The Night Train Packing List I Actually Use
After many sleeper trains across Europe, my bag has shrunk to the few things that genuinely make the night better.
My first night train was from Madrid to Paris, years ago, before that route was cancelled. I packed as if I were going on a camping trip. I had a blanket, a pillow, three books and a full dinner in plastic boxes. I used almost none of it, and I barely slept because the bag took up half the bunk.
Since then I have taken sleeper trains through France, Italy, Austria, Sweden and across the Balkans. My packing list has become very short. Every item on it has earned its place.
The essentials
- A small day bag inside the big one. Your main luggage goes under the seat or on the rack. Everything you need for the night lives in a little bag you keep in the bunk with you. Passport, phone, charger, water, toothbrush.
- Earplugs and an eye mask. Trains are noisy in strange ways. Couplings clank at three in the morning, a door slams in the next carriage, a station platform glows orange through the curtain. These two cheap things matter more than anything else.
- A long charging cable. Sockets in couchettes are often in awkward places, high on the wall or near the floor. A two-metre cable means you can actually use your phone in bed.
- A refillable water bottle. Some trains sell water, some do not, and a dry throat at 2 a.m. is miserable.
- Comfortable layers. Compartments swing between too warm and too cold. Soft trousers, a T-shirt and a light jumper cover every situation and double as pyjamas.
- Slip-on shoes. You will want to walk to the toilet at night without lacing up boots in a dark compartment shared with strangers.
Food: less than you think
Pack a simple, quiet dinner. Bread, cheese, a tomato, some fruit, a few olives. Avoid anything smelly or crunchy if you are sharing a compartment. Eating a picnic while the countryside goes dark outside the window is one of the great small pleasures of travel.
For breakfast, many trains offer coffee and a pastry. If not, keep one piece of fruit back from dinner.
What I stopped bringing
- Pillows and blankets. Almost every sleeper provides bedding. Check your booking, but it is usually included.
- Several books. You will read for twenty minutes and fall asleep. One book, or downloads on your phone, is plenty.
- A big toiletry bag. Bathrooms are tiny and shared. Toothbrush, toothpaste, wipes and a small towel are enough.
A note on sharing
In a six-berth couchette you will sleep near strangers. In my experience this has almost always been pleasant. A Swedish grandmother once shared her cinnamon buns with the whole compartment. Say hello, agree on when the light goes off, and keep your valuables in your little bag next to your pillow.
The less you carry, the more the night belongs to the journey rather than to your luggage.
Cover: Photo by Aryaman Agarwal on Unsplash.
