A family trip by night train and bike
19 March 2026
At European Sleeper, we learn most from the people who travel with us. Last year, we spoke with traveller Malhu Mertens, who travelled on our night train with her family and their bikes in tow. She shared what worked, what was challenging, and what could be clearer next time. Her reflections help us stay realistic and focused on what matters onboard.Malhu did not discover European Sleeper by accident. Travelling by train with bikes has long been part of everyday life for her and her family, especially when setting off on cycling trips with their children. Over the years, they have learned to be attentive planners, always scanning timetables and booking pages for one crucial detail: are bikes allowed on board?
As Malhu explained to us, options are often limited. Many train routes still make travelling with bicycles surprisingly complicated, or simply don’t allow them at all. “We’ve been cycling with our kids and bikes for years, always on the lookout for train routes that accommodate bikes. They are quite rare,” she says. So when European Sleeper opened for bookings, checking the bicycle policy was one of the very first things they did. “Thankfully, they were!”
For travellers like Malhu, that small detail makes a big difference. The combination of night trains and bicycles opens up journeys that might otherwise feel fragmented or overly complex. Families can cover long distances while sleeping, arriving rested and ready to ride. Long-distance cyclists can connect regions and countries more smoothly, without having to piece together multiple daytime trains or compromise on their route.
Taking a bike on a train is rarely effortless.
“Bringing bikes on a train can be stressful: locating the bicycle carriage on the platform, unloading bags, lifting bikes on board, and making sure everyone and everything is aboard before departing.”
What makes the night train different is that this effort happens once: “The major benefit of long-distance travel is that you only have to go through this process once, rather than changing trains every couple of hours. You can enjoy the scenery and, of course, get a good night’s sleep.”
We asked Malhu to share some feedback and talked through a few practical ideas. One thing that stood out was how helpful clearer visual guidance could be, especially for travellers bringing their bikes. More photos on the European Sleeper website showing what it’s like to board with a bicycle would make it easier to prepare and feel at ease before the journey even begins.
She also shared how small bits of information at the right moment can make a big difference on the platform. Showing the location of the bicycle carriage on the booking confirmation, or on the platform screens, would help travellers head straight to the right place. It would save them from walking up and down the platform with a loaded bike and make the start of the journey feel calmer and more considered.
We take this kind of feedback seriously. Since this journey, we have introduced a dedicated Train Travel with Bike page on our website, explaining how bike transport works on our night trains. We are also working towards clearer carriage order information, so travellers know where to wait on the platform.
These are small improvements, but they reduce stress where it matters.
For those scouting their next bike and train adventure, Malhu shared a suggestion with us:
“Starting from Berlin, there are many great routes suitable for family biking adventures. Berlin to Copenhagen or Berlin to Hamburg are fantastic starts to a memorable bike trip. The routes are well signposted, varied, and full of places to pause along the way.”
Berlin is a natural gateway for slow travel. From there, you can follow rivers north towards Denmark or cycle through open landscapes towards the Hanseatic city of Hamburg. Along the way, there are small towns, quiet stretches of countryside, and plenty of moments that make a family trip feel easy and shared.
We are grateful to travellers like Malhu who take the time to share their experiences! Do you have a Good Night story to share? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at press[at]europeansleeper.eu.
