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Belgium train guide | how to use trains in belgium.

How to travel Belgium by train — Tips for buying Belgian train tickets and advice for navigating Belgium by rail.

Transportation

Belgium is a small country that’s well-served by a modern and comfortable train system. Most people stick to the main cities of Antwerp, Brussels, Brugge, and Ghent (all of which have multiple train routes every day) but even smaller towns are connected by rail. There is also a separate high-speed train that connects Brussels to a handful of international destinations (Paris, Amsterdam, London, etc.). But don’t worry if you have questions because our Belgium Train Guide will cover everything you need to know about buying train tickets in Belgium and how to find the best prices.

How To Buy Train Tickets in Belgium

Let’s take a look at the various train ticket options…

Buying Domestic Train Tickets in Belgium

All domestic train tickets in Belgium use a fixed pricing model that is based on the distance traveled so tickets are always the same price no matter when you purchase them—simply show up at the station and buy your tickets. You can also buy tickets early at Omio (and have them sent straight to your phone) if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of buying them at the station. You can also check schedules and prices at belgianrail.be .

Domestic Train Discounts

• Weekend Round Trip Ticket: If you buy a round-trip ticket for a journey after 7 pm on a Friday night and return on/before the last train on Sunday then you get the entire journey costs the same as a one-way ticket.
• Ten-Journey Card: Spending a lot of time in Belgium? You can buy a pack of 10 one-way tickets (good for a year) for €77 2nd class or €118 in 1st class — which is under €8 for 2nd class. These tickets can be used for any journey.
• Go Pass 10: Are you under 26? Check out the Go Pass 10 which is 10 tickets to any destination for €59—which is €5.90 per ticket. Not too shabby.

Buying International Train Tickets In Belgium

Belgium has quite a few high-speed connections to other international cities—the most notable destinations are Paris, London, and Amsterdam (but there are connections to just about every major city).

All these train tickets should be purchased in advance as they get much more expensive as the departure date approaches. For example, a Thalys high-speed train from Brussels to Amsterdam can be as cheap as  € 29 when purchased three months in advance but you’ll pay closer to  € 100 if you buy it the day of travel.

Where To Buy International Train Tickets

While you can buy international train tickets from any train station in Belgium, you’ll get the best prices when buying the tickets from a third-party booking website.

• Omio : Omio is a great train booking engine that lets you book tickets from just about every country’s rail service and other digital tickets are sent straight to your phone. Omio charges little to no markup and they make the booking process very user-friendly.
• TrainLine:   TrainLine is another third-party train ticket booking site that connects directly to multiple European rail networks.

More Tips For Using Trains in Belgium

• Brussels Central is a different station that still serves many routes and Brussels Nord is another less-frequently used station.
• Study The Departures Board:  You’ll find your train platform via the departure board at the train station. Don’t worry if you don’t see your train because they typically only display trains departing within the next 10-20 minutes.
• Train Delays: Belgium doesn’t have the best record of trains being on time so it’s common for trains to be 10-15 minutes late.
• Train Schedule:  There are two trains every hour that connect Bruges, Ghent, and Brussels.
• Self-Service Machines Are In English:  All the ticket machines (and train station signs) are in English—there is a good chance customer service people also speak English.
• Pack A Picnic:  You’re allowed to bring your own food and alcohol on trains. It’s great for those long train rides.
• No Luggage Limits:  There aren’t any weight limits on luggage and you can bring as much as you want (well, as much as you can carry). Simply bring it on and store it above your head, behind your seat, or in the luggage racks in each car.
• Open Seating: Domestic trains don’t have assigned seats so sit anywhere.
• Making Connections:  Belgium is a small country so many routes connect through Brussels. Don’t worry if there isn’t much time between trains because switching trains is usually fairly quick and easy (it’s not like flying).
• Get To The Train Station Early:  Train stations are usually fairly easy to navigate but they can be a little confusing.
• Luggage Storage: Most large train stations will have luggage storage options but small stations most likely won’t have luggage storage.
• Know Train Station Names:  Brussels has multiple train stations so this often creates confusion. Double check to make sure you have the right station—especially when booking your ticket. Also, it’s common for there to be stops in the suburbs outside big cities but you won’t want to get off there (just watch what most of the train is doing).

Check out our Complete Guide To Train Travel In Europe for more tips about traveling Europe by train.

More Belgium Travel Advice from The Savvy Backpacker

• Brussels City Guide :  What to do, see, and eat in Brussels.
• How To Choose The Best Travel Insurance :  Travel insurance will help cover those non-refundable train tickets if something goes wrong during your trip.
• Packing List For Europe Travel :  Tips on packing light — which makes train travel much easier.
• Travel Resources : Our favorite online travel resources.
• Step-By-Step European Travel Planning Guide : Everything you need to know about planning your budget travel through Europe.
• Recent Posts

• Backpacking Europe Packing List — My Europe Travel Packing Guide - April 6, 2024
• Best eSIM For Europe Travel | Everything You Need To Know About European Prepaid eSIM Data Plans - March 24, 2024
• Holafly eSIM Review | Testing The New eSIM Data Plan from Holafly - March 3, 2024

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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

• 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 , the Belgian National Railway Company. 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.

Brussels Airport supplement trains

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

A supplement required, see  here  for more information.

International high-speed trains in Belgium

Eurostar (ES)

• Brussels – Lille – London
• Brussels – Paris
• Amsterdam – Rotterdam – Antwerp – Brussels – Paris
• Amsterdam – Rotterdam – Antwerp – Brussels – Disneyland Paris
• Dortmund – Düsseldorf – Cologne – Liège – Brussels – Paris
• Reservations are compulsory for these trains, which can get fully booked. We recommend making your reservations as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Read more about special booking conditions on our dedicated  Eurostar page .
• Services to Amsterdam, Dortmund, and (Disneyland) Paris are operated by red-coloured former Thalys trains.
• Brussels – Cologne – Frankfurt am Main
• Reservations are compulsory from June 1st until September 1st
• Lille, Marne la Vallée Chessy (Disneyland), Strasbourg, Rennes, Nantes, Lyon, Marseille, and Montpellier.
• Reservations are compulsory.

Other international trains in Belgium

ÖBB Nightjet

• Brussels – Munich – Salzburg – Vienna
• Brussels – Erfurt – Halle – Berlin
• Reservations are compulsory

International IC

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

European Sleeper

• Brussels – Antwerp – Rotterdam – Amsterdam – Berlin – Dresden – Prague
• To Dresden and Prague from 25th March
• Runs three times a week

Popular connections

• Domestic connections
• International connections

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

Reservations

Eurail reservation self-service system

• Eurostar, TGV, ICE, RailJet, Nightjet

Administration costs when booking through Eurail self-service

• € 2,- p.p.per train
• Additional € 9,- per order (for paper tickets)

With railway carriers

• Eurostar, TGV, European Sleeper, Nightjet
• European Sleeper : Only European Sleeper trains, international
• ÖBB Nightjet : Only Nightjet

Other platforms

• Eurostar and TGV

An explanation of how each booking platform works can be found here:   How do I book my reservations

Locally at the train station in Belgium

• ICE to Germany: € 7
• European Sleeper, Eurostar and TGV: € 12

Eurostar trains are popular and therefore, usually sell out quickly. Make sure to get your seat reservation in time. Alternatively, find trains without seat reservations in our timetable by toggling on the ‘no reservation needed’ button.

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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

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BELGIUM , DESTINATIONS , EUROPE

A perfect 1-week belgium itinerary by train.

Belgium is one of Europe’s underrated gems.

Towns and cities stuffed with medieval buildings, soaring bell towers and meandering canals tell of its rich history. And the best beer, chocolate and waffles in the world are reasons enough to visit Belgium.

Furthermore, as this is a small country, it is possible to cover a lot of ground in just 7 days. But how should you make the best use of your precious week in Belgium?

This is where I can help. Based on multiple visits, I have crafted a one-week Belgium itinerary that will allow you to see the very best that this country can offer, without feeling frazzled in the process.

Some articles on this website contain affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases . Read the full disclosure here .

IN THIS ARTICLE

How Many Days Are Enough for Belgium?

If you are visiting Belgium as a city break to Brussels, then two days will allow you to hit its highlights, leaving room to try its beer, chocolates and waffles.   However, Belgium is so much more than Brussels. As a minimum, five days in Belgium will allow you to explore Ghent and Bruges plus a few other cities.   Spend one week in Belgium and you will be able to visit all of these cities as well as some lesser-known places such as Leuven, Hasselt and Mechelen.  

7-Day Belgium Itinerary in a Nutshell

Day 1: ghent, day 2: antwerp, day 3: bruges, day 4: brussels, day 5: leuven, day 6: hasselt, day 7: mechelen.

This is a fast-paced week in Belgium, designed to showcase some of its best cities and UNESCO sites. But if you prefer slower travel , simply omit a few of these cities from your itinerary. It’s a tough choice but I would cross off Antwerp, Mechelen or Hasselt.

Further in this article, I have made a few suggestions of places to include if you have just five days in Belgium.

Planning Your Week in Belgium

My top tip for spending a week in Belgium is to pick a few cities in which to base yourself, using them as hubs to visit other destinations as day trips. As you won’t have to spend time moving between hotels, not to mention packing and unpacking, this helps you make the most of your precious time.

This is a small country and is blessed with an excellent train network that runs frequent services between the main cities. Furthermore, the centres of all of the places mentioned in this Belgium itinerary are within walking distance of the train station (although Gehnt is a little bit of a stretch).

Thanks to its excellent train connections, Brussels is one of the best cities to base yourself in Belgium. However, if you are in Belgium for one week, I recommend splitting your time between Brussels and Ghent , Antwerp or even Bruges. My preference is Ghent but Antwerp and Bruges are also good choices.

