There’s nothing ‘waffly’ about Brussels and, like its most famous sweet treat, it’s got an unexpected hit when you bite into it, and comes with a wide variety of toppings. You’ve got classic Brussels, with its ever so Grand-Place UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an array of magnificent Gothic and Baroque architecture such as the Royal Palace. Then there’s straight-up, straight-laced Brussels in its capacity as the seFat of the EU. For a fusion of flavours, Brussels is as cosmopolitan as it gets, with international influences at every turn. It also has four languages, French, Dutch and German, as well as Flemish, which is predominantly used in the Flanders region. For a sugar rush of culture, Brussels has lashings of museums, art galleries and cultural events. If you want to work out how to get to Brussels by train, there are many ways to do so with direct trains to Brussels from the likes of Amsterdam and Paris, London or Frankfurt. And did someone say they’d like chocolate with that? Brussels is brimming over with the stuff.

Travel to Brussels by train

It’s bureaucracy central and so, not surprisingly, Brussels is a hotspot for European rail networks. You can travel to Brussels by train either from the UK or from within Europe on services that pride themselves on efficiency and sustainability. Once you’re travelling within Belgium, you’ll be amazed at the frequency of Brussels train journey times too, as it has a very busy domestic rail network.

Main train companies

The most popular high-speed trains to Brussels are operated by Eurostar, InterCity Express (ICE), SNCF (TGV INOUI) and Intercity. Domestic services are provided by SNCB. Here are the main train companies that you come across when you are booking trains to Brussels.

SNCB (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Belges)

This is Belgium's national railway operator but it also provides services across the border. Their services not only take you to Brussels but also open up a world of Belgian wonders that you may not have heard of before. With the longest distance point-to-point being 280km, the country is small enough to easily make day trips from one city to another such as from Brussels to Antwerp in just 30 mins. It has both regional and intercity services, with an incredible 550 stations in this bijou country, and they also link seamlessly with Eurostar and other international services.

Train features

SNCB’s trains aren’t up there with some of Europe’s state-of-the-art trains, and are much more functional than flashy. As they mostly service short routes, they haven’t yet invested in Wi-Fi, they may only have one power socket per carriage, and luggage room is aimed more at day trippers. However, there are a lot of them which, for most of us, is what counts. Hopefully one day you will also be able to order the best Belgian hot chocolate ever on board, but for now there are no cafe services.

Tickets and classes

You can buy First and Second Class tickets on SNCB trains, however, there isn’t a big difference between the two. There also isn’t often a big difference in price. However, as Belgians love their own train service they use it a lot, and so it can get busy, and First Class is nearly always quieter, and you do get a little more legroom. Another quirk of Belgian trains is that you can’t reserve specific seats, no matter which class you opt for. So if you’re travelling to Brussels by train in rush hour, you may be wise paying that bit extra for a First Class ticket.

Eurostar

Eurostar has been running its London to Brussels service since its launch in 1994, although it was the London to Paris route that got the most attention at the time. This means that you can travel from one capital to the other without excess carbon emissions or excess baggage costs. Travelling between London’s St. Pancras International station and Brussels Midi (Zuid in Dutch) station is simply one of those rail travel treats. It’s hard to believe really, but it only takes, on average, 1 hr 53 mins, not much more than it takes to traverse some cities by car.

The London to Brussels train service operates ten times a day during the week, and the same for the other direction. There are also eight services per day on weekends. So, if you didn’t realise it already, Brussels is the place to be.

Brussels by train from Paris and Amsterdam

Eurostar is a great option for train travel between Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels. It is also the exclusive operator connecting Paris Gare du Nord and Brussels Midi/Zuid station, with the fastest trains taking 1 hr 22 mins. When you travel on either the Paris to Brussels train, or the Amsterdam to Brussels train, you may also notice the iconic red Thalys trains operating. Don’t be confused as, since 2023, Eurostar and Thalys have joined forces, bringing you a more efficient and convenient Brussels train schedule.

