika (a little coffee break, hopefully with a delicious cake to go with it), there’s nowhere better to get those than at Espresso House.
Alternatively, you can get it for takeaway and continue your walking tour in the vicinity of Malmö Castle, a visually striking red, moated fortress, or along the waterfront: picture big boats, a string of modern buildings, in stark contrast with the Old Town, and the sound of seagulls in the distance.
How To Get Tickets
Despite SBB’s confirmation, this EuroNight route must still be greenlit by Switzerland’s federal government.
It may be popular and in high demand, but it is not traditionally profitable due to ‘high costs’, so financial support from the state is required for the long-term operation of the train.
Fortunately, Bern has pledged up to $58.7 million in investment in greener alternatives, as part of the CO2 Act, and approval is expected to go smoothly. Still, the budget must be approved by Parliament during winter.
In the (unlikely) scenario it won’t, the night train won’t be able to run, even though tickets will go on sale November 4, 2025 on SBB’s official website. In the worst-case scenario, SBB will update customers and issue refunds if necessary.
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