Backpacker’s 11-Hour Vienna-to-Venice Night Train: Six Surprises That Made It Unworthwhile

Seeking to maximize daylight in four European countries, the writer chose an OBB Nightjet overnight service from Vienna to Venice, paying $84 for a shared bunk and breakfast. Upon arrival at Wien Meidling, a $10 lounge fee seemed worthwhile in the crowded station, but the lounge was deserted. Boarding proved tricky because the train’s cars split for various endpoints, and the traveler had to locate the correct numbered carriage.

The six-person cabin measured just 74 square feet, offering no curtains and exposing all bunks, which made privacy scarce and luggage cramped. A bathroom lock that could only be opened from the top bunk forced the author to wake a sleeping passenger in the middle of the night. The bunk itself was uncomfortable, leading to only a few hours of restless sleep and reliance on an iPad for entertainment. Arriving in Venice fatigued, the author later booked a private cabin on a subsequent Nightjet trip, paying $200 for a 30-square-foot space with a vanity and reporting a much better rest, concluding that private cabins are worth the upgrade.