
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
- High-speed 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
EuroCity (EC)
Run from Brussels to Luxembourg, Strasbourg (France) and Basel (Switzerland).
Reservations are optional and recommended, because seats can fill up quickly.
Eurostar (ES)
The Eurostar runs between Brussels and London (Great Britain).
Reservations are compulsory.
ICE
The 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) and Paris (France).
Reservations are compulsory.
TGV
The TGV trains run from Brussels to Paris and Marseille (France).
Reservations are compulsory.
Popular connections
- Domestic connections
- International connections
View approximate train travel times between popular Belgian cities using InterCity trains:
From / to | InterCity trains |
---|---|
Brussels - Antwerp |
47 min |
Brussels - Bruges |
56 min |
Brussels - Gent |
31 min |
Brussels - Liège |
58 min |
Gent - Antwerp | 55 min |
We suggest the following routes to travel between Belgium and other European countries:
France – Belgium
Arrive in Brussels on the high-speed Thalys train from Paris (1hr 36min).Great Britain – Belgium
Travel from London to Brussels with the Eurostar in less than 3 hours.Luxembourg – Belgium
Take an InterCity or EuroCity train from Luxembourg city to Brussels (3hr).The Netherlands – Belgium
Take an InterCity train from The Hague or Rotterdam to Brussels. (1hr 45min).
Reservations
NMBS/SNCB trains do not require a reservation. You can just hop on and off. A supplement of €5.30 called the Diabolo fee is required for the Brussels Airport Express.
Reservations are optional for ICE and EuroCity trains. For Eurostar, TGV and Thalys trains reservations are compulsory.
Please note that the number of seats available for Eurail pass holders is limited on TGV and Thalys trains. We recommend you make reservations for these trains as soon as possible.
How to make reservations for trains in Belgium
You can make reservations for international high-speed trains:
Through our Reservation Service
At a ticket desk at local train stations.
By phone through one of the railway call centers.
Get your Pass for Belgium
Benelux Pass
Discover Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg by rail.
Standard prices from $ 108
Global Pass
Have the freedom to explore Belgium and up to 30 other Eurail countries.
Standard prices from $ 191
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.
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