A new winter sleeper train is set to launch in Europe, connecting 10 diverse destinations, including Venice.

European Sleeper, the rail operator, will unveil a new route in early 2025 that links Brussels to Venice, Italy, while also serving notable cities and ski hotspots such as Antwerp in Belgium, Rotterdam and Utrecht in the Netherlands, Munich and Cologne in Germany, Innsbruck in Austria, as well as Bolzano and Verona in Italy.

The first service is scheduled to depart on February 5, 2025, with bookings opening on September 1, 2024. Ticket pricing details will be released soon.

"Travelers will enjoy boarding our train in Belgium and the Netherlands, relaxing in the restaurant car as we journey through Germany and Austria, finally arriving in the historic cities of Verona and Venice the next day," stated Chris Engelsmen, co-founder of European Sleeper.

A preliminary schedule from European Sleeper indicates that the service will run twice weekly from February to March, departing from Brussels at 5 p.m. and from Venice at 3 p.m.

The 21-hour journey presents a fresh route to Venice's renowned canals, as well as access to popular winter destinations like the Austrian Alps and the Dolomites via Munich, Innsbruck, and Bolzano.

For travelers from the U.K., this new route means that by combining it with a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels, they can reach Venice by rail in about 24 hours.

In summary

European Sleeper has spearheaded the revival of overnight trains in Europe, introducing numerous new routes, including the Brussels-Prague service launched in 2024. Expanding its already broad network, European Sleeper is set to debut a new route connecting Brussels and Venice in 2025, enhancing rail travel options for European explorers.

However, if this route doesn't align with your travel plans or you're not keen on waiting until 2025, we've extensively covered the great rail renaissance in Europe — the slow-travel movement continues to gain momentum.