Train features

Once you’ve travelled on Eurostar, there’s no return to flying. Even though it’s been around since 1994, it still feels like a novelty to many, zipping through the longest undersea tunnel in the world, at an average depth of 40m below the sea bed. It may not feel quite as revolutionary when you use the mainland service between Paris or Amsterdam to Brussels, but this is still ravishing rail travel. They travel at speeds of up to 300km/h, while you make the most of the free Wi-Fi and power sockets at every seat, on-board food services or just watch your chosen countries pass by from the comfort of your seat.

Frequency of services

Morning, noon (ish) and night is a good way to think of it, when travelling to Brussels by train from UK, as there are ten services a day on weekdays, and eight on weekends, or nine if you are travelling back again from Brussels to London, the last one at 20:56 so can bask in the bustle of Brussels to the max. All in all, this is a colossal cross-country service, as Eurostar’s Amsterdam to Brussels train runs daily every one to two hours, and the same goes for its Paris to Brussels train.

Tickets and classes

Although this sub-aqua adventure, or cross-countries journey feels pretty classy wherever you sit, Eurostar provides three classes of service: Eurostar Standard, Eurostar Plus and Eurostar Premier. Each ticket class has refundable and exchange options, with Premier tickets pushing the boat out on extra spacious seats. Premier ticket holders also get to whizz through a fast-track ticket gate and start their chilled Brussels trip in style, with the use of an exclusive lounge in London, Paris and Amsterdam* before departure. Whether it’s a salad, smoothie or a signature cocktail bar that you’re after, it’s one of those ‘this is the life’ moments when you treat yourself to a lounge. There is, of course, a lounge in Brussels too, while you wait for your return journey, but only for Premier ticket holders. For more details, see our Eurostar train guide.

Check in and customs

Check in facilities for Eurostar open around 1 hr 30 mins before departure, and close 30 mins before those train doors firmly shut. When you’re travelling to Brussels by train from London, you are leaving the UK and entering the EU, so you do need to show your passport and any applicable visas. So, as you need to go through security and passport control in London, you should be there at least 45 mins in advance, so that you don’t sweat it too much.

You may not need a passport to travel between cities in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. However, depending on your nationality, a visa may be required for short trips to the EU or Schengen area. Regardless, it's always recommended to carry your passport when travelling.

InterCity Express (ICE)

The InterCity Express (ICE) is a top-of-the range family of high-speed trains run principally by Germany’s national train provider, Deutsche Bahn. They are the best way to travel to Brussels by train from Germany. Sleek, swift and very comfortable, the ICE is very nice if you’re going from Frankfurt or Cologne to Brussels. And with speedy Brussels train journey times, such as 1 hr 51 mins from Cologne, or 3 hrs 19 mins from Frankfurt, we’d definitely like ICE with that.

Train features

The ICE trains to Brussels are far from chilly. They are cosy, chic and create plenty of heat on the tracks too, travelling at up to 230 km/h. And they’re also pretty hot on saving carbon emissions. There is free Wi-Fi, prolific power sockets, restaurant car and a high-spec design that’s been recently refurbished.

Tickets and classes

You can usually book your ICE ticket up to six months in advance of travel, and reservation is recommended but not compulsory when travelling on an ICE train to Brussels. During peak summer season, however, you do need a seat reservation in advance, as well as your actual ticket. You can get some great value fares, called Sparpreis, if you book in advance.

ICE trains provide two classes of service: Standard Class and First Class. The big advantage of First Class is that you have more legroom, and you don’t have to use your legs to go to the restaurant car, as there is at-seat catering. You can also use the DB lounges in German stations. For more information, see our InterCity Express train guide.

Intercity (IC)

Intercity (IC) trains to Brussels are also of the Deutsche Bahn family. The clue is in the name, as they offer speedy services between many European cities. The direct IC trains between Amsterdam and Brussels, for example, takes around 2 hrs 51 mins (compared with just over 2 hrs with Eurostar). They are often the slightly cheaper option too, compared with Eurostar. IC trains are more common on train routes to Brussels that aren’t direct and serve one leg of the journey.

Train features

IC trains are often double deckers, so there’s plenty of room, you have great views and, although they aren’t as speedy as other trains, 200km/h isn’t exactly a slow coach. They no longer have a buffet carriage, but they do often have a trolley service. You also don’t have to reserve a seat but, if it’s busy we recommend it. That way you can also choose between an open plan carriage or a six-seater compartment, which can be fun if there is a group of you travelling. There is free Wi-Fi and power sockets at all seats.

