Brussels Midi, Zuid, South: Location map
Bruxelles Midi in French, Brussel Zuid in Flemish or Brussels South Station in English, it's Brussels' main station used by all mainline trains including Eurostar to London, Eurostar (formerly Thalys) to Paris, Amsterdam & Cologne, German Railways ICEs to Cologne & Frankfurt, Intercity trains to Luxembourg and Belgian domestic trains to Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp & so on.
Brussels Midi originally opened as a terminus in 1869. Brussels Nord was also a terminus. In 1952, the 3.8km Jonction Nord-Midi line opened through the centre of Brussels linking Nord, Central & Midi. This turned Nord & Midi into through stations and enabled Brussels Midi to become the main hub for all trains serving Brussels.
Entrance
There's a main entrance on each side of the station at either end of the ground-level concourse under all the tracks. This is the entrance on the north (platform 1) side of the station. The red arrow indicates the taxi rank. The blue arrow indicates the Pullman Hotel, a good place if you need to stay between trains. The Brasserie de la Gare is on the other side of the road, directly behind the camera.
Concourse
I have to admit that Brussels Midi isn't my favourite station. The main concourse (couloir principal or stationshal) at Brussels Midi is a somewhat gloomy street-level passageway underneath all the tracks, spanning the width of the station between north & south entrances. The train tracks are above street level with escalators & stairs up to each platform. A similar but much narrower concourse runs underneath all the platforms a hundred metres to the south, called the couloir sud.
In this photo you can see the main departures board and (on the left) a set of escalators up to platforms 7 & 8. Note the TV screens above the escalators, telling you the destination & calling points of the next train from that platform. The international ticket office is visible in the background, under the departures board.
Another view of the main concourse, with escalators up to platform 16 on the left.
Which platform for your train?
There are 22 platforms, numbered from northwest to southeast. The tracks run on a viaduct above ground level, there are escalators & stairs to the concourse at street level below. Check the departure screens and boards to see which platform your train leaves from.
There is free and open access from street to concourse to platforms, without ticket gates or barriers, except for (a) platforms 1 & 2 which are secure and accessed via the Eurostar terminal and (b) there are occasional ID checks before boarding a Eurostar to Paris, Amsterdam or Cologne, though I've yet to see one myself.
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Eurostar trains to/from London use platforms 1 & 2 on the northwest side of the station, or platforms 3 & 4 if running to or from Amsterdam. To board a Eurostar, you must check in at the Channel Terminal.
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Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains to & from Paris, Rotterdam, Amsterdam & Cologne use platforms 3, 4, 5 or 6.
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ICE trains to & from Cologne & Frankfurt also use platforms 3, 4, 5 or 6.
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Belgian domestic trains to Bruges & Ghent leave from platforms 9-16.
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InterCity (IC) trains to Rotterdam, Den Haag & Amsterdam leave from platforms 12-19.
Platforms 1-6 have been modernised with smart terrazzo flooring. Platforms 1 & 2 are used for Eurostars to London and can only be accessed via the Eurostar terminal. Platforms 3-6 are used by ICEs to Cologne & Frankfurt, Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains to Paris, Cologne & Amsterdam, and Eurostars linking London with Amsterdam. Above, an ICE to Cologne is about to leave from platform 5. The escalators lead down to the main concourse below the tracks.
Platforms 7-22 have not been modernised and retain a more 1950s feel. They're used by domestic trains plus the non-high-speed international trains to Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The tracks are above street level, the escalators lead down to the street-level concourse below.
Arriving by Eurostar
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All border formalities are carried out in London before boarding, so you normally just walk out of the station when you arrive in Brussels unless the Belgians are doing a spot check at the exit from the platform, which is relatively unusual.
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If your Eurostar is continuing to Amsterdam, it will arrive on platform 3 & 4.
You go down mid-platform escalators directly to the main concourse. If you arrive on platform 3 or 4 bound for Germany, sometimes the ICE to Cologne & Frankfurt is waiting on the other side of the platform, sometimes you just go down any escalator & up another onto adjacent platforms 5 & 6. No problem!
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If your Eurostar is terminating in Brussels, it usually arrives on dead-end platforms 1 & 2.
These are in a secure area, separate from all other platforms. To reach the main station concourse, you walk past the front of the train off the end of the platforms, turn left then down an escalator followed by steps (or there's a lift) to the station concourse at ground level. It's a bit of a long way round to the other platforms, takes a few minutes, especially if you're at the rear of the arriving Eurostar. Picking a seat at the front of the Eurostar saves a lot of time.
However, if you're catching an onward train to Bruges, Cologne, Frankfurt or anywhere else, there's a short cut from platforms 1 & 2 to all other platforms which can save a vital minute or two if it's open...
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Short cut from platforms 1 & 2 to all other platforms:
Instead of blindly following the crowd shuffling slowly off the end of platform 1 or 2 to the main exit, look for the down escalators shown in the photo below, half way along the platform, roughly level with Eurostar car 11.
Nip down this to the South Corridor (Couloir Sud) which runs underneath the tracks linking all the platforms, quickly check the indicator boards then nip up an escalator again to the right platform for your onward train to Cologne, Amsterdam, Bruges or wherever.
