 Brussels Midi station concourse. |
This page explains how to travel by train from Brussels to other cities all over Europe, and how to buy tickets the cheapest way. Information current for 2025.
Before you buy your tickets
Take a moment to read these tips for buying European train tickets. They answer all the usual questions, such as "Do I need to book in advance or can I just buy at the station?", "Can I stop off?", "Are there Senior fares?" and that old favourite, "Should I buy an $800 railpass or just buy a 35 point-to-point ticket online?". How far ahead can you buy train tickets?
European train travel FAQ
Which station in
Brussels?
Brussels Midi is the main station in Brussels - it's Brussels Midi in French, Brussels Zuid in Flemish, and Brussels South station in English, it's all the same place. Unless otherwise stated all trains leave from there, including Eurostar. Frequent local trains cross the city, linking Brussels Midi, Brussels Central and Brussels Nord. See Brussels Midi station guide.
Brussels Central is 5 min walk from the famous Grande Place, most domestic trains stop there, as do the hourly Brussels-Rotterdam-Amsterdam intercity trains (but not Eurostar high-speed trains or Brussels-Germany ICEs).
Brussels Nord is in the north of the city, served by many domestic trains and some international expresses including ICEs on their way to and from Brussels Midi.
Brussels to Bruges, Ghent & other destinations in Belgium
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How trains work in Belgium
Belgian domestic trains work on a turn up, buy a ticket and hop on basis, with fixed-price tickets based on distance, no seat reservations necessary or possible. You sit where you like. There's no need to pre-book and no advantage in doing so, just turn up, buy a ticket at the station and hop on the next train. That includes Belgian Railways Regional and InterCity (IC) trains.
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Standard tickets
One-way domestic tickets are valid on any Belgian Railways train on the date for which they are issued. A round trip costs twice the one-way also valid only on the date for which it is issued, unless it's a weekend return.
First class costs around 50% more than 2nd class and just gets you nicer seating, usually with more leg and elbow room and in some trains carpet rather than synthetic flooring.
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Stopovers
You can stop off on the way with normal Belgian train tickets, as long as it's at a station on the direct route and you complete the journey the same day. If in doubt, buy two tickets.
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Weekend return tickets
If you travel between 19:01 on Friday and the last train on Sunday, you can buy a Weekend Return for little more than a one-way ticket. You can use it on any train outward and any train back over that weekend.
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Senior tickets if you've over 65
Anyone aged 65 or over can buy a 7.80 2nd class or 16.60 1st class Senior Ticket for any point-to-point journey in Belgium, travelling on any train at weekends or any train after 09:00 on weekdays. It covers a one-way or same-day round trip between the stations you specify. It's available all year round, but not valid most weekends in July & August, see www.belgiantrain.be for details.
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Standard Multi 10-journey card (formerly called Rail-Pass 10-journey card)
If you plan to make multiple journeys around Belgium, you can buy a card giving you 10 one-way journeys anywhere in Belgium over the course of one year, for 96 2nd class or 146 in 1st class. That's just 9.60 per journey!
Check current prices and similar offers at www.belgiantrain.be. There are reduced prices if you are under 26 years old.
Buy at any Belgian ticket office or ticket machine. You can buy a digital version on the SNCB app, it's 3 cheaper if you buy this way.
If you choose the hard-copy version, the card has 10 boxes printed on it, you write in the date and journey each time you want to use it.
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How to check times, prices & buy tickets
You can check Belgian train times & fares at www.belgiantrain.be. Buying online saves time queuing at the ticket office.
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Tips: The main station in Brussels is Brussels Midi, Brussels Zuid in Flemish, Brussels South in English, it's all the same place. Brussels Central is nearer the Grand Place and most Belgian domestic trains call there even if international trains (other than the IC trains to Amsterdam) don't. Remember that Bruges in French is Brugge in Flemish. In Ghent, the main station is Gent-sint-Pieters.
Brussels to Bruges
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InterCity (IC) trains run from Brussels Midi to Bruges twice per hour.
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The fare is 17.00 each way in 2nd class, 26.00 in 1st class.
Fixed price, buy a ticket & hop on.
A Weekend return is 18.40.
Youth fare 7.50 for anyone under 26.
Senior fare 8.30 2nd class or 16.60 1st class for anyone over 65, good for any train at weekends, any train after 09:00 weekdays.
Up to 4 children under 12 travel free when accompanying a fare-paying passenger over 12.
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Check times & prices at www.belgiantrain.be. You print your own ticket.
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Tip for travel to Bruges: You want the half-hourly Brussels-Bruges trains direct via Ghent taking around 1 hour. Don't accidentally take a stopping train to Bruges on the slow route via Roesalere taking 2h16!
A double-deck Intercity train from Brussels, arrived at Bruges station, final destination Oostende. Most departures use these double-deck M7 trains.
Above left, the entrance and stairs to upper & lower decks.
Above right, 2nd class upper deck seats on a Brussels-Luxembourg train.
Above left, the rather nice steampunk-style 1st class, on these trains all 1st class seats are on the upper deck.
Above right: Bruges station.
Brussels to London from 57
Option 1, Brussels to London by Eurostar
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High-speed Eurostar trains run from Brussels Midi to London St Pancras every couple of hours or so taking 2 hours.
For more about Eurostar see the Eurostar page with tips for choosing the best seats.
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Fares start at 57 one-way or 99 return.
Eurostar has airline-style pricing so book early for the cheapest fare.
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Buy tickets at www.eurostar.com, or use www.thetrainline.com.
You print your own ticket or can download the Eurostar app and show it on your phone. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.
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Buy onward tickets from London to other British towns & cities at www.thetrainline.com.
You collect tickets from the self-service ticket machines or in most cases you can print them out or show it on your phone.
If you're booking a train-specific Advance fare and your onward train leaves from St Pancras, Kings Cross or Euston, I'd allow at least 1 hour between Eurostar arrival and any onward train to allow for delay, even though it only takes 5 minutes to walk across the road to Kings Cross or 10 minutes to walk to Euston. I'd allow 90 minutes if booking a train-specific Advance fare and your onward train goes from Paddington, Waterloo or Liverpool Street as then you'll need to change stations by Underground or taxi.
Option 2, Brussels to London by train & ferry - the overnight ferry alternative
You can take an early evening train from Brussels to Rotterdam and the metro to Hoek van Holland, then sail overnight in a cosy private cabin to Harwich, for a train to London or Cambridge next morning. It's comfortable, affordable and time-effective. For details, see the London to Brussels page.
The Hoek van Holland to Harwich ferry is a floating hotel with private cabins, restaurant, bar, lounges, shop & kennels.
Above left, a standard outside cabin. Larger photo. 360Ί 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.
Brussels to Dublin & Ireland
Option 1, Brussels to Dublin via London & Holyhead - daily departures
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Step 1, take an evening Eurostar from Brussels Midi to London St Pancras in just 2 hours.
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Stay overnight in London, see suggested hotels near St Pancras. It's a 9 minute walk from St Pancras to Euston station.
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Day 2, travel from London Euston to Dublin on the morning train & ferry service, arriving Dublin Ferryport 17:25, see the London-Dublin page for times, fares & how to buy tickets. Rail & Sail is an inexpensive, interesting & fun way to go, see more about this journey.
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Or you can travel overnight. Take a late afternoon Eurostar from Brussels to London. Allow at least 90 minutes in London between trains to ensure a robust connection, even though it's only a 9 minute walk between St Pancras & Euston stations. Then take the overnight London to Dublin train & ferry service arriving in Dublin next morning, see the timetable here. It's basically a red-eye service, but you can pay for a cabin when you board the ferry, so can at least get 3 hours sleep!
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How much does it cost?
Brussels to London starts at 57. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
London to Dublin costs either £51.10 or £57.50, one or other fare always applies, even on the day of travel.
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How to buy tickets
Book from Brussels to London at www.eurostar.com.
Book from London to Dublin Ferryport at tfw.wales as explained on the train & ferry to Dublin page.
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There's more about Eurostar on the Eurostar page, more about London to Dublin on the London to Dublin page.
Option 2, Brussels to Dublin via Paris & Cherbourg - several departures a week
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Day 1, travel from Brussels Midi to Paris Gare du Nord by Eurostar (formerly Thalys) in around 1h22 from 29.
You'll need to leave Brussels early morning. Allow at least 1 hour between trains in Paris, ideally a bit more.
Transfer from the Gare du Nord to the Gare St Lazare by metro or taxi.
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Day 1, take a late morning train from Paris St Lazare to Cherbourg and an overnight ferry to Dublin.
Irish Ferries (www.irishferries.com) sail from Cherbourg to Dublin several times each week, usually leaving Cherbourg in late afternoon and arriving Dublin late morning next day (Day 2).
For details of this Paris to Dublin journey & how to buy tickets see here.
Brussels to Paris
Option 1, Brussels to Paris by high-speed train in 1h22
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Eurostar (formerly Thalys) high-speed trains run from Brussels Midi to Paris Gare du Nord every hour or so in as little as 1h22.
They run at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed line. They have power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
They have 3 classes: Standard (2nd class), Plus (1st class) & Premier (1st class with at-seat food & wine included in the fare and access to lounges in Paris & Brussels). See more about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
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Fares start at 29 in standard class, 55 in plus or 115 in premier.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead. If you buy on the day it costs 99 full-flex in standard class, ouch!
All tickets come with a seat reservation and are only good for the specific train you book. Cheapest fares = limited or no refunds or changes.
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Buy tickets at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee) or www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, easy to use, small booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your ticket (A4 paper, U.S. Letter size is fine) or show it on your phone.
A Eurostar at Brussels Midi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Option 2 Brussels to Paris by lo-cost train in 3 hours - new, starts 19 December 2024
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From 19 December 2024, SNCB (Belgian Railways) and SNCF (French Railways) started running three daily lo-cost trains from Brussels to Paris via the classic (non-high-speed) line, at up to 200 km/h (125mph), taking around 3 hours.
They're being sold under SNCF's Ouigo Classic lo-cost brand. They're fast, modern air-conditioned, a much cheaper but slower alternative to the high-speed Eurostar-formerly-Thalys trains. They are 2nd class only with no catering so bring your own food & drink.
They also call at Mons, Aulnoye & Creil.
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Departures are as follows:
Leave Brussels Midi 07:38, arrive Paris Gare du Nord 10:35.
Leave Brussels Midi 13:38, arrive Paris Gare du Nord 16:45.
Leave Brussels Midi 18:38, arrive Paris Gare du Nord 21:35.
Details shown here are provisional and will be updated as more is known.
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How much does it cost?
Fares start at 10, maximum fare is 59 even bought on the day.
The fare varies like air fares. No refunds, no changes, specified train only.
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How to buy tickets
Buy tickets from French Railways www.sncf-connect.com.
Tickets are only sold online, not at stations. Look for the trains taking 3h, branded Ouigo Classic.
A Belgian train of the sort which operates the Brussels-Paris EuroCity service, but they will be wrapped in purple Ouigo vinyls.
Option 3, Brussels to Paris by regional trains for a fixed-price 54
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It's possible to travel from Brussels to Paris using a comfortable Belgian Intercity train from Brussels to Charleroi Sud, a Belgian regional train from Charleroi Sud to Maubeuge in France then a French TER regional train from Maubeuge to Paris.
It takes 4h30 with 2 changes (versus just 1h22 by Eurostar (formerly Thalys)), but no reservations needed, it cannot sell out, there's an affordable fixed-price fare that can even be bought on the day, Interrail & Eurail passes accepted with no fees or reservations needed. Bring your own food & drink as there's no catering.
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Why would you want to use this instead of Eurostar? If Eurostars are fully-booked, you can still use this route. If Eurostar wants over 100 for even a standard class Brussels-Paris ticket, you use this route for around 50, even buying on the day. If you have an Interrail or Eurail pass and want to avoid the 25 reservation fee charged by Eurostar or passholder places have sold out, you can use this route with no reservation and no extra fees, just hop on and show your pass! Incidentally, Charleroi Sud was renamed Charleroi Central in December 2022.
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Mondays-Fridays:
Leave Brussels Central 09:07 or Brussels Midi 09:15, Charleroi Central depart 10:24, Maubeuge depart 11:42, arriving Paris Nord 13:42.
Leave Brussels Central 13:07 or Brussels Midi 13:15, Charleroi Central depart 14:24, Maubeuge depart 15:42, arriving Paris Nord 17:42.
Leave Brussels Central 15:07 or Brussels Midi 15:15, Charleroi Central depart 16:24, Maubeuge depart 17:42, arriving Paris Nord 19:42.
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Saturdays
Leave Brussels Central 06:59 or Brussels Midi 07:07, Charleroi Central depart 08:24, Maubeuge depart 10:40, arriving Paris Nord 12:49.
Leave Brussels Central 14:59 or Brussels Midi 15:07, Charleroi Central depart 16:24, Maubeuge depart 17:41, arriving Paris Nord 19:43.
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Sundays
Leave Brussels Central 10:59 or Brussels Midi 11:07, Charleroi Central depart 12:24, Maubeuge depart 14:00, arriving Paris Nord 15:59.
Leave Brussels Central 12:59 or Brussels Midi 13:07, Charleroi Central depart 14:24, Maubeuge depart 16:42, arriving Paris Nord 18:44.
Leave Brussels Central 14:59 or Brussels Midi 15:07, Charleroi Central depart 16:24, Maubeuge depart 17:40, arriving Paris Nord 19:42.
Leave Brussels Central 16:59 or Brussels Midi 17:07, Charleroi Central depart 18:24, Maubeuge depart 19:55, arriving Paris Nord 21:54.
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How to check times for your date:
Go to int.bahn.de. Enter Brussels South Stn to Paris. Click Stopovers, enter Charleroi Central as stopover 1, Maubeuge as stopover 2. Click Mode of transport, click User defined, de-select high-speed. Run the enquiry. Data will only be complete 2-3 months ahead max.
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How much does it cost?
Brussels to Maubeuge costs 17.10 in 2nd class or 25.40 in 1st class. Fixed price.
Maubeuge to Paris costs 37.10 in 2nd class, there is no 1st class. Fixed price.
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How to buy tickets
Book from Brussels Central or Brussels Midi to Paris at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee).
Important tip: To find this slower route, click the little via link under the from/to boxes and enter Maubeuge as a via station.
In the search results, look for journeys with 2 changes via Charleroi Sud & Maubeuge.
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How to buy tickets in two stages, but with no booking fee
Step 1, buy a Brussels-Maubeuge ticket at the Belgian Railways international website www.b-europe.com. Look for a journey with 1 change marked IC. Ignore journeys marked TGV or bus or with more than 1 change. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Step 2, buy a Maubeuge-Paris ticket at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com. Print out your ticket or show it on your phone.
Above: Changing trains at Maubeuge: On the left, the modern air-conditioned Belgian electric train between Maubeuge & Charleroi. On the right, the TER between Maubeuge & Paris, consisting of a classic nι cassι (broken nose) electric locomotive and old but smooth & comfortable French Corail cars. Photo courtesy of @Nordkommission.
Brussels to Lille
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You have two options here, fast but inflexible, or slower but easy and flexible.
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Option 1, TGV & Eurostar trains link Brussels Midi and Lille Europe in around 35 minutes using the high-speed line.
This is the fastest option, but reservation is required. From 29 in 2nd class, 39 in 1st class.
Book at www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com.
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Option 2 is to take regular InterCity trains with 1 change, usually at Tournai or Mouscron, in around 1h40.
The fare is 19 in 2nd class, 28 in 1st class.
No reservation is necessary for these trains, they leave every hour, the price is fixed, you can just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on the next train. You can check train times and buy online to save time at the ticket office at www.thetrainline.com.
Brussels to Strasbourg
Option 1, Brussels to Strasbourg by direct high-speed train - fastest & easiest
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There are two direct TGV high-speed trains from Brussels Midi to Strasbourg every day.
Leave Brussels Midi 07:17, arrive Strasbourg 11:05.
Leave Brussels Midi 13:17, arrive Strasbourg 17:37.
The TGVs have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. They by-pass Paris on the high-speed line through Marne la Vallιe and CDG airport. Go for one of these two direct trains if you can.
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Fares start at 25 in 2nd class, 45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book these trains at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: If you use www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com, you can choose your seats from a seat map when booking 1st class.
A TGV at Brussels Midi.
Above left, TGV 2nd class with seats 2+2 across the car width. Larger photo. Above right, the cafe bar serving drinks, snacks & hot dishes.
Above left, a TGV at Brussels Midi. Above right, 1st class with seats 2+1 across car width. Larger photo.
Option 2, Brussels to Strasbourg via Paris - the next simplest route, with a 7-minute walk between stations in Paris
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Step 1, Eurostar (formerly Thalys) high-speed trains link Brussels Midi with Paris Gare du Nord in 1h22 almost every hour.
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In Paris, it's an easy 7 minute 500m walk from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de l'Est.
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Step 2, TGV high-speed trains link Paris Gare de l'Est with Strasbourg more or less hourly in around 2h15.
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Book at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: Click via (on Thetrainline) or More options (on Raileurope) to specify Paris as a via station.
Tip: If you use www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com, you can choose your seats from a seat map when booking 1st class.
Option 3, via Luxembourg & Metz - the most direct route, but much slower, taking over 6h
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There are almost hourly trains from Brussels Midi to Luxembourg, and connections to Metz & Strasbourg. Although it's a more direct route, these are classic (non-high-speed) lines making it a much slower route, taking over 6h from Brussels to Strasbourg.
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Check times and buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com.
Tip: Click via (on Thetrainline) or More options (on Raileurope) to specify Luxembourg as a via station.
Brussels to Bordeaux, Toulouse, Biarritz, Lourdes, Nantes, Brittany
Option 1, by-passing Paris - the easiest option
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There are direct high-speed TGV trains from Brussels Midi to major French cities which by-pass Paris on the high-speed line calling at CDG airport & Marne la Vallιe-Chessy. This avoids having to take the metro or a taxi between stations in Paris, as these trains.
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Book these trains at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: All 3 websites allow you to specify a via station. On Raileurope you'll find this if you click More options. Enter Marne la Vallιe-Chessy (Fr) in the via box, this forces it to find options which by-pass Paris.
Tip: You'd find some departures with a change at Marne la Vallιe-Chessy, which is still easier than changing trains & stations in Paris!
Tip: If you use www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com, you can choose your seats from a seat map when booking 1st class.
A TGV at Brussels Midi.
Above left, TGV 2nd class with seats 2+2 across the car width. Larger photo. Above right, the cafe bar serving drinks, snacks & hot dishes.
Above left, a TGV at Brussels Midi. Above right, 1st class with seats 2+1 across car width. Larger photo.
Option 2, via Paris - involves changing stations in Paris, but fastest, most frequent & usually cheapest
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Step 1, take a high-speed Eurostar (formerly Thalys) from Brussels Midi to Paris Gare du Nord in 1h22 from 29.
Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
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Cross Paris by taxi or metro from the Gare du Nord to the Gare Montparnasse. Alllow at least 60 minutes between trains for any cross-Paris transfer, ideally more, although the actual transfer to Montparnasse only takes 35 minutes.
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Step 2, take a high-speed TGV from Paris Montparnasse to Le Mans (1h00), Bordeaux (2h04), Toulouse (4h15), Biarritz (4h11), Lourdes (4h48), Nantes (2h06), Rennes (1h28).
TGVs have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Fares start at 20 if you book in advance.
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Check train times & buy tickets from Amsterdam to Strasbourg at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your ticket (A4 paper, U.S. Letter size is fine) or can show it on your phone.
Tip: Use www.raileurope.com, and click More options and enter Paris (any station) as a via station. This ensures you are routed via Paris. If you'd like a stopover in Paris, enter a suitable stopover duration.
Brussels to Lyon, Avignon, Montpellier, Cannes, Nice & other French cities
Option 1, by-passing Paris - the easiest option
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There are direct TGVs from Brussels Midi to French cities such as Lyon, Avignon, Aix, Marseille, Nimes, Montpellier, Le Mans, Angers, Nantes.
This avoids having to cross Paris between stations by metro or a taxi, these trains by-pass Paris on the high-speed line via CDG airport & Marne la Vallιe-Chessy. Change at Marseille St Charles for Cannes & Nice.
All these TGVs have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. They run at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on the high-speed lines.
Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. Look at the search results carefully to see journey options which don't involve a change in Paris. You print your ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: All 3 sites allow you to specify a via station. On www.raileurope.com, click More options. Enter Marne la Vallιe-Chessy (Fr) in the via box, this forces it to find options which by-pass Paris.
Tip: You'd find some departures with a change of train at Marne la Vallιe-Chessy. That's still easier than changing trains & stations in central Paris! You should also see these if you use www.raileurope.com with Marne la Vallιe-Chessy entered as a via station.
Tip: If you use www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com, you can choose your seats from a seat map when booking a TGV in 1st class.
A TGV at Brussels Midi.
Above left, TGV 2nd class with seats 2+2 across the car width. Larger photo. Above right, the cafe bar serving drinks, snacks & hot dishes.
Above left, a TGV at Brussels Midi. Above right, 1st class with seats 2+1 across car width. Larger photo.
Option 2, via Paris - means changing stations in Paris, but often faster & cheaper.
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Step 1, travel from Brussels Midi to Paris Gare du Nord by Eurostar (formerly Thalys) in 1h22.
Eurostars travel at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class or 55 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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In Paris, change stations by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon, 2 stops on RER line D.
Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more, although the transfer only takes 30 minutes.
Why not allow time for lunch in Paris at the wonderful Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon?
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Step 2, take a high-speed TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice Ville in 6h, Lyon Part Dieu in 2h, or Marseille St Charles in 3h30, and other French destinations.
