Night trains to Sweden – and beyond the Arctic Circle
Sweden is not only a very large country, but also a very diverse one. In addition to charming cities in the south and regions like Bohuslän or Småland, the latter well-known for Astrid Lindgren's beloved stories, northern Sweden is home to rugged wilderness and untouched nature.
Update: We've updated this article with all the routes and tips for 2026!
The cities of Stockholm or Gothenburg offer an urban alternative; they are sophisticated and offer numerous cultural opportunities. And even there, nature is not far away, be it the coastal region around Gothenburg or the archipelago off Stockholm.
Night trains as an important means of transport
The vast distances in this country are challenging. Anyone traveling in Sweden will soon realize that cities and regions are far apart and a journey can quickly take several hours or days. However, the country has a relatively dense railway network and the regions are well-connected by train.
Night trains hold a special significance in Sweden. While night train services in the rest of Europe had to be woken from a deep slumber, Sweden (like Norway and Finland) has always relied on them. They connect the south with the north overnight, covering thousands of kilometres. In winter, especially, night trains are vital lifelines, linking the ski regions around Åre, Kiruna, and Narvik (Norway) with the south.
Connections to Sweden
Snälltåget and the Swedish state railway, SJ, each offer a daily night train connection from Germany to Sweden via Denmark. Both trains travel via Hamburg and Copenhagen to Stockholm (and sometimes to Gothenburg in summer), and from Malmö, they serve numerous starting points in southern Sweden like Nässjö, Linköping, and Norrköping.
Swedish State Railways SJ (daily, until 31/08/2026)
- SJ EuroNight train EN 344/345
(dep. Berlin: 17:30*, arr. Stockholm: 11:50 next day / arr. Gothenburg: 06:55) - Categories: Seats, couchettes, and sleeping cars (also with private shower/WC)
- Please note: Departure/arrival times currently vary weekly due to construction work.
Here you can find all SJ connections and easily look up prices:
Website of the Swedish State Railways (in English): https://www.sj.se/en
Snälltåget (Monday to Friday, and Sunday, seasonal from Dresden or Innsbruck)
- Snälltåget train 300/301
(dep. Berlin: 21:09*, arr. Stockholm: 13:17 next day)
Categories: Seats, couchettes (6-berth compartment), and private 6-berth couchette compartment - Seasonal Snälltåget train 304/305 from Innsbruck to Malmö
- Categories: Seats, couchettes (6-berth compartment), and private 6-berth couchette compartment
- Please note: Departure/arrival times currently vary weekly due to construction work.
Here you can find all Snälltåget connections (currently without prices, coming soon):
Website of Snälltåget (in English): https://www.snalltaget.se/en
How to get to Sweden
The journey times on the SJ and Snälltåget night trains are practically identical, taking about 16 hours. The SJ EuroNight departs from Berlin earlier and therefore reaches Stockholm before noon. This train is particularly suitable for journeys from Hamburg to Stockholm, as it arrives at the destination earlier. Destinations in southern Sweden, however, are reached very early in the morning.
The Snälltåget night train is a good option for journeys from (Dresden-) Berlin via Hamburg to Copenhagen and destinations in southern Sweden. The train has a longer stop in Malmö, meaning it doesn't reach Stockholm until the early afternoon. For a quicker trip to Stockholm, you can change to a day train in Malmö. This change gets you to Stockholm faster. Destinations like Copenhagen, Malmö (06:30), and Nässjö are reached a bit later, which might be more convenient.
*Departure times are based on the 2026 timetable. Please note: Departure times from Berlin and final destinations (Stockholm/Gothenburg) may vary due to construction work.
Night trains within Sweden
Swedish State Railways SJ
The Swedish state railway, SJ, offers several daily night trains within Sweden. A night train runs daily from Malmö to Stockholm. From Stockholm, night trains head north to Umeå and Luleå every day. These are the Norrland night trains, which cover long distances and also serve remote areas.
