- Sleeper trains
- European Sleeper
- Belgium · Germany · Switzerland · Italy
Night train, Brussels to MilanBrussels to Milan, over the Gotthard
The newest route, launched on 9 September 2026.
Leave Brussels after dinner, sleep down the Rhine, and wake in central Switzerland for breakfast on the old Gotthard mountain line, then roll past Lugano and Lake Como into Milan before lunch.
From 13 December 2026 the timetable changes: trains run from Brussels via Antwerp, Breda and Eindhoven to Cologne, and no longer call at Aachen.
Every stop, both ways
Three nights a week each way.
Times from the operator’s published timetable; track works can change them, and booked passengers are told of changes.
Brussels → Cologne → Gotthard → Milan
| Arr. | Dep. | Station |
|---|---|---|
| — | 19:06 | Bruxelles-Midi |
| 20:35 | 20:37 | Verviers |
| 21:07 | 21:13 | Aachen Hbf |
| 21:56 | 22:07 | Köln Hbf |
| 05:38 | 05:40 | Aaraunext day |
| 06:33 | 06:35 | Arth-Goldau |
| 07:30 | 07:58 | Göschenen |
| 09:06 | 09:08 | Bellinzona |
| 09:40 | 09:42 | Lugano |
| 10:41 | 10:43 | Como S. Giovanni |
| 11:40 | — | Milano Porta Garibaldi |
Milan → Gotthard → Cologne → Brussels
| Arr. | Dep. | Station |
|---|---|---|
| — | 15:45 | Milano Porta Garibaldi |
| 16:55 | 16:57 | Como S. Giovanni |
| 18:42 | 18:44 | Lugano |
| 19:21 | 19:23 | Bellinzona |
| 20:30 | 20:52 | Göschenen |
| 21:49 | 22:00 | Arth-Goldau |
| 22:55 | 22:58 | Aarau |
| 08:00 | 08:03 | Köln Hbfnext day |
| 08:48 | 08:55 | Aachen Hbf |
| 09:42 | 09:46 | Verviers |
| 11:39 | — | Bruxelles-Midi |
Source: European Sleeper, timetable ↗
Choose your berth
From a reclining seat to a suite with its own shower.
Pick a class to see what you get and what it costs.
Classic
A couchette in a shared compartment, bed linen and luggage included.
Private compartments take up to six.
Shared from €49.99 · private from €179.99
Launch “from” fares per person, one way, published by European Sleeper for Brussels–Milan in March 2026. Travel Trade Journal, Brussels–Milan launch fares ↗
Pick the right month
Daylight decides what you see from the window.
Hover a month for the verdict.
Runs all year.
Southbound, the Gotthard is crossed between about 07:00 and 09:00, in daylight from spring to autumn.
Winter departures serve ski trips via Göschenen for Andermatt.
What you’ll see
The Gotthard mountain line
Not the base tunnel: the train climbs the 1882 route through Göschenen, with its loops and viaducts.
Lake Uri at sunrise
The southbound train runs beside Lake Lucerne’s southern arm before the climb.
Lugano and Como
Two lake towns in the last two hours, before Milan.
Ski by night train
Göschenen connects to Andermatt; Arth-Goldau to the Rigi.
European Sleeper Brussels–Milan, answered
Yes.
Since 9 September 2026, European Sleeper’s ES 401 leaves Bruxelles-Midi at 19:06 on Monday, Thursday and Saturday and arrives at Milano Porta Garibaldi at 11:40.
The return, ES 400, leaves Milan at 15:45 on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and reaches Brussels at 11:39. Timetable ↗
Yes, over the Gotthard.
The train calls at Arth-Goldau, Göschenen and Bellinzona.
It was first planned via the Simplon, but track works there through 2027 moved it to the Gotthard. Euronews ↗
Launch fares started from €29.99 for a Budget seat, €49.99 for a Classic couchette, €99.99 for Comfort Standard and €129.99 for Comfort Plus with breakfast, one way. Launch fares ↗
Not in the current timetable.
The Swiss stops are Aarau, Arth-Goldau, Göschenen, Bellinzona and Lugano.
Zürich was named in the launch announcement, so check the timetable for your date. Timetable ↗
From 13 December 2026 the train runs from Brussels via Antwerp, Breda and Eindhoven, stopping calling at Aachen. European Sleeper ↗
Take Eurostar to Brussels-Midi, arriving by late afternoon, and board ES 401 at 19:06 on a Monday, Thursday or Saturday.
Every stop, and why you might get off
- Bruxelles-MidiBrussels' Eurostar hub, so it is the easy link between London and the sleeper; the Grand-Place is a short hop away.
- VerviersA former wool town known as Wallonia's 'Water Capital', with fountains, textile heritage and a grand 1920s station.
- Aachen HbfCharlemagne's city: a UNESCO-listed cathedral, hot springs and a compact old town that is easy to see on foot.
- Köln HbfStep out of the station and the Gothic cathedral is right in front of you; the Old Town and Rhine are a short stroll away.
- AarauA small cantonal capital on the Aare, known as the 'town of beautiful gables' for its painted eaves.
- Arth-GoldauMainly a rail hub, but it is the fastest way up the Rigi by historic cogwheel train, and has a fine wildlife park.
- GöschenenA tiny village at the north portal of the Gotthard tunnel; the reason to stop is the short climb to Andermatt and the Schöllenen Gorge.
- BellinzonaThree UNESCO-listed medieval castles and walls that once closed off the whole Ticino valley.
- LuganoSwitzerland's Mediterranean side: a lakefront city framed by two funicular-served mountains.
- Como S. GiovanniThe gateway to Lake Como: a walled old town, lakefront and boats to Bellagio, downhill from the station.
- Milano Porta GaribaldiArrive in modern Milan: the Porta Nuova skyscrapers and Bosco Verticale are on the doorstep, and Brera is walkable.
- European Sleeper, timetable ↗
- European Sleeper, Brussels–Milan ↗
- European Sleeper, first Milan–Brussels night train (Sept 2026) ↗
- Euronews, Brussels–Milan delayed to September (March 2026) ↗
- Wikipedia, European Sleeper ↗
Times are from the operator’s published timetable and can change.
The animation runs to the scheduled pace between stops; intermediate points are drawn to follow the line, not to show timings.
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