Snalltaget: the Berlin - Copenhagen - Stockholm night train

Written by Sophie Renassia

Published on January 22, 2025

Fall asleep in Berlin only to wake up in Stockholm after a good night's sleep in a private compartment? That's what the Swedish company Snalltaget has to offer! Main routes include: Berlin (Germany) - Stockholm (Sweden), via Hamburg (Germany), Copenhagen (Denmark) and Malmö (Sweden). Whether you're discovering the Swedish capital or simply stopping off in Stockholm to chase the northern lights at Abisko, this night train is an integral part of your trip.

Schedules, duration, reservations, prices, comfort... In this article, we tell you everything you need to know about the Snalltaget Germany-Sweden night train!

What is Snalltaget?

Founded in 2007, Snalltaget is the first private operator on the Swedish commercial train market (opposite the national company SJ), but also a subsidiary of the French company Transdev (which you probably know since it operates some streetcars, buses and local trains in France!).

©snalltaget.se - Map of cities served by Snalltaget

Which cities are served by Snalltaget?

In practice, Snalltaget operates routes between Sweden, Denmark and Germany, and also offers seasonal services to ski resorts like Åre (Sweden) in winter. Some depart from Dresden (Germany), and all Snalltaget trains also stop in Hamburg (Germany).

Main line stages:

• (Dresden - depending on the day, check with the operator's website)
• Berlin
• Hamburg
• Copenhagen
• Stockholm
• Malmö

Recently, Benjamin aka Tolt had the opportunity to climb aboard in Hamburg during his family trip to Abisko (Swedish Lapland), which he tells us about in this article.

What are the timetables and frequency of this line?

Please note that this is not a regular line, and the train does not run daily. The line is open every year from late March to early November (Sunday to Friday for the year 2025), with daily departures during the summer. Departures from and arrivals in Dresden (Germany) are not systematic (if you want to go to Dresden, check the Snalltaget website for train operating days).

In 2025, the first departure to Hamburg, Berlin and Dresden will be on April 11, and bookings are open until November 2. For a list of all departure dates during this period, click here.

Timetable Stockholm-Berlin

Timetable Stockholm-Berlin

Timetable Berlin-Stockholm

Timetable Berlin-Stockholm

How long is the journey?

The train leaves Stockholm Central Station at 4.20 pm and arrives at Berlin Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) at 7.45 am the following day, giving a journey time of 15.25 hours from Berlin to Stockholm.

Is the Interrail Pass valid for this line?

Yes, if you have an Interrail Global Pass, the journey is valid, but you still need to book in advance. You can book your Snalltaget night train via the official Interrail website. Please note that Interrail booking fees are €2 per person per train, with an additional €9 per order for paper tickets.

How much do tickets cost?

Prices vary according to the level of comfort chosen. Excluding Interrail Pass :

• Seat: €87
• Sleeper in mixed compartment: €143
• Sleeper in a private compartment: €314

How do I book tickets?

Reservations can be made :

• Via the official Snalltaget website (snalltaget.se)
• By telephone to Snalltaget customer service
• Via the Interrail self-service reservation system
• On-site at Centralens Resebutik in Kalmar (Sweden)
• Via the website of SJ (Statens Järnvägar), the Swedish national rail company

Please note: if you book on the day of departure, you must do so before 5 p.m.!

When to book for the best prices?

Trains often sell out quickly, especially during the summer season, and ticket prices increase as the train fills up (limited seats). To get the best prices, the earlier the better (up to 6 months in advance)!

What level of comfort can I expect on board?

When it comes to comfort, the most affordable option is a seat: either in a coach, or - for a little more privacy - in a 6-person compartment. On some trains, you can also book a first-class seat for a little more space and comfort.

Of course, the best option is to book a berth in a 6-person compartment (pillows, pillowcases, sheets and blankets are included). You'll be traveling on former Deutsche Bahn trains purchased by Snalltaget in 2016, which are essentially the same as those used by ÖBB on the Paris-Berlin and Paris-Vienna routes. “The comfort is pretty basic, but honestly, it does the job,” says Tolt!

It's also possible to privatize a compartment for up to 6 people if you don't want to travel with strangers. In fact, there are special offers for 2025, with seating compartments available from just €43 per person!

Cherry on the cake: the dining car

Tested and approved by Tolt, the line's superb dining car is open between Malmö and Stockholm* from 9.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for northbound traffic, and from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the other direction.

“It's quite magical to be able to enjoy a meal with the scenery flashing by, and even if the economic model is hard to find for the companies, I'd really like to see this kind of space democratized on board our trains.” - Tolt

If you want to enjoy a meal on board this car called the Krogen (which means “Pub” in Swedish), remember to reserve a table in advance, as places go fast!

*Between Malmö and Berlin, you can still take advantage of the “Lönnkrogen”, located in the compartment reserved for train staff, which offers an assortment of snacks and drinks, as well as a pre-ordered breakfast basket.

Are pets allowed on board?

You can travel with your pet, but unfortunately you'll need to reserve a private compartment, which will be more expensive. Please remember to tick the “I want to travel with a pet” box when booking online (more info here).

Can I travel with a bicycle?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to transport bicycles on board the train. However, if you have a folding bike, you can place it as hand luggage in your compartment or on the car's luggage rack.

Paris-Stockholm: train vs. plane

By the way, why not take the plane instead?

Cost and time

The train departs from and arrives in the city center, so you avoid the time and expense of getting to and from the airport! No need to go through security or arrive two hours early. Night trains do take longer, but that's the beauty of them: once you're in your seat, you can easily work, watch a film, read a book or take in the scenery, before drifting off to sleep and waking up the next morning at your destination.

Discover cities in between

If you travel to Stockholm by train, you can multiply your discoveries by adding Berlin, Hamburg or Copenhagen to your itinerary. Why not spend 2 or 3 days in each city?

Budget

Introductory prices for night trains start at €87. Of course, you'll be able to find cheaper tickets by air, but be sure to factor in hidden costs such as extra luggage or transport to and from the airport.

Carbon footprint

And of course, one of the big advantages of trains over planes is that they emit far fewer greenhouse gases. According to our comparator (which is one of the most accurate, since it includes the impact of infrastructure and equipment manufacture, but also takes into account the specificities of electricity production in the countries crossed), the Paris-Stockholm journey (Paris-Berlin by night train, then Berlin-Stockholm by night train) emits 4 times less CO2 equivalent than by plane. This is far from negligible, given that we need to divide our current carbon footprint by 5 by 2050 to achieve our climate targets!