TGVs have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 25 in 2nd class or 45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: If you're using www.raileurope.com, I recommend clicking More options and entering Paris (any station) as a via station to create a longer stopover in Paris. You should allow at least 60 minutes between trains across Paris, ideally more.
Tip: If you're using www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com, it can be better to split the booking, Brussels to Paris, add to basket, then, the Paris onward, add to basket and check out. Then you can ensure 60+ minutes between trains in Paris (or allow a longer stopover). By default the system shows cross-Paris connections as tight as 40 minutes between trains, which I consider far to risky if there's even a small delay.
Tip: If you use www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com, you can choose your seats from a seat map when booking TGVs in 1st class.
Step 1, Brussels to Paris by Eurostar, seen here at Brussels Midi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Option 3, Brussels to Toulon, Cannes, Antibes & Nice, using the Paris-Nice overnight train
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Brussels Midi at 18:13, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 19:35.
Eurostars travel at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) with 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Transfer by taxi or metro from the Gare du Nord to the Gare d'Austerlitz. Allow at least 90 minutes between trains when catching a sleeper.
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Step 2, travel from Paris to the Cτte d'Azur by Intercitι de Nuit, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 21:27 every day, arriving Toulon 07:12, St Raphael (for St Tropez) 08:08, Cannes 08:32, Antibes 08:45 & Nice Ville 09:09.
The Intercitι de Nuit sleeper train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & reclining seats. You can book a 1st class 4-berth compartment for sole occupancy by 1, 2 or 3 people if you like. More about Intercitιs de Nuit.
Tip: Why not book an earlier Eurostar and have dinner at the celebrated Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz for your sleeper. Or try the floating restaurant Off Paris Seine on the river next to the Gare d'Austerlitz.
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How much does it cost?
Brussels to Paris starts at 29 in 2nd class or 55 in 1st class.
Paris to Cannes or Nice starts at 19 in a reclining seat, 29 in a 2nd class couchette or 59 in a 1st class couchette.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets
Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, but often less than this for French overnight trains. You print your ticket or show it on your phone.
Tip: To make sure you have at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris, first book Brussels to Paris, add to basket, then Paris to Nice, add to basket & check out. Otherwise the system may allow as little as 40 minutes which is far too tight, especially when catching a sleeper.
Tip: To book a whole 4-berth couchette compartment for 1, 2 or 3 people, see my advice on the Intercitιs de Nuit page.
Step 1, Brussels to Paris by Eurostar, seen here at Brussels Midi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Brussels to Amsterdam from 25
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You can easily travel from Brussels to Amsterdam Centraal by train in as little as 1h49 with departures every hour or two. Train is the way to go! See the Brussels to Amsterdam page.
A Eurostar at Brussels Midi. See the Amsterdam to Brussels page.
Brussels to Rotterdam
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Option 1, by Eurostar high-speed train in 1h10
This is the fastest and most comfortable option, if you're prepared to book in advance and commit to a specific departure.
A Eurostar (formerly Thalys) train leaves every 1-2 hours, Brussels Midi to Rotterdam Centraal in only 1h10.
Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains have vending machines and a refreshment trolley, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares are dynamic like air fares, so book ahead. All tickets come with a reserved seat on a specific train, limited or no changes to travel plans with the cheapest tickets. Short notice and flexible tickets can be expensive.
Buy tickets at www.eurostar.com or www.nsinternational.nl.
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Option 2, by EuroCity Direct in 1h30
This is only slightly slower than Eurostar and it's more flexible and cheaper at short notice, better for spontaneous trips.
Fast EuroCity Direct trains leave Brussels Midi every hour for Rotterdam Centraal, taking 1h30.
EuroCity Direct trains are operated by smart new 200 km/h ICNG trains with power sockets, USB ports & free WiFi. There are no seat reservations, you sit where you like, there are usually plenty of seats. There's no catering, so bring your own food and drink.
The full-flex fare is good for any EuroCity Direct train on the day it's bought for, not just the train you pick when booking. However, EuroCity Direct fares aren't good for EuroCity trains.
Advance-purchase Saver fares are only good for the specific Eurocity Direct departure you choose, but can be changed (paying any difference in fare) up to and including the day before travel.
Buy tickets at www.nsinternational.nl.
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Option 3, by EuroCity train in 2h06
This is slower than options 1 & 2, but it's the cheapest option.
EuroCity trains leave Brussels Midi every hour for Rotterdam Centraal, taking 2h06.
These EuroCity trains will be operated by the old Dutch Intercity trains until they are replaced by Belgian i11 trains. There are no seat reservations, you sit where you like, there are usually plenty of seats. There's no catering, so bring your own food and drink.
The full-flex EuroCity fare is good for any EuroCity train on the day it's bought for, not just the train you pick when booking. However, EuroCity fares aren't good for EuroCity Direct trains.
Advance-purchase Saver fares are only good for the specific Eurocity departure you choose, but can be changed (paying any difference in fare) up to and including the day before travel.
Buy tickets at www.nsinternational.nl.
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Going to Hoek van Holland?
Take a train from Brussels to Rotterdam Centraal, it's then a 10-minute 800m walk to Eendrachtsplein metro station, see walking map. Then take the frequent RET metro direct to Hoek van Holland Haven, a 33-minute ride. The metro takes contactless bank cards so you can just touch in and out without buying a ticket. To avoid the walk, you can also take an NS train from Rotterdam Centraal to Schiedam Centrum, then take the metro from there to Hoek van Holland Haven.
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Going to Schiphol airport?
The Eurostar (formerly Thalys) and EuroCity Direct/Intercity trains from Brussels Midi to Amsterdam call at Schiphol airport station around 15 minutes before arriving in Amsterdam, see options 1 & 2 above.
New from 15 December 2024, EuroCity Direct services will be operated by these smart ICNG (InterCity New Generation) trains.
Brussels to Luxembourg for 25.50
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InterCity (IC) trains run from Brussels Midi to Luxembourg every hour in around 3h16.
Most hourly departures are direct, on a few departures you change trains at Arlon.
It's a pleasant scenic run through green hills towards its southern end. There's no catering so bring your own food & drink, there are plenty of places to stock up inside Brussels Midi, including a Carrefour Express minimarket.
Most Brussels-Luxembourg trains are single-deck i11 type as shown below, but a few are M6 double-deckers. To see if your train will be single or double-deck, run an enquiry at www.belgiantrain.be and click on the train for details. An image of the train type is shown. Or download the SNCB/NMBS app for your phone, run an enquiry and click for train details.
Tip: In the single-deck cars there are two power sockets per car, one at each end of the passenger saloon above a window seat. Savvy laptop users usually nab these seats! There are no power outlets in the double-deck trains.
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The fare is 25.50 one-way in 2nd class or 42 in 1st class.
If you're under 26 or over 65 there's a one-way youth/senior fare for 10, only in 2nd class.
Tickets are valid on any train leaving on the date you specify, not just for the specific train you choose when booking. These prices are fixed, with unlimited availability. So it's the same price even if you buy on the day of travel, no reservation is needed, you sit where you like.
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Buy tickets at the www.thetrainline.com.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: If you're over 65, you can only buy the senior fare at www.b-europe.com.
A Belgian intercity (IC) train from Brussels to Luxembourg, at Luxembourg station platform 1. The yellow stripe above the windows indicates first class. There's no catering, so bring your own supplies. There are just two power sockets per coach, one at each end of the car above head height. A few departures
Brussels to Basel, Zurich, Geneva & Switzerland from 39.99
Option 1, Brussels to Basel & Zurich using the Nightjet sleeper train from Cologne - the time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Cologne by ICE, leaving Brussels Midi at 18:25, arriving Cologne Hbf 20:15.
The high-speed ICE3neo train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Have dinner in Cologne, I recommend the excellent Brauhaus Sion (www.brauhaus-sion.de), 8 minutes walk from Cologne Hbf, see walking map, or the Malzmuehle restaurant (www.muehlenkoelsch.de), 17 minutes walk from the station, see walking map.
Fares start at 18.99 in 2nd class or 49.99 in 1st class. Prices vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Book this train at either www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee, using Trainline lets you book both your tickets in one place) or the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in , no fee).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
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Step 2, travel to Switzerland by Nightjet, leaving Cologne Hbf at 23:51 every day, arriving Basel SBB 06:20 & Zurich HB 08:05.
This comfortable Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned AB33 sleeping-car with 1 & 2 berth compartments with washbasin. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the Nightjet guide.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , same prices, more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Option 2, Brussels to Switzerland by daytime trains - the fastest daytime option to Basel, Zurich, Luzern, Bern
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Take a superb German ICE train from Brussels to Cologne and another ICE to Switzerland. For example:
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23 daily, change Cologne Hbf, arrive Basel SBB 12:48.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:25 daily, change Cologne Hbf, arrive Basel SBB 14:48.
Leave Brussels Midi 10:25 daily, change Cologne Hbf, arrive Basel SBB 16:48.
Leave Brussels Midi 12:25 daily, change Cologne Hbf, arrive Basel SBB 18:48.
Leave Brussels Midi 14:25 daily, change Cologne Hbf, arrive Basel SBB 20:48.
Leave Brussels Midi 16:22 daily, change Cologne Hbf, arrive Basel SBB 22:55.
All these trains are superb German ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Times may vary. Change in Basel for Zurich and all other Swiss destinations.
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Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
You can book from Brussels or anywhere in Belgium to almost any station in Switzerland for an inclusive price.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
An ICE3neo at Brussels Midi. Click on the interior images for larger photos. Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.
Option 3, Brussels to Switzerland via the Rhine Valley - the slower scenic route
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Take an ICE train from Brussels to Cologne, then one of two EuroCity trains to Switzerland along the scenic Rhine Valley:
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23 daily, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Basel SBB 13:33, Bern 14:56, Interlaken Ost 15:59.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:25 daily, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Basel SBB 15:36, Zurich HB 17:00.
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The ICE3neo trains between Brussels & Cologne have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
The EuroCity trains (08:53 Cologne-Interlaken = train EC7, 10:53 Cologne-Zurich = train EC9) have spacious and comfortable Swiss Federal Railways EuroCity cars and a classic Swiss restaurant car, see the photos below.
Instead of using the high-speed line between Mainz & Cologne, these trains take the classic line along the historic Rhine valley, past river boats, vineyards, castles and the legendary Lorelei Rock, see the Rails Down the Rhine page. I think it's well worth the extra hour!
Tip: You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, and search for EC 7 or EC 9.
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Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the scenic route along the Rhine Valley, click Stopovers and enter Koblenz Hbf, leaving length of stay as 00:00.
You can book from anywhere in Belgium to almost anywhere in Switzerland. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Pfalzgrafenstein castle on the Rhine. See the Rails Down the Rhine page.
Option 4, Brussels to Geneva via Lyon - the easiest route to Geneva
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Step 1, travel from Brussels Midi to Lyon Part Dieu by direct TGV, leaving Brussels at 06:37, 08:17, 10:17, 13:17 or 16:17.
Journey time around 3h45, exact times may vary.
The high-speed TGVs have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class or 39 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Step 2, travel from Lyon Part Dieu to Geneva by TER regional train in around 1h57, a lovely scenic ride along the Rhτne.
There's no catering, so bring your own food & drink.
The fare is a fixed-price 33.40 in 2nd class, 50.80 in 1st class.
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Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no fee).
If using Raileurope, click More options and enter Lyon Part Dieu as a via.
If using Thetrainline or SNCF-connect, click via and enter Lyon Part Dieu.
You should then be able to book Brussels to Geneva as one transaction, making sure you choose a 1-change journey with a change in Lyon.
If you have any problems (or want to stop off in Lyon), first search Brussels to Lyon looking for direct trains. Book this and add to basket. Now look for a suitable Lyon to Geneva train, allowing at least 30 minutes between trains in Lyon, add that to your basket & check out.
Option 5, Brussels to Switzerland via Paris - the fastest & sometimes cheapest route, if you don't mind crossing Paris. Lunch in Paris?
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Step 1, take a Eurostar (formerly Thalys) high-speed train from Brussels Midi to Paris Gare du Nord in 1h22 from 29.
Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
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Change trains and stations by metro or taxi. Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, even though the transfer itself only takes 30 minutes. How about allowing 2-3 hours between trains for lunch at the celebrated Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon?
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Step 2, take a TGV-Lyria high-speed train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Geneva (3h11), Lausanne (3h45), Basel SBB (3h03) or Zurich HB (4h03).
TGV-Lyria trains have 3 classes, a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about TGV-Lyria.
Fares start from 29 in 2nd class (standard) or 51 in 1st class (standard premiθre).
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Book from Brussels to any of these cities at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no fee).
If using Raileurope, click More options and enter Paris as a via with a 1-hour or longer duration.
If using Thetrainline or SNCF-connect, click via and enter Paris.
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Step 3, onward tickets to anywhere in Switzerland - Zermatt, St Moritz, wherever - can be bought at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee, buying at Thetrainline keeps all your tickets together) or the Swiss Railways website www.sbb.ch (in CHF). You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 6, Brussels to Switzerland with an overnight stop in Paris - a time-effective option
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Day 1, travel from Brussels Midi to Paris Gare du Nord on any Eurostar (formerly Thalys) you like, taking 1h22.
You can leave Brussels as late as 21:13 arriving Paris 23:27, but by all means travel earlier and enjoy an evening in Paris.
Eurostar run at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) with 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class or 55 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee). Booking normally opens 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Change stations by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon.
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Stay overnight in Paris. The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for an early train next morning. See other suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord & Gare de Lyon.
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Day 2, travel from Paris Gare de Lyon to Geneva, Basel SBB, Zurich HB or Lausanne on any TGV-Lyria you like.
For example, the 06:18 from Paris arrives in Geneva at 09:29. The 07:22 from Paris arrives Basel 10:26 & Zurich HB 11:26.
But by all means take a later train, they leave every couple of hours or so.
TGV-Lyria high-speed trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee).
Booking normally opens 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Onward tickets to anywhere in Switzerland - Zermatt, St Moritz, Lucerne, wherever - can be bought at www.thetrainline.com (keeping all your bookings together) or at the Swiss Federal Railways website www.sbb.ch. For longer journeys within Switzerland you may find Supersaver fares saving up to 70% off the regular Swiss fare or Saver Day Passes.
Brussels to Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome & Italy from 58
Option 1, Brussels to Italy in a day - with one easy same-station change in Lyon.
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Lyon by TGV, leaving Brussels Midi at 10:17, arriving Lyon Part Dieu 14:01.
The high-speed TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Enjoy a few hours in Lyon.
Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.
Book this train at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer) using one of those websites allows you to buy all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee.
Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your ticket or select a mobile ticket to show on your phone.
Alternatively, you can book this train at www.sncf-connect.com,in with no booking fee.
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Step 2, travel from Lyon to Italy by Frecciarossa, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 17:20, arriving Turin Porta Susa 21:18 & Milan Centrale 22:07.
Update: The direct Paris-Milan line via Modane was blocked by a landslide in August 2023, and will remain blocked until at least March 2025. Until further notice, all direct Paris-Lyon-Milan trains are cancelled. Please use option 7 or 8 instead. More information.
Trenitalia's high-speed Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. In summer when it's light it's a scenic journey through the Alps, see the Paris-Milan page showing train & scenery.
Fares start at 25 in standard (2nd), 32 in business (1st) or 149 in executive class (premium 1st). Fares vary like air fares so book ahead.
Book this train at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, too. Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead, it's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
You can also book at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, their booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian language place names, a bit more fiddly, see advice on using it).
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Stay overnight in Turin or Milan. Both cities make a great stopover, but Turin is lovely.
In Turin I suggest the Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic or small Al Porta Susa B&B, all right next to Turin Porta Susa station where the Frecciarossa arrives and where your onward train leaves next morning, with good or great reviews. Alternatively, the excellent Turin Palace Hotel is in the centre right next to Porta Nuova station. It's a 7 minute taxi ride, 3-stop 1.50 metro ride or 20 minute walk from Porta Susa, but next morning you can board your train to Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples at Porta Nuova station where these trains start their journey.
In Milan, affordable hotels & guesthouses with good or great reviews just outside Milan Centrale include the Hotel Bristol, Hotel Bernina, 43 Station Hotel, B&B Hotel Milano Central Station, Guesthouse Teodora.
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Step 3, take an onward train from Turin or Milan to Venice, Florence, Rome or Napes, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Milan to Venice only takes 2h35, Milan to Florence 1h40, Milan to Rome 2h55. Book any train you like, there are regular departures all day.
Turin or Milan to Venice or Florence starts at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class.
Turin or Milan to Rome or Naples starts at 29.90 in 2nd class or 39.90 in 1st class.
Book Italian trains at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking normally opens 4 months ahead but it varies. Italian long-distance trains are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
You can also book Italian trains at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, allows seat selection, their 3.50 booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian language place names, a bit more fiddly, read this advice).
Step 1, Brussels to Lyon by TGV, seen here at Brussels Midi.
Above left, TGV 2nd class with seats 2+2 across the car width. Larger photo. Above right, the cafe bar serving drinks, snacks & hot dishes.
Above left, a TGV at Brussels Midi. Above right, 1st class with seats 2+1 across car width. Larger photo.
Option 2, Brussels to Italy with overnight stop in Lyon - as option 1, but with an overnight stop in Lyon, not Milan
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Lyon by TGV, leaving Brussels Midi at 16:17, arriving Lyon Part Dieu 20:00.
A later departure is possible, at 18:17 on Mondays-Fridays & 19:17 on Sundays.
The high-speed TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Stay overnight in Lyon, The Ibis Budget Lyon Centre - Gare Part Dieu is affordable & right next to Lyon Part Dieu station with good reviews, the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lyon also gets great reviews and is just a few minutes walk away.
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Day 2, travel from Lyon to Italy by Frecciarossa, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 09:30 arriving Turin P. Susa 13:18 & Milan Centrale 14:07.
Update: The direct Paris-Milan line via Modane was blocked by a landslide in August 2023, and will remain blocked until at least March 2025. Until further notice, all direct Paris-Lyon-Milan trains are cancelled. Please use option 7 or 8 instead. More information.
The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. The train meanders through the Alps on the scenic classic line to Turin, then makes final dash on the high-speed line to Milan. More about the Paris-Lyon-Milan Frecciarossa.
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Day 2, travel from Milan Centrale to Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples or anywhere in Italy by high-speed train.
The high-speed Frecciarossa trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. 20 minutes between trains in Milan is fine, in the event of a delay you'll be rebooked on a later train at no charge.
You can reach Venice Santa Lucia at 17:12, Florence SMN 17:04, Rome Termini 17:40, Naples Centrale 20:03.
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How much does it cost?
Brussels to Lyon starts at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class.
Lyon to Milan starts at 25 in standard class, 36 in business class or 149 in executive class.
Milan to Florence or Venice starts at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class.
Milan to Rome or Naples starts at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets
Buy tickets for each of these trains at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer). Book each train individually, adding it to your basket, then check out.
www.raileurope.com and www.thetrainline.com connect to both the Italian and French booking systems so you can book all these trains in one place, in plain English, in , £ or $. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. There's a small booking fee.
The Italian trains are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For the Eurostar, you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Another way to buy tickets
Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more effort, same fares, but no booking fee. First book the Eurostar at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com. Then book from Paris to your Italian destination at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in , $ or £, they'll refund their small booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com (in , more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it).
Option 3, Brussels to Italy in a single day via Paris - similar to option 1, slightly faster, but involves crossing Paris
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys) high-speed train, leaving Brussels Midi at 11:13 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Paris Gare du Nord 12:35. On Sundays, leave Brussels Midi at 12:16 arriving Paris Gare du Nord 13:38, or take an earlier one.
Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Change trains & stations in Paris by metro or taxi to the Gare de Lyon.
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Step 2, travel from Paris to Italy by Frecciarossa, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon 15:12, arriving Turin Porta Susa 21:18 & Milan Centrale 22:07.
Update: The direct Paris-Milan line via Modane was blocked by a landslide in August 2023, and will remain blocked until at least March 2025. Until further notice, all direct Paris-Milan trains are cancelled. Please use option 7 or 8 instead. More information.
Trenitalia's high-speed Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. It's a scenic journey through the Alps, see the Paris-Milan page showing train & scenery.
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Stay overnight in Turin or Milan. Both cities make a great stopover, but Turin is lovely.
In Turin I suggest the Hotel Torino Porta Susa or Hotel Diplomatic or small Al Porta Susa B&B, all right next to Turin Porta Susa station where the Frecciarossa arrives and where your onward train leaves next morning, with good or great reviews. Alternatively, the excellent Turin Palace Hotel is in the centre right next to Porta Nuova station. It's a 7 minute taxi ride, 3-stop 1.50 metro ride or 20 minute walk from Porta Susa, but next morning you can board your train to Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples at Porta Nuova station where these trains start their journey.
In Milan, affordable hotels & guesthouses with good or great reviews just outside Milan Centrale include the Hotel Bristol, Hotel Bernina, 43 Station Hotel, B&B Hotel Milano Central Station, Guesthouse Teodora.
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Step 3, take an onward train from Turin or Milan to Venice, Florence, Rome or Napes, with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Milan to Venice only takes 2h35, Milan to Florence 1h40, Milan to Rome 2h55.
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How much does it cost?
Brussels to Paris start at 29 in 2nd class (standard) or 55 in 1st class (comfort).
Paris to Turin or Milan start at 29 in 2nd class (standard), 36 in 1st class (business) or 165 in executive class with food included.
Turin or Milan to Venice or Florence starts at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class.
Turin or Milan to Rome or Naples starts at 29.90 in 2nd class or 39.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets
Buy at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com as you can then buy all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in , £ or £, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee. Booking normally opens 4 months ahead.