One Week Belgium Itinerary

Your week in Belgium is one of two halves. You will use Ghent as a base for the first three or four days, moving to Brussels for the second half of the week. 

If you find it helpful to map things out, here’s one showing the stops on this Belgium itinerary.

Why visit Ghent?

Ghent is picture-postcard perfect. It has oodles of history and culture, friendly locals, glorious architecture and meandering canals. It is also home to a lively bar scene and a growing number of breweries. 

GAZE AT THE MYSTIC LAMB IN ST. BAVO’S CATHEDRAL

Jan van Eyck’s masterpiece, the  Adoration of the Mystic Lamb , aka The Ghent Altarpiece, has been restored to its former luminous glory and is sited in the cathedral’s Villa Chapel.

ADMIRE THE VIEW FROM ST. MICHAEL’S BRIDGE

This Ghent landmark offers the best vantage point from which to admire the city centre and its iconic quays, the Graslei and the Korenlei.

CLIMB GHENT’S BELFRY

Ascend to the viewing platform at the top of the UNESCO-listed Belfort of Ghent  for a bird’s eye view of the city centre.

TAKE A BOAT TOUR OF GHENT’S CANALS

Learn more about the city on a relaxing 50-minute trip along Ghent’s canals.

>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR GHENT BOAT TOUR

VISIT THE CASTLE OF THE COUNTS

Venture behind the forbidding walls and turrets of Het Gravensteen to learn more about Ghent’s history and for fabulous views over Ghent’s city centre.

JOIN A BEER TOUR WITH A LOCAL

This excellent beer tour was my favourite thing to do in Ghent. Liselot, our enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide, introduced us to five types of Belgian beer in three bars.

>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR TOUR

Ghent travel tips

Depending on what you plan to do, the CityCard Gent can be excellent value . As ever, do the maths to see if it is likely to save you money.

Ghent St. Peter’s Station is a 30-minute walk to the historic city centre. However, tram line 1 runs from the station to the city centre every ten minutes.

Travel time from Ghent to Antwerp by train: 1 hour

Why visit Antwerp?

With its striking modern architecture, hipster coffee bars, superb restaurants and vintage clothing shops, Antwerp is Belgium’s capital of cool. However, this modern city retains reminders of its 16 th Century golden age with magnificent medieval churches and Rubens’ legacy.

Best things to do in Antwerp

SEE THE RUBENS QUARTET IN THE ONZE-LIEVE-VROUWEKATHEDRAAL

Antwerp’s Cathedral of Our Lady is one of Belgium’s finest Gothic churches and is home to four early paintings by Peter Paul Rubens.

EXPLORE ANTWERP’S GROTE MARKT

Close to the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal is the Grote Markt, which is lined with restored medieval guildhalls and the Stadhuis.

VISIT THE UNESCO-LISTED MUSEUM PLANTIN-MORETUS

Occupying the former mansion of the 16 th Century printer Christopher Plantin, this museum is another work by Rubens and the world’s two oldest surviving orienting presses.

VISIT RUBEN’S HOUSE (RUBENHUIS)

Antwerp’s favourite son lived in this mansion for most of his adult life and it was restored and opened as a museum in 1946. Its permanent collection includes works by Rubens as well as his peers and contemporaries, including Anthony van Dyck.

Travel time from Ghent to Bruges by train: 30 minutes

Why visit Bruges?

Bruges deserves its many accolades. With its tangle of medieval buildings lining a labyrinth of narrow canals, this is one of Western Europe’s most beautiful cities. Try to ignore the tourist crowds. You would be crazy to spend a week in Belgium and not visit Bruges.

Best things to do in Bruges

TAKE A CHOCOLATE TOUR OF BRUGES

Crammed with more than 70 chocolate shops, Bruges is a chocoholic’s dream. Do your DIY chocolate tour of Bruges to taste the best and learn more about Belgian chocolate at Choco-Story.

CLIMB THE BELFORT

At the heart of Bruges is its Belfort, which occupies the south side of the Markt. Climb the narrow belfry staircase to the roof for fabulous views over the city.

VENERATE THE PHIAL OF THE HOLY BLOOD

Helig Bloed Basiliek (Basilica of the Holy Blood) is named after one of the holiest relics in medieval Europe, a phial purporting to hold a few drops of Jesus’s blood.

CRUISE THE CANALS OF BRUGES

See the best of this UNESCO-listed city by taking a cruise along its waterways.

TAKE IN THE VIEW AT ROZENHOEDKAAI

A strong contender for the prettiest location in Bruges, the much-photographed Quay of the Rosary marks the spot where the Groenerei and Dijver canals meet.

Travel time from Ghent to Brussels by train: 35 minutes

Why visit Brussels?

Brussels is the Marmite of Belgium: you will love it or hate it. Whilst I don’t hate it, I’m not that keen on it either. But what is beyond doubt is that Brussels is one of the best bases in Belgium for day trips by train.   The city is not without its charms. It is lively and cosmopolitan. Brussels’ Grand Place is jaw-dropping, it has some of the best Art Nouveau architecture to be found anywhere and some charming squares.

Best things to do in Brussels

ADMIRE THE BUILDINGS OF THE GRAND PLACE

Home to Brussels’ gable-roofed guild houses and its Hôtel de Ville, this UNESCO World Heritage site is one of Europe’s most magnificent squares.

STROLL THROUGH THE MONT DES ARTS

This landscaped garden and stone staircase connect the Lower Town and Upper Town. From its terrace, there are fine views of Brussels.

TAKE TIME OUT IN THE PLACE DU PETIT SABLON

The small and pretty Place du Petit Sablon is a refuge from the busy city and close to the lovely Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon (Notre Dame du Sablon).

STOP FOR COFFEE IN ROYAL GALLERIES OF SAINT HUBERT (GALERIES ROYALES SAINT-HUBERT)

These magnificent glass-vaulted galleries form one of Europe’s oldest and finest indoor shopping arcades. This is a great spot to stop for a coffee or a refreshing Belgian beer. 

DELVE INTO ART NOUVEAU AT THE VICTOR HORTA MUSEUM

Housed in the former residence and studio of Victor Horta, one of the movement’s leading lights, this museum is an Art Nouveau wonderland.

HAVE THE BEST WAFFLE OF YOUR LIFE

You cannot leave Belgium without trying a waffle and one of my favourites was at Aux Gaufres De Bruxelles. Grab a pavement table and savour.

Travel time from Brussels to Leuven by train: 25 minutes

Why visit Leuven?

The small university city of Leuven is one of Belgium’s treasures.   It has a UNESCO-listed library, Belgium’s oldest botanical garden and a magnificent town hall. But it is perhaps best known as the home of Stella Artois beer. 

Best things to do in Leuven

TOUR LEUVEN’S STADHUIS

Leuven has one of the most magnificent Gothic town halls that I have ever seen, giving the one in Brussels a run for its money. Today, the Stadhuis is used mainly for weddings and other functions, but you can visit its historic rooms on one of the daily tours.

ADMIRE THE LAST SUPPER IN ST. PETER’S CHURCH

Across Grote Markt from the Stadhuis is Sint-Pieterskerk (St. Peter’s Church), which is home to The Last Supper by Dirk Bouts. This exceptional piece of 15 th Century art shows Christ and his disciples in a typical Flemish dining room.

VISIT LEUVEN’S UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

For the price of one ticket, you get to visit the library’s magnificent wood-panelled reading room and climb its 74-metre-tall bell tower for sweeping views over Leuven.

STOP TO SMELL THE ROSES IN LEUVEN’S BOTANICAL GARDEN

Founded in 1738 by the University of Leuven, the tranquil Leuven Botanical Garden (De Kruidtuin Leuven in Dutch) is the oldest botanical garden in Belgium . Covering an area of over two hectares, it has a wide variety of trees, plants, flowers and shrubs.

EXPLORE LEUVEN’S GREAT BEGUINAGE

The UNESCO-listed Groot Begijnhof of Leuven is it is one of the largest remaining beguinages in the Low Countries. This labyrinth of cobbled streets, straddling two canals is a wonderful area to stroll around.

Travel time from Brussels to Hasselt by train: 80 minutes

Why visit Hasselt?

Although Hasselt is a longer day trip from Brussels, it is well worth it. This unassuming small city has the largest authentic Japanese garden in Belgium , some of the best street art in Belgium and a museum dedicated to Belgian gin.

RELAX IN JAPANSE TUIN HASSELT

Covering an area of six acres, the Japanese Garden of Hasselt is the real deal. Designed as a traditional 17 th  Century garden, it has ponds filled with koi carp, a tea house, a Shinto shrine and a peace bell. Visit in late Spring for the dazzling display of cherry blossom.

DISCOVER BELGIAN GIN AT THE JENEVER MUSEUM, HASSELT

Learn more about jenever, a Belgian gin, when you visit the Jenever Museum Hasselt . At the end of the self-guided museum tour, conduct a spot of empirical booze research at the tasting bar with your free shot.

DISCOVER HASSELT’S STREET ART

Hasselt is one of Europe’s great street art cities and you can explore its murals on a self-guided tour. Simply download the free  Street Art Cities  app.

EXPLORE HASSELT’S BEGUINAGE

Hasselt’s beguinage is another of the 13 in Belgium that have been collectively designated a  UNESCO World Heritage site and was home to beguines until 1886. Today, it is the site of the House for Contemporary Art, Design & Architecture.

Travel time from Brussels to Mechelen by train: 30 minutes

Why visit Mechelen?

Home of the primate of Belgium and the country’s ecclesiastical capital, Mechelen is brimming with charm and history. This hidden gem is an easy day trip from Brussels and is mercifully crowd-free.

Best things to do in Mechelen

EXPLORE MECHELEN’S BEGUINAGES

Mechelen has two beguinages. Klein Begijnhof (Small Beguinage)) was the first to be founded, with beguines living there from 1256.

