Air travel in Europe is dead. At least until Ryanair fixes its incredibly strict baggage policy, and Europe as a whole gets its act together with its new mandatory fingerprinting, which is leading to major delays across airports.
For the time being, we’ll be taking the rail instead, and we guess it’s good news that there’s a new overnight train launching real soon between 2 of the continent’s top powerhouses.
From September 9, 2026, you’ll be able to board an evening train in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, and travel southbound all the way to Milan, Italy, just in time for an espresso and a pistacchio croissant the next morning.
But before you bounce right outta this page because you think you got all the info you needed, hold your horses: that’s not all there is to know. This train will be stopping in some pretty epic spots along the way, and you won’t want to miss any step of the journey:
Everything You Need To Know About The New Train
Let’s get the technical stuff out of the way, shall we?
This is a new European Sleeper service linking Belgium to Italy, run in partnership with Arenaways. It was originally planned to launch in June, but due to infrastructure delays and certification issues, it got pushed back to the fall.
It’s now got a confirmed September 9 start date, so here’s everything you need to know about the route itself, part of the current ‘night train revival’ wave across Europe:
- It runs 3 times per week each direction
- From Brussels → Milan: scheduled departures Monday, Thursday, Saturday nights
- From Milan → Brussels: scheduled departures Wednesday, Friday, Sunday nights
The total journey time is of 17 hours end-to-end, with an early evening departure around 6:00 and 9:00 pm (it varies by direction), and an overnight crossing through Germany and the Swiss Alps.
That’s when it starts to get interesting.
Brussels and Milan are the main attractions, of course, and between the former’s epic Grand-Place and delicious waffles, and the latter’s glossy art galleries and imposing Gothic Duomo, we’re sure no further introduction is needed.
Now here’s the twist: maybe the best part about this new overnight service are not the start or finish lines, but what’s lying in between.
Here’s the full list of stops on the Brussels → Milan route:
Belgium
- Brussels-Midi—6:00 pm
- Liège-Guillemins—7:30 pm
Germany
- Aachen—9:00 pm
- Cologne (Köln Hbf)—10:00 pm
Switzerland
- Zurich (Zürich HB)—6:30 am
- Arth-Goldau—07:26 am
- Göschenen (Gotthard mountain line)—08:25 am
- Bellinzona—09:28 am
- Lugano—09:45 am
- Chiasso—10:15 am
Italy
- Como San Giovanni—10:41 am
- Milan Porta Garibaldi—11:30 am
Arrival times and routing are merely estimates as the final itinerary has not yet been divulged. As you can see, however, you don’t necessarily need to go straight from Belgium straight to Milan if you wouldn’t mind, ahem, stopping by the Swiss Alps along the way.
If you’re interested in the Germany stretch, maybe this European Sleeper isn’t for you as there’s regular service going from Brussels to cities like Aachen and Cologne daily, at earlier times.
On the other hand, if it’s Switzerland where you’re headed, this is now probably the smoothest ride from North-Central Europe to the Alps, without any changes and on a single ticket, you’ve been patiently waiting for.
Where To Stop In Switzerland With The New European Sleeper From Brussels To Milan
Arth-Goldau
This may be a small alpine settlement, but it packs quite the punch. It’s one of Switzerland’s best bases for nature and day trips, with the popular Natur- und Tierpark Goldau being right on your doorstep here: it’s a big wildlife park built into a natural rockslide forest.
It’s home to bears, wolves, lynx, and wild deer, all roaming in large enclosures that feel pretty natural. There are walking trails, epic viewpoints, and even petting areas where kids can feed and safely interact with the animals. Think of it as Switzerland’s coolest, most immersive, family-friendly open-air zoo.
On top of that, right in the vicinity of the village, Mount Rigi, the Queen of the Mountains, is a short cogwheel train ride up away from Arth-Goldau. At the top, you’ll get huge panoramic views of the Swiss lakes on one side, and the Alps on the other.
Before you go ahead and book those tickets, do make sure you check the documentation you may need to present when crossing borders in Europe.
