Belgium
Meet 3 Belgian locals from our Eurail community to find out their favorite finds in Belgium which most travelers miss out on.
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
- Route map
- Domestic trains
- International trains
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
- 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
- Domestic connections
- International 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 Ghent | 31m |
| Brussels to Liège | 58m |
| Ghent 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.
Get inspired
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Belgium Itinerary Visit beautiful Belgium with this spectacular rail travel itinerary! Travel with ease between major cities like Brussels and Bruges. #beneluxpass -
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1 week in the Benelux itinerary Travel 1 week in the Benelux region with the Eurail Benelux Pass. You can travel 3 countries with only 1 Pass!
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