First book from Brussels to Turin or Milan and add to basket. You can book this as one journey, but (if using Raileurope) I recommend clicking More options and entering Paris as a via station with a stopover duration of at least 1 hour. You should always allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris, ideally more. Then book from Turin or Milan to your Italian destination for the following day, add to basket and check out. If necessary, book Brussels-Paris, add to basket, book Paris to Turin or Milan, add to basket.
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Another way to buy tickets
You can also book Brussels to Paris at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com, in , no booking fee.
Then book onward Italian Frecciarossa from Paris to Turin or Milan at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, allows seat selection, their booking fee will be refunded if you email them afterwards at seat61@italiarail.com) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian language place names, a bit more fiddly so read this advice on using it first). Use this again to book onward trains from Turin or Milan.
Step 1, Brussels to Paris by Eurostar. Above, a Eurostar at Brussels Midi. See 360Ί photos inside the train. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Option 4, Brussels to Italy with overnight stop in Paris - same as option 3, but with overnight stop in Paris rather than Milan
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Day 1, travel from Brussels Midi to Paris Gare du Nord on any Eurostar (formerly Thalys) high-speed train you like in around 1h22.
You can leave Brussels as late as 21:13 arriving Paris 23:27, but by all means travel earlier and enjoy an evening in Paris.
Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Change stations by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon.
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Stay overnight in Paris. The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for an early train next morning. See other suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord & Gare de Lyon.
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Day 2, travel from Paris to Milan by Frecciarossa, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 07:26 arriving Turin P. Susa 13:18 & Milan Centrale 14:07.
Update: The direct Paris-Milan line via Modane was blocked by a landslide in August 2023, and will remain blocked until at least March 2025. Until further notice, all direct Paris-Milan trains are cancelled. Please use option 7 or 8 instead. More information.
The Frecciarossa has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
After an initial dash at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) from Paris to Lyon, the train meanders through the Alps on the scenic classic line to Turin, then makes final high-speed dash to Milan, see more about the Paris-Milan Frecciarossa.
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Day 2, travel from Milan Centrale to Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples or anywhere in Italy by high-speed train.
The high-speed Frecciarossa trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. 20 minutes between trains in Milan is fine, in the event of a delay you'll be rebooked on a later train at no charge.
You can reach Venice Santa Lucia at 17:12, Florence SMN 17:04, Rome Termini 17:40, Naples Centrale 20:03.
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How much does it cost?
Brussels to Paris starts at 29 in 2nd class or 55 in 1st class.
Paris to Milan starts at 29 in standard class, 36 in business class or 165 in executive class.
Milan to Florence or Venice starts at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class.
Milan to Rome or Naples starts at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets
Buy tickets for each of these trains at either www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (whichever you prefer). Book each train individually, adding it to your basket, then check out.
www.raileurope.com and www.thetrainline.com connect to both the Italian and French booking systems so you can book all these trains in one place, in plain English, in , £ or $. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. There's a small booking fee.
The Italian trains are ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone. For the Eurostar, you print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Another way to buy tickets
Alternatively, you can book each train separately, more effort, same fares, but no booking fee. First book the Eurostar at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.
Then book from Paris to your Italian destination at www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in , $ or £, they'll refund their small booking fee to seat61 users if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com (in , more fiddly, requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it).
Option 5, Brussels to Venice using the Stuttgart-Venice Nightjet sleeper train - a comfortable & time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Stuttgart, leaving Brussels Midi at 12:25, change at Frankfurt Flughafen, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 17:21.
These comfortable high-speed ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Times may vary, but don't risk any tight connections with a sleeper to catch. Have dinner in Stuttgart.
Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes. In the search results, look for a 1-change journey.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Venice by Nightjet, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29, arriving Venice Santa Lucia 08:34.
Important: This sleeper train is cancelled from 17 November 2024 to 13 July 2025 due to work in the Tauern Tunnel in Austria.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , more fiddly, same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Step 1, Brussels to Stuttgart by ICE with one easy change in Frankfurt. More about ICE trains. Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.
Step 2, Stuttgart to Venice by Nightjet sleeper train. More about Nightjets. Above, the Nightjet arrived at Venice Santa Lucia
Option 6, Brussels to Milan, Florence, Rome using the Munich-Italy Nightjet - time-effective, with dinner in Munich
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Munich by ICE, leaving Brussels Midi at 10:25, changing at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Munich Hbf 17:06.
These comfortable high-speed ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. By all means book the earlier 08:25 departure for a pleasant evening in Munich.
Tip: Have dinner Munich before boarding the sleeper, for local Bavarian food & beer I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, see walking map.
Fares start at 39.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Step 2, travel from Munich to Italy by Nightjet sleeper train, leaving Munich Hbf at 20:10.
One portion goes to Bologna Centrale 05:36, Florence SMN 06:42 & Rome Tiburtina 11:05.
Another portion goes to Verona P. Nuova 05:51, Milan Rogoredo 07:42, Genoa Piazza Principe 09:38, La Spezia 11:10.
Important: This sleeper train is cancelled from 17 November 2024 to 13 July 2025 due to work in the Tauern Tunnel in Austria.
The Bologna, Florence & Rome portion is a new generation Nightjet with 1 & 2 bed sleepers all with shower & toilet, 4-berth comfort couchettes, individual mini cabins and ordinary seats, see the new generation Nightjet page for a guide to accommodation. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. A light breakfast is included in sleepers, couchettes & mini cabins.
The Milan, Genoa & La Spezia portion has an air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-car with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.
Fares for the new-generation Nightjet start at 59.90 in a mini cabin or 4-berth couchettes, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Fares for the original Nightjet start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 69.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 89.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 139.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , same prices, more fiddly). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
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Step 3, onward trains from Rome to Naples, Rome to Sicily or Milan to Genoa (for example) can be booked separately at either www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, recognises English place-names, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, recognises English place names, the small booking fee will be refunded if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or Italian Railways own website www.trenitalia.com (more fiddly to use, requires Italian language place names, read this advice on using it first). I'd allow at least an hour between the sleeper arrival and departure of any onward train.
Step 1, Brussels to Munich by ICE with one easy change in Frankfurt. ICEs have a restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about ICE trains. Above, an ICE3neo at Brussels Midi. Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.
Step 2, Munich to Florence or Rome by Nightjet sleeper train. Above, the Munich-Rome sleeper boarding on platform 11 at Munich Hbf. More about Nightjets.
Option 7, Brussels to Milan in a single day, via Zurich - via Germany & Switzerland rather than France
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Zurich by ICE train on one of these two departures:
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Zurich HB 16:00.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Zurich HB 18:00.
The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 49.99 in 2nd class or 79.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Before running the enquiry, click Stopovers and enter Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, with length of stay 00:45.
In the search results, look for a 1-change option with a robust connection in Frankfurt.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Day 1, travel from Zurich to Milan by EuroCity train:
If you left Brussels at 06:23, leave Zurich HB at 17:33, arriving Milan Centrale 20:50.
If you left Brussels at 08:25, leave Zurich HB at 19:33, arriving Milan Centrale 22:50.
These swish Swiss EuroCity Giruno trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
They cross the Swiss Alps via the Gotthard route and the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest rail tunnel, but with great views of Switzerland and Italy either side, including superb views along Lake Lugano.
Buy a ticket at either www.thetrainline.com (keeping all your bookings together) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in plain English, in , £ or $, they'll refund seat61 users their booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com afterwards) or www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian-language place names and has a few quirks, see this advice). It's ticketless, you print your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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Stay overnight in Milan: Affordable hotels with good or great reviews just outside Milan Centrale include the Hotel Bristol, Hotel Bernina, 43 Station Hotel, B&B Hotel Milano Central Station, Guesthouse Teodora. Pricier more upmarket hotels include HD8 Hotel, Glam Hotel, Made to Measure Business, Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson.
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Day 2, take a Frecciarossa high-speed train from Milan Centrale to Verona, Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples.
Buy tickets from Milan to anywhere in Italy at either www.thetrainline.com (keeping all your bookings together) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in plain English, in various currencies, they'll refund seat61 users the 3.50 booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian-language place names and has a few quirks, see this advice). It's ticketless, you print your booking reference or show it on your phone.
Step 1, Brussels to Zurich on ICE trains. Above, an ICE3neo at Brussels Midi. More about ICE trains. Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.
Step 2, Zurich to Milan by EuroCity train. This is a SBB Giruno train about to leave Zurich HB. More about Zurich-Milan EuroCity trains.
Option 8, Brussels to Italy with overnight stop in Zurich - same as option 7 but with an overnight stop
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Zurich by ICE, leaving Brussels Midi at 14:25, change Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Zurich HB 22:00.
The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
By all means book an earlier train for more time in Zurich, for example, the 10:25 from Brussels will get you to Zurich HB at 18:00.
Fares start at 49.99 in 2nd class or 79.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in , no booking fee) or www.raileurope.com (in , £ or $, using this means you can book all your tickets together in one place, small booking fee).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Stay overnight in Zurich. For something special, the 5-star Hotel Schweizerhof is one of my favourite hotels anywhere, just across the road from the station. They'll even send a uniformed commissionaire to meet you & carry your bags from the train. For something cheaper, also next to the station with great reviews, try the Ruby Mimi Hotel or the excellent 3-star Hotel St. Josef, 7 minutes walk from the station, see walking map. If you're on a budget, book a private rooms in a 1-star hotel or backpacker hostel near the station at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Zurich to Milan by EuroCity, for example leaving Zurich HB at 07:33, arriving Milan Centrale 10:50.
By all means take an earlier or later train, they leave Zurich HB at 07:33, 08:33, 09:33, 11:33 and so on most hours, taking 3h17.
If you're going to Milan, I'd avoid the 06:33 & 10:33 as these go to Milan Lambrate & Milan Rogoredo, not the main Milan Centrale.
If you're going to Bologna, the 06:33 goes direct to Bologna Centrale, arriving 12:30.
If you're going to Verona or Venice, the 08:33 goes direct to Verona P. Nuova arriving 13:28 & Venice Santa Lucia arriving 14:42.
If you're going to Genoa, the 10:33 goes direct to Genoa Piazza Principe, arriving 15:55.
All these EuroCity Giruno trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
They cross the Swiss Alps via the Gotthard route and the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world's longest rail tunnel, but with great views of Switzerland and Italy either side, including lovely views of Lake Lugano.
Change in Milan for a high-speed Frecciarossa train to Verona, Venice, Florence, Rome or Naples.
Buy tickets from Zurich to anywhere in Italy at either www.raileurope.com (keeping all your bookings together in one place) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in plain English, in various currencies, they'll refund seat61 users the 3.50 booking fee if you email seat61@italiarail.com with your PNR) or www.trenitalia.com (requires Italian-language place names, see advice on using it). It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
Brussels to Barcelona, Madrid & Spain from 68
Option 1, Brussels to Barcelona & Madrid in a single day - breakfast in Brussels, dinner in Spain, no need to cross Paris!
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Lyon by TGV, leaving Brussels Midi at 08:17, arriving Lyon Part Dieu 12:00.
The high-speed TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
It by-passes Paris using the high-speed line through CDG & Marne la Vallιe.
Have lunch in Lyon, see suggested restaurants near Lyon Part Dieu.
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Step 2, travel from Lyon to Barcelona by AVE, leaving Lyon Part Dieu at 14:35, arriving Barcelona Sants 19:33.
This comfortable AVE S100 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Look out for Bιziers cathedral on the right, colonies of flamingos on the ιtangs (lakes) in southern France, the Fort de Salses on the right approaching Perpignan and the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees. More about the journey.
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Step 3, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by AVE, leaving Barcelona Sants at 21:25, arriving Madrid Atocha 23:55.
This comfortable AVE S103 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Earlier departures may be available with other operators, but I'd allow at least an hour between trains in Barcelona and it's better to stick with the same operator when making connections, in this case Renfe.
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Stay overnight in Barcelona. The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users. See other suggested hotels near the station.
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Next day, travel from Barcelona to anywhere else in Spain by high-speed train.
For Madrid: AVE S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants & Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30.
For Granada: Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE 112 high-speed train, arriving Granada at 13:11.
For Malaga: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 15:05.
For Cordoba & Seville: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train, arriving Cordoba 13:27 & Seville Santa Justa 14:32.
For Valencia & Alicante: Euromed trains link Barcelona Sants with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 07:15 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:10 & Alicante 12:38 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 13:13 & Alicante 15:32.
For Santiago de Compostela, A Coruρa & Vigo, there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here.
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How much does it cost?
Brussels to Lyon starts at 29 in 2nd class or 39 in 1st class.
Lyon to Barcelona starts at 39 in 2nd class or 49 in 1st class.
Barcelona to Madrid starts at around 35. Barcelona to Seville or Malaga starts at around 45.
All these fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets
Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, this way you can buy all your tickets together in one place, in plain English, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee. Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead.
Step 1, book the morning train from Brussels Midi to Lyon Part Dieu & add to basket.
Step 2, book the afternoon train from Lyon Part Dieu to Barcelona Sants & add to basket.
Step 3 if going beyond Barcelona, book a train from Barcelona Sants to your Spanish destination, add to basket & check out.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Another way to buy tickets
You can of course book each train separately with the operator. More work, prices should be the same, but no booking fee.
Step 1, buy tickets from Brussels to Lyon at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com.
Booking normally opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Step 2, buy tickets from Lyon to Barcelona at the Spanish Railways website, www.renfe.com (in , fiddly, see advice on using it).
Step 3, book onward trains in Spain at www.renfe.com (in , fiddly, see advice on using it).
You'll find www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com easier to use!
Step 1, Brussels to Lyon by TGV. Above left, 2nd class seats with a mix of unidirectional seats & tables for 4. Seats 2+2 across car width. Larger photo.
Option 2, Brussels to Barcelona in a single day via Paris - a later departure from Brussels, but means crossing Paris
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Brussels Midi at 11:13, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 12:35.
Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class or 55 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon.
Allow at least 60 minutes between trains. Why not book an earlier Eurostar and have lunch at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon?
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Step 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 14:42, arriving Barcelona Sants 21:29.
This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.
The train passes Bιziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses by the tracks before Perpignan, with views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more about the journey.
Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Stay overnight in Barcelona. The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users. See other suggested hotels near the station.
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Step 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish destinations next morning.
For Madrid: AVE S103 high-speed trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30 from 38.
For Granada: Leave Barcelona Sants at 06:45 by AVE S112 high-speed train arriving Granada at 13:10.
For Malaga: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano at 14:51.
For Cordoba & Seville: Leave Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE S103 high-speed train arriving Cordoba 13:42 & Seville Santa Justa 14:32.
For Valencia & Alicante: Euromed trains link Barcelona Sants with Valencia & Alicante regularly through the day, for example one leaves Barcelona Sants at 07:15 Mondays-Saturdays arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 10:10 & Alicante 12:38 or at 10:15 every day arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 13:13 & Alicante 15:32.
For Santiago de Compostela, A Coruρa & Vigo, there's a morning Alvia train to Galicia, see details here.
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How to buy tickets
The easiest way to book trains from Brussels to Spain is at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking for Eurostar & TGV usually opens 4 months ahead. Spanish trains open anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead.
You can book Brussels to Barcelona as one easy transaction, but see how long it gives you between trains in Paris. It may be better to split the booking, first book Brussels-Paris, add to basket, then Paris-Barcelona, add to basket & check out.
Tip: If using www.raileurope.com, enter Brussels to Barcelona, click More options and enter Paris (any station) as a via station, setting duration as 1 hour, or 2-3 hours if you want lunch in Paris. In the search results, look for an option marked 1 change.
If you are heading for Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Alicante or elsewhere in Spain, first add Brussels-Paris-Barcelona to your basket, then book from Barcelona to your Spanish destination for the following day, add to your basket and check out.
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Another way to buy tickets
You can also book each train separately with the operator, more work, prices should be the same, but no booking fee.
Book Brussels-Paris at www.sncf-connect.com, then also book Paris-Barcelona at www.sncf-connect.com.
Book onward trains within Spain at www.renfe.com (no booking fee, fiddly, see advice on using it), if you have any problems at the payment stage use www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Tip: If you use www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com, you can choose your seats from a seat map when booking TGV 1st class.
Step 1, Brussels to Paris by Eurostar. Above, a Eurostar at Brussels Midi. See 360Ί photos inside the train. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Option 3, Brussels to Spain by high-speed train with an overnight stop in Paris.
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Day 1, travel from Brussels Midi to Paris Gare du Nord on any evening Eurostar (formerly Thalys) train you like, taking 1h22.
You can leave Brussels as late as 21:13, by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Paris.
Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class (standard) or 55 in 1st class (comfort). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon.
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Stay overnight in Paris. The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for an early train next morning. See other suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord & Gare de Lyon.
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Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 07:42, arriving Barcelona Sants 14:29.
This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.
The train passes Bιziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses by the tracks before Perpignan, with views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more about the journey.
Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Malaga and so on by high-speed train.
For Madrid, a high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 15:25 Mondays-Fridays, arriving Madrid Atocha 17:55.
Another AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:00 every day, arriving Madrid Atocha 19:12.
For Cordoba & Seville, a high-speed AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 15:15, arriving Cordoba 20:16, Seville Santa Justa 21:24.
For Malaga, an AVE leaves Barcelona Sants at 15:15, arriving Malaga Maria Zambrano 21:43.
For Valencia & Alicante, a Euromed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 19:02 & Alicante 21:34.
All these trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I'd allow an hour between trains in Barcelona.
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How to buy tickets
Book from Brussels to Spain at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, they connect to both French Railways (SNCF) for Eurostar & TGV and to Spanish Railways (Renfe) for onward tickets within Spain. Easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee.
Booking for Eurostar & TGV usually opens 4 months ahead, Spanish trains open anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead.
First book from Brussels to Paris, picking any direct Eurostar train you like and add to basket.
Then book from Paris to Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia or Alicante as one journey for the following day.
In the search results, look for Paris-Barcelona options with 0 changes, or Paris to Madrid/Seville/Malaga/Valencia/Alicante options with 1 change in Barcelona. Add to basket and check out.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Another way to buy tickets
You can book each train separately, more work, prices should be the same, but no booking fee.
Book the Brussels-Paris Eurostar & Paris-Barcelona TGV at www.sncf-connect.com.
Book onward trains within Spain at www.renfe.com (fiddly to use, see advice on using it), if you have any payment problem use www.raileurope.com, www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee).
Tip: If you use www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com, you can choose your seats from a seat map when booking TGV 1st class.
Option 4, Brussels to Spain with an overnight stop in Nξmes - avoids crossing Paris
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Nξmes by direct high-speed TGV leaving Brussels Midi at 16:17, arriving Nξmes Centre 21:39.
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class or 39 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee), or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Stay overnight in Nξmes. The inexpensive Ibis Budget Nimes Gare is just 50m from the station and gets good reviews. The Ibis Styles Nimes Gare next door is a more upmarket option, but also inexpensive with good reviews.
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Day 2, travel from Nξmes to Spain by AVE, leaving Nξmes Centre at 09:01, arriving Barcelona Sants 12:38 & Madrid Atocha 15:45.
This comfortable AVE S100 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Look out for Bιziers cathedral on the right, colonies of flamingos on the ιtangs in southern France, the Fort de Salses on the right approaching Perpignan and great views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees.
Fares start at 25 in 2nd class or 39 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee), or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, in , see advice on using it).
Booking opens several months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Valencia or Alicante by high-speed train. I'd allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Barcelona.
Book trains in Spain at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (which keeps all your bookings together in one place) or the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (in , much more fiddly to use, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice on using it) or www.petrabax.com (in $, easy to use, small mark-up). Spanish trains open for booking anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead.
Option 5, Brussels to Paris by Eurostar, French sleeper train to the Spanish border, then onward Spanish trains
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Brussels Midi at 18:43 arriving Paris Gare du Nord 20:05.
Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Eurostar (formerly Thalys). Have dinner in Paris. Later connections are possible, but I'd play safe when catching a sleeper.
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class or 79 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee, this way you can keep all your bookings together in one place. About Raileurope. About Thetrainline.
Or buy at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com in , no booking fee.
Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare d'Austerlitz.
Allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper. Why not book an earlier Eurostar and have dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz? Or try the floating restaurant Off Paris Seine next to the Gare d'Austerlitz.
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Step 2, travel overnight from Paris to Latour de Carol in the heart of the Pyrenees by French sleeper train, leaving Paris Austerlitz at 22:13. Then take a local train from Latour de Carol to Barcelona Sants arriving around 14:00.
This runs Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights, daily June-September.
See the Paris to Barcelona by sleeper train page for full details & how to buy tickets.
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Step 3, travel from Barcelona to other Spanish destinations in the afternoon.
For Madrid: AVE trains link Barcelona Sants with Madrid Atocha every hour or two in as little as 2h30. Fares from 17.50.
For Cordoba & Seville: A direct AVE train leaves Barcelona Sants at 15:15, arriving Cordoba & Seville Santa Justa in the evening.
For Valencia & Alicante: A Euromed train leaves Barcelona Sants at 16:10 arriving Valencia Joaquin Sorolla 19:02, Alicante 21:34.
Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (more fiddly, in , see advice for using it). I'd allow at least 1 hour between trains in Barcelona.
Brussels to San Sebastian from 63
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Step 1, travel from Brussels Midi to Paris Gare du Nord by Eurostar (formerly Thalys) in 1h22.
Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class (standard) or 55 in 1st class (comfort). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare Montparnasse. Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris.
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Step 2, travel from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Hendaye on the Spanish border by high-speed double-deck TGV Duplex Ocιane in around 4h40. The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 25 in 2nd class or 45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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For example:
Leave Brussels Midi 06:42, change trains & stations in Paris, arriving Hendaye 14:47.
Leave Brussels Midi 09:16, change trains & stations in Paris, arriving Hendaye 16:47.