Tickets and classes

There are two classes of tickets on IC trains: First and Standard. There isn’t a big difference, although if you’re tall you do definitely get a bit more leg and elbow room, and the carriages are generally quieter. You can also use the DB lounges in German stations, but you can’t use the Eurostar lounge in Brussels Midi/Zuid station. There is, however, the superb Pullman Brussels Centre Midi Hotel just next door, which is home for a lot of regular Belgian travellers. With no shortage of Belgian beer on tap. For more information, see our Intercity (IC) train guide.

SNCF (TGV INOUI)

If you’re choosing a train ticket from France to Brussels that isn’t direct, you will be sure to travel with the French national rail provider, SNCF, on its TGV INOUI trains. TGV is an iconic train, and one of the world pioneers in high-speed trains, which is why they’re still known as TGV trains, or Train à Grande Vitesse. Some of our most popular journeys from France to Brussels by TGV train are from Paris, Lyon and Marseille, some of which have a change en route. However, if you want to know how vite is vite, you can travel direct from Lyon to Brussels in as little as 3 hrs 41 mins, and from Marseille to Brussels on a direct train that whizzes through France in as little as 5 hrs 30 mins. That’s very vite.

Train features

TGV INOUI trains are the roi of the rail network in France. An increasing number of TGVs are double-decker trains, referred to as TGV Duplex. Choose a seat on the upper level for better views. Air conditioning is standard on TGV INOUI trains and they all have a bar-bistro carriage, as well as a trolley service on some trains. There is also free Wi-Fi on TGV INOUI, plenty of sockets and a Wi-Fi portal where you can order food and drink at the bar, to avoid queuing.

Tickets and classes

There are three classes of seats on TGV INOUI trains when travelling to Brussels by train, although we think they’re all pretty classy: Business Première, First Class and Second Class. As a Business Première passenger, you have access to Grand Voyageur lounges in 12 French cities, including Paris (naturellement), Bordeaux, Lille, Marseille and Strasbourg. In addition, you are welcomed with a complimentary drink and you can order your food online to avoid queues at the bar.

First Class passengers don’t have lounge access, but they do have Wi-Fi and power sockets, and their seats recline. You can also order your meal online before your trip to skip the queue in the bar carriage. With Second Class, you get the speed without the snazziness, but the seats are still spacious. You can also order your meal online though. This is France after all, and meal times take priority no matter who you are. For more information, see our TGV INOUI train guide.

Other Brussels train routes

NS trains

You don’t always need to take high-speed trains to Brussels, and we shouldn’t forget the very efficient neighbouring Dutch train services that also go there, run by the national operator NS. This stands for Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) and it boasts over 2,800km of railway network. The most popular direct services between the Netherlands and Brussels on NS trains are to Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

Main Brussels train stations

There are three stations in Brussels, the main one being Brussels-Midi, also called Bruxelles-Midi in French and Brussel-Zuid in Dutch. This is the one that’s served by all international trains into Brussels and it’s just 1.8km from here to the Grand-Place. It’s a pretty modern affair, and functional rather than fancy, with luggage lockers if you want to go explore. One of the best Brussels train travel tips is to check out the rather posh Pullman Brussels Centre Midi Hotel next door if you want somewhere luxurious to linger before your journey. For more information, see our Brussels-Midi station guide.

The other two stations are mostly for domestic services within Belgium: Brussels North (Brussel-Noord in Dutch, Bruxelles-Nord in French), approximately a 30 mins walk from the city centre. Lastly, Brussels Central, or Brussel-Centraal in Dutch and Bruxelles-Central in French, is in the heart of the historic centre, just a 6 mins walk from Grand-Place.

Popular Brussels train routes

People travel from all over Europe and the UK to and within Belgium and, for most people their starting point is Brussels. Expand your horizons and travel across Europe with cheap train tickets to Brussels from cities in France, Germany, Belgium and England. Here are our most popular Brussels train routes.

