Short answer: The Adriatic Express night train runs from 26 June to 31 August 2026, six times a week, linking Warsaw, Vienna and Ljubljana with Rijeka in Croatia and — new for 2026 — Koper in Slovenia. It is operated by PKP Intercity with České dráhy (ČD), takes around 18 hours from Warsaw to Rijeka, and promotional fares start at €44.90 for a second-class seat and €69.90 for a couchette berth.
Summer 2026 is turning into the best season for European night trains in two decades, and one of its quiet success stories runs from Poland to the Adriatic. The Adriatic Express is back on the rails this summer with more departures, more carriages and a brand-new destination in Slovenia — a reminder that you can still reach the Croatian coast without ever setting foot in an airport.
What is the Adriatic Express night train?
The Adriatic Express is a seasonal overnight service run by PKP Intercity, Poland's national long-distance operator, in cooperation with České dráhy, which provides traction and on-board staff on Czech territory. The route runs Warsaw – Vienna – Ljubljana – Rijeka, crossing four countries in a single night: Poland, Czechia, Austria and Slovenia, before reaching Croatia in the morning.
Between Warsaw and Vienna, the Adriatic Express runs coupled to the IC/EC Sobieski service, which is why the departure from Warsaw is in the early afternoon rather than late at night. The train splits and re-forms along the way — a classic piece of European rail choreography that most passengers never notice, because they wake up somewhere near the sea.
What is new in 2026: Koper, more departures, more seats
Three things changed for the 2026 season:
- A direct coach to Koper. A second-class carriage bound for Koper, Slovenia's Adriatic port city, is detached in Ljubljana and continues on its own to the coast. It is the first time the service has offered a direct Slovenian seaside destination alongside Rijeka.
- Six departures a week instead of a thinner schedule, running from 26 June to 31 August 2026 in both directions.
- More capacity: one couchette carriage and two second-class carriages to Rijeka, plus the second-class coach to Koper.
Timetable, journey time and fares
The train leaves Warsaw around 14:00 and arrives in Rijeka the following morning, for a total journey time of roughly 18 hours. That sounds long until you compare it with the alternative: a flight plus two transfers plus an airport transfer at each end, for a city — Rijeka — that is small enough to walk across in half an hour.
Indicative promotional fares:
- Second-class seat: from €44.90
- Couchette berth: from €69.90
As always with night trains, the cheap tickets are the early ones. Berths on summer Fridays sell out weeks ahead, and the couchette allocation on this service is small — a single carriage to Rijeka. If your dates are flexible, midweek departures in late June and late August are the easiest to book.
Before you commit, it is worth putting the night train side by side with the alternatives: you can compare trains, buses, carpooling and flights on Gopaxo for the same route and the same date, and see what an overnight journey actually saves you once you count the hotel night you did not pay for.
Rijeka, Koper and what to do at the other end
Rijeka is Croatia's third-largest city and its biggest port, and it works as a base rather than a destination in itself: the Opatija riviera is 20 minutes away by bus, the island of Krk is reachable by road bridge, and ferries head south along the Dalmatian coast. Koper, the new stop, is Slovenia's only commercial port and sits a short bus ride from Piran and Portorož, the prettiest stretch of Slovenia's very short coastline.
Both cities also give you onward options that do not require a car. Buses along the Croatian and Slovenian coast are frequent and cheap in summer, and carpooling is common between the coastal towns — which is exactly the kind of last-mile leg where a multimodal comparison earns its keep.
How the Adriatic Express fits into Europe's night train revival
The Adriatic Express is not an isolated case. Europe is adding more cross-border passenger rail routes in 2026 than in any single year since the early 2000s: European Sleeper launched its Brussels–Milan overnight service in June, ÖBB is running the Vienna–Split Nightjet on its own account for the first time this summer, and ČD, DB and DSB now share a direct Prague–Copenhagen train.
The pattern is consistent: the routes that come back are the ones that connect a big northern catchment area with a summer coastline, priced against low-cost airlines rather than against other trains. If you want the wider picture, our guide to the night train comeback in Europe covers the operators, the rolling stock and the routes worth planning a trip around, and the Brussels–Milan night train article shows the same logic applied to the Alps.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Adriatic Express run in 2026?
From 26 June to 31 August 2026, six times a week in each direction between Warsaw and Rijeka, with a through coach to Koper.
How long does the journey take?
About 18 hours from Warsaw to Rijeka, departing Warsaw around 14:00 and arriving on the Adriatic the next morning.
How much does a ticket cost?
Promotional fares start at €44.90 for a second-class seat and €69.90 for a couchette berth. Prices rise as departures fill up.
Can I travel to Koper by direct train?
Yes. A second-class carriage for Koper is detached in Ljubljana and continues separately, so no change of train is needed from Warsaw.
Who operates the train?
PKP Intercity, in cooperation with České dráhy, which handles operation and on-board staff across Czechia.
Is there a restaurant car?
The consist includes couchette and seated carriages; catering varies by section, so bring supplies for the long Austrian and Slovenian stretch rather than counting on a full dining service.
In summary
- The Adriatic Express night train runs 26 June – 31 August 2026, six times a week, Warsaw – Vienna – Ljubljana – Rijeka.
- New in 2026: a direct coach to Koper, Slovenia, detached in Ljubljana.
- Journey time: about 18 hours; departure from Warsaw around 14:00.
- Fares from €44.90 (seat) and €69.90 (couchette), cheapest when booked early.
- Operated by PKP Intercity with České dráhy.
- It is part of a wider 2026 night train revival alongside European Sleeper, ÖBB Nightjet and the new Prague–Copenhagen service — and it is worth checking every mode before you book.