Mechelen’s UNESCO-listed Groot Begijnhof (Large Beguinage) was founded at the end of the 16 th Century and features a Baroque church and many convents.

REFLECT ON BELGIUM’S DARK PAST

During the Nazi occupation of Belgium (1940 – 1945), Mechelen’s Dossin was chosen as the transit point for those destined for the concentration camps of eastern Europe. These dark times are recalled over three floors at Kazerne Dossin, the excellent museum across the road from the barracks.

STROLL ALONG THE RIVER DIJLE

Explore Mechelen by walking along the Dijle Path. This pontoon walkway extends from the charming Haverwerf as far as the city’s Botanic Garden.

TASTE THE LOCAL BREW

Gouden Carolus, one of Belgium’s best beers is brewed in Mechelen. Learn more on a 90-minute tour of Het Anker Brewery, which includes tasting two of their Gouden Carolus beers and a small present.

More Destinations for Your Belgium Itinerary

Not everyone has the same interests and tastes, and perhaps some of these cities don’t rock your boat. If that is the case, here are a few other destinations you should consider adding to your Belgium itinerary.

DINANT – As pretty as a picture postcard, Dinant lies alongside the River Meuse in the Ardennes and is where Leffe beer began.

YPRES – The heart of the World War I battlefields

OSTEND – For rolling dunes and the chance to dip your toe into the chilly waters of the North Sea.

TOURNAI – Home to a magnificent UNESCO-listed cathedral (undergoing restoration in 2022)

LIÈGE – For some of the best waffles and beer in the world.

A 5-Day Belgium Itinerary

But how should you adapt this itinerary if you have only five days in Belgium?

To maximise your time, I recommend sticking with one base. Faced with a tough choice, I would plump for Ghent and visit Brussels, Bruges, Leuven and Antwerp as day trips.

The downside of using Ghent as a base for day trips is that its train station is not as conveniently located as those in Brussels. However, if you want to stay in Ghent’s historic centre and don’t fancy walking to the train station you can hop on the frequent tram service.

What is the Best Time to Visit Belgium?

For mild weather, fewer crowds and cheaper accommodation, visit Belgium between March and May, and in September and October.   During the summer months (June – August), you can look forward to warmer days and nights and more festivals. The flip side is that there are a lot more visitors.   Although winter in Belgium can be damp and grey and dreary, the twinkling lights and mulled wine of its Christmas markets will lift your spirits.

How to Get to Belgium

Brussels, the capital city, is Belgium’s main international transport hub.

Most flights to Belgium’s capital land at  Brussels International  Airport, 14 km northeast of the city centre. From here, regular trains run to the city’s three main railway stations.

Brussels-Charleroi  airport, 50 km south of the city centre, serves budget airlines. There is a shuttle bus service from here to the city centre.

Brussels is also a major international train hub , including the Eurostar train from London. You can even visit Brussels as an easy  day trip from London .

Getting Around Belgium

I travelled around Belgium by train several times. Its services are frequent and reliable and the system is easy to navigate, even as a first-time visitor to Belgium.

The price of tickets is based on distance and no seat reservations are necessary or even possible. There’s no need to pre-book and no cost advantage in doing so.

Thanks to Weekend Return Tickets, it is cheaper to travel on Saturdays and Sundays, costing you little more than a one-way ticket.

You can plan your train journeys here .

Where to Stay in Brussels

To make the most of your time in Brussels, especially if you are a first-time visitor, stay in the city centre, close to the Grand Place and Brussels Central Station.

Here are my recommendations:

Splurge : Hotel Le Dixseptième

I stayed at this elegant boutique hotel in the heart of the city centre. It is perfect if you are looking for a stylish and peaceful refuge just minutes from the train station.

Here are some other choices of accommodation that may suit other tastes and budgets:

Mid-range : B&B Villa 36

This 3-star guesthouse close to Brussels City Hall has garnered fabulous reviews. Breakfast is included in the room rates.

Where to Stay in Ghent

When choosing accommodation in Ghent , base yourself in the city’s historic centre to be close to the attractions included in this itinerary.

These are my recommendations:

Mid-range apartment : Snooz Ap Holiday & Business Flats

I stayed at this superb apartment in the heart of the historic city centre. This could be for you if you are looking for an affordable, comfortable and well-equipped apartment that includes a washing machine, The roof terrace was a welcome bonus.

Mid-range hotel : B&B Inn Between

For a first-rate accommodation choice that is closer to the train station, take a look at this 4-star B&B.

Splurge : B&B The Verhaegen

Ready to treat yourself? If so, stay at this guesthouse housed in a historic building in the heart of the city.

Is Belgium Good for Solo Travel?

Belgium is an easy solo travel destination. It is compact, has an excellent transport infrastructure and has both history and hipster culture in spades.

You need not be lonely as a solo traveller in Belgium. There is a lively bar and restaurant scene and taking a beer tour in either Brussels or Ghent is an excellent way to meet other travellers .

A priority for women who are travelling alone solo travellers is  staying safe as a solo traveller .

As a whole, Belgium is a relatively safe solo travel destination. That said, I found that the immediate vicinity of Brussels Centrale station was not too pleasant after dark. Ghent felt far more relaxed.

In recent years, there has also been the threat of terrorist attacks.

As ever, a little bit of common sense goes a long way. Although Belgian cities have low crime rates, remain vigilant. Keep your belongings close to you and use your hotel safe to store valuables.

Ready to spend a week in Belgium?

Have a fabulous time! For more in-depth information about the destinations on this itinerary, dive into my guides:

• One Day in Ghent, Belgium: Itinerary + 20 Awesome Things to Do
• Is the Ghent City Card Worth It
• Where to Stay in Ghent, Belgium: The Best Areas for All Travellers
• Top 10 Chocolate Shops in Bruges, Belgium You Must Visit
• One Day in Brussels: Itinerary and Best Things to Do
• One Day in Leuven, Belgium: Top 10 Things to Do
• Visiting De Kruidtuin Leuven: The Oldest Botanical Garden in Belgium
• 10 Reasons to Visit Hasselt: Belgium’s Hidden Gem
• Chasing Cherry Blossom in Japanse Tuin Hasselt
• For The Love of Gin: Visiting the Jenever Museum Hasselt, Belgium
• 11 Awesome Reasons to Visit Mechelen, Belgium

About Bridget

Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.

Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.

To get in touch, email her at [email protected] or follow her on social media.

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Good to know:, will i save money by booking in advance online, are there any other means of saving money when travelling on belgian trains, what about child tickets on belgian trains, tickets for seniors, do i need to reserve seats on belgian trains, can i use a ticket on any train, do i need a ticket for my dog, national booking agent:, general train ticket guides:, a guide to international trains to and from belgium:, what do i need to know about booking tickets for trains from belgium to luxembourg, which rail tickets can be booked on b-europe.com, how can i save money by booking on b-europe.com, how far ahead can i book tickets on b-europe.com, what about seat reservations on the international trains from and to belgium, how to use b-europe:, international ticket agents:, agents in other countries:, using rail passes within belgium:, using eurail and passes on the international trains:, national rail passes, international rail passes, online rail pass reservations:, the general guide to belgian rail travel:.

Buying and using Tickets & Rail Passes in Belgium

This guide will help you save money, time and confusion.

Welcome to ShowMeTheJourney's guide to booking train tickets for journeys within AND from/to Belgium , the info covers the core basics of what you can expect to encounter when making bookings. The intention is to provide is some context for the tickets and journey options you should encounter, in normal circumstances, when making a booking either online or at the station. SMTJ has striven to ensure that the included advice is as accurate as possible, but a guide such as this cannot cover every combination of journey options.

If you want to go right ahead with a booking, you can go use the content menu to go direct to the booking agents which sell train journeys to and from Belgium. Though before doing so, having an idea of what's available is recommended, hence the in-depth guide.

In summary three things which are good to know about tickets for train journeys within and from/to Belgium are:

• NMBS/SNCB operates Belgian trains and it provides two different websites for online ticket bookings:
• BelgianRail; sells tickets for domestic train journeys within Belgium
• B-Europe; sells tickets for international train journeys from and to Belgium. NMBS/SNCB does so, because differing terms apply to the domestic and international journey tickets.
• For journeys within Belgium you won't save by booking in advance online, so will pay the same price if you buy tickets last minute at the station.
• Reservations are not available for train journeys within Belgium.

Booking train tickets for journeys within Belgium:

Travelling in Belgium by train is comparatively straightforward which makes it relatively easy to explore the country by train; hence the list of questions being comparatively short!

The simple answer is 'no it isn't possible'. Tickets aren’t discounted if purchased online on BelgianRail in advance of the travel date, you pay the same price at the station as you do online, even if you will be buying tickets last minute at the station immediately before boarding the train. So there’s no need to book online to obtain the cheapest price. Therefore if you’re visiting Belgium, the balance tips in favour of buying at the station, where you can save time by taking an advantage of the straightforward ticket machines.

If you will be making a RETURN trip in Belgium by train between 19:00 on Fridays and midnight on Sundays, you can purchase Weekend Tickets , which give a 50% discount.

Or if you will be in Belgium for an extended period of time and want to explore the country by train, which is highly recommended, then this rail pass can be the best option. For only €83 it provides for 10 train journeys anywhere in Belgium in 2nd class, or for an additional €45 you can travel 1st class. So this pass can be used to travel around Belgium on an itinerary, or an individual can use it for five day trips, or it covers five train journeys when two people travel together. In comparison a 5 day InterRail Benelux pass, which also covers The Netherlands and Luxembourg, is €169.

Children aged under 12:

If you have young children exploring Belgium by train as a family is fantastic value for money! Each adult (12 and over) ticket enables up to 4 accompanied children age under 12 to travel for free, in both 1st class and 2nd class. Though be aware that you will need to be able to provide proof of the age of the children to the conductors, so take their passports with you on journeys within Belgium You don't need to book these 'free' child tickets; the adult ticket will be valid for the children too.