This avoids the crowds and saves several minutes compared to walking round via the main concourse. I;ve made it at normal walking pace from the doorway of a Eurostar arriving on platform 2, all the way to platform 20 for an onward train to Antwerp in 2 minutes 30 seconds. You can see the short cut in this video.
The short cut is not always open, it can be closed if they're doing random security/ID checks for certain departures or if Eurostar are short-staffed or if there's something else going on. It has spent much of 2023 closed due to building work. In which case, you have to walk off the end of the platform to the main concourse with everyone else.
This is the escalator you're looking for, roughly level with car 11. This is the one on platform 2. There's a similar escalator on platform 1, where platform & escalator are to the left of the train. Photo courtesy of @EurostarJustinp
How long to allow for connections?
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First, a reality check. There are 22 platforms at Brussels Midi, but you can stroll from platform 1 to platform 22 in less than 3 minutes. If you're only taking a Belgian domestic train to Bruges or Antwerp, these leave regularly and your ticket is good for on any train, so if you miss one you simply take the next one.
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Obviously, you should allow much longer when connecting with an important mainline train on which you have a train-specific ticket, in case your first train arrives late. If connecting into or out of Eurostar to or from London, I'd allow at least 20 minutes to change trains in Brussels on an outward journey from London. On the return journey towards London, I'd allow at least 50 minutes to change trains including the minimum 30 minute Eurostar check-in.
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If you miss a connection in Brussels with a train-specific ticket, see the advice on missed connections here. Under the Railteam/HOTNAT arrangement, if you miss a connection because of a late running train, staff on board the late-running train or in Brussels international ticket office should stamp your ticket and allow you to take the next departure even if your ticket is train-specific, please read the advice here.
Eurostar to ICE 20 minute connections
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Several times a day, a Eurostar from London arrives in Brussels at xx:05 and connects with an ICE to Cologne & Frankfurt leaving at xx:25.
These 20-minute connections are fine - even the odd one less than 20 minutes, for example 16:06 to 16:22. They are recognised connections which you'll normally make even if the Eurostar is 10 minutes late & the short cut is closed. You won't be the only person making this connection, and the ICE will even be held a few minutes for a late-running Eurostar.
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You can confirm that your specific Eurostar/ICE connection is a recognised one by running an enquiry from London to Cologne at int.bahn.de. If that specific combination of Eurostar & ICE are offered as a valid journey on your date, then it's a recognised connection.
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In some cases, changing trains simply means walking a few metres across the platform, see the photo below. In other cases, all it means is stepping of a Eurostar on platform 1 or 2 and using the escalators and underpass to platforms 3-6.
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If the Eurostar is delayed and you miss the ICE, you can take the following ICE 2h later or even the following Eurostar (formerly Thalys) an hour later, even with a train-specific ticket, under the Railteam/HOTNAT arrangement, see the advice on missed connections here.
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However (and this should be obvious), don't rely on a 20-minute connection if you have crucial onward connections across Europe which would collapse if you ended up on the following ICE 2 hours later. Either book an earlier Eurostar to give a longer connection in Brussels, or book a journey with the 20-minute connection after making sure that you would still reach your final destination (or overnight stop location) on later trains if the connection in Brussels were to be missed.
20 minute connection, Eurostar to ICE: That's the 11:04 Eurostar from London on the right, arrived at 14:05 on platform 3, and the 14:25 ICE to Cologne & Frankfurt on the left on platform 4. All you have to do to change trains on this particular departure is walk 20 feet across the width of the platform!
Ticket offices
The domestic ticket office sells tickets for Belgian destinations and for the IC (Intercity) trains to Rotterdam, Amsterdam & Luxembourg. For all other international tickets you'll need to use the international ticket office, which charges a booking fee - or book online to avoid the fee.
Left luggage lockers
There are left luggage lockers if you want to stash your bags while exploring Brussels. From the main concourse under all the tracks, walk into the broad passageway level with platforms 3-6, next to the international ticket office. The lockers are at the back near the toilets. There are M, L, XL & XXL size lockers, for prices, click here.
M = 19 cm x 30 cm x 60 cm.
L = 44 cm x 34 cm x 60 cm.
XL = 58 cm x 50 cm x 60 cm.
XXL = 89 cm x 50 cm x 60 cm.
How to use the lockers: The system will allocate a locker for you, so first go to the control panel touch screen and click English. Choose your locker size, choose your own 6-digit PIN code, pay with a contactless bank card (no coins necessary) and a locker of the correct size will pop open for you. When you return, go to the control panel, enter your PIN code and it'll open again. See full locker instructions.
Express Supermarket
The Carrefour Express minimarket is the best place to stock up for your journey. It's down this passageway which comes off the main concourse level with platforms 3 & 4, opposite the international ticket office, marked with a trolley symbol on the station map. It also stocks beer & wine.
Pullman Hotel bar
The Pullman Hotel bar is perhaps the best VIP waiting room at Brussels Midi, an oasis away from the hustle of the station concourse for the price of a coffee or beer - a pint of Goose IPA will set you back €9, but think of it as €9 VIP lounge access with a free pint of beer.
