I boarded Europe’s new bus with business class-style seats for a 12-hour trip

I boarded Europe’s new bus with business class-style seats for a 12-hour trip Andrea Sachs July 23, 2026–5:00am Two drivers of a bus in Barcelona, heading toward Switzerland, climbed the stairs of the Twiliner double-decker and paused at each passenger’s seat during a predeparture briefing. They demonstrated how to sleep, a task made unusual by the nature of the vehicle. Sleeping horizontally is standard on overnight trains, where seats or benches transform into beds. On a bus, however, this is rare. Most riders can recline a few inches, but lying flat on their backs, something many might imagine only in dreams, is uncommon. Twiliner, which launched in November 2025, seeks to redefine coach travel in Europe as the only provider of night buses with fully reclinable seats. Its 21 lie-flat seats mimic the plush, convertible pods found in business class on airplanes. Joël Béla Bernauer-Bourgeois, a Swiss industrial designer and co-founder of Twiliner, explained that the company began from scratch, aiming to create the most comfortable way to transport people from one place to another. He noted that the design was inspired by aviation, particularly the experience of sitting in a business-class seat. Bernauer-Bourgeois emphasized that while budget travelers can often fly within Europe for low prices, he sees the overnight bus as a more sustainable and economical option, especially when combined with a hotel stay. According to Swiss government data, these buses emit up to 85 percent fewer carbon emissions per passenger-kilometer compared to flights on similar routes. Environmental organizations frequently highlight short-haul flights as major contributors to pollution and encourage the use of greener alternatives such as trains or buses. Despite the comfort of the seats, sleeping on a long-distance bus remains a challenge. Travelers who have attempted overnight journeys on buses and trains in North America and Europe often report difficulty in achieving restful sleep. The combination of swaying motion, noise from the vehicle, and the occasional disturbances from fellow passengers can make even the most tired traveler restless. Yet, I was determined to test whether the Twiliner could offer a better experience. Bernauer-Bourgeois described a serene scenario: entering the coach, sipping tea, using large windows to view the surroundings, pulling down curtains, adjusting the seat into a bed-like position, brushing teeth in a lower compartment, and waking up refreshed in the city center of the destination. This vision of comfort and convenience seemed promising. Booking passage on an overnight bus proved straightforward. Twiliner operates several routes weekly, including between Zurich and Amsterdam, and Zurich and Barcelona. Passengers can choose to ride to the final destination or disembark at intermediate stops such as Brussels, Rotterdam, Luxembourg, or Basel on the Amsterdam line, and Girona, Spain, or Bern, Switzerland, on the Barcelona route. For my journey, I opted for a one-way ticket from Barcelona to Bern, the second-to-last stop before reaching Zurich. The approximately 941-kilometer trip, under normal conditions, should take around 12½ hours. My fare of €170 (£145) included a full set of linens, bottled water, and unlimited access to tea and coffee from a shared kitchenette. In contrast, a round-trip flight, which would take about two hours, plus accommodation, would likely exceed twice that amount. Selecting a seat was part of the booking process. As someone who prefers personal space and struggles with sleep, I approached the selection with care, requiring the strategic precision of a puzzle solver. The experience of choosing a seat highlighted both the potential and the challenges of this new mode of travel.