Children aged 12 and over:

Not such good news if your children are teenagers! Children aged 12 and over have to travel at the adult rates.

The Senior Ticket can be used by those aged 65 and over on any Belgian train departing after 09:00 on Monday to Friday and at any time on a weekend or national holidays. It can be used for a single or return journey anywhere in Belgium , on the day it is purchased at a station ticket counter. It costs only €7.20 for travel in 2nd class and €15.30 in 1st class, so you haven't got to go far to save money.

Seats can’t be reserved on any domestic train service within Belgium (they're available/compulsory on the high speed trains from and to Belgium). Therefore booking online in advance doesn’t guarantee you a seat, though SMTJ has taken dozens of Belgian trains and has yet to encounter a train on which no spare seats were available.

Standard prices are charged based on distance, so you won’t have to pay a premium at peak times. However, as a result the trains at peak times can be crowded and no reservations means that seats may not be available on all trains. So if possible avoid travelling at rush hours, particularly when travelling from/to Brussels/Bruxelles.

On routes served by both stopping (S) trains and express IC trains, tickets will be valid on any train. So you don't have to buy special tickets, or pay a premium to travel on the faster IC trains.

However, there are two exceptions to this rule:

(1) If you are travelling between Bruxelles and Antwerpen, tickets can't be used on Thalys trains. (They can be used on the IC ('Intercity Brussels') trains that will be travelling between Belgium and The Netherlands).

(2) If you are travelling between Bruxelles and Liege tickets can't be used to travel by the ICE trains or the Thalys trains.

The 'rules' set by the Belgian national rail operator set by SNCB are that if a dog can be fitted in a pet carrier / container measuring no more than 30x55x30cm, no ticket will be required for the dog. If it is too large for the container a 'pet supplement' ticket is required which has a flat rate of €3 for any journey within Belgium. Dog not in the containers do not have to be muzzled, but the conductor on the train apparently may request it.

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Booking tickets for international rail journeys from and to Belgium:

In contrast to tickets for train journeys within Belgium, booking tickets for the international trains from and to Belgium can be a little more complicated. However, for most journeys it's worth persevering with booking online in advance, as it's possible to make big savings!

Belgium's national rail operator NMBS/SNCB doesn't apply any special rules for journeys between Belgium and Luxembourg. Therefore booking tickets for journeys to Luxembourg is no different to booking tickets to Belgian cities, so tickets won't be discounted online and seats can't be reserved.

Travelling from Britain to Luxembourg by train:

Eurostar does not sell tickets for journeys between London, Ebbsfleet or Ashford and Luxembourg. However, an option is to

• book an 'Any Belgian Station' ticket(s) on Eurostar.com which will be valid to the Belgian border station at Arlon.
• then on arrival at Bruxelles-Midi station visit the SNCB 'International Ticket Desk and book a ticket from Arlon to Luxembourg.

B-Europe sells tickets for journeys by:

(1) Thalys trains to/from Paris, The Netherlands and Germany

(2) ICE trains to/from Germany

(3) IC trains to/from The Netherlands

(4) Eurostar trains

(5) TGV trains between Bruxelles and towns/cities in France other than Paris

(6) IC trains between Belgium and Lille

Limited numbers of discounted tickets will be available on the routes taken by the international trains from and to Belgium listed above; except for the IC trains between Belgium and Lille. So the further ahead you can book, the bigger the savings you can make, particularly if you be travelling on one of the high speed services: Eurostar, ICE, Thalys and TGB (TGV).

'Non-Flex Tickets':

On B-Europe the cheapest advance tickets are named ‘Non Flex’ and they live up to their name. They are valid only for travel on the specific trains you chose to travel by when making a booking AND don’t allow for any subsequent change of travel plans - so 'Non-Flex' tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.

However, Non-Flex tickets are rarely still available if you're not booking more than 2 months ahead; particularly on the high speed services/routes. They also inevitably tend to sell out fastest on the most popular trains, so you may need to search through the departures in order to track them down on your first choice of travel date.

B-Europe's 'Best Fares' Policy:

If you will be making an international train journey particularly from Belgium, but also to Belgium, the advice is to always check the prices being offered by B-Europe, as it operates a ‘Best Fares' policy

This depends on the train service you will be travelling by:

(1) Thalys trains to/from Paris, Lille, The Netherlands and Germany = 4 months ahead of the travel date

(2) ICE trains to/from Germany = 6 months ahead of the travel date

(3) IC trains to/from The Netherlands = 6 months ahead of the travel date

Note that that the IC trains can be booked two months ahead of the Thalys trains, so if you look up journeys more than 4 months ahead you will only see the IC trains available for booking and NOT the Thalys trains.

(4) Eurostar trains = 190 days ahead of the travel date (usually)

(5) TGV France-Belgium trains = 3 months ahead of the travel date

However, if you will be searching for journeys between mid-September and mid-November AND travelling after the second weekend in December - the booking windows may be shorter while the new timetables for the year ahead are confirmed.

In contrast to train services within Belgium, seat reservations are available on most, but not all, international train services from and to Belgium.

(1) Thalys trains to/from Paris, Lille, The Netherlands and Germany = reservations are included in the ticket price, so seats will be automatically assigned when making a booking

(2) ICE trains to/from Germany = Reservations are included in the price of 1st class tickets, so seats will be automatically assigned when booking 1st class.

However, when booking 2nd class seats for a journey by ICE train, they are optional. B-Europe will initially assign reservations for 2nd class journeys by ICE trains and the reservation fee will be included in the ticket price ; but as reservations are optional you can choose to remove it. If you do so the price will reduce.

Without a reservation seats are not guaranteed on the ICE trains; reservations are particularly recommended in 2nd class if you will be travelling at evening business hours, or in the afternoon/evening on Fridays and Sundays.

(3) IC trains to/from The Netherlands, Lille in France and Luxembourg = Reservations are NOT available.

Note that that reservations aren't available on the IC trains between Belgium and The Netherlands; in contrast they are included when booking tickets to travel by the Thalys trains.

However, spare seats on these IC (Intercity Brussels) trains are usually available, though avoid travelling north from Bruxelles in 2nd class in the evening business hours.

(4) Eurostar trains = reservations are included in the ticket price, so seats will be automatically assigned when making a booking

(5) TGV France-Belgium trains = reservations are included in the ticket price, so seats will be automatically assigned when making a booking

There is a difference between how Eurail and InterRail passes can be used on trains in Belgium compared to how they can be used on MOST international trains; hence the dedicated guide to using rail passes on the trains to and from Belgium which you'll find below.

As reservations aren't required on any train operated by NMBS/SNCB, you can hop on and off virtually any train in Belgium if you're travelling with a Eurail or InterRail Pass. The only notable exceptions are the Thalys trains between Brussels/Bruxelles and both Antwerpen and Liege/Luik.

To get value for money out of your pass, plan multi stop day trips and see more than one great city in a single day. Viable itineraries for exploring with a rail pass include:

• Antwerpen - Gent - Brugge - Antwerpen
• Bruxelles - Antwerpen - Gent - Bruxelles
• Bruxelles - Mons - Ieper/Ypres - Bruxelles
• Bruxelles - Gent - Brugge - Bruxelles

Simon Harper

I wanted to share my passion for train travel and explain how anyone can take the fantastic journeys I have taken.

This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney , which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.

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Explore Belgium by Train with Belgian Railways

Belgium is known for its stunning architecture, delicious chocolate, and exquisite beer. However, this small country in Western Europe is also home to one of the most efficient and modern rail networks in the world – the Belgian Railways. Traveling by train in Belgium is not only convenient, but it’s also a great way to see the country’s natural beauty and historical landmarks.

If you’re planning a trip to Belgium, or if you’re just curious about the Belgian Railways, this guide is for you. In this article, we’ll explore the history of the Belgian Railways, the types of trains you can take, and the different travel options available to you. We’ll also cover some of the most popular destinations in Belgium and answer some common questions about traveling by train in Belgium.

Table of Contents

A Brief History of the Belgian Railways

The Belgian Railways, also known as SNCB/NMBS , is the Belgian national railway company. The history of the Belgian Railways dates back to the 19th century when the first railway line was opened in 1835, connecting Brussels to Mechelen. The railway network quickly expanded, and by the end of the 19th century, Belgium had one of the densest railway networks in the world.

The Belgian Railways played a significant role in the development of the Belgian economy, transporting goods and people across the country. Today, the Belgian Railways continue to be an essential part of the Belgian transportation system, with over 4,000 trains running each day.

Types of Trains on the Belgium Railways

The Belgian Railways offers several types of trains that cater to different travel needs. Here are the most common types of trains you can take in Belgium:

• Intercity Trains : These trains are the fastest and most convenient way to travel between major cities in Belgium. Intercity trains run on a regular schedule and stop at all major stations.
• Local Trains : Local trains are slower than intercity trains, but they stop at more stations. These are a great option for exploring smaller towns and villages in Belgium.
• High-Speed Trains : If you’re looking for a faster way to travel between major European cities, high-speed trains are the way to go. The Belgian Railways offers several high-speed train services, including the Thalys and Eurostar .
• Night Trains : If you’re planning to travel overnight, the Belgian Railways offers several night train services that allow you to sleep on the train and wake up in your destination European city.

Belgian Rail Tickets & Prices

Belgium has a variety of ticket options available for travelers. Single ticket fares are based on your destination, and there are also several types of multi-journey passes available that offer a fixed rate per journey.

Standard Multi Rail Passes cost 87€ and are valid for 10 journeys, which means you can travel at a fixed rate of 8.70€ per journey. One of the best things about these passes is that you can share them with your friends or family, making them a cost-effective option for groups.