Route: London <> Brussels
Fastest travel time: 1 hr 56 mins
Train station: St. Pancras International <> Brussels-Midi

Route: Paris <> Brussels
Fastest travel time: 1 hr 22 mins
Train station: Paris Nord (Gare du Nord) <> Brussels-Midi

Route: Amsterdam to Brussels
Fastest travel time: 1 hr 33 mins
Train stations: Amsterdam Centraal <> Brussels-Midi

Route: Cologne to Brussels
Fastest travel time: 1 hr 51 mins
Train station: Cologne Hauptbahnhof (Köln Hbf) <> Brussels-Midi

Route: Frankfurt <> Brussels
Fastest travel time: 2 hrs 57 mins
Train station: Frankfurt am Main Hauptbahnhof <> Brussels-Midi

Route: Luxembourg to Brussels
Fastest travel time: 2 hrs 57 mins
Train station: Luxembourg City <> Brussels-Midi and also Brussels-Nord

Booking Brussels train tickets with Rail Europe

Rail Europe is the ideal place to book cheap train tickets to Brussels, the rest of Belgium and beyond. You can easily book all your travel in one place as you can book train jorneys with Eurostar, InterCity Express, Intercity and more.

Using Rail Europe is simple thanks to the straightforward booking system that allows you to pay in a variety of currencies. Rail Europe is easy to navigate and available in multiple languages.

Booking tickets with Rail Europe is simple. Just enter all your travel information into the Rail Europe online booking system and search for the best tickets for your journey to Brussels. You can easily manage your bookings, check departure times and make amendments to your journey here on our website.

Rail Europe is also a great place to look for travel inspiration, with many helpful city guides and plenty of travel discounts to discover.

Getting the best Brussels train fares

Our top tip to get cheap train tickets to Brussels is to book well in advance. With Eurostar trains, tickets are available between six and eight months in advance. For InterCity Express (ICE) and Intercity (IC) trains to Brussels, tickets are available up to six months in advance. If you want to be really on the ball, sign up for our super handy booking alert system so that you’re given the heads up when the booking opens up on your chosen Brussels train route.

Using a rail pass to travel to Brussels by train

Booking trains to Brussels is particularly easy if you want to use a rail pass, the most popular of which is the Benelux Pass, which covers Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. You can also travel to Brussels by train using your Eurail or Interail Pass, even when travelling on Eurostar from the UK. For this journey, you need to book your seat in advance and pay a supplementary seat reservation fee. For more information, see our guide to European Rail Passes.

Exploring Brussels

It may come across as a bit earnest, but Brussels oozes as much class and cultural oompah as its famous chocolate houses ooze praline. It’s a city that surprises at every turn. It was home of Hergé, creator of Tintin and surrealist painter, Magritte after all, so it’s bound to have adventures and quirkiness among its cobbled streets, Royal Quarter and European Quarter. There’s also lots of cycling, chocolate-eating and culture to be done, so don’t make the mistake of only taking the train to Brussels for one day.

Must-see attractions in Brussels

To get you started, rent a bicycle at Brussels-Midi station, with the Villo shared bicycle scheme. You can rent for just one day or longer of course, so it’s perfect for visitors, and there are 360 parking stations throughout the city. There are plenty of safe bicycle lanes, such as along the Brussels Charleroi-Willebroeck Canal which runs throught the capital, along with many local cyclists on its towpath.

The Grand-Place is so grand it takes time to absorb it all. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Gothic-style Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) is the glowing heart of it all. It’s also a buzzing centre of commercialism and business, but that’s what it was always meant to be. And when you look at its ornate architecture, it’s even more incredible to think that it was constructed in a heartbeat, after the French burned down the original old town in 1695. Thanks to the great burghers of Brussels for their pride of place and strong identity, as we all get to benefit from it today.

The Royal Palace is a neoclassical building which still serves as the royal family’s office and place to conduct state business. It’s in the centre of Brussels, and you can combine it with a visit to the nearby Parc de Bruxelles, also known as the Royal Park. The royal family lives at the Palace of Laeken, just 5km north of the city centre, making it a quick commute to work. The Royal Palace is open for visitors in summer, after the National Holiday on 21 July until September. Closed in 2024 for refurbishments, this long-standing tradition resumes again in 2025. The Palace of Laeken is not open to the public, but its greenhouses are during the spring. See here for annual opening dates.