Leave Brussels Midi 13:13, change trains & stations in Paris, arriving Hendaye 20:47.
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Step 3, travel from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara by Euskotren, this little metre-gauge electric train runs every 30 minutes from early morning till around 22:30, journey time 37 minutes, fare 2.75. Check times at www.euskotren.es.
In San Sebastian, Euskotren's Amara station is walking distance from most hotels.
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Buy tickets from Brussels to Hendaye as one transaction at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, looking for journeys with 1 change.
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. Small booking fee.
Tip: To ensure a robust connection in Paris, if using www.raileurope.com I'd click More options, enter Paris (any station) and a stopover duration of at least 1 hour. If you'd like lunch between trains or a wander in Paris, make it 2 or 3 hours.
Alternatively, you can book the Eurostar and TGV at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com, in with no booking fee.
Tip: If you use www.thetrainline.com or www.sncf-connect.com, you can choose your seats from a seat map when booking 1st class on a TGV.
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Buy the Hendaye-San Sebastian ticket at the Euskotren station in Hendaye from the ticket machines or staffed counter, with cash or card.
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See the Paris to San Sebastian page for more details, including tips for the Paris-Hendaye-San Sebastian journey and photos showing the location of the Euskotren station at Hendaye.
Brussels to Ibiza & Mallorca
Option 1, Brussels to Ibiza or Mallorca by ferry from Barcelona - all year round
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Barcelona as shown above, using either option 2 with overnight stop in Paris or option 3 with overnight stop in Nξmes, arriving Barcelona Sants at 12:38 or 14:29.
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In Barcelona, it's a 4 km 46-minute walk from Barcelona Sants station to the Trasmed and Balearia ferry terminal at the foot of La Rambla, near the Columbus monument, see walking map. A taxi costs around 20 & takes 13 minutes or take metro line L3 from Barcelona Sants to Drassane metro station (see www.tmb.cat), from where the Balearia terminal is 7 minutes walk, the Trasmed terminal is 9 minutes walk. Map of Barcelona showing station and ferry terminals.
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Step 2, sail overnight from Barcelona to Ibiza or Palma de Mallorca by ferry.
Ibiza: Trasmed operate an overnight ferry from Barcelona to Ibiza on most nights of the week sailing at or around 22:00, arriving 07:00. Times and dates vary, check times and buy tickets at the Direct Ferries website or www.trasmed.com. Check-in for the ferry closes 30 minutes before sailing time. You can pre-print your boarding pass to save time at the terminal. Balearia also operate an overnight ferry to Ibiza on most nights of the week, sailing times vary but it typically sails at 22:00, arriving in Ibiza town (Ibiza Ciudad) at 06:00. Check times and buy tickets at the Direct Ferries website or www.balearia.com.
Mallorca: There are two overnight ferries from Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca, both with restaurants, bars & cosy en suite cabins, both usually sailing from Barcelona around around 22:00 and arriving in Palma around 07:00. One ferry is run by Trasmed (www.trasmed.com), the other run by Balearia (www.balearia.com). Check times & buy tickets at the Direct Ferries website.
Above, a Balearia ferry in Ibiza harbour. Courtesy of Discoverbyrail.com.
Option 2, Brussels to Menorca or Mallorca by ferry from Toulon - several times a week April-October
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Toulon, leaving Brussels Midi at 06:37 weekdays, 06:27 weekends change at Marseille St Charles arriving Toulon 13:40 weekdays, 14:02 weekends. Or travel the day before and stay overnight in Marseille or Toulon.
Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Obviously, book the ferry first to confirm dates & times, then book the train.
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Step 2, sail overnight from Toulon to Menorca or Alcudia (Mallorca) with Corsica Ferries.
Sailings operate several times a week, April to October, typically sailing around 18:00 & arriving around 09:00, some going to Menorca and others to Alcudia. Their comfortable ships have bars, restaurants, and private cabins with en suite toilet & shower.
Fares start at around 25 for a foot passenger + a private cabin from around 32, Fares & cabin charges vary by date.
Check times & buy tickets at the Direct Ferries website or see www.corsica-ferries.co.uk.
Brussels to Algeciras & Gibraltar
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Barcelona in a day as shown in the Brussels-Barcelona section.
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Stay overnight in Barcelona. The Hotel Barcelo Sants is the top choice here, it's part of Barcelona Sants station so easy to use when arriving & departing by train, with great reviews & good feedback from Seat61 users. See other suggested hotels near the station.
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Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Algeciras, leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:35 by AVE, change at Antequera-Santa Ana onto a 15:09 Media Distancia train arriving San Roque-La Linea 18:07 & Algeciras 18:23.
The high-speed AVE train is air-conditioned with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. There's great scenery both on the high-speed line between Barcelona and Antequera and on the classic line twisting through the hills from Antequera to Algeciras, the Spanish town across the bay from Gibraltar. The Media Distancia is air-conditioned, but bring your own food & drink.
Fares start at around 70.
Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee, or at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see this advice on using it first). You print your own tickets. Booking should open 60 days ahead but this varies.
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Day 2, take a bus or taxi from Algeciras to la Linea & walk into Gibraltar.
A taxi from Algeciras railway station to La Linea costs 24.75 and takes about 22 minutes. Taxis don't use the meter on this run, and aren't normally allowed to cross the border into Gibraltar.
To go by bus, cross the roundabout outside Algeciras railway station and enter the San Bernado bus station, then take bus M-120 to La Linea for around 2.50. Bus M-120 runs every 30 minutes Mon-Fri at xx.00 and xx.30 past each hour or every 45 minutes at weekends, journey time about 45 minutes to La Linea, for bus information see siu.ctmcg.es.
La Linea is the Spanish town outside the border crossing to Gibraltar, and La Linea's bus stop and taxi rank are right outside the entrance to Gibraltar. Walk through the Spanish then UK passport checkpoints into Gibraltar (5-10 minutes). Then either (a) keep walking straight ahead of you into Gibraltar town, it's takes about 15 minutes to the centre or (b) take a frequent local Gibraltar bus from the border into town or (c) look for the taxi stop on the right just after the passport check and wait for a taxi to your hotel for a few pounds - Gibraltar taxis will accept euros. The walk from the border to Gibraltar's Main Street takes you across Gibraltar airport's runway, though they stop cars and pedestrians when an aircraft is landing or taking off! Map of Algeciras - La Linea - Gibraltar area.
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Or take a taxi/bus from San Roque-La Linea station:
The closest station to Gibraltar is actually San Roque-La Linea, and all trains to Algeciras call here around 20 minutes before arriving at Algeciras. So if you prefer, you can get off here and take a taxi to La Linea, or walk the 1.6 km (1 mile) to the Bar La Redonda bus stop on the main road on the M-120 bus route from Algeciras to La Linea. Buses run to La Linea every 30 minutes weekdays, every 45 minutes weekends. Taxis are usually available outside San Roque station, San Roque to the La Linea/Gibraltar border is about 16 km (10 miles) and it takes just over 30 minutes depending on traffic.
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How much does it cost?
Brussels to Paris starts at 29 in 2nd class or 55 in 1st class.
Paris to Barcelona starts at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class.
Barcelona to Madrid starts at 38 in standard class or 45 in comfort class.
Madrid to Algeciras starts at 25 in standard class or 38 in comfort class .
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy the train tickets
You can buy all your tickets together at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, both easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee.
First book from Brussels to Barcelona, add this to your basket, then book Barcelona to Madrid & Madrid to Algeciras for the following day, add each of these to your basket & check out.
Booking for Eurostar & TGV opens up to 4 months ahead, for the AVE & Intercity train anything from 15 days to 3 months. You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.
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Another way to buy tickets
Alternatively you can book from Brussels to Barcelona at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee) then book Barcelona to Madrid and Madrid to Algeciras at the Spanish Railways website www.renfe.com (in , more fiddly, may reject some overseas credit cards, see advice on using it), you'll find www.thetrainline.com much easier!
Algeciras station, across the road from the bus station.
Brussels to Lisbon, Porto & Portugal
Option 1, Brussels to Lisbon via Barcelona & Madrid - with overnight stops in Paris & Madrid
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Day 1, travel from Brussels Midi to Paris Gare du Nord on any evening Eurostar (formerly Thalys) train you like, taking 1h22.
You can leave Brussels as late as 21:13, but by all means take an earlier train and spend a pleasant evening in Paris.
Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class (standard) or 55 in 1st class (comfort). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare de Lyon.
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Stay overnight in Paris. The Mercure Paris Gare De Lyon is part of the Gare de Lyon station complex, ideal for an early train next morning. See other suggested hotels near the Gare du Nord & Gare de Lyon.
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Day 2, travel from Paris to Barcelona by TGV Duplex, leaving Paris Gare de Lyon at 07:42, arriving Barcelona Sants 14:29.
This impressive 320 km/h (199 mph) double-deck TGV Duplex has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck.
The train passes Bιziers cathedral, flamingos on the lakes between Montpelier & Narbonne, the historic Fort de Salses by the tracks before Perpignan, with views of the imposing 2,784m Mt Canigou as the train rounds the southern end of the Pyrenees, see more about the journey.
Fares start at 39 in 2nd class or 59 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Madrid by AVE, leaving Barcelona Sants at 15:25 Mondays-Fridays, arriving Madrid Atocha 17:55.
Or on any day of the week, leave Barcelona Sants at 16:00 by AVE, arriving Madrid Atocha 19:12.
These comfortable AVE S103 high-speed trains have a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 17.05 in standard class or 68.05 in comfort class. Fares work like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.
Booking for Spanish trains opens anything from 15 days to 9 months ahead.
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Stay overnight in Madrid. The classic Hotel Mediodia is across the road from Atocha with good reviews, or try the NH Hotel Madrid Atocha or Only YOU Hotel Atocha, also across the road from the station.
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Day 2, travel from Madrid to Lisbon by daytime trains as shown on the Madrid to Lisbon page.
Option 2, Brussels to Porto & Lisbon via San Sebastian & Vigo - slightly slower, can be cheaper
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to San Sebastian as shown above. For example:
Leave Brussels Midi 09:16, change stations in Paris, arriving Hendaye 16:47.
Leave Brussels Midi 13:13, change stations in Paris, arriving Hendaye 20:47.
Brussels to Paris Nord is by Eurostar (formerly Thalys) with 3 classes, refreshments, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Paris Montparnasse to Hendaye is by double-deck TGV Duplex Ocιane with cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. I recommend an upper deck seat for the best views, any seat number above 60 is upper deck. Hendaye is on the French side of the Spanish border.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Transfer from Hendaye to San Sebastian Amara by half-hourly Euskotren metro train as shown above, journey time 37 minutes.
In San Sebastian it's a 10-minute walk from Amara station to the Renfe station, see walking route.
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Stay overnight in San Sebastian. The Pension Regil is close to the old town with great reviews, 10 minutes walk from the Renfe station, 7 minutes walk from the Amara Euskotren station. If you want something in the old town itself, try the Pension Garibai or Pension Alameda. If you want to push the boat out, San Sebastian's most venerable hotel (which I can recommend personally, having stayed there) is the Hotel de Londres y Inglaterra, on the sea front.
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Day 2, travel across Spain from San Sebastian to Vigo on one of these two possible departures:
Morning departure, every day: Travel from San Sebastian to Madrid by Alvia, leaving San Sebastian Renfe station at 08:47, arriving Madrid Chamartin 13:51. Then travel from Madrid to Vigo by Alvia, leaving Madrid Chamartin at 16:00, arriving Vigo Urzaiz 20:12. The comfortable high-speed Alvia trains have a cafe-bar, standard & comfort class. Vigo Urzaiz is an easy 10 minute 500m walk from Vigo Guixar, see how to walk between stations using the halo lift.
Afternoon departure, Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays only: Spend the morning in San Sebastian. An Intercity train leaves San Sebastian Renfe station at 11:30 arriving Vitoria/Gasteiz 13:35. This is a guaranteed connection into the Barcelona-Galicia Alvia train which leaves Vitoria/Gasteiz at 14:03 on Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays arriving Vigo Guixar at 22:51.
San Sebastian to Vigo starts at 23 each way. The price varies, book ahead for the cheaper prices.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking for Spanish trains normally opens 60 days ahead, but this varies.
Tip: If using the daily departure with a change in Madrid, you might need to treat San Sebastian-Madrid & Madrid-Vigo as separate bookings.
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Stay overnight in Vigo. The NH Collection Vigo hotel & cheaper Hotel Atlantico Vigo are both near the station with great reviews.
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Day 3, travel from Vigo to Porto by Celta regional express, leaving Vigo Guixar at 08:58 arriving Porto Campanhγ 10:20.
The fare is 15.90, fixed price.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com. Booking opens 60 days ahead, but this can vary.
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Day 3, travel from Porto to Lisbon by Alfa Pendular, leaving Porto Campanhγ at 11:40 and arriving Lisbon Santa Apolonia 14:30.
Or book a later train and spend some time exploring wonderful Porto.
Fares start at 15. Book this at the Portuguese Railways website www.cp.pt (in ) or at Omio.com (in , £ or $).
Brussels to Faro & the Algarve
Option 1, Brussels to Faro using a bus from Seville to Faro - fastest & easiest
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Paris by Eurostar and Paris to Barcelona by afternoon TGV, as shown in the Brussels to Barcelona section.
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Stay overnight in Barcelona. The Hotel Barcelo Sants is top choice here, it's located above Barcelona Sants station itself and gets great reviews, with nice rooms, a great breakfast buffet and a delightfully kitsch space theme. Alternatively, the Nobu Hotel and AC Sants Hotel by Marriot are both just across the road from the station. Other suggested hotels near the station.
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Day 2, travel from Barcelona to Seville by AVE, leaving Barcelona Sants at 08:35, arriving Seville Santa Justa 14:32.
The AVE S103 high-speed train has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at around 46, book this at www.thetrainline.com or www.raileurope.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or www.renfe.com (much more fiddly, in , may reject some international credit cards).
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Day 2, travel from Seville to Faro by bus, an Alsa-Rede Express bus usually leaves Seville Santa Justa at 15:30, arriving Faro 18:00.
Times vary so check at Omio.com, I'd allow at least 40 minutes between train & bus. Remember the 1h time difference between Spain & Portugal.
Several other bus companies run this route including Damas, EuroLines & Iberobus, all leaving from Seville Plaza de Armas bus station. I recommend Alsa-Rede Express as their buses start from outside Seville Santa Justa station for easy train-bus connections. Simply walk out of the main exit and turn right, you'll see the pale blue Alsa-Rede Express bus waiting opposite McDonalds, see the photo below.
The Alsa-Rede Express buses also call at Seville Plaza de Armas bus station after leaving Santa Justa, a better departure point if you're visiting Seville city centre. The bus has power sockets, but no WiFi or toilet. There's a brief toilet stop at Tavira bus station.
In Faro, the Alsa-Rede Express buses arrive at the Eva bus station adjacent to the excellent Eva Senses Hotel and 2 minutes walk from Faro railway station. The bus continues to Lagos, or you can have a coffee and continue to Tunes & Lagos by train.
The fare is around 17-21 each way.
Buy tickets for any of these bus companies at Omio.com and print your own ticket.
Option 2, Brussels to Faro via Lisbon - a longer way round, but all-train.
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Lisbon as shown above.
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Step 2, take a train from Lisbon to Faro as shown here.
Brussels to Andorra
Option 1, Brussels to Andorra in a day
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys):
On Mondays-Fridays, leave Brussels Midi at 07:43, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 09:05.
On Saturdays & Sundays, leave Brussels Midi at 08:13, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 09:35.
Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about Eurostar (formerly Thalys).
On Saturdays there's also an earlier 07:13 departure if you'd prefer a more robust connection in Paris.
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class (standard) or 59 in 1st class (comfort). Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee). You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Change stations by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare Montparnasse. Allow at least 60 minutes between trains in Paris.
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Step 2, travel from Paris to Toulouse by TGV,
On Mondays-Fridays, leave Paris Montparnasse at 11:11 arriving Toulouse Matabiau 15:48.
On Saturdays & Sundays, leave Paris Montparnasse at 10:43 arriving Toulouse Matabiau 15:20.
The TGV has a cafe-bar, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 25 in 2nd class or 45 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee). You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Step 3, travel from Toulouse Matabiau to Andorra la Vella by bus, leaving Toulouse Matabiau at 17:45 arriving Andorra 21:45.
Check times at Andbus.net or Omio.com. I'd allow at least an hour between train and bus in Toulouse in case of delay.
The bus leaves from bus stand 15 in the Gare Routiθre (bus station) outside Toulouse Matabiau station. Simply walk out of the station onto the forecourt and look to your right. The bus station is the modern building with the glass-and-blue-framework, see the photos below.
The fare is 36.
Book the bus at Andbus.net or Omio.com.
Paris to Toulouse by TGV Duplex: This is a TGV Duplex at Paris Gare Montparnasse. Click the images below for larger photos.
TGV Ocιane cafe-bar (above left) and 2nd class seats (above right).
TGV Ocιane 1st class seats. All 1st class seats (except the end ones) rotate to face direction of travel. There are USB & 2-pin outlets above each drop-down table.
Option 2, Brussels to Andorra using the Paris-Toulouse sleeper
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Paris by Eurostar (formerly Thalys), leaving Brussels Midi at 18:43, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 20:05.
Eurostar trains have 3 classes, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about Eurostar (formerly Thalys). Have dinner in Paris. Later connections are possible, but I'd play safe when catching a sleeper.
Fares start at 29 in 2nd class or 79 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com, easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee, this way you can keep all your bookings together in one place. About Raileurope. About Thetrainline.
Or buy tickets at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com in , no booking fee.
Cross Paris by metro or taxi from the Gare du Nord to the Gare d'Austerlitz.
Allow at least 90 minutes between trains in Paris when catching a sleeper. Why not book an earlier Eurostar and have dinner at the Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon before strolling across the bridge over the Seine to the Gare d'Austerlitz? Or try the floating restaurant Off Paris Seine next to the Gare d'Austerlitz.
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Step 2, travel from Paris to Toulouse by Intercitι de Nuit, leaving Paris Gare d'Austerlitz at 22:13, arriving Toulouse Matabiau 07:44.
This train has 1st class 4-berth couchettes, 2nd class 6-berth couchettes & 2nd class seats. More about Intercitι de Nuit.
Fares start at 29 in a 2nd class couchette or 59 in a 1st class couchette. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no booking fee).
Booking opens up to 4 months ahead, but this train has an annoying habit of opening late for booking, less than the expected 4 months ahead, so don't be impatient. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: On arrival in Toulouse, I recommend the breakfast buffet at the nearby Pullman Hotel!
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Step 3, travel from Toulouse to Andorra by bus, leaving Toulouse Matabiau at 09:45, arriving Andorra la Vella bus station at 14:00.
The bus is run by Andbus, check times at Andbus.net. I'd allow at least an hour between train & bus in Toulouse in case of delay.
The bus leaves from bus stand 15 in the Gare Routiθre (bus station) outside Toulouse Matabiau railway station. Walk out of the station onto the forecourt and look to your right. The bus station is the modern building with the glass-and-blue-framework, see the photos below.
The fare is 36 one-way. Book the bus at Andbus.net.
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A better route, Fri/Sat/Sun, daily June-September:
On Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights and every day from June to September, the same 22:13 Intercitι de Nuit from Paris conveys 1st & 2nd class couchettes & reclining seats direct to Andorre-l'Hospitalet, the nearest station to Andorra, arriving 09:43.
Book this Paris to Andorre-l'Hospitalet sleeper at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in , no fee).
A bus run by Hife (www.hife.es) leaves l'Hospitalet station at 10:15, arriving Andorra La Vella bus station 11:30.
The bus fare is 24, pre-book the bus at www.hife.es.
Alternatively, a taxi from l'Hospitalet costs around 80 for up to 4 passengers, taking 47 minutes for the 38 km drive. Pre-book a taxi to meet the train, call Altitud Taxis, 00 376 856255 or 00 33 561644714. This is a nicer and faster option than the bus from Toulouse, when running.
Brussels to Cologne, Frankfurt & Germany from 18.99
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Every 2 hours, a high-speed ICE3neo train links Brussels Midi with Cologne Hbf in 1h50 & Frankfurt (Main) Hbf in 3h07.
Every 2 hours, alternating with the ICE, a Eurostar (formerly Thalys) links Brussels Midi with Cologne Hbf in 1h50, some departures continuing to Dόsseldorf, Essen & Dortmund.
Change in Cologne or Frankfurt for Dόsseldorf, Koblenz, Hamburg, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Leipzig, Dresden, in fact anywhere in Germany.
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Eurostar or ICE?
ICEs have a restaurant car, Eurostars have vending machines and refreshment trolley, both come with power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Both are good, and if you are only going as far as Cologne, just choose whichever departure suits.
If you're going further into Germany, a key advantage of the German ICE is that German Railways offer through fares from Brussels to almost anywhere in Germany and it's usually cheaper to buy an ICE through ticket than to buy a Eurostar ticket from Brussels to Cologne plus a separate onward ticket. And a through ticket gives cast iron passenger rights if there's a delay & missed connection. If you use Eurostar to Cologne with a separate onward ticket these passenger rights don't apply, you have to rely on the Railteam HOTNAT arrangement.
For these reasons, I recommend ICE in preference to Eurostar for journeys from Brussels to German destinations beyond Cologne.
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Fares from Brussels to Cologne start at 18.99 in 2nd class, 27.99 in 1st class.
Fares from Brussels to Frankfurt (Main) start at 27.99 in 2nd class, 37.99 in 1st class.
Through fares from Brussels to Hamburg, Nuremberg, Dresden and so on start at 27.99 in 2nd class, 37.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets from any station in Belgium to any station in Germany at the German Railways website int.bahn.de, or www.thetrainline.com.
