A Swiss startup called Twiliner is transforming overnight travel across Europe, offering a new luxury sleeper bus service that promises the comfort of a business-class flight—but without the environmental guilt or the hassle.

The Sleeper Experience

Twiliner is like a mobile, exclusive hotel room. Launched by Swiss innovators, the service aims to be a genuinely eco-friendly, and premium alternative to short-haul flights and overcrowded night trains.

The seat is the main highlight here. Made by Greater Manchester-based Airline Services Interiors, Twiliner’s specially engineered seats are similar to a business class plane seat. They fully transform into a comfortable, lie-flat bed with the push of a button. For the journey, you are provided with a soft pillow and blanket, ensuring your travel time truly becomes rest time.

Features and Amenities

The double-decker coaches are designed for extra space, limiting capacity to just 21 passengers (18 upstairs, 3 downstairs).

• At Bedside: Each seat features a personal reading light, a handy mini table for late-night work or snacks, and essential USB-C charging ports.
• Complimentary Luxuries: Every passenger receives free high-speed Wi-Fi, along with complimentary water and coffee to start and end their journey right.
• Lower Deck Facilities: Downstairs, there is a spacious restroom/toilet, a separate changing room, and a self-service snack bar where you can buy additional refreshments.
• Safety: For maximum safety during the night, the journey is managed by two rotating drivers. The interior atmosphere is kept quiet and serene with soothing lighting, perfect for drifting off.

The debut routes connect key European hubs, enabling smooth and effortless city-to-city travel. Photo: Remo Vettori/Twiliner

Connecting Europe's Metropolitan Heart

Twiliner's debut routes focus on linking major European hubs, making city-to-city travel seamless.

The flagship journey connects Amsterdam and Zurich overnight, offering the unique experience of falling asleep in one country and waking up in another, ready to start your day immediately.

Along the way, the service includes key city stops such as Rotterdam, Brussels, Luxembourg City, and Basel. The entire trip takes roughly 12 hours.

Beyond this main route, a second route runs between Zurich and Barcelona, stopping at Bern and Girona. While the service launched with limited dates, the company has ambitious expansion plans: the goal is to achieve daily departures by 2026 and expand to serve 25 to 30 cities by 2028, with Rome already marked as a potential future destination.

Costs and Bookings

Twiliner is a premium and luxury service, focussed on superior comfort and exclusivity.

• Pricing: One-way tickets for the full Amsterdam-Zurich route typically start around €180 (CHF 150), varying based on how far in advance you book.
• Booking Flexibility: They offer three tiers: Standard (non-refundable), Semi Flex (refundable up to 30 days prior), and Full Flex (refundable up to 72 hours prior).

Every seat is equipped with an individual reading light, a convenient mini table for late-night work or snacks, and charging ports. Photo: Remo Vettori/Twiliner

Eco-friendly Travel

Twiliner is committed to sustainable and green travel. The buses run primarily on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a renewable diesel derived from waste. Twiliner says that choosing their service can save up to 85% of CO₂e emissions compared to taking a comparable flight.

Twiliner’s Policies

To maintain the quiet, restful environment, Twiliner has specific policies:

• Luggage: You get a generous allowance of one large suitcase (max. 23 kg) and one carry-on item (max. 7 kg), plus a small bag for your seat area. Bulky items (like bikes or skis) can be pre-booked for an additional fee (e.g., CHF 35).
• Age Restriction: This is strictly an adult-focused service. Children under five are not permitted, and older children must be mature enough to respect the quiet and peaceful sleeping environment of the trip.