After all that royal grandeur, it’s actually one of Brussel’s smallest sights that gets the most attention. Manneken Pis is the iconic bronze statue of a boy urinating into a fountain. It’s on the corner of Rue de l'Étuve and Rue du Chêne, dates back to 1619 and, on special occasions, he is donned with outfits, which must be one of the city’s quirkiest job descriptions.

The Atomium sculpture brings you back to modern times with a jolt, in a way that Brussels is adept at. It’s a landmark that people love or loathe, although local people loved it enough to keep it after it was constructed for the World Fair in 1958. It’s hard not to be impressed by this modernist creation, however. It was constructed when atomic science was representative of progress and modernity, and this collection of giant steel spheres are definitely worth exploring, inside and out. You may be less impressed by the queues to go inside, so time your visit early in the day and get tickets in advance. You still have to queue, but it’s usually speedier.

Best way to get around Brussels

The historic centre of Brussels is also known as the Pentagon, because its 14th-century city walls created a rough pentagonal shape around the heart of all happenings. It’s just under 5km2 and so you can easily navigate it on foot. Although by bike is another fun option of course, as mentioned above. By walking around, you see more of real life at a slower pace, from the canalside architecture to its markets and lesser-known museums.

Cycling

This is the most popular way to get around Brussels. The city is extremely bike-friendly, with dedicated lanes and bike rental facilities such as Villo, the aforementioned city shared bike rental scheme. You can also join a guided cycling tour. Cycling is a great option if you want to explore the city’s Green Belt Route, as well as an array of parks such as Brussels Park (or Royal Park), Cinquantenaire Park or Leopold Park, to name but a few.

Public transport (trams, buses and Brussels Metro)

Brussels’ public transport is reliable and easy to navigate. The tram network covers much of the city centre, and is in fact one of the largest in the world. Confusingly, it also goes underground at some points. As does the Metro of course, so you have plenty of public transport options and all are payable with your contactless bank card. You can also buy a day ticket that can be used on all transport up until midnight on the day of purchase.

Best food and restaurant areas in Brussels

There is food everywhere in Brussels and, not surprisingly, the city’s impressive international influences inform the gastronomy big time. For sweet snacks, the city is falling down with its own local fare, the most famous being waffles and speculoos (spicy shortbread), and for savoury soupçons, seek out shrimp croquettes and Belgian chips or fries, famous for being served with mussels or mayo. Not usually at the same time.

Best spots for chocolate in Brussels

Brussels is the boss when it comes to chocolate. Praline was invented here (albeit by a Swiss chocolatier) in 1912 and, from that point on, Belgian chocolate was booming. Head to Brussels' Grand Place for a chocolate hit like no other, with all the greats including Godiva, Mary, Neuhaus and Leonidas tempting you into their historic and heavenly boutiques. The city’s Belgian Chocolate Village is a pretty tasty place to hang out too or you could opt for a chocolate making demonstration at the capital’s Planète Chocolat.

Brussels food districts

There is no shortage of Michelin Stars in Brussels and the Brussels Capital-Region, such as the celebrated Bozar Restaurant and La Paix, both with two stars. For more local and internationally-influenced food scenes, the old fish market near Saint Catherine’s Church is still fish and seafood central. It was a working port up until the beginning of the 20th century but, after the basin was filled in, it was replaced with big plates of seafood instead. Another regeneration of commercial heritage for food and fun is at Wolf Market, a street food heaven in the former General Savings and Pensions building. There’s still plenty of money changing hands here for everything from sushi to Syrian food, poke bowls to local beers.

For fine dining, head to Avenue Louise or Place du Grand Sablon, where meals are as elegant as their surrounding architecture, and for diverse dining the Matongé District is the place to tuck into Congolese and Ethiopian classics. Ixelles is a hipster hub of craft beers, brunch and burgers and Châtelain-Bailli neighbourhood, which is part of it, is your ultimate contemporary chic, with rooftop cocktails and Scandi-style coffee shops, as well as a Wednesday market.