Thetrainline.com sells journeys via both Eurostar & ICE, but you only get a through ticket if you book an ICE. Small booking fee.
Bahn.de sells through tickets from Brussels to anywhere in Germany via their own ICE trains, with no booking fee.
Bahn.de lets you choose your seat from a seat map on ICE trains, too.
You print your own ticket (A4 paper, but U.S. Letter size is fine) or you can show it on your phone.
Bookings open up to 6 months ahead, but bookings involving a Eurostar (former Thalys) only open up to 4 months ahead.
An ICE3neo at Brussels Midi. More about ICE trains. Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.
Brussels to Berlin from 27.99
Option 1, Brussels to Berlin by high-speed train - the daytime option
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Brussels to Berlin takes around 6h40, with a departure every 2 hours:
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change at Cologne Hbf, arrive Berlin Hbf 13:02.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arrive Berlin Hbf 15:03.
Leave Brussels Midi 10:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arrive Berlin Hbf 17:04.
Leave Brussels Midi 12:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arrive Berlin Hbf 19:02.
Leave Brussels Midi 14:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arrive Berlin Hbf 21:01.
Leave Brussels Midi 16:23, change at Cologne Hbf, arrive Berlin Hbf 23:02.
Exact times may vary. The 16:23 leaves 16:25 at weekends.
Brussels to Cologne is by ICE3neo, Cologne to Berlin by ICE2 or ICE4, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Fares start at 27.99 in 2nd class or 43.99 in 1st class.
Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
You can book from Brussels or any station in Belgium to Berlin or any station in Germany.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. Look for a 1-change journey. You can choose your seat from a seat map on ICEs. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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You can also buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com, this can sell journeys via both Eurostar (formerly Thalys) and the German-run ICE. However, you only get a through ticket if you book a journey leaving Brussels by ICE. You print your ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 2, Brussels to Berlin by European Sleeper - the time-effective option, 3 times a week
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A sleeper train links Brussels & Berlin on Monday, Wednesday & Friday nights, see the European Sleeper page.
The European Sleeper calls at Amsterdam. This is a 5-berth couchette car, beyond it is the stainless steel sleeping-car.
Option 3, Brussels to Berlin by Nightjet sleeper train - another time-effective option, 3 times a week
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A Nightjet leaves Brussels Midi at 19:06 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Berlin Hbf 08:26.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the guide to Nightjet accommodation.
Tip: You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations and search for NJ 425.
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Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in plain English, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (in , same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket. Child under 6? See here.
Brussels to Hamburg from 27.99
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Brussels to Hamburg takes around 6h50, with departures every 2 hours:
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 12:59.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:23, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 15:14.
Leave Brussels Midi 10:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:14.
Leave Brussels Midi 12:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:14.
Leave Brussels Midi 14:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 21:14.
Leave Brussels Midi 16:22, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 23:16.
Exact times may vary. The 16:22 leaves at 16:25 at weekends.
Brussels to Cologne is by ICE3neo, Cologne to Hamburg is by ICE4, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Fares start at 27.99 in 2nd class or 43.99 in 1st class.
Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
You can book from Brussels or any station in Belgium to Hamburg or any station in Germany.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. Look for a 1-change journey. You can choose your seat from a seat map on ICEs. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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You can also buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com and this can sell journeys via both Eurostar (formerly Thalys) and the German-run ICE. However, you only get a through ticket if you book a journey leaving Brussels by ICE.
An ICE3neo at Brussels Midi. More about ICE trains. Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.
Brussels to Munich from 27.99
Option 1, Brussels to Munich by daytime trains
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Brussels to Munich takes around 6h45 with departures every 2 hours:
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Munich Hbf 13:05.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Munich Hbf 15:12.
Leave Brussels Midi 10:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Munich Hbf 17:06.
Leave Brussels Midi 12:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Munich Hbf 19:07.
Leave Brussels Midi 14:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Munich Hbf 21:07.
Leave Brussels Midi 16:23, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Munich Hbf 23:13.
Exact times may vary. The 16:23 leaves at 16:25 at weekends.
Brussels to Frankfurt is by ICE3neo, then another ICE to Munich Hbf, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Fares start at 27.99 in 2nd class or 43.99 in 1st class.
Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
You can book from Brussels or any station in Belgium to Munich or any station in Germany.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. Look for a 1-change journey. You can choose your seat from a seat map on ICEs. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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You can also buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com and this can sell journeys via both Eurostar (formerly Thalys) and the German-run ICE. However, you only get a through ticket if you book a journey leaving Brussels by ICE.
An ICE3neo at Frankfurt Flughafen. More about ICE trains. Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.
Option 2, Brussels to Munich by sleeper train - the time-effective option, 3 times week
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A Nightjet leaves Brussels Midi at 19:06 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Munich Ost 05:43.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the Nightjet guide.
There are frequent S-Bahn trains from Munich Ost to Munich Hbf, journey time 8 minutes.
Tip: You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations and search for NJ 421.
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Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in plain English, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (in , same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket. Child under 6? See here.
Brussels to Trier for 31.40
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Luxembourg by Belgian Intercity train. These leave Brussels Midi every hour, usually direct, sometimes with a change at Arlon, taking 3h to Luxembourg station.
The fare is 25.50 one-way in 2nd class or 42 in 1st class.
If you're under 26 or over 65 there's a one-way youth/senior fare for 10, only in 2nd class.
Tickets are good for any train on the date you specify, not just for the specific train you choose when booking. These prices are fixed, with unlimited availability. So it's the same price even if you buy on the day of travel, no reservation is needed, you sit where you like.
Buy a ticket at the Belgian Railways website www.b-europe.com.
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Step 2, travel from Luxembourg to Trier by regional train for 5.90.
These run twice each hour, taking 50 minutes by fast train or 1h01 by local train. There are no seat reservations as it's just a local train, buy a ticket on the day, hop on and sit anywhere you like.
Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
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Incidentally, you can buy a Brussels-Trier ticket at www.b-europe.com for 32.90 or from German Railways int.bahn.de for a whopping 41, but it's cheaper to buy a Brussels-Luxembourg ticket from www.b-europe.com + a local ticket to Trier at int.bahn.de!
Brussels to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Austria from 37.99
Option 1, Brussels to Salzburg, Linz & Vienna by Nightjet, 3 times a week - the time-effective option
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A Nightjet leaves Brussels Midi at 19:06 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Salzburg Hbf 07:26, Linz Hbf 08:46, Vienna Meidling 10:05 & Vienna Hbf 10:13.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the Nightjet guide.
Tip: You can check the train formation, check car numbers & see in what order cars for different destinations are marshalled using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations and search for NJ 421.
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Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in plain English, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (in , same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket. Child under 6? See here.
Option 2, Brussels to Austria by daytime trains
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Brussels to Vienna from 37.99
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen & Wόrzburg, arriving Vienna Hbf 16:47.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Vienna Hbf 18:47.
Leave Brussels Midi 10:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Vienna Hbf 20:47.
Leave Brussels Midi 12:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Vienna Hbf 23:05.
Brussels-Frankfurt is by ICE3neo, Frankfurt-Vienna by ICE-T, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Prices vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
This can book from Brussels or almost any station in Belgium to Vienna, Innsbruck and most Austrian stations as one transaction. In the search results, look for journeys with just 1 change. Exact times may vary.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: It's worth checking fares at www.thetrainline.com as this takes its prices from the Austrian system which is often cheaper.
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Brussels to Salzburg from 37.99
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & Munich Hbf, arriving Salzburg Hbf 14:58.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Salzburg Hbf 17:59.
Leave Brussels Midi 10:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Salzburg Hbf 19:59.
Leave Brussels Midi 12:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Salzburg Hbf 22:02.
You travel to Frankfurt by comfortable air-conditioned ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, changing there onto another ICE or a comfortable EuroCity or Intercity train.
Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Prices vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
This can book from Brussels or anywhere in Belgium to Salzburg and most Austrian towns & cities as one transaction. In the search results, look for journeys with just 1 change.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: It's worth checking fares at www.thetrainline.com as this takes its prices from the Austrian system which is often cheaper.
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Brussels to Innsbruck from 37.99
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & Munich Hbf, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 15:18.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & Munich Hbf, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 17:18.
Leave Brussels Midi 10:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & Munich Hbf, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 19:18.
Leave Brussels Midi 12:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Innsbruck Hbf 21:18.
You travel from Brussels to Frankfurt & Frankfurt to Munich by comfortable air-conditioned ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, then Munich to Innsbruck by EuroCity train with restaurant car.
Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Prices vary like air fares, book ahead for the cheapest prices.
Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
This can book from Brussels or anywhere in Belgium to Innsbruck and most other Austrian towns & cities as one transaction.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. More about when bookings open. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: It's worth checking fares at www.thetrainline.com as this takes its prices from the Austrian system which is often cheaper.
Option 4, Brussels to Austria with overnight stop in Frankfurt
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Frankfurt by ICE leaving Brussels Midi at 18:25, arriving Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 21:31.
This ICE3neo train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Or book the earlier 16:23 for an evening in Frankfurt.
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Stay overnight in Frankfurt. Hotels next to the station with good or great reviews include the Flemings Express Hotel & Hotel Hamburger Hof, both of which I have stayed at and can recommend. There's also The Frankfurt and the inexpensive Hotel Topas.
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Day 2, travel from Frankfurt to Austria by train.
For Vienna, leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf 06:19 by ICE-T ,arriving Vienna Hbf 12:47. Or leave at 08:22, arriving 14:47.
For Salzburg, leave Frankfurt (Main) Hbf at 08:21 by EuroCity train, arriving Salzburg Hbf 13:59.
For Innsbruck & other Austrian cities, simply run an enquiry at int.bahn.de.
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How much does it cost?
Brussels to Austria starts at 37.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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How to buy tickets
Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
This can book from Brussels or anywhere in Belgium to Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and most other Austrian stations as one transaction.
To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Frankfurt (Main) Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 11 hours.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Brussels to Copenhagen from 49.99
Option 1, Brussels to Legoland, Odense or Copenhagen in a single day
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You can travel from Brussels to Copenhagen in a single chill-out day, with a choice of departures:
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change Cologne Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Kolding (for Legoland) 17:44, Odense 18:23, Copenhagen 19:38.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:25, change Cologne Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Kolding (for Legoland) 19:44, Odense 20:23, Copenhagen 21:38.
This is a straightforward journey all on one ticket booked at int.bahn.de.
You travel from Brussels to Cologne by ICE3neo & Cologne to Hamburg by ICE4 with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. You travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train with refreshment trolley. More about the Hamburg to Copenhagen journey.
From 12 April to 2 November 2025 there's a later departure:
Leave Brussels Midi 10:25, change Cologne Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Kolding (for Legoland) 21:44, Odense 22:23, Copenhagen 23:46.
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Fares start at 49.99 in 2nd class or 79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: Click Stopovers and enter Brussels Nord as a stopover with zero length of stay. This forces it to find the 08:25 ICE and show through fares, instead of only offering the 09:25 Eurostar (formerly Thalys) train which isn't run by German Railways so they can't show any through fares. In the search results, look for journeys with 2 changes and with an actual price in . Ignore anything that says Determine price.
Option 2, Brussels to Legoland, Odense or Copenhagen with an overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Hamburg, leaving Brussels Midi at 14:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 21:14.
Or you can leave Brussels Midi at 16:23 daily except Saturdays, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 23:16.
By all mean take an earlier train, there's a Brussels-Hamburg departure every couple of hours. You travel from Brussels to Cologne by ICE3neo & Cologne to Hamburg by ICE4 with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg. The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50, arriving Kolding (for Legoland) 11:44, Odense 12:23, Copenhagen 13:38.
The EuroCity train has a refreshment trolley, power sockets at all seats. More about this journey.
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Fares start at 49.99 in 2nd class or 79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de,
To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 10:00 hours. Adjust departure time & length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Hamburg, it may take a bit of trial & error.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train: From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2024. The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
2nd class seats are almost all open-plan like this. There are a handful of 6-seat 2nd class compartments in one of the coaches, but only a few.
The 1st class car has 6-seater compartments like this. Larger photo. Larger photo.
Brussels to Stockholm & Sweden
Option 1, Brussels to Stockholm using the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper train - the time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Hamburg, leaving Brussels Midi at 10:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:14.
You travel from Brussels to Cologne and Cologne to Hamburg on superb German ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Always allow plenty of time when connecting with a sleeper, later connections are possible but not recommended in case of delay.
Have dinner in Hamburg, see suggested restaurants near the station.
Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 59.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Step 2, travel from Hamburg to Stockholm by sleeper, leaving Hamburg Hbf at 22:03, arriving Stockholm Central 09:55.
Run by SJ (Swedish Railways), this EuroNight sleeper train has one or two sleeping-cars with compact 1 & 2 berth compartments with washbasin, several 1, 2 or 3 bed deluxe compartments with toilet & shower, couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A bistro car is attached between Malmφ and Stockholm. More about the Hamburg-Stockholm sleeper.
Fares start at 44.90 with a couchette in 6-berth, 69.90 with a couchette in 4-berth, 79.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 164.90 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per bed, fares vary like air fares so book ahead.
Book this train at SJ's website www.sj.se.
Booking opens several months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 2, Brussels to Stockholm with an overnight stop in Hamburg
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Hamburg with a choice of departures, for example:
Leave Brussels Midi 10:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:14.
Leave Brussels Midi 12:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 19:14.
Leave Brussels Midi 14:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 21:14.
ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg. The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is the top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train leaving Hamburg Hbf at 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:38.
The EuroCity train has power sockets at all seats and a refreshment trolley. More about this journey.
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Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Sweden:
For Malmφ, hop on the next Φresund train from Copenhagen to Malmφ Central, these leave every 15 minutes taking 40 minutes.
For Gothenburg, hop on the next Φresund train from Copenhagen to Gφteborg Central, these leave every hour taking 3h50.
For Stockholm, travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000, leaving Copenhagen at 14:19, arriving Stockholm Central 19:37.
SJ's X2000 trains have a bistro, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. They use the impressive Φresund fixed link from Sweden to Denmark,
Update 2025: Unfortunately, SJ is short of X2000s and until further notice you'll need to change at Malmφ:
On Mondays-Fridays, leave Copenhagen 15:59, change at Malmφ Central, arriving Stockholm Central 21:33.
On Saturdays & Sundays, leave Copenhagen 14:59, change at Malmφ Central, arriving Stockholm Central 20:36.
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How much does it cost?
Brussels to Copenhagen starts at 49.90 in 2nd class or 79.90 in 1st class.
Copenhagen to Stockholm starts at 280 SEK (28).
There are through fares from Brussels to Malmφ & Gothenburg from 56.99 in 2nd class, 79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.
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How to buy tickets
If you're going to Malmφ or Gothenburg, book from Brussels to Malmφ Central or Gφteborg Central with German Railways at int.bahn.de.
If you're going to Stockholm, first book from Brussels to Copenhagen using int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours. Adjust departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Hamburg. A little trial & error may be needed!
In all cases I'd also change Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.
Then book from Copenhagen to Stockholm using www.sj.se (in SEK) or using Omio.com (in SEK, , £ or $, small booking fee).
Option 3, Brussels to Stockholm with an overnight stop in Copenhagen, from 59.99
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Copenhagen with a choice of departure:
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change Cologne Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 19:38.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:25, change Cologne Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Copenhagen 21:38.
The earlier departure gives more wiggle room in case of delay. It's a chill-out ride across Europe, take a good book, sit back and enjoy.
Brussels to Cologne is by ICE3neo, Cologne to Hamburg by ICE4, both with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Hamburg to Copenhagen is by EuroCity train with power sockets at all seats and refreshment trolley. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
If you're going to Malmφ, hop on the next Φresund train to Malmφ Central, these run every 15 minutes, taking 40 minutes.
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Stay overnight in Copenhagen. The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here. Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).
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Day 2 for Gothenburg: Travel from Copenhagen to Gothenburg (Gφteborg Central) by Φresund train, journey time 3h50.
These trains leave every hour, using the impressive Φresund fixed link from Sweden to Denmark.
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Day 2 for Stockholm: Travel from Copenhagen to Stockholm by X2000, leaving Copenhagen at 08:21, arriving Stockholm Central 13:34.
SJ's X2000 trains have a bistro, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. They use the impressive Φresund fixed link from Sweden to Denmark.
Update 2025: Unfortunately, SJ is short of X2000s and until further notice you'll need to change at Malmφ:
On Mondays-Fridays, leave Copenhagen 08:59, change at Malmφ Central, arriving Stockholm Central 14:39.
On Saturdays & Sundays, leave Copenhagen 08:44, change at Malmφ Central, arriving Stockholm Central 14:32.
Or there are earlier & later departures, check times at www.sj.se or Omio.com.
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How much does it cost?
Brussels to Copenhagen starts at 49.90 in 2nd class or 79.90 in 1st class.
Copenhagen to Stockholm starts at 280 SEK (28).
There are through fares from Brussels to Malmφ & Gothenburg from 56.99 in 2nd class, 79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead for the cheapest prices.
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How to buy tickets
If you're going to Malmφ, book from Brussels to Malmφ at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
If you're going to Gothenburg, book from Brussels to Gφteborg Central at the German Railways website int.bahn.de. To get the overnight stop in Copenhagen, click Stopovers and enter Copenhagen with a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours. Adjust departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Copenhagen.
If you're going to Stockholm, book Brussels to Copenhagen using int.bahn.de. Then book Copenhagen to Stockholm for the following day using www.sj.se (in SEK) or using Omio.com (in SEK, , £ or $, small booking fee).
In all cases I'd change Transfer time from normal to 40 minutes.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own tickets or can show them on your phone.
Hamburg to Copenhagen by EuroCity train. From June 2023, these trains are temporarily being operated by former German Railways intercity cars and a Danish electric locomotive, until new trains being built by Talgo arrive in 2024. The current trains have 1st & 2nd class, power sockets at seats, but no catering so bring your own food & drink. More about the Hamburg-Copenhagen journey.
Above left, the 1st class car has 6-seat compartments like this. Above right, 2nd class is almost all open-plan like this.
Option 4, Brussels to Gothenburg using Stena Line's Kiel-Gothenburg overnight ferry
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Kiel by train, leaving early morning.
The journey takes around 8h, I'd book the train leaving Brussels Midi at 06:23 with changes at Cologne Hbf and Hamburg Hbf.
You should book the ferry first and confirm ferry times, then book a train that arrives at Kiel Hbf around 2-3 hours before the ferry sails. You can take the 08:25 if you like, but with a ferry to catch I'd play safe.
Book the train at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
In Kiel, the ferry terminal is 750m from the station, a 9-minute walk, see walking map.
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Step 2, sail overnight from Kiel to Gothenburg by Stena Line ferry.
The ferry normally sails at 18:45 and arrives around 09:15, but times may vary so check online.
The ferry is a floating hotel with restaurants & bars, all passengers travel in a cosy private cabin with en suite toilet & shower. You can add dinner & breakfast to your ticket when you book.
Fares vary, you might pay 39 per passenger as basic fare plus 75-89 per cabin for a private 1 or 2 bed room.
Book the ferry at www.stenaline.com and print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
In Gothenburg, the ferry terminal is a short taxi ride (or 4.3 km 53-minute walk) from Goteborg Central station, see walking map.
Brussels to Oslo & Norway
Option 1, Brussels to Oslo with overnight stop in Hamburg - by train all the way
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Hamburg, leaving Brussels Midi at 14:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Hamburg Hbf 21:14.
By all mean take an earlier train, there's a Brussels-Hamburg departure every 2 hours. The ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 27.99 in 2nd class or 59.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Stay overnight in Hamburg. The Hotel Reichshof Hamburg is top choice here, just across the road 100m from the station's Kirchenallee exit, with art deco-based design and great reviews. Other hotels near Hamburg Hbf with good or great reviews include (starting with the cheapest) the Hotel Continental Novum, Hotel Furst Bismarck, Hotel Europaischer Hof, Hotel Atlantic Kempinski. If you're on a budget, cheap private rooms in the A&O Hotel near Hamburg Hbf can be booked at www.hostelworld.com.
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Day 2, travel from Hamburg to Gothenburg by EuroCity train & Φresund train:
Leave Hamburg Hbf 08:50, arriving Copenhagen 13:38. Leave Copenhagen at 14:30, arriving Gφteborg Central at 18:20.
The EuroCity train from Hamburg to Copenhagen has power sockets at all seats & a refreshment trolley. More about the the journey. The Φresund train from Copenhagen to Gothenburg has power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink.
Have an early dinner in Gothenburg.
Fares from Hamburg to Gothenburg start at 56.99. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket from Hamburg to Gothenburg at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: If you're clever, you can book a through ticket all the way from Brussels to Gothenburg using int.bahn.de. To get the overnight stop in Hamburg, click Stopovers and enter Hamburg Hbf with a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours. Adjust departure time and length of stay to get the departure from Brussels you want and the 08:50 departure from Hamburg next morning.
Tip: If you don't see any fares, split the booking: First book Hamburg to Copenhagen at int.bahn.de. Then buy a ticket from Copenhagen to Gφteborg Central at www.oresundstag.se.
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Day 2, travel from Gothenburg to Oslo by Norwegian train, leaving Gφteborg Central at 20:10 and arriving Oslo Sentral at 23:47.
The smart modern Norwegian train is run by Vy, it has power sockets & free WiFi, but bring your own food & drink.
Fares start at 249 Krone (24) if you book a few weeks ahead.
Book this at the Vy website www.vy.no or at www.entur.no.
Option 2, Brussels to Oslo with overnight stop in Copenhagen - by train all the way
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Copenhagen in a day as shown above.
