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Belgium By Train

Although geographically small, Belgium is bursting with sites and activities. Visit the cosmopolitan capital of Brussels and take the train to popular cities like Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp. Visit the lush green hills of the Ardennes region and be sure to try some Belgian beers and delicious chocolate along the way.

 

Train types in Belgium

rail-connections-belgium

There are a number of train types in Belgium ready to transport you. The Belgium network is operated by NMBS/SNCB. Use the Eurail train timetable to check times for trains in Belgium.Regional and intercity trains in Belgium

 

InterCity trains (IC)

  • Run between larger cities like Brussels, Antwerp and Liège.

  • International travel to The Hague/Rotterdam (Netherlands), Luxembourg City, and Lille Flandres (France).

  • No reservation required.


CityRail trains

  • Run in the area around Brussels.

  • No reservation required.


Brussels Airport Express trains

  • Run from Brussels Airport to cities like Antwerp, Ghent, and Brussels.

  • A supplement of $5 is required.

International high-speed trains in Belgium

 

Eurostar (ES)

  • The Eurostar runs between Brussels and London (Great Britain).

  • Reservations are compulsory.

 

ICE

  • ICE trains run from Brussels to Cologne and Frankfurt in Germany.

  • Reservations are optional and recommended because seats can fill up quickly.

 

Thalys (THA)

  • The Thalys runs from Brussels to Amsterdam (Netherlands), Dortmund (Germany), and Paris (France).

  • Reservations are compulsory.

 

TGV

  • TGV trains run from Brussels to multiple French destinations:
    • Lille, Marne la Vallée Chessy (Disneyland), Strasbourg, Rennes, Nantes, Lyon, Marseille, and Montpellier.
  • Reservations are compulsory.

 

Other international trains in Belgium

 

ÖBB Nightjet

  • Brussels – Nürnberg – Linz - Vienna
  • Reservations are compulsory

 

International IC

  • Brussels – Namur – Luxembourg
  • Brussels – Antwerp – Rotterdam – Amsterdam
  • Antwerp – Gent – Kortrijk – Lille
  • Liège – Luxembourg
  • No reservation

 

Popular connections

View approximate train travel times between popular Belgian cities using InterCity trains:

 

Route Travel time
Brussels to Antwerp 47m
Brussels to Bruges 56m
Brussels to Gent 31m
Brussels to Liège 58m
Gent to Antwerp 55m
Route Which train? Travel time Reservations
Brussels to London (Great Britain) Eurostar 3h Required
Brussels to Luxembourg City (Luxembourg) InterCity 3h None
Brussels to Paris (France) Thalys 1h 30m Required
Brussels to Amsterdam (Netherlands) InterCity 3h None
Brussels to Marseille (France) TGV 5h 30m Required
Brussels to Vienna (Austria) ÖBB Nightjet 14h 30m (overnight) Required

 

Reservations

Which trains in Belgium require reservations?

  • No reservations: NMBS/SNCB IC’s to Amsterdam, Luxembourg, and Lille.

  • Supplement of €5: Brussels Airport Express.

  • Optional: ICE

  • Compulsory: Eurostar, TGV and Thalys.

    • TGV, Thalys, and Eurostar trains only have limited seats for people with an Interrail Pass. You should make reservations for these trains as soon as possible.

 

How can I make reservations for trains in Belgium?

You can make reservations for international high-speed trains:

 

  • Online: through our Reservations Service.

  • At local train stations: at a ticket office.

  • By phone: through one of the railway call centres.

 

For more information about reservations in Belgium:

 

Get your Pass for Belgium

Benelux Pass

 

Discover Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg by rail.

 

Standard prices from $ 120

Global Pass

 

Have the freedom to explore Belgium  and up to 30 other Eurail countries.


Standard prices from $ 208

 

Tips and tricks for Belgium

Quick facts

  • Capital: Brussels

  • Population: 11 million

  • Language: Dutch (Flemish), French, German

  • Currency: Euro (EUR)

  • Dialing code: +32

Train stations in Belgium

The main hub stations in Belgium are Bruxelles Midi/Brussel Zuid, Brussel Centraal, Brussel Noord, Antwerpen Centraal, Gent Sint-Pieters and Luik Guillemins. At these train stations, it's possible to connect to trains to Belgium’s main cities and many international destinations.

Station facilities

Stations in Belgium usually have excellent facilities, often including:

  • Luggage lockers

  • Foreign exchange desks

  • Restaurants and cafés

  • Tourist information offices

  • ATM cash machines

  • Elevators and escalators

  • Access for disabled passengers

Spelling of city names

On the Eurail train timetable and at stations you'll usually find the local spelling of Belgian cities and train stations.

Here is the local spelling of some popular Belgian cities:

  • Antwerp = Antwerpen

  • Bruges = Brugge

  • Brussels = Brussel/Bruxelles

  • Ghent = Gent

  • Ostend = Oostende

Transport and accommodation deals

With a Eurail Pass valid in Belgium, you can travel by bus to neighboring countries, and get a 10% discount at the Brussels Meininger Hotel.

See all pass benefits for Belgium

 

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