If you’re traveling over a weekend, you can take advantage of the Weekend Ticket promotion. Starting from Friday 7pm to Sunday midnight, all return tickets are sold at half price, making this a great option for budget-conscious travelers.

For travelers between the ages of 12 and 25, there are several special youth tickets available. The Youth Ticket allows you to travel to any destination in Belgium for a fixed rate of 6.60€. The Youth Multi Rail Pass offers 10 journeys for a fixed price of 5.50€ per journey. During Belgian school holidays, travelers in this age range can purchase a Youth Holiday Pass, which is valid for an entire week at the price of 18€. In July and August, it’s also possible to buy a Youth Holidays Pass that’s valid for one month for only 29€.

Belgian Railway Map

If you’re planning to travel by train in Belgium, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the Belgian Railway Map. This map shows all the major train stations in Belgium, as well as the routes and services that are available.

Last Updated on 6 December 2023 by BertBeckers

Apr 17, 2020 | Countries

Belgium by Train

  A Travel Guide For Train Travel In Belgium.

Here you will find information for Belgium about trains, routes, tours, connections, where to buy train tickets, and more.

Useful Information

Population: 11.4 million

Currency: Euro

Language: Dutch, French, German

Capital: Brussels

Country Code: +32

Time Zone: Central European Standard Time

Train Companies | Tickets | Rail Passes | Train Types | Routes   | Main Stations | Good To Know

Train Companies

The trains in Belgium are operated by the national railway company  SNCB .

Copyright: RAILWAYHERO

Train Tickets

Buy your train tickets for Belgium online on BELGIANTRAIN.be the official homepage of the Belgian Railway (SNCB).

Buy your train tickets online at OMIO and compare trains, buses & flights.

Rail Passes

Interrail / eurail pass.

Do you want to travel throughout Europe flexibly and comfortably? Then the Interrail Pass is perfect for you. With the Interrail Pass, you can visit 40,000 destinations in 33 countries in Europe. You can travel for up to 3 months by train.

TrAIN tYPES

• National Trains
• International Trains
• Night Trains

The major rail network in Belgium is composed of the following trains:

Regional Trains in Belgium

InterRegio (IR) connects towns to larger cities such as Antwerp and Brussels.

• 1st and 2nd Class offered
• Reservations not required
• Trains are equipped with air-conditioning
• International travel to Maastricht/Roosendaal (Netherlands) or Luxembourg City

InterCity (IC) links important cities such as Antwerp, Brussels, and Liège as well as offers connections to Luxembourg, France, Germany, and Switzerland.

• 1st Class: Rows of three seats (2+1)
• 2nd Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
• Reservations not required; however, recommended during the peak travel season
• Trains are equipped with air-conditioning and most trains are equipped with a dining car offering a range of food and drinks.

CityRail operates around Brussels.

• 2nd Class only
• Reservations not required.

Brussels Airport Express connects Brussels Airport to big cities such as Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp.

• 5 € supplement charge

EuroCity (EC) links Brussels to Basel, Switzerland, Strasbourg, France, and Luxembourg.

• 1st and 2nd Classes offered
• Reservations not required; however, they are recommended due to the popularity of the routes
• Trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins, free WiFi, and air-conditioning. Trains are also equipped with a dining car offering a range of food and drinks.
• Bicycles are allowed on trains; however, the bike needs an additional ticket

Eurostar (ES) connects Brussels to London, United Kingdom, and Lille, France.

• 1st Class (Business Premier): Rows of three seats (2+1), inclusive of a meal, lounge access at terminal stations, as well as shorter check-in times at least 10 minutes before departure
• 1st Class (Standard Premier): Rows of three seats (2+1), inclusive of a meal, check-in at least 30 minutes prior to departure
• 2nd Class (Standard): Rows of four seats (2+2), check-in at least 30 minutes prior to departure
• Reservations required
• Most services are equipped with power outlets, WiFi, air-conditioning, and an on-board bistro offering a range of food and drinks.

InterCity Express (ICE) connects Brussels to Frankfurt and Cologne in Germany.

• First-class passengers may enjoy additional benefits such as magazines, power outlets, and in-seat service.
• Trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins, free WiFi, toilets, and air-conditioning. Trains are equipped with an onboard bistro offering a range of food and drinks.

Thalys (THA) connects Brussels to Amsterdam, Netherlands, and to Paris, France.

• Premium Class: Rows of three seats (2+1), includes a meal, drinks, and newspapers
• Comfort Class: Rows of three seats (2+1)
• Standard Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
• Reservations required, book as soon as possible
• Trains are equipped with power sockets, free WiFi, and air-conditioning. Trains are also equipped with a dining car offering a range of food and drinks.

TGV connects Brussels to Marseille and Paris, France.

• Trains are equipped with electrical plug-ins, free WiFi, and air-conditioning. Trains are equipped with a dining car offering a range of food and drinks.
• Bicycles are allowed on trains, but the bike needs an additional ticket.

ÖBB Nightjet

• Brussels – Cologne – Frankfurt – Linz – Vienna, Austria
• Brussels – Liège – Munich – Innsbruck, Austria
• Reservations are included in the ticket price
• Standard cabin includes your own bed, washbasin, and breakfast in the morning
• Deluxe cabin includes your own bed, shower, toilet, washbasin, and breakfast in the morning
• 4 berth and 6 berth couchette, as well as private compartments, are offered
• Bathrooms are located in the coach carriage
• Breakfast is included in the ticket price
• 2nd Class offered, no 1st Class
• Food cart offering a selected variety of drinks and food pass through the carriages.

Frequently Travelled Routes In Belgium

International, belgium travel routes.

Belgium: Exquisite Waffles And Delectable Beer

From Amsterdam To Paris

Main train stations, train tours in belgium, good to know, best time to travel to belgium.

We recommend traveling anytime between April – June, and September – October as during this time it will be less humid and less rainy. Due to its location on the sea, maritime weather often soaks the country 20 days per month in the winter, and in the summer gets a bit steamy with its humidity.

For a city break, any time of year is good for a visit, to sit back, sip on a Belgian beer or chow down on a Belgian waffle. Come in summer to partake in horseback shrimp fishing or in February for the Brussels Chocolate Fair.

• High Season : June to September
• Low Season : November to March

Accommodation In Belgium

The best place to find cheap hotels for is to book by www.booking.com . There you will find a large selection of cheap hotels, hostels, and apartments. > BOOK HERE

Hostelworld

If you are looking for a low budget accommodation, then go on www.hostelworld.com . They have the best choice of cheap hostels for backpackers and low budget travelers. > BOOK HERE

Guidebooks For Belgium

Travel with a guidebook ease your journey to find best sights and things to do. Buy it on Amazon .

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Train travel UK & Ireland...

Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, london to brussels 2h01, bruges 3h25.

Eurostar is the high-speed passenger train from London St Pancras to Brussels Midi through the Channel Tunnel.  Eurostar trains travel at up to 300 km/h (186 mph), it takes just 2 hours from central London to central Brussels, faster than flying as well as more comfortable, more convenient and more reliable.

Train travel within Belgium

International trains to/from belgium, other useful information, useful country information, option 1, london to brussels  by eurostar.

This is the fastest and easiest option, London to Brussels in just 2 hours.  Check Eurostar times & fares for your date of travel at www.eurostar.com as they can vary.  Eurostars no longer call at Ebbsfleet or Ashford.

Timetable outward 2024

Timetable inward 2024, notes for timetable.

There are no Eurostar services on Christmas Day and a reduced service on Boxing Day.  More about Eurostar .

Times may vary.  For connections to other destinations in Belgium use www.belgiantrain.be to find train times.

London to Brussels by Eurostar is 373 km (232 miles).

Ashford (Kent), Ebbsfleet:   Due to Brexit, Eurostars no longer call at Ashford or Ebbsfleet.

How much does it cost?

London to Brussels by Eurostar starts at £52 one-way or £78 return in standard class, £97 one-way, £140 return standard premier (1st class).

London to Any Belgian Station including Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Liege starts at £62 one way or £98 return.

Fares vary dynamically like air fares, so book ahead and avoid busy days or dates for the cheapest prices.

Tip:   A through ticket to Any Belgian Station is usually cheaper than buying separate tickets for London to Bruges, but for London to Antwerp or Ghent it can be slightly cheaper to buy a Eurostar ticket to Brussels and a separate ticket for the onward Belgian train.  Check prices between Brussels & your Belgian destination at the Belgian Railways website www.belgiantrain.be/en and if it's cheaper, buy that ticket online.

How to buy tickets

Buy Eurostar tickets online at www.eurostar.com .

You print your ticket or can load it into the Eurostar app & show on your phone.  Fares vary dynamically like air fares so book ahead.  Booking opens up to 6 months ahead, sometimes up to 11 months.

For Brussels , select Brussels-Midi/Zuid.

For Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp or anywhere else in Belgium , type ' any ' and select Brussels-Midi/Zuid + Any Belgian Station ticket , see screenshot .

Tip:  You may find certain London-Brussels departures missing until 60 days before departure.

Eurostar trains that go through to Amsterdam may be kept closed for sale for Brussels passengers (in other words, will not be bookable (or may not appear) in search results if you search for London to Brussels) until 60 days before departure.  This is Eurostar policy to give London-Amsterdam passengers first bite at the cherry.  The solution, at least for a one-way outward journey, is to book from London to Amsterdam and get off in Brussels.

You can also book by phone, calling Eurostar on 03432 186 186 (+44 1233 617575 from outside the UK) but a phone booking fee will apply.  Tips on choosing a specific Eurostar seat .

Travel tips

Going to central Brussels?  Free train transfer to Brussels Central!

