[Review] Nightjet 490 - Vienna to Hamburg
Published 12.01.25 by

The Nightjet 490 offers an overnight connection between Vienna and Hamburg, with the new mini cabins combining comfort, privacy, and a bit of adventure. This review provides an in-depth look at the experience, from booking to arrival, and helps you decide if this sleeper train and especially the mini cabin are the right choice for your travels.

Booking Made Simple, With a Minor Twist

The online booking process was straightforward, allowing you to select preferences like top or bottom bunk for your mini cabin. While I opted for the bottom bunk to make access easier (as I am quite tall), I was still assigned the top. Thankfully, getting into the mini cabin turned out to be no trouble. What’s particularly interesting is how the cars are filled. Instead of distributing passengers evenly, ÖBB fills one car completely before moving to the next. This meant our car was at full capacity while the neighboring one had only three mini cabins occupied. For the sake of reducing cabin attendant load and decreasing noise and traffic, overthinking this might be a good idea.

Onboarding: Smooth and Informative

Despite a delay of about an hour, the onboarding process was seamless. Regular updates were provided via email, text messages, and the train station's information system, keeping passengers informed at every step. It’s worth noting that the tickets must be printed in advance, which you can do at the service desk. Don’t forget to bring your ID for verification!

Once onboard, ticket checks were conducted inside the train, eliminating any crowding at the platform. The ticket is collected and handed back in the morning. The process was quick and easy and serves the purpose of making the international border crossing easier, especially confirming the identities of the people on board.

First Impressions: Mini Cabin Comfort

The mini cabins offer a compact yet well-thought-out space. At first glance, the cabin seemed slightly short for someone tall, but lying sideways worked well. At 196 cm (6’5”), I had to curl my legs to fit comfortably, but the clever design features made the space more accommodating than expected. Still, I'd not recommend someone who stretches out at night like I do to pick the mini cabin if you are alright with the more expensive or more crowded options offered. If you're below 190cm (6’3”), you shouldn't face any issues.

Full cabin view of the Nightjet mini cabin

Inside the cabin, you’ll find a small window equipped with two blinds: a blackout blind for complete darkness and a semi-transparent blind to reduce light while still allowing a view outside. These can be adjusted to half or full height. Above the sliding door between cabins are a wireless charging pad, a standard electric socket, and a USB-A port, ensuring your devices stay charged. The electrical socket did have a weird placement though, which meant routing my phone charging cable above my head.

Temperature and Bedding

The cabin temperature was quite warm initially but settled into a comfortable range throughout the night. The blanket provided was quite thin - more decorative than functional. If you’re someone who gets cold easily, it’s worth bringing an extra layer. The pillow, too, was small and, at least for me, insufficient. However, its small size worked to my advantage, as I placed it on the wooden surface at the head of the bed for better support.

Legroom in the mini cabin with a blanket

Storage Solutions: Clever and Convenient

Storage was a highlight of the cabin design and definitely well thought out. At the foot of your bed, there are two bins: a larger one for backpacks and a smaller one for shoes. Both are accessible with your key card, ensuring security for your belongings. There's a single card scanner which unlocks your cabin and the two doors.

Closed luggage space Closeup of shoe space in luggage compartment

The bins help keep the cabin clutter-free, which is especially important given the limited space available. Additionally, there’s an extendable seat in the hallway outside the mini cabins, providing an extra option for sitting if needed.

Noise, Light, and Sleep Quality

Overall, the train was relatively quiet. The cabin doors are stiff and noisy to open, which can be disruptive during the night. The folding doors between cabins provide no sound insulation and allow some light to pass through, which could be an issue if you’re traveling next to a stranger. Fortunately, I traveled with a friend, so this wasn’t a problem for me.

While I usually sleep well through the night, I woke up a twice due to external noises or slight movements of the train, especially rapid braking or curves. These minor interruptions didn’t detract significantly from the overall experience.