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Stay overnight in Copenhagen. The friendly Astoria Hotel is a 1930s design classic right outside Copenhagen station main entrance, see photos & information here. Other hotels near the station with good reviews include the Nimb Hotel (5-star luxe), Radisson Blu Royal Hotel (5-star), Axel Guldsmeden (4-star), Andersen Boutique Hotel, First Hotel Mayfair (3-star), Hotel Ansgar (3-star), City Hotel Nebo (2-star).
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Day 2, travel from Copenhagen to Oslo by train, leaving Copenhagen at 07:30, change at Gothenburg Central, arriving Oslo Sentral 15:47.
Earlier & later departures are available, see the Copenhagen-Oslo timetable & how to buy tickets.
Alternatively, spend the day in Copenhagen and take the DFDS overnight ferry to Oslo with a comfortable private cabin with shower & toilet, sailing from Copenhagen at 16:30 (15:00 some days), arriving Oslo at 10:00 on day 3, as shown here. This is remarkably affordable, and saves a hotel bill. Book the ferry at www.dfds.com.
Gothenburg to Oslo by Norwegian train. Above, scenery between Gothenburg & Oslo. Courtesy of @Simply_Railway.
Above right, the Norwegian train arrived at Oslo Sentral. Photos courtesy of @AndyBTravels & @Marcos Castro.
Option 3, Brussels to Oslo via the Kiel-Oslo cruise ferry - the most luxurious way to Oslo
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Kiel leaving Brussels Midi at 10:25, changing at Cologne Hbf & Hamburg Hbf, arriving Kiel 18:43.
Earlier or later departures are possible, check times & prices at int.bahn.de.
Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check your bookings or re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Stay overnight in Kiel. The InterCity Hotel Kiel gets good reviews, is relatively inexpensive and is right next to the station and a few minutes walk from the ferry. The B&B Hotel Kiel City is also next to the station with good reviews, and is even cheaper. For something upmarket, the Atlantic Hotel Kiel gets great reviews and is in Bahnhofsplatz in front of the station.
In Kiel it's a 7 minute 450m walk from Kiel Hbf to the Color Line ferry terminal, see walking map.
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Step 2, sail from Kiel to Oslo by luxurious overnight Color Line ferry, the m/v Magic or m/v Fantasy normally sails at 14:00 arriving Oslo at 10:00 next morning. The ships have a full range of cosy cabins, suites, restaurants, bars & lounges.
Check times & buy tickets using the Direct Ferries website or at www.colorline.com.
Money-saving tip: It appears that it's considerably cheaper to book on Color Line's Norwegian website www.colorline.no in Norwegian Krone, for example a 274 fare becomes the equivalent of 164. You'll need to use Google to translate the Norwegian. You are still able to enter a UK or other European address and contact details. Feedback appreciated.
Make sure you're on deck next morning as the ship sails through spectacular scenery up Oslo Fjord. The ship docks at the modern Color Line terminal about 2 km from the city centre. Color Line provide transfer buses to Oslo Sentral station costing 55 krone, or there are plenty of taxis. If you have little luggage it's possible to walk. See map of Oslo showing ferry terminal.
Sail from Kiel to Oslo with Color Line. It's just a 6 minute walk across from Kiel Hbf to the Color Line terminal. There's a lift up to a connecting walkway which takes you to the ferry terminal. If you've booked one of Color Line's 5 star suites, check in at the desk rather than the machines to be directed to a VIP lounge with free tea, coffee, juice, snacks & WiFi. You'll have priority boarding & free access to the on-board spa. Photos courtesy of Philip Dyer-Perry except where shown.
Above left, cabin with TV, shower & toilet, luxury suites are also available. Above right, restaurant with a view.
Restaurant and lounge on the Kiel-Oslo ferry.
Wake up to lovely scenery sailing up Oslo Fjord.
The Color Line ferry, arrived at Oslo. Above right, there's a transfer bus to Oslo Sentral, photo courtesy of Andrew Leo.
Brussels to Helsinki & Finland
Option 1, Brussels to Helsinki using a Finnlines ferry from Germany - the easiest option
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Hamburg by ICE train, leaving Brussels Midi at 10:25, arriving Hamburg Hbf 17:14.
Fares start at 27.99 in 2nd class or 56.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or show it on your phone.
Tip: You can book from Brussels to Skandinavienkai Terminal, Lόbeck as one transaction as this gets you a through ticket to the ferry terminal covering the train to Hamburg, the regional train to Lόbeck and the bus to the Skandinavienkai Terminal. If you'd like time for dinner in Lόbeck (see suggested restaurant here), click Stopovers and enter Lόbeck Hbf with a length of stay of (say) 2 hours. You'd then leave Brussels on the earlier 08:23 departure.
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Day 1, travel from Hamburg Hbf to Lόbeck by regional train then take a bus to the Skandinavienkai ferry terminal in Travemόnde.
Sail from Travemόnde to Helsinki by Finnlines ferry. Finnlines sail from Travemόnde to Helsinki every day, boarding at 23:30, sailing at 02:45 (the exact time varies) and arriving at Helsinki's Hansa Terminal in Vuosaari at 09:15 2 nights later (Day 3 from Brussels).
For full details of the transfer, check-in arrangements & ferry crossing, see the Hamburg page.
Book the ferry using the Direct Ferries website or at www.finnlines.com.
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Book onward trains within Finland at the Finnish Railways website www.vr.fi.
Option 2, Brussels to Helsinki by train to Stockholm, then ferry
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Step 2, travel from Stockholm to Helsinki either by direct overnight cruise ferry, or by daytime or overnight ferry to Turku and connecting train to Helsinki as shown on the Trains & ferries from Stockholm page.
Brussels to Prague from 46.99
Option 1, Brussels to Prague direct by European Sleeper - direct & time-effective, 3 times a week
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The European Sleeper leaves Brussels Midi at 19:22 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Prague Hlavni at 11:24 next morning.
This sleeper train has a comfortable sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed rooms with washbasin, economical couchette cars with 5 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in the sleepers. More about the European Sleeper.
Enjoy a lovely scenic run along the Elbe river valley over breakfast between Dresden & Prague, see the scenery photos here.
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Fares start at 49 in a seat, 79 with a couchette in 6-berth, 99 with a couchette in 5-berth, 109 with a bed in 3-bed sleeper, 129 with a bed in 2-bed sleeper, 159 with a bed in single-bed sleeper. All per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at www.europeansleeper.eu.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead although this varies. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. Easy!
The European Sleeper calls at Amsterdam Centraal. This is a 5-berth couchette car, beyond it is the stainless steel sleeping-car.
On the glorious morning of 26 March 2024, the very first European Sleeper to Prague runs along the Elbe river valley between Dresden & Prague.
Option 2, Brussels to Prague in a day - a chill-out day with free WiFi and some great scenery
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You can travel from Brussels to Prague in a day:
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change at Cologne Hbf & Berlin Hbf, arriving Prague Hlavni 19:23.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:25, change at Cologne Hbf & Berlin Hbf, arriving Prague Hlavni 21:23.
You travel from Brussels to Cologne by ICE3neo, Cologne to Berlin by ICE2 or ICE4, then Berlin to Prague by EuroCity train.
All these trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Enjoy dinner in the restaurant on the EuroCity train as you roll along the scenic Elbe river valley south of Dresden. Sit on the left had side for the river views. What's the Berlin to Prague journey like?
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Fares start at 46.99 in 2nd class or 79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de
To get the route via Berlin with robust connections and a good-value through ticket, (a) change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes, (b) click Stopovers, enter Brussel Noord as stopover 1 and (c) Berlin Hbf as stopover 2, with length of stay left as 00:00 in both cases.
Entering Brussel Noord eliminates Eurostar (formerly Thalys) from the results as they don't stop at Brussels Nord, therefore it finds an ICE run by DB and so offers a through ticket. Easy when you know!
Why not take the 06:23 and have a 2 or 3 hour stopover in Berlin, arriving in Prague at 21:23? Simply enter 2 hours as the length of stay in Berlin. The Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate are just 17 minutes walk from Berlin Hbf.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show on your phone. Suggested hotels in Prague.
Step 1, Brussels to Cologne & Cologne to Berlin by ICE. More about ICE trains. Above, an ICE3neo at Brussels Midi. Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.
Option 3, Brussels to Prague using the Brussels-Berlin Nightjet sleeper, 3 times a week - another time-effective option, 3 times a week
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Berlin by Nightjet, leaving Brussels Midi at 19:06 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Berlin Hbf 08:26.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the Nightjet guide.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in plain English, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (in , same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Child under 6? See here.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Prague by EuroCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 11:16, arriving Prague Hlavni 15:23.
An earlier 09:15 connection is possible, but I'd play safe and book the 11:16.
This comfortable air-conditioned EuroCity train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Treat yourself to lunch and a beer or two as the train speeds along the scenic Elbe valley south of Dresden, it's a lovely run. This particular departure is the EuroCity train Hungaria with modern Hungarian carriages, its final destination is Budapest. More about this EuroCity train.
Fares start at 18.99 each way in 2nd class, 27.99 each way in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 4, Brussels to Prague with overnight stop in Berlin - this breaks up the trip nicely, and makes it more time-effective
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Berlin, leaving Brussels Midi at 14:25, changing at Cologne Hbf, arriving Berlin Hbf 21:02.
By all means book the earlier 10:25 or 12:25 departure for more of an evening in Berlin.
You travel on a comfortable high-speed ICE3neo from Brussels to Cologne and an ICE2 or ICE4 from Cologne to Berlin, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seat & free WiFi.
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Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Prague on any EuroCity train you like, see the timetable here.
You can leave Berlin Hbf at 07:15 arriving Prague Hlavni 11:23 with breakfast in the inexpensive Czech restaurant car, or have a leisurely breakfast and take the next one at 09:15 arriving Prague Hlavni 13:23.
These trains run along the scenic Elbe river valley south of Dresden, find a seat on the left had side for the river views. What's the Berlin to Prague train journey like?
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Fares start at 46.99 in 2nd class or 79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book from Brussels South Station to Prague hl.n. at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers, enter Cologne Hbf and Berlin Hbf as stopovers 1 & 2. Enter 11 hours as the length of stay in Berlin. In the search results look for journeys with 2 changes. Adjust the departure time and length of stay to get the trains you want either side of Berlin. A bit of trial and error may be necessary!
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Brussels to Českύ Krumlov & other Czech destinations
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You can book from Brussels (or elsewhere in Belgium) to almost anywhere in the Czech Republic using the German Railways website int.bahn.de with through fares from just 37.99. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: It's an all-day ride from Brussels to the Czech Republic, so select an early morning departure time to do it all in one day.
Tip: You might prefer breaking up a long journey with an overnight stop, perhaps Nuremberg, if your route goes that way. To get an overnight stop, click Stopovers and enter Nuremberg, with a suitable length of stay, say 11 hours.
Tip: Also check times & prices using the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.
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For Českύ Krumlov (a lovely town, and the second most-visited place in the Czech Republic, see the Českύ Krumlov page) you need to book to Českι Budějovice, not Českύ Krumlov, because the branch line between Českι Budějovice and Českύ Krumlov is run by private operator GWTR and German Railways cannot ticket that part.
So simply book from Brussels to Českι Budějovice at int.bahn.de from 37.99, then buy the 58 CZK (2) local ticket from Českι Budějovice to Českύ Krumlov either at the station in Českι Budějovice from the distinctive green & orange ticket kiosk in the main hall, or on board the train using the self-service ticket machines, which accept contactless cards. You can check train times from Českι Budějovice to Českύ Krumlov at www.gwtr.cz.
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For Karlovy Vary or Plzen, book at int.bahn.de, looking for 3-change options via Frankfurt, Nuremberg & Cheb from 37.99.
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For Brno, book Brussels to Brno at int.bahn.de. It tends to route you via Vienna, as this is slightly quicker. By all means click Stopovers and enter PRAGUE, this can be cheaper. By adding a suitable length of stay you can have an overnight stop if you like.
The most time-effective option from Brussels to Brno is to take the Nightjet sleeper train from Brussels to Vienna overnight as shown above, allow at least an hour between trains in Vienna, then take a Vienna-Brno train booked at either www.thetrainline.com (sells both Regiojet & ΦBB/CD trains), www.oebb.at (ΦBB/CD trains only) or www.regiojet.com (Regiojet trains only).
Brussels to Bratislava & Slovakia
Option 1, Brussels to Bratislava in a single day from 46.99
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You can travel from Brussels to Bratislava in a single day:
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, Wόrzburg & Vienna Hbf, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 18:10.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & Vienna Hbf, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 20:10.
Leave Brussels Midi 10:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & Vienna Hbf, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 22:29.
Brussels to Frankfurt & Frankfurt to Vienna is by ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Vienna to Bratislava is by regional express. A chill-out day across Europe.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
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Fares start at 46.99 in 2nd class or 99.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. In the search results, look for journeys with just 2 changes via Vienna. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 2, Brussels to Bratislava using the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train - the most time-effective option, 3 times per week
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Brussels Midi at 19:06 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Vienna Hbf 10:13.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the Nightjet guide.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (same prices, no booking fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket. Child under 6? See here.
Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary tea, coffee & WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Bratislava by Regional Express train, leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:14, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 12:10.
These trains run every hour. The fare is 11, no reservation necessary, just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on the next one, or buy online just to save time at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at. More about these Vienna-Bratislava trains.
Important: If travelling before 5 July 2025, see the update here.
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Step 3 if you're going to eastern Slovakia & the Tatra mountains: Take an express from Bratislava to Poprad Tatry & Kosice. In this case, you'd pre-book a ticket from Vienna to Poprad Tatry & Kosice from 29 at either www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket.
Option 3, Brussels to Bratislava using the Berlin-Bratislava sleeper
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Berlin, leaving Brussels Midi at 10:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Berlin Hbf 17:04.
You travel on high-speed ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 39.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at either www.thetrainline.com or the German Railways site int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Bratislava by sleeper train leaving Berlin Hbf at 19:21, arriving Bratislava Hlavna 06:02.
The sleeper train Metropol has a comfortable Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and a Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments. The sleeper fare includes a light breakfast, served in your compartment. More about this sleeper train.
Departure from Berlin is at 19:47 from 10 August to 13 December 2025.
Fares start at 39 with a couchette in a 6-berth, 59 with a couchette in a 4-berth, 129 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 139 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 179 in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.
Book this sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem) or the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Brussels to Budapest & Hungary from 56.99
Option 1, Brussels to Budapest in a single day
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If you leave early, you can travel from Brussels to Budapest in a single day, arriving late evening. The journey involves superb ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. A chill-out day!
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 20:19.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 22:19.
Leave Brussels Midi 10:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf & Vienna Hbf, arriving Budapest Keleti 00:19.
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Fares start at 56.99 in 2nd class or 99.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
If it offers a price up front that's great, this is a through ticket, go ahead and buy it. However, on some departures it says Determine price instead. If you want one of these departures it may be better to split the booking, book Brussels to Vienna at int.bahn.de then Vienna to Budapest at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.
An ICE3neo at Frankfurt Flughafen. Click on the interior images for larger photos. Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.
Option 2, Brussels to Budapest using the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train - the most time-effective option, 3 times per week
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Brussels Midi at 19:06 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Vienna Hbf 10:13.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the Nightjet guide.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (in , same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket. Child under 6? See here.
Tip: If you have a sleeping-car ticket and/or 1st class ticket for the onward train, you can use the ΦBB lounge at Vienna Hbf between trains, with complimentary refreshments & WiFi.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:40, arriving Budapest Keleti 14:19.
The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com or www.oebb.at and print your own ticket. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead.
Option 3, Brussels to Budapest using the Stuttgart-Budapest sleeper - a comfortable & time-effective option
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Stuttgart, leaving Brussels Midi at 12:25, change at Frankfurt Flughafen, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 17:21.
These comfortable high-speed ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Times may vary, but don't risk any tight connections with a sleeper to catch. Have dinner in Stuttgart.
Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes. In the search results, look for a 1-change journey.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Budapest by sleeper train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29, arriving Budapest Keleti 09:19.
The EuroNight sleeper train Kalman Imre has an air-conditioned Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and an air-conditioned Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments. Sleeper fares include a light breakfast. More about this sleeper train.
Fares start at 49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, 59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, 69.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 88.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Step 1, Brussels to Stuttgart by ICE with one easy change in Frankfurt. ICEs have a restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. More about ICE trains. Above, an ICE3neo at Brussels Midi. Click on the interior images for larger photos. Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.
Step 2, Stuttgart to Budapest by sleeper train. More about this sleeper train.
Option 4, Brussels to Budapest by daytime trains with overnight stop in Munich
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Munich, leaving Brussels Midi at 14:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Munich Hbf 21:07.
You take a superb ICE3neo to Cologne and change onto another ICE to Munich, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 27.99 in 2nd class or 59.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: I'd book the earlier departure leaving Brussels Midi at 10:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Munich Hbf 17:06, this gives you an evening in Munich & time for dinner. For typical Bavarian food & beer I suggest the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.
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Stay overnight in Munich. The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection Mόnchen are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews. Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center. For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.
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Day 2, travel from Munich to Budapest by railjet train, for example leaving Munich Hbf at 07:22, arriving Budapest Keleti 14:19.
Or by all means have a leisurely breakfast and take the 09:28 railjet arriving 16:19, a railjet leaves every 2 hours.
The railjet trains have a restaurant car with draught beer on tap, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi, see more about railjets. Look out for views of Salzburg citadel as you cross the river Salzach approaching Salzburg station.
Fares start at 39.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this journey at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log in check or reprint tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: If you like, you can build in a stopover in Salzburg of a few hours or overnight at no extra charge using the Stopovers feature on int.bahn.de. Left luggage lockers are available.
Brussels to Brasov, Bucharest & Romania
Option 1, Brussels to Romania using a sleeper from Vienna - the fastest & most comfortable option
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Vienna, leaving Brussels Midi at 08:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Vienna Hbf 18:47.
Brussels-Frankfurt is by ICE3, Frankfurt-Vienna by ICE-T, both have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. An earlier 06:23 departure is also available, for a more robust connection with time for dinner in Vienna.
Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Prices vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
This can book from Brussels or anywhere in Belgium to Vienna as one transaction. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: It's worth also checking fares at www.thetrainline.com as this takes its prices from the Austrian system which is often cheaper.
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Step 2, travel from Vienna to Romania by Dacia Express, leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42, arriving next day in Simeria 07:17, Sighisoara 09:17, Braşov 12:50, Ploeşti Vest 14:47 & Bucharest Nord 15:26.
The Dacia Express has a modern air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, plus several deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. It has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.
A Hungarian restaurant car is attached between Vienna & Budapest, treat yourself to dinner with wine. A bar car is attached in the morning between Arad & Bucharest, serving drinks & snacks. There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest.
The Dacia Express also conveys a portion from Vienna to Cluj Napoca, also leaving Vienna Hbf at 19:42, arriving Cluj Napoca 10:44. This portion has a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats.
Fares start at 59 with a couchette in a 6-berth compartment, 69 with a couchette in a 4-berth compartment, 79 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper, 99 with a bed in a 3-berth sleeper or 159 with a bed in a single-berth sleeper all to yourself. All per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
You can book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. In the search results, look for the direct train marked D with no changes. You collect tickets from an ΦBB ticket machine in Vienna.
You can also book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro. Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. For Vienna type Wien, for Bucharest type Bucuresti. It can book seats, couchettes or sleepers. For Austria to Romania journeys you now print your own ticket or can show it on your phone. Tip: Prices might be cheaper than on oebb.at, so check both sites!
Option 2, Brussels to Romania using a sleeper from Budapest
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Budapest using any of the options in the Brussels to Budapest section.
A same-day connection in Budapest isn't possible, you'll either need to stop overnight somewhere or use a sleeper train. Choose an option and buy tickets as shown.
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Day 2, travel from Budapest to Romania by sleeper train Ister leaving Budapest Keleti at 19:10, arriving Brasov 08:48 & Bucharest Nord 11:35.
This sleeper train Ister has an air-conditioned Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin and a Romanian couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. There's no restaurant car, so take a picnic and bottle of wine. There's wonderful almost Alpine scenery through the Carpathian mountains between Brasov and Bucharest, a real treat. Ister is the ancient name for the Danube.
Fares start at 39 with a couchette in 6-berth, 46 with a couchette in 4-berth, 69 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 84 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 162 with a single-bed sleeper all to yourself. All prices per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.
Click EN top right for English. Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
You can also book at the Hungarian Railways website www.mav-start.hu, see my advice on using it. For Bucharest type Bucuresti. You show your ticket in the MAV app on your phone.
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Alternatively, you can stay overnight in Budapest and take a daytime train from Budapest to Brasov or Bucharest next day. This is a whole chill-out day crossing Transylvania on a modern air-conditioned Romanian train. Take a good book and enjoy the ride. You can check times and buy tickets for these from 29 at Hungarian railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice for using it. You can see photos of what these Budapest-Brasov/Bucharest daytime trains are like on the Romania page.
Option 3, Brussels to Romania with overnight stop in Budapest - if you prefer day trains & a hotel to sleepers
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Budapest in a single day as shown in the Brussels to Budapest section.
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Stay overnight in Budapest. Top choice for an inexpensive stay next to Budapest Keleti is the Intercity Hotel just across the square in front of the station. Also try the Royal Park Boutique Hotel, the inexpensive Baross City Hotel across the road or the Elit Hotel two minutes walk away.
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Day 2, travel on one of the daytime air-conditioned Intercity trains from Budapest Keleti to Cluj, Arad, Timisoara, Simeria, Sibiu, Brasov & Bucharest. You'll find more details of these trains in the Budapest to Romania section on the Budapest page,
Fares start at 26.30 in 2nd class or (where available) 40.50 in 1st class.
Check times & buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my advice on using it.