Eurostar arrives at Brussels Midi , also known as Brussel Zuid or Brussels South , it's all the same place.  However, all Eurostar tickets to or from Brussels Midi are automatically valid for a free transfer on any SNCB (Belgian Railways) domestic train between Brussels Midi and Brussels Central (5 minutes walk from the Grande Place), Brussels Nord, Brussels Congrès, Brussels Luxembourg (near the EU Parliament) and a dozen other local stations in the central Brussels area.  This is very useful, but not well publicised!  You can see this on the Eurostar website, but it takes some finding.

See list of Brussels area stations to which your Eurostar ticket is valid . 

How to use an Any Belgian Station ticket

With a Eurostar ticket to Any Belgian Station (ABS) you can hop on any Belgian domestic train from Brussels to anywhere in Belgium within 24 hours of your Eurostar arrival in Brussels.  On the return leg, you can use any suitable train from your Belgian starting point to Brussels in the 24 hours before your Eurostar departure back to London.

When you use www.eurostar.com to book to/from Any Belgian Station, the times you see are for the Eurostar between London & Brussels.  You can check train times between Brussels and whatever Belgian station you want using www.belgiantrain.be .

No reservation is necessary for Belgian domestic trains, you just hop on any train you want.  It's not valid on high-speed Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains or German high-speed ICE trains (not to be confused with Belgian or Dutch IC trains, which are fine).

In the outward direction it only takes a few minutes to change trains at Brussels Midi , and if you miss a train you can catch the next one.  In the inwards direction you need to allow for the minimum 30 minute Eurostar check-in, and it's sensible to allow for the Belgian domestic train to be a little late too, so I'd allow at least 60 minutes between the Belgian train arriving and your Eurostar departure time, ideally more.

And yes, with a Standard Premier (1st class for leisure) or Business Premier (1st class for business) ABS ticket you also get 1st class on the Belgian domestic part of the journey.  Even though with a Standard Premier ticket there's usually an asterisk in the class column.

Going to Bruges?

Buy a Eurostar ticket to Any Belgian Station .  When boarding a train for Bruges in Brussels, the departure indicators usually show Oostende , Knokke or Blankenberge as the destination of your train, Bruges is only a calling point so not always shown.  Remember that Bruges is Brugge in Flemish, Bruges in French, it's the same place.  Short breaks in Brussels or Bruges by train .

Tip:   You want the half-hourly Brussels-Bruges trains on the main line through Ghent taking around 1 hour.  Don't get on a stopping train to Bruges via Roesalere taking 2h16!

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What are Eurostar trains like ?

Eurostar has 3 classes, Standard class , Standard Premier (1st class for leisure), and Business Premier (1st class for business).

Business Premier has flexible tickets, a hot meal served at your seat with alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks, access to business lounges in London & Brussels and a 10 minute minimum check-in.

Standard Premier offers exactly the same 1st class seating, but with more affordable inflexible fares, a cold tray meal served at your seat with complimentary alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks, a 30-minute minimum check-in in London, 45-minute minimum check-in in Brussels and no access to business lounges. 

You'll find Eurostar trains smooth & quiet, even at 186 mph.  All passengers have access to two buffet-bar cars serving drinks & snacks.  Eurostar is all non-smoking.   For more about Eurostar, check-in process and journey, see the Eurostar guide .

Arriving at Brussels Midi

See Brussels Midi station guide .  Eurostar arrives at platforms 1 & 2, or if it's one that's going through to Amsterdam, platform 3 or 4.  It's Bruxelles Midi in French, Brussel Zuid in Flemish, Brussels South in English, all the same place.  Brussels Midi is a fairly easy 25 minute walk from the famous Grand Place (Grote Markt) in the city centre, or there are buses, taxis & a metro.  Your Eurostar ticket includes a free transfer by Belgian Railways train to Brussels Central , 3 minutes walk from the Grand Place.

To walk to the city centre, leave the station from the main doors on the Eurostar terminal (platform 1/2) side of the station, turn right, walk along the side of the station/tracks for a few minutes and then turn left along the Rue Stalingrad to central Brussels.

Left luggage facilities are available if you need them, open 24 hours.  When returning to London, remember the 45 minute Eurostar check-in.  Click here for a map of Brussels .  Bus, tram & metro information for Brussels (English selector top right).

Onward trains to Bruges & Ghent

Tip :  For Bruges or Ghent, look on the departure boards for a train shown as going to either Oostende, Knokke or Blankenberge as these are the trains which stop at Bruges & Ghent.  And remember that Bruges is Brugge in Flemish and Ghent is Gand in French.  In Bruges, you want the main station, usually shown as plain 'Bruges', not the little local station called Bruges St Pieters.  However, just to confuse you, in Ghent the main station is called Ghent St Pieters .  All clear?  Great!

Option 2, London to Brussels by train & ferry

For over a century, the traditional direct route from London to Brussels was via Dover & Oostende. However, there have been no ferries from Dover to Oostende since the 1990s.  But there's still an alternative to Eurostar worth considering, especially if you live in East Anglia, or have a phobia about the Channel Tunnel, with easy train-ferry connections at each end, and inclusive fares covering train & ferry.  It's overnight while you sleep in a cosy private cabin with shower, toilet & satellite TV, so it's actually pretty time-effective, it's also punctual, all-weather-reliable and fun, too!  This route is also pet-friendly & bike-friendly .

London ► Antwerp & Brussels

Day 1, take the 18:45 train from London Liverpool Street to Harwich International, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for details .

There's also a direct train from Cambridge & Ipswich to Harwich International, leaving Cambridge at 19:47.

At Harwich International the train arrives right at the ferry terminal.  You walk off the train and into the ferry terminal, check in for the ferry and walk onto the ship.  Unlike flying, it's totally painless.  It's a breeze, even compared to queuing for Eurostar at St Pancras.

Day 1, sail from Harwich to Hoek van Holland by Stena Line superferry , she sails at 23:00 arriving Hoek van Holland at 08:00 Dutch time.

You can board from around 21:00 in time for a late dinner in the restaurant.  The ship is a floating hotel, all passengers have a private cabin with toilet, shower, satellite TV & free WiFi, an excellent and highly recommended experience.  When the ship arrives at Hoek van Holland next morning, the metro station is just across the road from the ferry terminal.

Day 2, take the RET metro from Hoek van Holland Haven to Beurs, this runs every 20-30 minutes, journey time 30 minutes.  At Beurs, change onto metro line D or E and go 2 stops to Rotterdam Centraal , see metro map .

Alternatively, if you feel like a morning stroll, get off at Eendrachtsplein and walk 850m 10-minutes to Rotterdam Centraal , see walking map .

Day 2, travel from Rotterdam to Belgium by Intercity train, leaving Rotterdam Centraal 10:11, arriving Antwerp Centraal 11:16, Brussels Midi 12:17.

See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details between London or Cambridge & Rotterdam.

Brussels & Antwerp ► London

Day 1, take the 17:45 InterCity train from Brussels Midi or 18:44 from Antwerp Centraal, arriving Rotterdam Centraal 19:49.

By all means leave Brusses on the previous train at 16:45 or Antwerp at 17:44 to board the ferry earlier, trains link Rotterdam Centraal with Antwerp & Brussels Midi every hour, check times at www.nsinternational.nl .

Day 1, now take the RET metro line D/E from Rotterdam Centraal to Beurs and change onto metro line B to Hoek van Holland, see metro map .  Metro trains to Hoek van Holland run every 20-30 minutes, journey time from Beurs around 30 minutes.

Or you can walk walk from Rotterdam Centraal to Eendrachtsplein metro station, an easy 10 minutes 850m, see walking map , then take metro line B direct to Hoek van Holland Haven, it runs every 20-30 minutes, journey time 30 minutes.

Day 1, sail overnight from Hoek van Holland to Harwich by Stena Line superferry , sailing at 22:00 and arriving in Harwich at 06:30 UK time.

You can board from around 20:00 onwards, in time for dinner in the restaurant before retiring to your private en suite cabin.  All passengers get a private cabin with toilet, shower, satellite TV & free WiFi.  An excellent experience.

At Harwich, you walk down the gangway, through passport control and onto the adjacent railway station.

Day 2, travel from Harwich to London by train, arriving London Liverpool Street at around 08:56.

There's also a direct train from Harwich to Ipswich & Cambridge, arriving Cambridge at 09:42 Mondays-Saturdays or 10:39 on Sundays.

See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details between Rotterdam & London or Cambridge.

London to Hoek van Holland starts at £62 with a Stena Line Rail & Sail ticket covering train & ferry.

This covers train travel from London Liverpool Street or any Greater Anglia railway station (including Norwich, Cambridge, Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds, Chelmsford and so on) to Harwich and the ferry to Hoek van Holland.

You need to add the cost of a cabin, from £50 for a single cabin, £56 for a 2-bed cabin, see the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for details .

Hoek van Holland to Rotterdam by metro costs around €4.

Rotterdam to Brussels by Intercity train costs €38.70 full-flex even bought on the day, good for any IC train, or from €18 if you book a few days or weeks in advance, only good for the specific departure you choose.

High-speed Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains also run on this route, but they're less frequent, more expensive and tickets are only good for the specific train you book.  I'd stick with the hourly IC trains.

Step 1, buy a Rail & Sail ticket from London or any Greater Anglia station to Hoek van Holland at www.stenaline.co.uk/rail-and-sail/to-holland .  See the Stena Line Rail & Sail page for full details & tips on how to buy tickets .  You print your own ticket.

You pay for the metro between Hoek van Holland & Rotterdam simply by touching in & out with any contactless bank card, or buy as shown here .

Step 2, buy an onward ticket from Rotterdam to Antwerp or Brussels www.nsinternational.nl .  You print your own ticket.

What's the journey like?