*2026 timetable
| Train | Route | Cabin categories |
|---|---|---|
| 1 / 2 | Malmö – Stockholm | Seats, couchettes, sleeping cars (2-berth, 3-berth, single compartment) |
| 70 / 71 | Stockholm – Duved (Åre) | Seats, couchettes, sleeping cars (2-berth, 3-berth, single compartment) |
| 91 / 92 | Stockholm – Umeå | Seats, couchettes, sleeping cars (2-berth, 3-berth, single, deluxe with shower/WC) |
| 93 / 94 | Stockholm – Luleå | Seats, couchettes, sleeping cars (2-berth, 3-berth, single, deluxe with shower/WC) |
Snälltåget
Snälltåget offers a seasonal night train to the fells (mountains). The train runs from Malmö to Stockholm and continues via Östersund, Åre, and Duved to Storlien, which is on the border with Norway. From Storlien, day trains run to Trondheim (Norway). It's the perfect train for winter and summer adventures in the mountains of picturesque Jämtland.
*2026 timetable
| Train | Route | Cabin categories |
|---|---|---|
| 3902/3903 | Malmö – Östersund – Åre – Duved – Storlien | Seats, couchettes (6-berth compartments) |
Tips and further information
What is the catering like?
On night trains within Sweden, dining cars are standard and usually offer a wide selection of hot and cold food and drinks. In the dining cars of the Swedish state railway, SJ, you'll also find microwaves where you can heat up your own food.
We recommend a cinnamon bun ("Kanelbulle") with a coffee. If you fancy something heartier, you should try the meatballs with mashed potatoes. For the truly adventurous, there's a reindeer ragout, also served with mashed potatoes. Of course, vegetarian and vegan options are available.
On the connections from Germany to Sweden and back, the selection is a bit more limited.
Can you travel with Interrail?
In Sweden, Interrail is also valid on night trains. The discounts vary and are not particularly high, especially with the Swedish state railway, SJ.
Travel through Europe with an Interrail Pass
What do the compartments offer?
On night train connections within Sweden, the state railway SJ offers seating cars (regular train carriages), couchettes, and sleeping cars (with a private washbasin) as standard. You can also book separate compartments with a private WC and shower. In Sweden, these are called "Deluxe compartments". However, they are not available on all trains. In the sleeping and couchette cars, SJ also provides towels. The showers are very spacious and, in our experience, very clean.
Snälltåget, on the other hand, does not offer sleeping cars on its trains. They have carriages with 6-berth compartments, which can either be shared or booked for private use. The toilets and washing facilities are located in the corridor.
For a particularly lovely night train experience, we recommend booking a higher category (a sleeping car) or a private compartment.
How far in advance should you book?
The night trains to and from Sweden, as well as the night trains between Stockholm and Luleå, get booked up quickly, especially during the high season in summer and winter. We recommend booking early (two to three months in advance). Additionally, timetables are sometimes only available three to four months beforehand. This makes the ideal booking window quite tight. We advise checking the connections regularly and booking as soon as they become available.
The favourite night train is temporarily history
Many night train fans agreed, including the authors of this text: the most beautiful night train connection in Europe was the Norrland night train – the one that ran from Stockholm all the way to Narvik (Norway). It served the coastal region on the Bothnian Sea and continued through the wild landscapes of Swedish Lapland and across the Arctic Circle. There, it travelled on the Iron Ore Line (Malmbanan), which runs from Luleå via Kiruna to Narvik.
It would take you to the incredible mining town of Kiruna or to Abisko Turiststation, the starting point for Abisko National Park. It then wound its way along Lake Torneträsk, a 60-kilometre-long mountain lake, to Riksgränsen (Sweden) before reaching Narvik (Norway).
As you can see, the lines above are written in the past tense. Unfortunately, this train no longer runs directly to Narvik (Norway). You now have to change in Boden to the day trains (Intercity from Luleå to Narvik).
Even more inspiration
Looking for more inspiration and tips & tricks for your trip to the far north? On this site, the authors report on their adventures on the rails in Scandinavia. You'll also find lots of other information about climatic conditions and particularly beautiful railway lines.