Yeah, Schengen usually means no border control, but now more than ever, spot checks have been carried out to ensure there are no overstayers. Switzerland is particularly strict with it, and on occasion, Swiss police may board trains to verify travel documents and query travelers on the purpose on their visit.
Head over to the Entry Requirement Checker page right now and verify whether there are any entry and stay regulation updates affecting your destination.
Bellinzona
If you’re coming to Europe for the fairytale castles, cobbled streets that look frozen in time, and amazing food, this is probably where you should hop off the train instead of Milan.
The city is the capital of Ticino, the “Italian Switzerland”, and it’s that ‘castle + alpine views’ kind of place, and way more interesting than people might expect for an intermediate, morning train stop.
Bellinzona has not one, but three massive medieval castles, all UNESCO-protected. Castelgrande is the biggest, most impressive, and also the easiest one to reach, with its sturdy walls and towers looming over the city, and access via a public glass elevator that’s probably the best panoramic viewing platform in Switzerland without paying a single cent.
Higher up on the hillside, Montebello is more quiet and atmospheric.
It has a nice walking path between vineyards and viewpoints, and the views are unmatched. Finally, Sasso Corbaro is the highest one. Ironically, it’s also the smallest, yet it boasts the best views of all three castles, with the Alps unfolding before you like a painted backdrop.
Lugano
Set right on the Italian Swiss Riviera, straddling the shores of the crystal-clear lake of the same name, Lugano may be enclosed within a hugely-popular tourist circuit, yet it’s probably one of the most underrated destinations across the pond.
Como’s the second stop after this, but it will feel quieter and slower once you’ve taken that iconic funicular from Lugano’s train station down to the Old Town, with views of the church tower, and the sun-kissed alpine peaks in the distance.
Espresso bars line the promenade and spill onto sunlit squares, ferries glide across the water, taking passengers from the Swiss side to Italy, sitting right across the lake, in a setting that feels more Mediterranean than Alpine, proper, and the city itself is compact, but surprisingly elegant.
The Historic Center is made up of cobbled lanes, arcaded streets, and pastel-hue buildings that could easily belong in the neighboring Lombardy, in Northern Italy, and if you’re looking for that green escape, Parco Ciano has those manicured flower beds, century-old trees, and ornate gates opening out onto the lake itself.
It’s arguably one of the most beautiful city parks in all of Switzerland.
What really sets Lugano apart is how quickly you can escape it: a funicular takes you right up Monte Brè or Monte San Salvatore, both commanding sweeping panoramas over the lake, and you’re a short bus ride away from postcard-ready lakeside villages like Gandria and Morcote.
Switzerland is one of the safest European destinations this summer, being awarded a Level 1 status by the U.S. Government, which typically means Americans may exercise normal precautions when visiting, and scoring 90/100 on the Traveler Safety Index:
More On The Train Itself
The Onboard Experience
Accommodation types
- Seats—airline-style seating, reclining but not fully flat, best for budget/short sleepers
- Couchettes—4–6 berth shared cabins, basic bedding provided, more comfortable for overnight routes
- Sleeper cabins—1–3 person compartments, real beds with a flat and proper mattresses, more privacy
Ticket Prices
- Seats—$54+
- Couchette—$109–$230+
- Sleeper cabins—$142–$285+
Prices are only an estimate for now based on other similar European Sleeper services, and they may vary depending on the date of booking and seat availability.
Key Onboard Features
- Bedding is included in sleeper classes
- There are women-only compartments available
- Power sockets can be found at seats/berths
- Some cars have small lounge-style areas
What It Will Feel Like
- Early evening boarding in Brussels
- ‘Hotel-on-rails’ vibe overnight
- Stops are functional, not really meant for sightseeing unless you’re ending your journey at any point halfway through
- Swiss Alps section early morning (this is the most scenic part, and you can hop off at the intermediate Swiss stops if you’re breaking up the trip in different sections)
- Smotth arrival to Milan either late morning the next day, or early afternoon, depending on routing and schedule