Step 1, London to Hoek van Holland by train & ferry.   An air-conditioned train whisks you from London Liverpool Street station directly to the ferry terminal at Harwich International.  You walk off the train, into the terminal, get your boarding card & cabin key at the Stena Line check-in desk and walk straight onto the overnight ferry to Hoek van Holland, sleeping in a cosy private cabin.  The superferries Stena Britannica & Stena Hollandica are the largest ferries of their kind in the world.  The journey from London to Rotterdam is explained in detail on the Stena Line Rail & Sail page .  See the video .

The Stena Britannica at boarding at Harwich, a floating hotel with private cabins, restaurant, bar, lounges, shop & kennels.

Above left, a standard outside cabin.  Larger photo .   360º photo .  Above right, the Stena Plus lounge with complimentary red & white wine, tea, coffee & snacks.

Above left, the bar on 9 deck. Above right, a Captain's Class cabin with complimentary minibar, toilet & shower.

Step 2, Hoek van Holland to Rotterdam by metro.   Air-conditioned metro trains link Hoek van Holland with Eendrachtsplein & Beurs stations in downtown Rotterdam every 20-30 minutes, journey time around 30 minutes, either get off at Eendrachtsplein and stroll 10 minutes to Rotterdam Centraal , or change at Beurs onto metro line D/E and go 2 stops to Rotterdam Centraal .

Step 3, Rotterdam to Belgium by train.   Take the hourly Intercity train from Rotterdam Centraal to Antwerp Centraal & Brussels Midi .  Rotterdam Centraal was rebuilt in 2014, and is now one of the most impressive modern stations around - it's worth wandering into the main hall and onto the forecourt to admire it.  The lovely Centraal Station lettering and clock on the front is taken from the previous 1957 building.

Short breaks to Brussels or Bruges

The historic city of Bruges makes a truly excellent short break destination from the UK - better in my opinion than Brussels, although both cities are worth the trip.  You can find short breaks to Bruges or Brussels combining Eurostar and hotel at:

www.railbookers.co.uk , call 0207 864 4600 .  Railbookers also offer Christmas Market breaks by train.

Byway.travel , a UK-based eco-holiday firm with a 5-star TrustPilot rating .  To see preconfigured packages to Ghent or Brussels, use the journey planner on their website .  Alternatively they can build a trip to your requirements, email them or use the contact form .  Please say you heard about them from Seat 61.

www.lastminute.com ;

London to Ypres (Ieper)

To reach what British soldiers knew as 'Wipers', first book Eurostar to Lille at www.eurostar.com .  On arrival at Lille Europe , walk to 500m to Lille Flandres station .  An hourly regional train runs from Lille to Kortrijk (the final destination of this train is usually Antwerp/Anvers), change at Kortrijk for the branch line to Ypres (Ieper) and Poperinge.  As the fare is fixed and you don't need a reservation, you can easily buy the Lille to Ypres ticket at the station in Lille when you get there.  Total journey time from Lille to Ypres is about 1h55.  You can check train times from Lille to Ypres at the Belgian railways website, www.belgiantrain.be .

London to Antwerp, Ghent or anywhere else in Belgium

If you buy a Eurostar ticket to Any Belgian Station , it's valid by Eurostar to Brussels and then by any suitable connecting train service from Brussels to anywhere in Belgium as long as you complete the journey within 24 hours of the Eurostar arriving in Brussels.  You can't use high-speed Eurostar (formerly Thalys) or ICE trains, but Belgian InterCity (IC) trains are fine.

In the inbound direction, you can travel from anywhere in Belgium to Brussels on any suitable train except Eurostar (formerly Thalys) or ICE high-speed trains within the 24 hours before your Eurostar departure from Brussels to London.  Again, InterCity (IC) trains are fine.  Trains generally run hourly or half-hourly between Brussels and all main Belgian cities, no reservation is necessary, you just hop on and find any empty seat.

A ticket to Any Belgian Station costs £10 more one-way or £20 more return than a Eurostar ticket to Brussels, in other words, from £98 return in standard class, which is extremely good value.  In first class, it costs £16 one-way or £32 return more than the price of a Standard Premier or Business Premier ticket to Brussels.

Beware of out-of-date advice .  Until 2010, a Eurostar ticket to Brussels was automatically valid to any station in Belgium, a fantastic deal for passengers, less fantastic for Belgian Railways who received no revenue from this.  The arrangement ceased in October 2010, and there are now two separate destinations shown on the Eurostar website, Brussels if you just want Brussels itself and Any Belgian Station if you want to travel beyond Brussels, the latter priced higher than Brussels.  Incidentally, a ticket to Brussels still allows a free train transfer from Brussels Midi to Brussels Central, Brussels Nord, and several other central Brussels stations ( see the travel tip above ), but no longer to any station in Belgium.

You can use the online timetable at int.bahn.de or www.belgiantrain.be to check train times.  Allow at least 20 minutes in Brussels to make a connection on the outward journey, and 45 minutes (preferably more) on the return to allow for the 30-minute Eurostar check-in.

Advice on changing trains at Brussels Midi station .  Remember that Antwerp can also be written as Anvers .  Bruges can also be written Brugge .

Other UK cities to Belgium

There are special tickets to London International CIV from most UK stations which have better terms and conditions specially designed for connecting with Eurostar:  Buy a special add-on ticket from almost any station in Britain to London International (St Pancras) .

East Anglia to Brussels by train & ferry

If you live in East Anglia, a convenient, affordable and time-effective option is to use the overnight Harwich to Hoek van Holland luxury superferry, see the section above .

Devon & Cornwall to Brussels by sleeper & Eurostar

You can take the overnight Night Riviera sleeper train from Cornwall, Plymouth, Newton Abbott or Exeter to London Paddington, take the Underground to St Pancras, then hop on a Eurostar to Brussels, see the Sleeper to Cornwall page for details .

Scotland to Brussels by sleeper & Eurostar

You can take the overnight Caledonian Sleeper from Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh,, Glasgow and many other Scottish town and cities to London Euston, walk to St Pancras, then hop on a Eurostar to Brussels, see the Caledonian Sleepers page for details .

G uidebooks

Take a good guidebook, even in the age of the internet!  For the independent traveller, I think this means either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide.  I personally prefer the layout of the Lonely Planet, but others prefer the Rough Guide.  Both guidebooks provide the same excellent level of practical information and historical background.  You won't regret buying one!

Click the images to buy at Amazon.co.uk

European rail timetable & maps.

Rail Map Europe is the map I recommend, covering all of Europe from Portugal in the west to Moscow & Istanbul in the east, Finland in the north to Sicily & Athens in the south.  Scenic routes & high-speed lines are highlighted.  See an extract from the map .  Buy online at www.europeanrailtimetable.eu (shipping worldwide) or at www.amazon.co.uk (UK addresses).

Hotels in Belgium

Hotels near brussels midi.

I f you need a decent inexpensive hotel close to Brussels Midi station where Eurostar arrives, go for the dependable Ibis Brussels Midi just across the road or for something a little more upmarket the Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi is part of the station complex itself.  I have stayed at both, and can recommend.

Hotels in the centre of Brussels

How about staying on the famous Grand Place itself?  In the mid-range, the Résidence Le Quinze Grand Place gets rave reviews and overlooks Brussels' famous central square.

If you really want to push the boat out, the Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo is top end and scores 9/10, right near the Grand Place.

You can stay next to the Grand Place relatively cheaply, too, at the Hotel Agora Grand Place also with great reviews.

All these hotels near the Grand Place are just a few minutes walk from Brussels Central station .

In Bruges:  Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce

If you can afford it and for somewhere really special, go for the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce , a luxurious and romantic boutique-style hotel in a fabulous location on the canal and within easy walking distance of all the sights.  My own stay here was a delight, and Mrs 61 was particularly impressed to be sharing the breakfast room with the lead guitarist from Pink Floyd.

Backpacker hostels: www.hostelworld.com

www.hostelworld.com :  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European cities at rock-bottom prices.

Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance.

You should take out travel insurance with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover from a reliable insurer.  It should cover trip cancellation and loss of cash & belongings up to a reasonable limit.  These days, check you're covered for covid-19-related issues, and use an insurer whose cover isn't invalidated by well-meant but excessive Foreign Office travel advice against non-essential travel. An annual policy is usually cheapest even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Don't expect travel insurance to bail you out of every missed connection, see the advice on missed connections here .  Here are some suggested insurers, I get a little commission if you buy through these links, feedback always welcome.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a European mobile data package and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  There's no need to buy a physical SIM card!  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month as I write this.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.  And you can get a Curve card for free.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than getting a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When travelling you may use free public WiFi which is often insecure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using this link you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I also get some commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, hotel bookings and Interrail or Eurail passes are often now held on your mobile phone.  You daren't let it run out of power, and you can't always rely on the phone's internal battery or on being near a power outlet.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or Buy from Amazon.com .

Touring cities?  Use hill walking shoes!

One of the best things I've done is swap my normal shoes for hill-walking shoes, in my case from Scarpa.  They're intended for hiking across the Pennines not wandering around Florence, but the support and cushioning for hiking works equally well when you're on your feet all day exploring foreign cities.  My feet used to give out first and limit my day, now the rest of me gives up before they do!

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Rare 100-Year-Old Train Carriage Found Buried in Belgium

The wooden LNER train wagon was a “removals truck” used to move people’s belongings between residences

Sonja Anderson

Daily Correspondent

Archaeologists in Belgium have unearthed a century-old train carriage marked with the logo of the London North Eastern Railway (LNER). Nobody knows how the rare model ended up underground in the metropolis of Antwerp, 500 miles from the rail company’s English headquarters.

The old train car was found during excavations of a 19th-century fortress known as the Northern Citadel, according to a statement from LNER. Made of wood and painted dark red with yellow lettering, the wagon is a “removals” car, used for moving people’s belongings from residence to residence.