Best neighbourhoods to stay in Brussels

It’s a small city, but packed with places to stay. For first time visitors, Grand-Place is lively but very handy and, as there is a lot of accommodation there, it’s not always as pricey as you might think. After that, follow your nose - literally, because the great food districts are often some of the best places to stay too. Châtelain is charming if you love boutique shops and Art Noveau, with the Horta Museum a big pull. If you want to pull out all the stops luxury-wise, Sablon or Avenue Louise are sublime. For something greener, Uccle is home to Wolvendael Park and on the edges of the vast Bois de la Cambre. Ixelles is hipster and happening, loud and full of life, and Sainte-Catherine has a maritime and more tranquil feel, with great seafood too.

Good day trips from Brussels

Visiting Ghent from Brussels

Ghent is a port city in north-west Belgium, just a 20 mins hop from Brussels. Once a key place for trade, nowadays Ghent attracts a range of travellers, from foodies to culture vultures. The city has an impressive number of museums such the Municipal Museum of Contemporary Art, known locally as SMAK. The urban landscape of Ghent is dominated by a dense network of canals and you can tour it by boat or just stroll along the ancient streets and canalsides. Ghent’s Bourgoyen-Ossemeersen Nature Reserve is within easy access on public transport or by bike, which can be hired throughout the city, including Gent-Dampoort station.

Getting there: Trains from Brussels-Midi station to Ghent are very regular, with several trains an hour between both cities. The fastest train takes just 28 mins.

Visiting Antwerp from Brussels

Antwerp’s charm hits you the minute you arrive at Antwerpen-Centraal station, famous for its magnificent stone and glass work. Indeed, this is just one of many impressive buildings dotted around the city such as the regal city hall, or Stadhuis, located on Grote Markt square. Food markets, such as the Saturday Exotic Food Market, music and comedy bars and a vibrant street art scene, including a museum dedicated to graffiti, all contribute to the city's contemporary culture.

A great tip for art lovers is to visit Rubenshuis, where collections include work of the esteemed Flemish artist Peter Paul Reubens, to whom the gallery is dedicated, as well as a Renaissance garden. Antwerp also boasts some crème de la crème chocolatiers such as Pierre Marcolini, Burie and Elisa Pralines. Check out Antwerp’s The Chocolate Line whose founder, Dominique Persoone made his mark with some fun quality chocolate products including chocolate lipstick and massage cream. It takes all sorts.

Getting there: Trains from Brussels-Midi station to Antwerp are very regular, with several trains an hour between both cities. The average train journey is around 40 mins.

Visiting Bruges from Brussels

Bruges is one of Europe’s most striking medieval cities, famous for its UNESCO World Heritage status, museums and chocolate, as well as for the cult movie, of course. It feels like a movie set, in fact, with its ornate architecture, canals and cobblestone streets and landmarks such as the Belfry, Market Square and Basilica of the Holy Blood. And a lot of chocolate, as well as a lot of people in peak season.

Getting there: Trains from Brussels-Midi station to Bruges are very regular, with several trains an hour between both cities. The average train journey is around one hour.

Best time of year to visit Brussels

Brussels has something to offer through every month of the year, but it gets busy in peak season and school holidays. Although if you book travel and cultural sights in advance, it’s all still manageable, especially as you can just get on a bike or tram and head away from the hot spots in a heartbeat. Belgium is northern European so it never gets too hot, with temperatures hovering close to O-5C in winter, heading up to around 12-16C in spring and hitting low twenties in summer. The ideal times for sightseeing are during the week in peak season, anytime in spring or autumn, or before and after the major school holidays in summer.

Brussels likes to keep things busy, and there are many events throughout the year. For flower-themed events, the Iris Day Festival takes place 8 May to mark the creation of the Brussels Capital Region, and it’s so called because the yellow iris is the symbol of the region. In addition, the biennial Brussels Flower Carpet takes place in August (the next one is 2026), when the Grand-Place is covered with flowers, a tradition that has been going on since 1976, so 2026 will be an especially big anniversary bouquet. Another Grand-Place event is the Ommegang in July, which dates back to the 14th century and is packed with traditional processions, costumes, dance, music, food and beer, of course. For more beer, the Belgian Beer Weekend is a lively event in Grand-Place in early September, and the square goes all sparkly and seasonal with its Christmas market and ice rink. Brussels flies its LGBTQ+ flags proudly for Pride in May and, for comic fans, the Comic Strip Festival in September is also a joyful event.

