Belgium by Train
Trains - Tickets - RoutesA 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
The trains in Belgium are operated by the national railway company SNCB.
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
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.
- 1st Class: Rows of three seats (2+1)
- 2nd Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
- First-class passengers may enjoy additional benefits such as magazines, power outlets, and in-seat service.
- Reservations not required; however, they are recommended due to the popularity of the routes
- 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.
- 1st and 2nd Classes offered
- Reservations required, book as soon as possible
- 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
Routes:
-
- Brussels – Cologne – Frankfurt – Linz – Vienna, Austria
- Brussels – Liège – Munich – Innsbruck, Austria
- Reservations are included in the ticket price
- Sleeping Carriage:
- 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
- Couchette Carriage:
- 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
- Sitting Carriage:
- 2nd Class offered, no 1st Class
- Bathrooms are located in the coach carriage
- Food cart offering a selected variety of drinks and food pass through the carriages.
Routes
Frequently Travelled Routes In Belgium
National
From > To |
Duration (h) | Stops | Trains |
Brussels to Ghent | 0:36 | Direct | Intercity |
Brussels to Liege | 1:17 | Direct | Intercity |
Brussels to Antwerp | 0:42 | Direct | Intercity |
Brussels to Bruges | 0:57 | Direct | Intercity |
Brussels to Charleroi | 0:51 | Direct | Intercity |
Antwerp to Ghent | 0:46 | Direct | Intercity |
Antwerp to Genk | 2:10 | 1 | Intercity & Bus |
International
From > To |
Duration (h) | Stops | Transport |
Brussels to London, England | 1:55 | Direct | Train |
Brussels to Paris, France | 1:22 | Direct | Train |
Brussels to Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | 3:23 | Direct | Train |
Antwerp to Rotterdam, Netherlands | 1:05 | Direct | Train |
Antwerp to Amsterdam, Netherlands | 1:44 | Direct | Train |
Liege to Cologne, Germany | 1:01 | Direct | Train |
Ghent to Lille, France | 2:04 | 1 | Train |
Main Train Stations
- Antwerp
- Brussels
- Bruges
- Ghent
- Genk
- Liege
- Charleroi
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
Booking
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.