The hotel in fact has two bars, one on the ground floor open 09:00-15:00 daily and the main bar on the first floor, open 15:00-23:00 daily.
The bars have free WiFi and the downstairs bar has tables with mobile/laptop charging points. You can buy bar snacks, but for something more substantial the hotel has a decent restaurant on the first floor.
The Pullman Hotel is an integral part of Brussels Midi station, you don't even need to cross the road as there's a door from the station into the hotel lobby.
To find this door, first find the Channel Terminal, level with platforms 1 & 2. Now look for the retail passageway directly opposite the Channel Terminal on the opposite side of the concourse. The hotel door is inside this passageway on the left just beyond the Haagen Dazs ice cream shop, see the photos below.
If you'd prefer somewhere cheaper, try the SAS cafe (see SAS Cafe's Facebook page) across the road from the main southern exit on the platform 22 side of the station.
Places to eat
There's a row of brasseries across the pedestrianised road from the main exit on the northern (platform 1) side of the station, including the Brasserie Europa & the Brasserie de la Gare, see photo below. They do good food & beer and are decent places to wait for your train. The Brasserie de la Gare does a good steak tartare!
The Portuguese cafe-restaurant Cantinho da Cidade gets good reports, 5 minutes walk from the station, see walking map. Open all day early until late 7 days a week.
In the city centre: Aux Armes de Bruxelles
If you've time to hop on a local train one stop to Brussels Central and walk 5 minutes to the Grande Place in the heart of old Brussels, there are vast numbers of tourist trap restaurants, just avoid these and head for the celebrated Aux Armes de Bruxelles, auxarmesdebruxelles.com. This is one of the few good traditionally Belgian restaurants near the Grande Place. Their moules-frites are excellent.
For a taste of Belgian beer whilst in Brussels, try the equally-celebrated Delirium cafe near the Grande Place, www.deliriumcafe.be.
Hotels near Brussels Midi
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If you need to stay overnight between trains at Brussels Midi...
The Pullman Hotel Brussels Midi is part of the station complex on the platform 1 side of the station, the ideal place for a stay between trains. I've used it myself on various occasions, the top choice. They start breakfast at 06:00, handy if you've an early train.
The Ibis Hotel Brussels Midi is just across the road from the station and a good, reliable, inexpensive choice which I've also used. It's shown on the station plan above if you enlarge and zoom out slightly. Leave the station by the platform 22 exit and turn left.
The Novotel Brussels Midi is another good choice, located just beyond the Ibis.
Walking to Brussels city centre
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It's a 22 minute 1.8 km (1 mile) stroll from Brussels Midi station to the Grande Place in the city centre, see walking route map.
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Leave the station from the main doors on the Eurostar terminal (platform 1) side of the station, turn right, walk along the side of the station a little way then turn right along the Rue de France, which becomes Espl. de l'Europe then straight on via Boulevard Jamar & Boulevard Stalingrad to central Brussels. See bus, tram & metro information for Brussels.
Free train transfer to Brussels Central or Brussels Luxembourg
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If you have a Eurostar or Eurostar (formerly Thalys) ticket to or from Brussels Midi, these allow a free transfer by frequent SNCB (Belgian Railways) train between Brussels Midi and other Belgian Railways stations in the Brussels city centre zone including Brussels Central (near the Grande Place), Brussel Nord & Brussels Luxembourg (next to the EU Parliament).
See full list of Brussels area stations to/from which your Eurostar ticket is valid.
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Simply hop on any train shown as calling at Brussels Central, Brussels Nord or Brussels Luxembourg and show your Eurostar ticket on board if asked (highly unlikely, I have yet to see a conductor check tickets between Brussels stations). There are no ticket gates to get through about at Belgian stations.
Unfortunately there's no handy Next train to Brussels Central indicator so you just have to walk up and down looking at the individual platform screens to find one leaving in the next few minutes which stops at Brussels Central. Takes a bit of hunting, but not rocket science.
Brussels Central station
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Brussels Central is in the centre of Brussels, just 5 minutes walk to the Grand Place. It's on the line linking Brussels Midi with Brussels Nord, all Belgian domestic trains stop here, as do the Brussels-Luxembourg & Brussels-Rotterdam-Amsterdam InterCity trains, so if you are visiting the Grand Place, it's better to get on or off here. Eurostar (formerly Thalys) and ICE trains pass through without stopping, but you can easily transfer here from Brussels Midi for free if you have a Eurostar or Eurostar (formerly Thalys) ticket, see the section above.
Hotels near the Grand Place
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How about staying on the famous Grand Place itself? In the mid-range, the Résidence Le Quinze Grand Place gets rave reviews and overlooks Brussels' famous central square.
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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.
Belgium's national railway museum
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If you're spending time in Brussels, the Belgian railway museum at Schaarbeek station is well worth a visit, see www.trainworld.be. Trains run between Brussels Midi & Schaarbeek (one stop beyond Brussels Nord) every 10-20 minutes, journey time 14 minutes.