Booking opens 60 days ahead. You show the ticket in the MAV app on your phone.
You can also book at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro.
Booking opens up to 90 days ahead. Click EN top right for English. For Bucharest type Bucuresti.
You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Brussels to Ljubljana & Slovenia or Zagreb & Croatia
Option 1, Brussels to Ljubljana & Zagreb using the Stuttgart-Zagreb sleeper - safe, comfortable, time-effective
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Stuttgart, leaving Brussels Midi at 12:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 17:21.
These comfortable high-speed ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Times may vary, but don't risk any tight connections with a sleeper to catch. Have dinner in Stuttgart.
Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes. In the search results, look for a 1-change journey.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Step 2, travel from Stuttgart to Ljubljana or Zagreb on the comfortable Croatian sleeper train Lisinski, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29, arriving Lesce-Bled 07:13, Ljubljana 08:09 & Zagreb 10:39.
It has an excellent air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below and the Croatian sleeper video here. It also has a modern Croatian air-conditioned couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments.
From 14 July to 29 September 2025 there's a direct Croatian sleeping-car for Rijeka, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 & arriving Rijeka 11:12.
Fares start at 49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, 59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, 66.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 86.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, easy to use, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at (more fiddly, same prices, in ). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Important: This sleeper train is diverted via Graz due to work in the Tauern Tunnel and won't call at Lesce-Bled or Ljubljana from 17 November 2024 to 13 July 2025. Arrival in Zagreb is at 11:33. For Ljubljana, either use another option or get off the sleeper at Celje in northern Slovenia at 09:47 then take a local train leaving Celje at 11:36 arriving Ljubljana 12:43. Check times for the local train at potniski.sz.si/en.
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Step 3, travel from Zagreb to Split by train, a scenic ride. Buses then run from Split to Dubrovnik in a few hours. See the Trains from Zagreb page for full details of train and bus from Zagreb to Split & Dubrovnik.
Step 1, Brussels to Stuttgart by ICE with one easy change in Frankfurt. ICEs have a restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Above, an ICE3M at Brussels Midi. More about ICE trains. Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.
Step 2, Stuttgart to Ljubljana & Zagreb by sleeper train. Above, the air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car to Zagreb. It has 10 compartments with washbasin, each of which can be used as 1, 2 or 3 berth, with toilets at the end of the corridor. Compartments convert to a private sitting room for evening or morning use. A light breakfast is included in the sleeper fare. The Croatian couchette car is the next vehicle to the right, also modern & air-conditioned with 4 & 6 bunk compartments, ideal for families. Couchettes convert from bunks to seats for evening or morning use.
Option 2, Brussels to Ljubljana & Zagreb with overnight stop in Munich
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Munich on ICE trains, for example leaving Brussels Midi at 14:25, change Frankfurt, arriving Munich Hbf 21:07.
Fares start at 27.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: I recommend booking the earlier departure leaving Brussels Midi at 12:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Munich Hbf 19:07, this gives you an evening in Munich & time for dinner. For typical Bavarian food & beer I recommend the Augustiner Keller (www.augustinerkeller.de) at Arnulfstrasse 52, to the north side of Munich Hbf, see walking map.
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Stay overnight in Munich. The affordable Eden Hotel Wolff & NH Collection Mόnchen are across the road from the station's north side exit with great reviews. Or consider the more upmarket 25 Hours Hotel The Royal Bavarian, Excelsior by Giesel & Mercure City Center. For a splurge, the luxurious Sofitel Munich Beyerpost occupies the former Royal Bavarian Post Office building of 1896-1900, at the station's south side exit.
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Step 2, travel from Munich to Ljubljana & Zagreb, leaving Munich Hbf at 08:16 by railjet, change at Villach onto a waiting Slovenian & Croatian EuroCity train called the Sava, arriving Lesce-Bled on Lake Bled at 13:50, Ljubljana 14:31 & Zagreb 17:10.
The railjet has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. The Sava has no catering so bring your own food & drink. The scenery through the mountains of Austria and along the River Sava from Ljubljana is wonderful.
Important update: The closure of the Tauern Tunnel affects this route between 17 November 2024 & 13 July 2025, check times at int.bahn.de.
Fares start at 39.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Tip: If you don't see any cheap fares from Munich to Ljubljana or Zagreb using bahn.de, try going to the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at and booking from Salzburg to Ljubljana or Zagreb on exactly the same train (these trains leave Salzburg about 1h55 after leaving Munich), then using www.oebb.at again to add a ticket from Munich to Salzburg on the same train.
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Step 3, stay overnight in Zagreb and take a scenic train ride to Split next day. Buses link Split with Dubrovnik in a few hours. See the Trains from Zagreb page for full details of train and bus from Zagreb to Split & Dubrovnik.
Option 3, Brussels to Ljubljana & Zagreb using the Brussels-Vienna sleeper
This is a slower option, if only because of the morning at leisure in Vienna, but it's straightforward & comfortable.
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Vienna by Nightjet, leaving Brussels Midi at 19:06 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Vienna Hbf 10:13.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the Nightjet guide.
The train travels along the famous Rhine Valley between Koblenz (23:25) and Mainz (00:22), so if you're still awake and your compartment happens to be on the left-hand side of the train, switch off the lights and watch the Rhine pass by, mountains, vineyards, castles & the legendary Lorelei Rock lit by moonlight. Wonderful!
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at (in , same prices). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
In Vienna, you've the best part of a day to enjoy the city. Left luggage lockers are available.
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Day 2, travel from Vienna to Zagreb, leaving Vienna Hbf at 12:24, change at Villach, arriving Zagreb 20:45.
You travel from Vienna to Villach by swish Austrian railjet train (end destination Venice), with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Enjoy the wonderful scenery over the UNESCO-listed Semmering Railway south of Vienna, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmering_railway.
At Villach it's a quick and simple change onto a waiting Slovenian & Croatian train called the Mimara, just 3 carriages, all 2nd class. There's no catering so take your own food & drink. The Croatian car is open-plan & air-conditioned, the two Slovenian cars have classic non-air-con compartments with windows that open. There's beautiful scenery along the Sava river between Ljubljana & Zagreb, I'd choose a compartment car with opening windows! You can see the train formation at www.vagonweb.cz, change cs to English, click Train formations and search for Mimara.
Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class or 49.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at (same prices, a little more fiddly, in ). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Brussels to Belgrade & Montenegro
Option 1, Brussels to Belgrade using the Berlin-Budapest sleeper - due to start 8 December 2024 but postponed, see updates.
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Berlin, leaving Brussels Midi at 10:25, changing at Cologne Hbf, arriving Berlin Hbf 17:04.
You travel by high-speed ICE train with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Fares start at 39.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at either www.thetrainline.com or the German Railways site int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Budapest by sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 19:21, arriving Budapest Nyugati 08:29.
The sleeper train Metropol has a comfortable Hungarian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin, and a Hungarian couchette car with 4 & 6 bunk compartments. The sleeper fare includes a light breakfast, served in your compartment. More about this sleeper train.
Departure from Berlin is at 19:47 from 10 August to 13 December 2025.
Fares start at 39 with a couchette in a 6-berth, 59 with a couchette in a 4-berth, 129 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 139 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 179 in a single-bed sleeper all to yourself.
Book this sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem) or the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at. Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Tip: A slightly faster journey is possible using ICE trains to Stuttgart then the Stuttgart-Budapest sleeper as shown in the Brussels-Budapest section, but you then arrive at Budapest Keleti requiring a transfer to Budapest Nyugati.
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Step 3, travel from Budapest to Belgrade, leaving Budapest Nyugati at 11:50, changing at Szeged & Subotica, arriving Belgrade Centar 18:38.
You take a Hungarian Intercity train from Budapest to Szeged, a local train across the border to Subotica and a 200 km/h SOKO train to Belgrade, for details see the Budapest to Belgrade page.
Fares start at around 23, see more about fares.
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For onward trains to Montenegro, see the Belgrade to Podgorica & Bar page.
Step 1, Brussels to Berlin by ICE with one easy change in Cologne. ICEs have a restaurant, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Above, an ICE3M at Brussels Midi. More about ICE trains. Photo courtesy of Christian Hunt.
Step 2, Berlin to Budapest by sleeper train Metropol. This is the sleeping-car, boarding at Berlin Hbf.
Step 3, Budapest to Belgrade on a connecting 3-train combo, starts 8 December 2024. This includes a 200 km/h double-deck Serbian SOKO train from Subotica to Belgrade Centar, with refreshments, toilets, power outlets at all seats & free WiFi. Soko is Serbian for falcon, hence the logo! Photo courtesy of Hugo van Vondelen.
Option 2, Brussels to Belgrade & beyond using the Stuttgart-Zagreb sleeper - currently involves a bus
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Stuttgart, leaving Brussels Midi at 12:25, change at Frankfurt Flughafen, arriving Stuttgart Hbf 17:21.
These comfortable high-speed ICE trains have a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi.
Times may vary, but don't risk any tight connections with a sleeper to catch. Have dinner in Stuttgart.
Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Change Transfer time from normal to 30 minutes. In the search results, look for a 1-change journey.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Day 1, travel from Stuttgart to Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Stuttgart Hbf at 20:29 & arriving Zagreb 10:39.
The sleeper train Lisinski has a modern Croatian air-conditioned couchette car with 4 & 6 berth compartments and a modern air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car with comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below and the Croatian sleeper video.
Fares start at 49.90 with a couchette in a 6-berth, 59.90 with a couchette in a 4-berth, 66.90 with a bed in a 3-bed sleeper, 86.90 with a bed in a 2-bed sleeper or 129.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book the sleeper at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways site www.oebb.at (more fiddly, same prices, in ). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Arrival in Zagreb is 11:33 until 13 July 2025 due to work in the Tauern Tunnel.
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Day 2, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04, arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar 18:12.
This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended.
This train has air-conditioned Serbian carriages with comfortable 2nd class seats, but no 1st class. There's no catering, so bring a picnic and some beer or wine.
The fare is around 29 bought at the station in Zagreb or paid on board the train, but tickets cannot be bought online.
While the train is suspended, take a bus from Zagreb to Belgrade
It's a 17-minute 1.3 km walk from Zagreb station to Zagreb bus station, see walking map.
A Flixbus leaves Zagreb bus station at 14:00, arriving Belgrade bus station at 19:30.
The fare is around 21, buy a ticket at www.flixbus.com.
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For Montenegro, take the overnight sleeper Lovcen from Belgrade Centar to Podgorica & Bar arriving in the morning on day 3, or stay overnight in Belgrade and take the summer-only daytime train Tara next day. See the Belgrade to Montenegro page for schedule, fares & how to buy tickets.
Option 3, Brussels to Belgrade & beyond using the Zurich-Zagreb sleeper - currently involves a bus
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Zurich by comfortable daytime ICE trains. For example, you can leave Brussels Midi at 10:25, change at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, arriving Zurich HB 18:00.
Don't risk tight connections when catching a sleeper, I'd want at least an hour between trains in Zurich.
Have dinner in Zurich before boarding the sleeper, I recommend the steak-frites at the Brasserie Federal at Zurich HB.
Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, small booking fee, using Thetrainline allows you to buy both tickets together in one place) or the German Railways website int.bahn.de (in , no fee). You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Day 1, travel from Zurich to Zagreb by sleeper train, leaving Zurich HB at 20:40, arriving Zagreb 10:39.
The sleeper train has an excellent air-conditioned Croatian sleeping-car (1, 2 & 3 bed compartments with washbasin), a modern air-conditioned Croatian couchette car (4 & 6 berth compartments) and ordinary seats. Watch the Croatian sleeper video.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways own site www.oebb.at (same prices, a bit more fiddly, no booking fee). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
Arrival in Zagreb is 11:33 until 13 July 2025 due to work in the Tauern Tunnel.
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Day 2, travel from Zagreb to Belgrade by train, leaving Zagreb at 11:04 and arriving Novi Beograd 18:04 & Belgrade Centar at 18:12.
This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended.
This train has air-conditioned Serbian carriages with comfortable 2nd class seats, but no 1st class. There's no dining-car, so bring a picnic and some beer or wine.
The fare is around 29 bought at the station in Zagreb or paid on board the train, but tickets cannot be bought online.
While the train is suspended, take a bus from Zagreb to Belgrade
It's a 17-minute 1.3 km walk from Zagreb station to Zagreb bus station, see walking map.
A Flixbus leaves Zagreb bus station at 14:00, arriving Belgrade bus station at 19:30.
The fare is around 21, buy a ticket at www.flixbus.com.
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For Montenegro, take the overnight sleeper Lovcen from Belgrade Centar to Podgorica & Bar arriving in the morning on day 3, or stay overnight in Belgrade and take the summer-only daytime train Tara next day. See the Belgrade to Montenegro page for schedule, fares & how to buy tickets.
Brussels to Sofia
Option 1, Brussels to Sofia via Bucharest
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Vienna overnight as shown above, using the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train 3-times-a-week.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
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Day 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 11:40, arriving Budapest Keleti 14:19.
The swish Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. By all means take an earlier train if you'd like more time in Budapest, perhaps for lunch.
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (in , a bit more fiddly, same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead and you print your own ticket.
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Day 2, travel from Budapest to Bucharest by sleeper train Muntenia, leaving Budapest Keleti at 15:10, arriving Bucharest Nord 09:36.
The Muntenia has 4 & 6-berth couchettes and ordinary seats. A Romanian sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed compartments is attached from Arad (depart 20:57) to Bucharest. There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.
Fares start at 40 with a couchette in 6-berth or 47 with a couchette in 4-berth. These are limited-availability advance-purchase fares
Book this at the Romanian Railways international website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en. You print your own ticket.
If you want the comfort & privacy of a proper sleeper from Arad to Bucharest, (1) book a 2nd class seat from Budapest to Arad from 17 using bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en. You print your own ticket. (2) Now book berths in a 1, 2 or 3-bed sleeper from Arad to Bucharest Nord at the Romanian domestic website bilete.cfrcalatori.ro and print your own ticket.
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Day 3, travel from Bucharest to Sofia by daytime train as shown in the Bucharest>Sofia section on the Trains from Bucharest page.
You leave Bucharest Nord at 10:47 and arrive Sofia Central at 20:35 after a pleasant day meandering across the Danube and through the river valleys of Bulgaria. In summer it's direct, in winter you have to switch trains at Ruse. There's no catering car, so bring your own food & drink.
The fare is around 34.
Book this at the Romanian Railways website bileteinternationale.cfrcalatori.ro/en. You print your own ticket.
Option 2, Brussels to Sofia via Belgrade
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Not currently viable while Zagreb-Belgrade, Budapest-Belgrade and Belgrade-Sofia trains remain suspended.
Brussels to Warsaw & Poland from 49.99
Option 1, Brussels to Warsaw in a single day - the leisurely daytime option
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Take a superb German ICE train to Cologne and another to Berlin, then an excellent Polish EuroCity train to Warsaw. For example:
Leave Brussels Midi 06:23, change at Cologne Hbf & Berlin Hbf, arriving Warsaw Centralna 19:00.
Leave Brussels Midi 08:23, change at Cologne Hbf & Berlin Hbf, arriving Warsaw Centralna 21:00.
Leave Brussels Midi 10:25 daily except Saturdays, change Cologne Hbf & Berlin Hbf, arriving Warsaw Centralna 23:00.
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Fares start at 49.99 in 2nd class or 79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking to Poland opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Hotels in Warsaw: If your budget will stretch, the Polonia Palace Hotel is just across the road from both the Palace of Culture skyscraper and Warsaw Centralna station, and 25 minutes walk from Warsaw's old town. Opened in 1913, it was one of the few hotels to emerge unscathed from WW2, and has been used by many famous people including General (later President) Eisenhower and General de Gaulle.
Option 2, Brussels to Warsaw using the Brussels-Berlin European Sleeper - a time-effective option, 3 times a week
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Berlin by European Sleeper, leaving Brussels Midi 19:32 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays arriving Berlin Hbf 06:16.
The European Sleeper has a comfortable sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed rooms with washbasin, economical couchette cars with 5 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats. Check times at www.europeansleeper.eu as they can vary. More about the European Sleeper.
Fares start at 49 in a seat, 79 with a couchette in 6-berth, 99 with a couchette in 5-berth, 109 with a bed in 3-bed sleeper, 129 with a bed in 2-bed sleeper, 159 with a bed in single-bed sleeper. All per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this sleeper at www.europeansleeper.eu.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead although this can vary. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity, leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:52, arriving Poznan 12:36 & Warsaw Centralna 15:00.
This EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car serving drinks, snacks and meals. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent Zurek soup and Kotlet Schabowy. More about this EuroCity train.
Fares start at 27.99 in 2nd class or 39.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket from Berlin to Warsaw at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens 60 days months ahead, you can book the sleeper and leave this until later if necessary. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
The inaugural European Sleeper train about to leave Brussels Midi on Friday 26 May 2023. Click the interior photos for larger images.
Option 3, Brussels to Warsaw using the Brussels-Berlin Nightjet sleeper, 3 times a week - another time-effective option, 3 times a week
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Berlin by Nightjet, leaving Brussels Midi at 19:06 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Berlin Hbf 08:26.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the Nightjet guide.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in plain English, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (in , same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity, leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:52, arriving Poznan 12:36 & Warsaw Centralna 15:00.
This EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent zurek soup and kotlet schabowy. More about this EuroCity train.
Fares start at 27.99 in 2nd class or 39.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket from Berlin to Warsaw at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens 60 days months ahead, you can book the sleeper and leave this until later if necessary. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log on at any time and check or reprint tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 4, Brussels to Warsaw with overnight stop in Berlin - breaks up the trip nicely
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Berlin, leaving Brussels Midi at 14:25, change at Cologne Hbf and arriving Berlin Hbf 21:02.
You travel on a comfortable high-speed ICE3neo from Brussels to Cologne and an ICE2 or ICE4 from Cologne to Berlin, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seat & free WiFi. By all means book the earlier 10:25 or 12:25 departure for more of an evening in Berlin.
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Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Warsaw on any EuroCity train you like, see the timetable here.
Daily except Sundays the 05:51 from Berlin Hbf arrives Warsaw Centralna 11:00 with breakfast in the restaurant car. Or have a leisurely breakfast and take the daily 09:52 arriving 15:00. By all means take a later train from Berlin to spend some time in Berlin.
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Fares from Brussels to Warsaw start at 46.99 in 2nd class or 79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Book from Brussels to Warsaw. To get the overnight stop, click Stopovers, enter Berlin Hbf and a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours. Adjust the length of stay and departure time to get the trains you want each side of Berlin.
Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & re-print tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Brussels to Krakow from 46.99
Option 1, Brussels to Krakow in a single day - the leisurely daytime option
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Berlin, leaving Brussels Midi at 06:23, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Berlin Hbf 13:03.
It's possible to take the later 08:25 departure, but I'd play safe.
You travel on superb German ICE trains with restaurant car, power sockets at all seats & free WiFi. Have lunch in Berlin. You've time for an evening stroll to the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate, just 17 minutes walk from the station.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf 16:52, arriving Wroclaw 20:56, Katowice 23:05 & Krakow Glowny 23:54.
The EuroCity train Oder is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car. Treat yourself to an inexpensive dinner with a beer or two, I recommend the excellent zurek soup & kotlet schabowy. More about this EuroCity train.
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Fares start at 49.99 in 2nd class or 79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Book from Brussels to Krakow. To get the option shown above, click Stopovers, enter Berlin Hbf with length of stay 2 hours.
Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 2, Brussels to Krakow using the Brussels-Berlin European Sleeper - a time-effective option, runs 3 times a week
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Berlin by European Sleeper, leaving Brussels Midi 19:32 on Monday, Wednesday & Friday arriving Berlin Hbf 06:16.
The European Sleeper has a comfortable sleeping-car with 1, 2 & 3 bed rooms with washbasin, economical couchette cars with 5 & 6 berth compartments and ordinary seats. Check times at www.europeansleeper.eu as they can vary. More about the European Sleeper.
Fares start at 49 in a seat, 79 with a couchette in 6-berth, 99 with a couchette in 5-berth, 109 with a bed in 3-bed sleeper, 129 with a bed in 2-bed sleeper, 159 with a bed in single-bed sleeper. All per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this sleeper train at www.europeansleeper.eu.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead although this varies. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 08:52, arriving Wroclaw 12:52, Katowice 15:09 & Krakow Glowny 16:09.
Later trains are available, see the timetable here.
This EuroCity train Galicija is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent zurek soup & kotlet schabowy. More about this EuroCity train.
Fares start at 37.99 in 2nd class or 56.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket from Berlin to Krakow at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens 60 days months ahead, you can book the sleeper and leave this until later if necessary. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log in and check or reprint your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
The inaugural European Sleeper train about to leave Brussels Midi on Friday 26 May 2023. Click the interior photos for larger images.
Option 3, Brussels to Krakow using the Brussels-Berlin Nightjet sleeper, 3 times a week - another time-effective option, 3 times a week
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Berlin by Nightjet, leaving Brussels Midi at 19:06 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, arriving Berlin Hbf 08:26.
This comfortable Austrian Nightjet sleeper train has two air-conditioned Comfortline sleeping-cars each with nine 1, 2 & 3-berth standard compartments with washbasin and three 1, 2 or 3-berth deluxe compartments with shower & toilet. There are toilets & a shower at the end of the corridor for passengers in the regular sleepers. The sleeping-car attendant can serve drinks, snacks & light meals from a room service menu. The train has two couchette cars with 4 & 6 berth compartments, and ordinary seats. A light breakfast is included in sleepers & couchettes. See the Nightjet guide.