“The wooden removals truck is thought to be around 100 years old,” says archaeologist Femke Martens in the statement. “It’s a mystery as to how the carriage came to be in Antwerp, and unfortunately there’s very little left of the relic, as it disintegrated while being excavated.”

Based on physical examinations and internal research, LNER officials think the car is one of the first models in the company’s removal fleet, which operated for a brief period around 1930, per BBC News ’ Rachel Russell.

Martens says that the car was identifiable only by its painted inscriptions: “Furniture removal to house,” “Enquire at any station,” “LNER” and “BK769” (“B” specifies the wagon’s size class, while “K” indicates it was used to carry furniture).

The railway company, originally called the London and North Eastern Railway, began operations in 1923. It was the second largest of the “Big Four” railway companies formed by Britain’s 1921 Railways Act , also known as the Grouping Act.

The act came soon after the end of World War I, which had damaged the United Kingdom’s railway systems. By the early 1920s,  120 companies were operating its 20,000 miles of track. The government took action to organize the system, splitting the railways into four regional companies.

By the early 1930s, LNER was servicing people moving houses by transporting their belongings in “simple square boxes” on the railroad, reports the Brussels Times ’ Lauren Walker. The first editions of these cars were painted reddish-brown, just like the recently excavated model. However, a few years later, the company switched to a blue model, which was manufactured on a larger scale—making the discovery of the earlier red design “all the rarer and more unique,” per the statement.

Archaeologists are excavating the site ahead of the construction of the Oosterweel Link , a new motorway that will encircle the city. How the train reached this site is a mystery, though city officials think it could have once been used as a storage space, according to the Brussels Times . As company officials tell BBC News , it’s “highly unlikely” the discovery will be returned to England due to its “very fragile state.”

“We’re fascinated by the history of our brand,” says Stuart Thomas, LNER’s communications director, in a statement . “Just last year, we celebrated 100 years since the LNER came into being in 1923. In our 101st year, it is incredible to discover more of LNER history has been buried in a field in Belgium for so many decades.”

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Sonja Anderson | READ MORE

Sonja Anderson is a writer and reporter based in New York City.

CNN values your feedback

Snake on a bullet train causes rare railway delay in japan.

Almost nothing stops Japan’s famous high-speed bullet trains from running exactly on time – but a tiny snake slithering through a passenger carriage will do the trick, albeit for just 17 minutes.

On Tuesday, a commuter reported to station staff in Tokyo that a 40-centimeter (16-inch) snake had been spotted in the carriage of a train arriving from Nagoya , according to the Central Japan Railway Company.

The train had been scheduled to depart for the city of Osaka, but was instead put out of service as a precaution. Another train had to be assigned to the route, causing a delay that, while brief by many other national railway standards, was relatively significant for Japan’s relentlessly punctual service.

No injuries were reported. Over 600 passengers were affected by the delay.

Related article Flying without wings: The world’s fastest trains

The breed of the snake is unknown, and a review is underway to determine how the snake got on board, the railway company told CNN.

The bullet train, known as Shinkansen in Japan, is known for its efficiency as well as speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour (200 mph). Commuters in Japan have come to expect its reliability.

In 2017, a conductor on one service, the Tsukuba Express, triggered a network apology after he departed 20 seconds early.

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Hello World!

What to know when planning an awe-inspiring hike on the Inca Trail

Peru's most famous trail leads to Machu Picchu

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While on the Inca Trail, every step — past ancient ruins, up stone staircases and over Dead Woman's Pass — brings hikers closer to their final goal: reaching Machu Picchu. Trains and buses drop thousands of visitors off here every day, but hiking in offers an unmatched experience. Hikers get to sit in sacred spaces, sleep under the stars and bond with their fellow adventurers. The promise of being able to reach the Sun Gate and take in that first view of Machu Picchu keeps them motivated.

Planning a hike on the Inca Trail takes time. There are also important factors to keep in mind, like when the dry season is and what time of year the trail is closed for maintenance. Here are some tips to ensure an epic experience.

What is the Inca Trail?

Hikers get to see stunning views from the Inca Trail

The Classic Inca Trail is a 25-mile-long hiking trail in the Andes Mountains that takes four days to complete and ends at Machu Picchu. After starting at KM 82 in the Sacred Valley, hikers will follow the stone paths that wind by sites like the Valley of Llulluchapampa, Sayacmarca ruins and Wiñay Wayna complex. On the final day of the trek, you most likely will rise well before dawn in order to arrive at the Sun Gate and Machu Picchu around sunrise.

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How soon should you start planning a hike?

Running across alpacas is another highlight of the Inca Trail

If possible, think about booking six to nine months in advance. The peak season to visit is June through August, and with the Inca Trail being a popular hike, permits are snapped up quickly. 

What is the best time of year to hit the trail?

One of the many types of flowers that grow along the trail

The trail is open year-round except in February, when it is closed for maintenance. Dry season is May through September, "where temperatures are milder and you can expect bright, sunny days, making for great visibility along the hike," Krissy Concannon, an independent affiliate of Travellustre in Boston, told The Week. The Inca Trail is one direction only, and when the adventure is over you will leave by train or bus.

Do I need to train for the Inca Trail? 

Preparation for the hike should start before you leave home

This is a strenuous hike at a high altitude, traversing different landscapes like cloud forests and grasslands. Travelers should expect to travel six to nine miles a day and can train ahead of time by hiking with a pack or getting regular exercise at home. Julie Sudderth of Vivid Getaways in Dallas told The Week she has seen "hikers from 7 to 70 years old command this trail with no problems." The Inca Trail reaches an elevation of 13,800 feet above sea level, making acclimation critical, especially for those who have experienced altitude sickness previously. Concannon recommends spending at least two or three days in Cusco prior to the hike to acclimate better to the altitude.

What kind of experiences can you have on the trail?

Sunrise on the trail is a beautiful experience

Every trip has one element in common: You must go with an operator and cannot hike on your own. "Normally, the best companies go with the best guides," Sudderth said. "This is invaluable." Good guides "will know when to slow down or quicken the pace as they are actively reading the client’s demeanor," she added, and also "weave the rich history, wildlife and flora and fauna into the hike" while keeping everyone "engaged and motivated. With children especially, this is priceless."

Those who want to go all out can book a private or small group hike, with an expert guide and porters, a well-stocked and clean bathroom tent, gourmet meals and high-quality camping gear, from the pillows to the tents. Midrange experiences are catered toward hikers who do not want a bare-bones trip but also aim to keep costs down, and include nice gear and good food with moderate accommodations.

Concannon warns that when opting for low-cost hiking tours, travelers "need to be cautious to ensure operators are not cutting corners that could negatively impact their experience. Hikers can expect minimal or lesser quality gear and food options to be more minimal. Campsite options could also be less than ideal, with locations lacking in view."

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Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com . Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com , The New York Times , The Book of Jezebel , and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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The 8 Most Beautiful Train Stations Around the World

Posted: April 17, 2024 | Last updated: April 17, 2024

You may think of train stations as just places that help you quickly get from point A to point B, but there are many exquisitely designed ones out there that are worth slowing down for. Beautiful train stations give a new meaning to the saying, “sit back and enjoy the journey,” and can make your commute more memorable.

If you want to add more excitement to your next train ride, keep reading. Ahead, we found some of the most eye-catching train terminals in different areas of the globe. From one train station adorned with thousands of painted ceramic tiles depicting its country’s history to another with gilded gold ceilings, these are eight of the most beautiful train stations around the world.

Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY

Grand Central Terminal , located in Midtown Manhattan, is considered one of the busiest (and most beautiful) train stations in New York City. It first opened to the public in the winter of 1913 and services the MTA Metro-North Railroad and several subway lines. Some standout features of this Beaux-Arts building include an eye-catching opal clock and a painted ceiling that depicts a starry night sky.

Union Station, Washington, D.C.

Revered as one of the country’s first great union railroad stations, Union Station in Washington, D.C., is one not to miss. The magnificent terminal features a gilded ceiling and eagle-adorned flagpoles and was completed in 1908, making it over 100 years old. It was designed by Daniel Burnham, a famous architect who drew inspiration for the station from Greek and Roman architecture.

São Bento Railway Station, Porto, Portugal

Located in the center of Porto, São Bento Station boasts murals constructed from approximately 20,000 azulejo tin-glazed ceramic tiles. The artwork illustrates the story of Portugal’s history, touching on the Battle of Valdevez and the Conquest of Ceuta, as well as other prominent events.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai, India

Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus , the gorgeous station formerly called Victoria Terminus, is a UNESCO World Heritage site in the middle of Mumbai. The station was designed by British architect F. W. Stevens who worked with Indian artisans to bring the station to life. Some defining features include its tall turrets and pointed arches that embody the Victorian Gothic Revival style.

Dunedin Station, Otego, New Zealand

There is no shortage of magnificent details at Dunedin Station in New Zealand. The prominent building, which dates all the way back to 1906, has a mosaic floor made from over 750,000 porcelain tiles and white Oamaru limestone facings on its facade. The station also has a sizable main-floor restaurant, an art gallery, and a sports hall of fame, making it a great place to visit even if you don’t have to catch a train.

Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol, England

Bristol Temple Meads , designed by British engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, is known as one of the largest and oldest railway stations in Bristol. It’s believed that approximately 10 million visitors pass through the station annually.

Liège-Guillemins, Liège, Belgium

Dreamed up by Spanish engineer and architect Santiago Calatrava, Liège-Guillemins in Belgium is a modern wonder. Completed in 2009, the kaleidoscopic, design-forward hub has a vaulted glass and steel canopy and a roof with sweeping curves.

Toledo Station, Naples, Italy

Because of the Art Stations project in Naples, there are plenty of eye-catching terminals that have been thoughtfully designed. However, one of the most memorable ones is the Toledo Station , which has thousands of Bisazza mosaics on its walls and ceiling, creating an ethereal look.

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