The Night Train That Changed My Mind About Slow Travel

I almost didn’t book the overnight train. The flight was cheaper, faster, and logical. But somewhere between clicking “compare prices” and actually confirming a ticket, I chose the slow way — a sleeper train from Budapest to Kraków, departing just after ten at night. It was the best travel decision I made all year.

What twelve hours on rails will teach you

There’s something deeply restful about waking up in a new country. The gentle sway of the carriage, the dark blur of countryside outside the window, the warmth of a shared compartment — it strips travel back to its essentials. You arrive tired but somehow whole. No airport. No gate. Just a platform, a city, and morning light. I’ve been a slow traveller ever since.