Breakfast: A Mixed Bag

Breakfast onboard was simple but sufficient. The meal included two bread rolls, marmalade, butter, and a choice of coffee or tea (with options for black, green, or fruit tea). You can also request the breakfast to-go if you prefer to eat it later.

Breakfast served on the Nightjet

Unfortunately, breakfast was served much later than announced—at 9:20 a.m. instead of 7:00 a.m. This delay disrupted the schedule, as sheets were collected at 9:30 a.m., leaving little time to relax before the planned arrival at 10:30 a.m. Communication about the delay would have allowed passengers to sleep longer (we'd all set out timers to 6:00 - 6:30 a.m.), improving the experience.

Shared Amenities and Cleanliness

The train features two shared bathrooms per car, which remained relatively clean throughout the journey. However, by morning, there was some unidentified liquid on the floor—something to keep in mind if you’re particular about cleanliness. As our car was fully loaded, I felt that the washrooms were quite clean though.

Delays and Communication

The train arrived in Hamburg 80 minutes late, but the delay was well-communicated throughout the journey. Passengers were kept informed via texts and announcements, making the situation more manageable. Additionally, ÖBB processed the 25% refund for the delay quickly, demonstrating good customer service.

Unfortunately, the cabin attendant sometimes had less information than us passengers, as they only had access to ÖBBs data although the train was running on DBs infrastructure, which led DB to show way more accurate data.

Value for Money

Considering the journey combines transportation, accommodation, and breakfast, the Nightjet offers excellent value for money. With the 25% refund for the delay, the deal was even better. For those seeking an affordable, eco-friendly travel option, the mini cabin strikes the perfect balance of price, privacy, and comfort.

Cabin attendant

Unfortunately, I'll have to touch on the topic of the cabin attendant. Our attendant was very committed and helpful, but the language barrier proved to be a massive issue. The Nightjet operation is outsourced, which means that he did not actually work for ÖBB. He spoke broken German, often misunderstanding what fellow passengers were trying to ask, and English did not prove to be much more help. One passenger spoke Arabic and was able to ask a few general questions we all shared (especially about the delay and wakeup times), as they shared Arabic as their native language. While the attendant really did give his everything, it was made so much more difficult because of the communication issues. 

Scenery and Alternatives

Since the journey was mostly overnight, there wasn’t much to see outside. If you’re a fan of scenic train rides, consider routes heading south or west, such as through Switzerland or Italy, to catch stunning views of the Alps. One of Italy’s famous routes, which travels through the Alps and along the coastline, is particularly memorable, though I haven’t had the chance to try it yet.

Gangway showing mini cabins and regular bunk cabins

Who Should Choose the Mini Cabin?

The mini cabin is an excellent option for solo travelers or couples seeking a mix of affordability, privacy, and amenities. Families might prefer the regular rooms with four bunk beds, which offer more space but less privacy. For taller travelers (above 190 cm), the standard bunk cabins might be a better choice due to their roomier design, though they are shared with strangers.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Nightjet 490 offers a unique and memorable way to travel between Vienna and Hamburg. While it may not be the most luxurious option when using the 60€ mini cabin, it provides a solid balance of comfort, value, and convenience. If you’re considering this route, the mini cabin is a fantastic choice for budget-conscious travelers looking for a bit of privacy on their journey. For those who prioritize speed, flying is still the faster option, but the train offers an unmatched sense of adventure and solves the problem of needing a hotel room as well and causes way less stress than flying late at night, even with the delays - just make sure to leave some padding after the scheduled arrival.

For your next trip, why not give the Nightjet a try? Whether you’re traveling for leisure or business, it’s an experience worth considering.


Images in this post

Full cabin view of the Nightjet mini cabin via findaflight.eu
Legroom in the mini cabin with a blanket via findaflight.eu
Closed luggage space via findaflight.eu
Closeup of shoe space in luggage compartment via findaflight.eu
Breakfast served on the Nightjet via findaflight.eu
Gangway showing mini cabins and regular bunk cabins via findaflight.eu
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