Buses with lie-flat beds are emerging as an enticing travel option in Europe.
Zurich, Basle, Luxembourg, Brussels and Amsterdam are in line to become among the first cities to see the arrival of a new era of overnight coach travel, news hub Travel Mole reports.
Swiss company Twiliner has announced that its first luxury night bus route will officially launch on November 14.
Twiliner’s mission is to make long-distance bus travel as comfortable - and nearly as sustainable - as rail journeys, while offering a greener alternative to short-haul flights.
The company says its service “closes the comfort gap in long-distance travel,” bringing airline business-class style to its buses.
Each double-decker bus will carry just 21 passengers (18 on the upper deck and three on the lower level).
This is compared to up to 80 seats for a normal cheap-and-cheerful coach service.
Seats (above) looking like those found in business class cabins in commercial aircraft. At the push of a button, they fully recline into flat beds.
Travellers can expect pillows, blankets, privacy screens, reading lights, USB ports, wifi and personal storage compartments.
Downstairs, passengers will find bathroom and changing facilities and a snack bar stocked with light refreshments.
Each guest will be allowed to bring one large suitcase (up to 23kg) and a small carry-on, with options to book extra space for bikes or sports equipment.
Sustainability is a major part of Twiliner’s identity. The buses will run on HVO diesel, a renewable fuel made from recycled fats and vegetable oils.
The company says the system cuts carbon emissions by up to 85% compared to flying and is on par with train travel in terms of sustainability.
The trips will, however, not be cheap: one-way fares start around €155 (about $AU270) to €250 depending on distance and season. But you will save on the cost of a hotel room overnight.
The network will debut with one route: Zurich–Basle-Luxembourg-Brussels-Rotterdam-Amsterdam.
By the end of 2025, a second route between Zurich and Barcelona will be launched: Zurich–Berne-Girona-Barcelona.
Initially operating several times per week in December, Twiliner expects to offer daily departures by mid-2026.
Additional routes are already planned for 2026 with the aim of a total of 30 European destinations within the next three years. These would include cities such as Copenhagen, London, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Munich and Vienna.
“This is about redefining how people move across Europe at night,” said Twiliner CEO Samuel Keller. “You can rest, work, or simply sleep your way from one city to another - comfortably and sustainably.”
The trips will, however, not be cheap: one-way fares start around €155 (about $AU270) to €250 depending on distance and season. But you will save on the cost of a hotel room overnight.
The network will debut with one route: Zurich–Basle-Luxembourg-Brussels-Rotterdam-Amsterdam.
By the end of 2025, a second route between Zurich and Barcelona will be launched: Zurich–Berne-Girona-Barcelona.
Initially operating several times per week in December, Twiliner expects to offer daily departures by mid-2026.
Additional routes are already planned for 2026 with the aim of a total of 30 European destinations within the next three years. These would include cities such as Copenhagen, London, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Munich and Vienna.
“This is about redefining how people move across Europe at night,” said Twiliner CEO Samuel Keller. “You can rest, work, or simply sleep your way from one city to another - comfortably and sustainably.”
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