Exploring Belgium by train

With such an extensive rail network, it’s also very easy to explore other sights and cities within Belgium. As well as our day trips above, here are some of our favourite towns, cities and natural heritage highlights to explore by train.

Liège

Liège, in the French-speaking Wallonia region, is a city that is being reborn, where medieval buildings have morphed into hubs of modern life, housing, restaurants, shops and galleries. The Musée de la Vie Wallonne, for example, provides good regional context illustrating Wallonia’s social history and industry. The city is also home to a famous neoclassical opera house, the Opéra Royal de Wallonie.

Getting there: Trains from Brussels-Midi to Liège are very regular, with several trains an hour between both cities. The fastest train takes around one hour.

The Ardennes

The Ardennes, in the south-east of Belgium, is an area of windswept wild open landscapes and forested uplands. The Ardennes’ hiking trails are some of Europe’s least known and yet still very accessible. The Hautes Fagnes (High Fens) is a nature park near Spa where you’ll find Belgium’s highest point, Signal de Botrange, at 694m. Hoge Kempen National Park has cycling routes galore and is accessible by rail and bus going via Genk. It’s also a very popular cycling region, with a dense network of circular routes.

Getting there: Reaching the Ardennes is easy by rail as Liège is its gateway, as mentioned above, so only one hour from Brussels. From here you’ll find various regional bus routes as well as a 50 mins rail connection to Spa, in the heart of the Ardennes.

Leuven

The Flemish city of Leuven is one of Belgium’s lesser-known stars, and only 30 mins from Brussels by train. Its beer is very well known, however, as it’s home to another star, Stella Artois, which is brewed on the outskirts. Students know it well too, not just for the beer, but because it has the oldest university in Belgium and, thanks to the young ones who stayed, it’s now got a happy, hipster outlook scattered amongst its Gothic and Renaissance facades.

Getting there: Trains from Brussels to Leuven are very regular, with several trains an hour between both cities. The fastest train takes around 30 mins.

Namur

This is another Wallonia town, a region in the south of Belgium and this one is the regional capital and main hub. A lively hub it is too, even though it’s slightly hidden compared with other internationally-renowned towns in Belgium. It has a medieval centre, overlooked by a hilltop fort which is reachable by cable car. When you get to the top, you can see that the town sits prettily at the confluence of the Rivers Sambre and Meuse, and is also a gorgeous gateway town for exploring the forests and rural rambling to be had in the Ardennes.

Getting there: Trains from Brussels to Namur are fairly regular with a couple of trains an hour between both cities. The fastest train takes around 1 hr 11 mins.

Mechelen

This is one of those small cities in Belgium that packs a pretty punch in terms of its fine architecture. When you arrive, you’re instantly struck by its impressive St Rumbold’s Cathedral, Burgundian Hof van Busleyden Palace and baroque buildings. Don’t miss climbing the cathedral tower, as it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has superb views. It’s in the Flanders region of Belgium and is famous historically for its fine lace making. It’s an intricate and exquisite city to visit, and also a very important one as it’s home to Kazerne Dossin: Memorial, Museum and Documentation Centre on Holocaust and Human Rights.

Getting there: Trains from Brussels to Mechelen are fairly regular with a couple of trains an hour between both cities. The fastest train takes around 27 mins.

Train passes for tourists in the Belgium

The Eurail or Interrail Benelux Pass is the ultimate pass to discover not only Belgium but also the Netherlands and Luxembourg. All three countries are commonly known as Benelux and are offered as a single destination in your Eurail or Interrail Pass. Although they’re close neighbours and easily accessible by train, they all have very different natural and cultural heritage highlights. It’s not all just about cheese versus chocolate, duchies versus Dutchness. Each has its own fascinating characteristics and culture.

The Benelux Pass allows you unlimited travel with the freedom to hit the tracks whenever and wherever you want. You can take as many trains as you like and there is no limit on the distance you can travel within a travel day. All at a fixed price and easy to book with Rail Europe. See our guide to all things Benelux Pass, for more details.