Fares start at 49.90 in 6-berth couchettes, 59.90 in 4-berth couchettes, 89.90 in a 3-bed sleeper, 109.90 in a 2-bed sleeper or 159.90 in a single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in plain English, in , £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or Austrian Railways www.oebb.at (in , same fares). Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 12:52, arriving Wroclaw 16:54, Katowice 19:13 & Krakow Glowny 20:07.
A later train is available, see timetable.
This EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the zurek soup & kotlet schabowy. More about this EuroCity train.
Fares start at 29.99 in 2nd class or 39.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket from Berlin to Krakow at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens 60 days months ahead, you can book the sleeper and leave this until later if necessary. I recommend registering when prompted, so you can log in at any time and check or reprint your tickets. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Option 4, Brussels to Krakow with overnight stop in Berlin - if you prefer day trains & hotel to sleepers, departures every day
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Berlin, leaving Brussels Midi at 14:25, change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Berlin Hbf 21:02.
By all means book the earlier 10:25 or 12:25 departure and spend a pleasant evening in Berlin.
You travel by ICE3neo from Brussels to Cologne and an ICE2 or ICE4 from Cologne to Berlin, with restaurant car, power sockets & free WiFi.
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Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
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Day 2, travel from Berlin to Krakow by EuroCity train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 08:52, arriving Wroclaw 12:52, Katowice 15:09 & Krakow Glowny 16:09.
Later trains are available, see timetable.
This EuroCity train is a comfortable air-conditioned Polish train with restaurant car. Treat yourself to an inexpensive lunch and a beer or two, I recommend the excellent zurek soup & kotlet schabowy. More about this EuroCity train.
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Fares start at 46.99 in 2nd class or 79.99 in 1st class.
Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
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Book at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Book from Brussels to Krakow. To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers, enter Berlin Hbf and a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours. Adjust the length of stay and departure time to get the trains you want each side of Berlin.
Booking to Poland normally opens 60 days ahead. I recommend registering when prompted so you can log in & check or re-print your tickets at any time. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Brussels to Vilnius. Riga, Tallinn
Brussels to Lithuania with overnight stop in Warsaw
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Warsaw as shown in the Brussels to Warsaw section.
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Stay overnight in Warsaw. The Polonia Palace Hotel is excellent, historic, relatively inexpensive for such a good hotel, and it's just across the road from the station. For something much cheaper, but still with great reviews and near the station, try the Hotel Metropol next door to the Polonia Palace or the nearby Novotel Warsaw Centrum. Also see the Warsaw Centralna station & city information.
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Day 2, travel from Warsaw to Kaunas & Vilnius by train as shown on the Warsaw to Vilnius page.
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Day 3, for onward travel from Vilnius to Riga in Latvia, see here.
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Day 4, for onward travel from Riga to Tallinn in Estonia, see here.
Brussels to Lviv, Kyiv & Ukraine from 86
Option 1, Brussels to Lviv & Kyiv via Vienna - fastest & most comfortable, but often fully-booked
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Vienna by Nightjet sleeper train on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays as shown in the Brussels-Vienna section.
Enjoy the best part of a day in Vienna, left luggage lockers are available.
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Day 2, travel from Vienna to Ukraine by direct sleeping-car, leaving Vienna Hbf at 16:42 daily, arriving Lviv 09:59 & Kyiv 16:41 (day 3).
Introduced in 2017, this train consists of 2 or sometimes 3 direct Ukrainian sleeping-cars attached to a Vienna-Zahony EuroCity train. The sleeping-cars have comfortable 1, 2 & 3 berth compartments with washbasin, see the photos below. At Chop on the other side of the border the through sleeping-cars are jacked up to have their wheelsets changed from European standard gauge (4'8½") to Russian gauge used in Ukraine (5').
Vienna to Lviv costs 71.20 in a 3-berth sleeper, 79.20 in a 2-berth sleeper or around 130 in a single sleeper.
Vienna to Kyiv costs 89.60 in a 3-berth sleeper, 99.60 in a 2-berth sleeper or around 170 in a single sleeper.
Book this train at the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at.
Booking for these direct sleeping-cars opens 20 days ahead, but tickets sell out a day or two after booking opens, so book as soon as the booking period opens. If the ΦBB website says Ticket not available within 20 days it means fully-booked, if it says that more than 20 days ahead it means booking isn't open yet.
Tickets can now be printed out so you can book in either direction. However, you must print the ticket, it cannot be shown on a mobile device.
Option 2, Brussels to Lviv & Kyiv via Budapest - comfortable, easy to book, usually with good availability.
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Vienna using the Brussels-Vienna Nightjet sleeper train on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays as shown in the Brussels-Vienna section. Book this as shown.
Enjoy the best part of a day in Vienna, left luggage lockers are available.
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Day 2, travel from Vienna to Budapest by railjet, leaving Vienna Hbf at 17:40, arriving Budapest Keleti 20:19.
The smart Austrian railjet train has a restaurant car, power sockets at all sears & free WiFi.
Fares start at 19.90 in 2nd class or 29.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy a ticket at www.thetrainline.com (easy to use, in , £ or $, overseas credit cards no problem, small booking fee) or the Austrian Railways website www.oebb.at (same prices, in ).
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Day 2, travel from Budapest to Ukraine by sleeper train, leaving Budapest Keleti at 22:40, arriving Lviv 13:38 & Kyiv Pass 19:11 (day 3).
The sleeper train Transcarpathia consists of up to 8 Ukrainian sleeping-cars, with one car of 1st class 2-berth compartments (spalny vagon), and up to 7 cars of 2nd class 4-berth compartments (kupι).
Bedding is provided, there are toilets & washrooms at the end of the corridor. The sleeper attendants can provide snacks and delicious Ukrainian tea, but bring your own food as there's no catering car. The train is jacked up at Chop on the Ukrainian border to have its bogies changed from standard gauge (4' 8½") to Ukrainian gauge (5').
You can check the consist and car numbers for this train using www.vagonweb.cz. Change cs to English upper left, then click Train formations, and search for Transcarpathia.
Fares start at:
63.10 with a bed in a 2nd class 4-berth sleeper.
76.10 with a bed in a 2-berth 1st class sleeper.
These are limited-availability fares book online in advance.
Buy tickets at the Hungarian Railways website www.mavcsoport.hu, see my tips for using it.
Booking opens 3 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone in the MAV app.
Tip: You should select 2-bed compartment (double) or sleeping-car, 4-bed compartment. Single and triple options are shown, but result in a ticket without reservation. If it says x Reservation not included, do not proceed. Like I said, select double or 4-berth!
Above left, the Transcarpathia on its first day of operation. Above right, a 1st class 2-bed sleeper. Courtesy of Ukrainian Railways Укрзалізниця.
Option 3, Brussels to Lviv & Kyiv via Prague - also easy to book with good availability.
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Prague by European Sleeper, leaving Brussels Midi at 19:22 on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays arriving Prague Hlavni 11:24 next morning (day 2).
The European sleeper has 1, 2 & 3 bed sleepers, 5 & 6 berth couchettes and 2nd class seats. Enjoy the scenic ride along the Elbe river valley over breakfast. For details see the European Sleeper page.
Fares start at 49 in a seat, 79 with a couchette in 6-berth, 99 with a couchette in 5-berth, 109 with a bed in 3-bed sleeper, 129 with a bed in 2-bed sleeper, 159 with a bed in single-bed sleeper, all per person per berth. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead. Children under 4 travel free, without their own berth. Children under 12 travel at a child rate.
Book the sleeper at www.europeansleeper.eu.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead although it varies. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
You now have a day free to explore Prague. Left luggage lockers are available. Suggested restaurants for dinner in Prague.
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Day 2, travel from Prague to Przemysl by Regiojet sleeper train, leaving Prague Hlavni at 21:47 every day, arriving Przemysl 07:35 (day 3).
A connecting Ukrainian Intercity train leaves Przemysl at 09:35, arriving Lviv 12:27 & Kyiv Pass at 19:57 (day 3).
The Regiojet sleeper train has 3 & 4 berth couchettes set up with full bedding like a sleeping-car. You can book an inexpensive berth in a shared compartment or you can book a whole compartment for sole occupancy if you like. Refreshments are available from the train staff.
The Ukrainian intercity train is comfortable and air-conditioned with cafe-bar. Regiojet have an allocation of seats and a Regiojet ticket from Prague to Lviv or Kyiv includes a 2nd class seat on this train, booked as one combined ticket from Prague to Lviv/Kyiv.
Prague to Lviv or Kyiv starts at 58 with a berth in a shared compartment, or 119.90 for sole occupancy of a 4-berth couchette compartment for 1 to 4 people. Fares vary slightly according to demand. The fare includes the sleeper and a 2nd class seat on the connecting Ukrainian train.
Book from Prague to Lviv or Kyiv at www.regiojet.com.
Booking opens 1-2 months ahead, so book your other trains first then book this one a month or two before travel. There is usually plenty of availability 3+ weeks before departure, although it can sell out with a week or two to go. You print your ticket or show it on your phone.
1. Brussels to Prague by European Sleeper, seen here at Amsterdam. This is a 5-berth couchette car, beyond it is the stainless steel sleeping-car.
In the morning, the European Sleeper runs along the Elbe river valley between Dresden & Prague. See more photos.
2. Prague to Przemysl by Regiojet sleeper train
Brussels to Moscow & Russia
Option 1, Brussels to Moscow using the daily Warsaw-Moscow sleeper train - suspended due to sanctions
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Berlin, leaving Brussels Midi at 14:25, changing at Cologne Hbf and arriving Berlin Hbf 21:15.
You travel on a comfortable high-speed ICE3M train from Brussels to Cologne and an ICE2 or ICE4 from Cologne to Berlin, with restaurant car, power sockets at all seat & free WiFi. By all means book the earlier 10:25 or 12:25 departure and spend a pleasant evening in Berlin.
Stay overnight in Berlin. Top choice here is the InterCity Hotel Berlin Hbf (my favourite), only 200m from Berlin Hbf's main entrance, relatively inexpensive with great reviews, or if you're in the money, the excellent 5-star Steigenberger Hotel just outside the station. If you're on a budget, the cheaper 3-star Motel One Berlin-Hbf is behind the station or use www.hostelworld.com. Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, the famous Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin is next to the Brandenburg Gate just 17 minutes walk away.
Day 2 morning, travel from Berlin to Warsaw by EuroCity train leaving Berlin Hbf at 09:52 every day, arriving Warsaw Centralna 15:00.
Tip: On Mondays-Saturdays you can take the earlier 05:51 EuroCity train which would give you time to explore Warsaw, see Warsaw Centralna station & city information. Warsaw's historic old town is a 30 minute walk from Centralna station - if you fancy a modest splurge, the celebrated Ufukiera restaurant (www.ufukiera.pl) is excellent and right on the square in the heart of Warsaw's old town. The Palace of Culture (a wedding cake style Soviet skyscraper and distinctive Warsaw landmark, www.pkin.pl) is right next to the station and has a viewing terrace on the 30th floor.
Fares from Brussels to Warsaw start at 46.99 in 2nd class or 79.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book from Brussels to Warsaw at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
To get the overnight stop in Berlin, click Stopovers, enter Berlin Hbf and a suitable length of stay, say 10 hours. Adjust the length of stay and departure time to get the trains you want each side of Berlin. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
Day 2 evening, travel from Warsaw to Moscow by Russian sleeper train, leaving Warsaw Centralna at 19:15 daily and arriving Moscow Belorussky at 16:58 next day (day 3 from Brussels). You can check times at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru.
This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions & the war in Ukraine.
This train uses impressive Austrian-built sleeping-cars with 4-berth compartments built in 2014, see photos of this type of sleeper here & see panorama photo inside one of these modern sleepers. Each compartment can be sold as 1st class 1-berth, 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth. The train consist of two or three sleeping-car which start their journey in Prague. There's a bistro car in Poland and a Russian restaurant car is attached between Brest (on the Polish/Belarus border) & Moscow.
You can book this train by contacting reliable Polish train ticketing agency www.polrail.com - their booking system is at booking.polrail.com. Tickets can be collected in Warsaw or (at extra charge) shipped to any address worldwide.
Alternatively, you can book with Russian Railways at www.rzd.ru although it's a little quirky and may not accept some overseas credit cards.
Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus. See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.
The train from Warsaw to Moscow uses Russian air-conditioned sleeping-cars, pictured below, with compartments which can be used as 1st class 2-berth or 2nd class 4-berth (shown below right), with a shower & toilets at the end of the corridor. See panorama photo inside one of the new Russian sleepers.
Option 2, Brussels to Moscow using the new Berlin-Moscow Strizh Talgo sleeper train, twice a week - suspended due to sanctions.
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Step 1, take the 10:25 ICE train from Brussels Midi to Berlin with 1 easy change at Cologne Hbf, arriving Berlin Hbf 17:10.
Fares start at 27.99 in 2nd class or 69.99 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Buy tickets at the German Railways website int.bahn.de.
Booking opens up to 6 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.
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Step 2, travel from Berlin to Moscow by Russian sleeper train, leaving Berlin Hbf at 20:08 on Mondays & Saturdays, arriving at Moscow Belorussky station at 21:24 next day.
This train was suspended due to Covid-19 and remains suspended due to sanctions & war in Ukraine.
This train is an articulated Spanish-built Talgo train branded Strizh (Russian for swift) which started running in 2016. It has ordinary seats, 2nd class 4-berth sleepers, 1st class 1 or 2 berth sleepers with washbasin and deluxe 1 or 2 berth sleepers with en suite shower & toilet. There's a restaurant & bistro car.
Russian track gauge is 5', but most of Europe (including the UK) is 4' 8½", so at Brest on the Belarus frontier the Talgo train runs through a special gauge-changing shed and the axles automatically adjust to the new gauge. Once in Russia, the scenery is rolling hills, birch tree forests, and villages of small wooden houses. Approaching Moscow, you may glimpse the plaques on the station building marked '1812' and '1942' as the train passes through the small station of historic Borodino.
You can book the Berlin-Moscow train at the Russian Railways website www.rzd.ru and print your own ticket, it's a little fiddly but usually works, or you can easily buy it online with English language after-sales service if you need it, using the Real Russia online system here.
Don't forget to arrange both your Russian visa and Belarus transit visa as the train runs via Belarus. See my important update about travel to Russia through Belarus.
Option 3, Brussels to Moscow via Kyiv - avoids Belarus and the need for a Belarus transit visa
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It's not difficult to get a Belarus transit visa. But some people want to avoid the bureaucracy & cost of yet another visa, and the easiest way to do this is to travel via Kyiv. Whilst passing through the Baltic States is an option, it's a disjointed relay-race of multiple trains and buses, going via Kyiv means a direct train Warsaw-Kyiv then another Kyiv-Moscow, making it much simpler.
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Kyiv as shown in the Brussels to Kyiv section above.
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Step 2, travel from Kyiv to Moscow by overnight train.
There are several night trains and times vary by date, but for example there's usually one leaving Kyiv around 19:30 and arriving in Moscow Kievskaya station next morning at around 10:00, with 2-berth and 4-berth sleepers available. Check times for your date using int.bahn.de. Note that there's also a direct train from Kyiv to St Petersburg, but this passes through a small corner of Belarus, requiring a Belarus visa.
Kyiv-Moscow trains were suspended due to Covid-19 and remain suspended due to the war in Ukraine
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Use reliable Polish ticketing agency www.polrail.com to book both your Warsaw-Kyiv and Kyiv-Moscow trains. Tickets are collected in Warsaw.
Brussels to Athens, Corfu & Greece
Option 1, Brussels to Athens & Greece using a ferry from Italy
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The best and most comfortable option is to pick up a ferry in Bari. The whole scenic and relaxing journey from Brussels to Athens will take around 3 nights, depending how the connections work out on your particular date.
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Day 1, travel from Brussels to Milan in Italy as shown above, leaving in the morning and arriving in the evening.
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Stay overnight in Milan: Affordable hotels with good or great reviews just outside Milan Centrale include the Hotel Bristol, Hotel Bernina, 43 Station Hotel, B&B Hotel Milano Central Station, Guesthouse Teodora. Pricier more upmarket hotels include HD8 Hotel, Glam Hotel, Made to Measure Business, Starhotel Echo or Starhotel Anderson.
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Day 2, travel from Milan to Bari, leaving Milan Centrale at 08:05 on a pleasant journey along the Adriatic coast arriving Bari Centrale 15:27.
Fares start at 29.90 in 2nd class or 39.90 in 1st class. Fares vary like air fares, so book ahead.
Book this train at www.thetrainline.com (in , £ or $, easy to use, small booking fee) or www.italiarail.com (easy to use, in , £, $ or Au$) or www.trenitalia.com (in , more fiddly). Italiarail will refund their small booking fee if you email them at seat61@italiarail.com with your booking reference. Booking normally opens up to 4 months days ahead. It's ticketless, you simply print out your booking reference or show it on your phone.
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In Bari, transfer from station to port, see map of Bari showing station, port entrance, check-in building & Superfast Ferries berth.
You can walk the 1.9 km from the station to the port entrance in 25 minutes, a stroll through Bari's pleasant old town, see correct walking map from the station to the port entrance gate - if Google tells you any different, trust me, not Google!
Alternatively, bus 50 runs from Bari Centrale station to the road outside the port gate roughly every 40 minutes. A taxi will take 10 minutes.
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Day 2, sail overnight from Bari to Patras in Greece with Superfast Ferries.
The ferry sails from Bari at 19:30 on Mondays-Saturdays, arriving Patras at 13:00 next day (Day 3).
On Sundays the ship sails at 13:30, too early to make connections from Milan.
You can check sailing times & dates at using the Direct Ferries website or at www.superfast.com or www.ferriesingreece.com.
You should check in at the Superfast desk on the ground floor of the cruise terminal (Terminal Crociere) at Bari port with passport & booking number to get your boarding pass, ideally 3 hours before departure in summer, although in practice 2 hours or even 1½ hours is normally fine.
You then walk 500m from check-in to the ferry, board the ferry via the foot passenger gangway at the stern and head up the escalator to the main lounge and reception desk to get your cabin key.
The ship is comfortable, with self-service restaurant, lounge, bar and sun deck. You can book a deck place (a good & cheap option in summer if you have your own sleeping bag), a reclining seat or various types of cabin, all with private shower & toilet. Strolling the decks in the morning sun as the ship cruises past the islands of Cephalonia and Ithaca is the nicest part of the trip, and it's a wonderful way to arrive in Greece.
In Patras, the ferry arrives at the new South ferry terminal a few km from the town centre. Bus 18 links the port with the Patras bus station every hour on the hour, fare 1.20 or you can hop in a taxi for around 9, journey time 15-20 minutes.
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Day 3, travel from Patras to Athens by Greek Railways bus/train combo.
Hellenic Train (Greek Railways) operate an integrated bus/train service from Patras to Athens every hour or two, total journey time 3h02, fare around 18. No prior reservation is necessary, just buy a ticket to Athens at Patras railway station ticket office.
For example, at the time I write this, buses leave from outside Patras railway station at 14:15, 15:15, 16:00, 17:15 & 18:15, taking 90 minutes to reach Kiato railway station near Corinthos. At Kiato they connect with a modern air-conditioned regional train taking 78 minutes to Athens Larissa Station in downtown Athens. You can check Patra to Athens bus/train times using the journey planner at www.hellenictrain.gr.
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Corfu: The Bari-Patras ferry calls at Corfu on certain dates in summer. It calls at Igoumenitsa on the Greek mainland on all departures year-round. If you can't find a direct ferry to Corfu, book the ferry from Bari to Igoumenitsa, then take the local ferry from Igoumenitsa to Corfu with Kerkyra Lines (kerkyralines.com). These sail half a dozen times a day, crossing time 60-90 minutes, fare around 5-10. Buy a ticket at kerkyralines.com or when you get to Igoumenitsa.
Option 2, Brussels to Athens & Greece by train all the way through the Balkans
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There are currently no international trains to Greece, you should take a ferry from Italy.
Brussels to Istanbul & Turkey
This is an overland adventure, taking 3 nights.
Option 1, Brussels to Istanbul via Munich, Budapest & Bucharest.
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Step 1, travel from Brussels to Bucharest using any option shown above.
Do not risk any tight connections in Bucharest, I'd allow a minimum of 2 hours, or plan an overnight stop.
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Step 2, travel overnight from Bucharest to Istanbul as shown on the Bucharest to Istanbul page.
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Book online as shown on those pages, but you should consider using an Interrail pass for the flexibility it gives. You'll find more about using a pass for a journey like this on the London to Istanbul page.
Option 2, Brussels to Istanbul via Zagreb, Belgrade & Sofia - this route is not currently viable
Railbookers custom-made tours
If you just want to buy train tickets at the cheapest price, book online as shown on this page. However, if you want someone to sort out your whole trip for you, arranging all your trains, hotels and transfers, and to look after you if anything affects your arrangements, talk to Railbookers. Railbookers can tailor-make a train trip around Europe to your own specification. Just tell them what you want and they'll advise you on the best trains, routes & hotels. They get good reports and a lot of repeat business! They now have offices in the UK, North America and Australia.
UK call 0207 864 4600,
www.railbookers.co.uk.
US call free 1-888-829-4775,
see
website.
Canada call free 1-855-882-2910,
see website.
Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526,
see website.
New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or
see
website.
Hotels in Brussels & other cities
Hotels near Brussels Midi station
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If 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
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How about staying on the famous Grand Place itself? In the mid-range, the Rιsidence Le Quinze Grand Place gets rave reviews and overlooks Brussels' famous central square.
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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.
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You can stay next to the Grand Place relatively cheaply, too, try the Hotel Agora Grand Place or Happy Guesthouse, both with great reviews.
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All these hotels near the Grand Place are just a few minutes walk from Brussels Central station.
Backpacker
hostels
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 most cities at rock-bottom prices.