Night trains to Sweden – and beyond the Arctic Circle
Discover Malmö, Gothenburg, Stockholm and the breathtaking landscapes in the north of Sweden. Cover thousands of kilometers while you sleep on the night trains of SJ (Swedish State Railways) and Snälltåget.
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.
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 have a special significance in Sweden: While in the rest of Europe night train connections had to be awakened from their slumber, Sweden (like Norway and Finland) has always relied on night trains. They connect the south with the north overnight, covering thousands of kilometers. Especially in winter, night trains are vital lifelines for the people, connecting the ski regions around Åre, Kiruna, or Narvik (Norway) with the south.
Connections to Sweden
Snälltåget and the Swedish state railway SJ each offer a daily night train connection from Germany via Denmark to Sweden. Both trains travel via Hamburg and Copenhagen to Stockholm and, from Malmö, serve numerous starting points in southern Sweden such as Nässjö, Linköping, or Norrköping.
Swedish State Railways SJ (daily)
- SJ EuroNight train EN 345/346
(Berlin dep: 5:31 PM*, Stockholm arr: 10:01 AM next day)
Categories: seats, couchettes, sleeping cars (also with private shower / WC)
Overview of connections from Berlin to Stockholm
Website of the Swedish State Railways (English): https://www.sj.se/en
Snälltåget (Monday to Friday, and Sunday, seasonally from Dresden or Innsbruck)
- Snälltåget train 300/301
(Berlin dep: 8:10 PM*, Stockholm arr: 1:15 PM next day)
Categories: seats, couchettes (6-berth compartment), private 6-berth couchette compartment - Seasonal Snälltåget train 304/305 from Innsbruck to Malmö
- Categories: seats, couchettes (6-berth compartment), private 6-berth couchette compartment
Overview of connections from Innsbruck to Malmö
Website of Snälltåget (English): https://www.snalltaget.se/en
How to get to Sweden?
The travel times with the night trains of SJ and Snälltåget are practically identical, taking about 16 hours. The SJ EuroNight departs from Berlin earlier and therefore reaches Stockholm by 10:00 AM. This train is particularly suitable for journeys from Hamburg to Stockholm, as it reaches the destination earlier. Destinations in southern Sweden, however, are reached very early in the morning.
The Snälltåget night train is ideal for journeys from (Dresden-) Berlin via Hamburg to Copenhagen and destinations in southern Sweden. The train has a longer stop in Malmö, thus reaching Stockholm in the early afternoon – for faster travel to Stockholm, there is the option to change to a day train in Malmö. By changing in Malmö, you can get to Stockholm more quickly. The destinations of Copenhagen (6:33 AM), Malmö (7:00 AM), or Nässjö (10:25 AM) are reached a bit later, which may be more convenient.
*Departure times are based on the 2025 schedule, with varying departure times from Berlin on Sundays.
Night trains within Sweden
Swedish State Railways SJ
The Swedish state railway SJ offers several night trains within Sweden daily. A night train runs daily from Malmö to Stockholm. From Stockholm, night trains run northwards to Umeå, Luleå, and Narvik (Norway) every day. These are the Norrland night trains, which cover long distances and also serve remote areas.
*2025 schedule
| Train | Route | Compartment categories |
|---|---|---|
| 1 / 2 | Malmö – Stockholm | seats, couchette, sleeping car (2-berth, 3-berth, single compartment) |
| 70 / 71 | Stockholm – Duved (Åre) | seats, couchette, sleeping car (2-berth, 3-berth, single compartment) |
| 91 / 92 | Stockholm – Luleå | seats, couchette, sleeping car (2-berth, 3-berth, single, Deluxe with shower/WC) |
| 93 / 94 | Stockholm – Narvik | seats, couchette, sleeping car (2-berth, 3-berth, single, Deluxe with shower/WC) |
Snälltåget
Snälltåget offers a seasonal night train to the Fjäll (mountains). The train runs from Malmö to Stockholm and continues via Östersund, Åre, Duved to Storlien, which is on the border with Norway. From Storlien, day trains run to Trondheim (Norway). A perfect train for winter and summer adventures in the mountains of picturesque Jämtland.
*2025 schedule
| Train | Route | Compartment categories |
|---|---|---|
| 3920/3921 | Malmö – Östersund – Åre – Duved – Storlien | seats, couchette (6-berth compartments) |
Tips and further information
What is the dining service like?
On night trains within Sweden, dining cars are standard and usually offer a wide selection of hot and cold meals and drinks. In the dining cars of the Swedish state railway SJ, you will also find microwaves where you can heat up your own food.
We recommend a cinnamon bun ("Kanelbulle") with a coffee. For those who prefer something heartier, you should try the meatballs with mashed potatoes. For the very brave, there's a reindeer ragout, also served with mashed potatoes. Of course, vegetarian and vegan alternatives are available.
On the connections from Germany to Sweden and back, the selection is somewhat 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 the Interrail Pass
What do the compartments offer?
On night train connections within Sweden, the state railway SJ offers seating cars (regular train cars), couchette cars, 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 cars with 6-berth compartments, which can either be shared or booked privately. Toilets and washing facilities are located in the corridor.
For a particularly enjoyable night train experience, we recommend booking a higher category (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. It is advisable to book early (two to three months in advance). Additionally, schedules are sometimes only available three to four months in advance. The ideal booking window is therefore tight. We advise checking the connections regularly and booking quickly as soon as they become available.
The favorite night train
Many night train fans agree, including the authors of this text: The most beautiful night train connection in Europe is the Norrland night train – the night train that runs from Stockholm to Narvik (Norway). It serves the coastal region on the Bothnian Sea and continues through the wild landscapes of Swedish Lapland and across the Arctic Circle. There, it travels on the route of the Iron Ore Line (Malmbanan), which leads from Luleå via Kiruna to Narvik.
The train stops in the crazy mining town of Kiruna, at Abisko Turiststation, the starting point for Abisko National Park. It travels along the wild Lake Torneträsk, a 60-kilometer-long mountain lake, to Riksgränsen (Sweden) and reaches Narvik (Norway) after winding its way down along the Rombaken Fjord.
This night train is an experience in both summer and winter, and it travels directly from Stockholm into the vastness of the north. Polar night, northern lights, midnight sun, hiking, or skiing – this train offers everything for nature enthusiasts. The author has written a personal travel report here.
Even more inspiration
Are you looking for more inspiration as well as tips & tricks for your trip to the far north? Here on this site, the authors report on their adventures on rails in Scandinavia. You will also find plenty of other information about climatic conditions and particularly beautiful railway lines.
