Trains in Belgium | PolishTrains

At a glance

• Belgium's railway network covers around 3,600 km and is one of the best developed in Europe
• SNCB is the main national rail operator, connecting all major Belgian cities
• Brussels to Bruges takes approximately 54 minutes, with trains running up to five times per hour
• Brussels to Antwerp takes around 46 minutes; Brussels to Ghent only about 28 minutes
• Eurostar connects Brussels with London (approx. 2 h 1 min) and Paris (approx. 1 h 25 min)
• Travel from Poland to Brussels is possible via Prague using the European Sleeper overnight train

RegioJet is a carrier that has recently entered Poland. It is also known in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Austria. Despite an increasing number of routes, unfortunately at the moment RegioJet trains do not yet operate through Belgium.

An alternative to RegioJet is coach services between Prague and Brussels. The journeys to Brussels take place on Tuesdays and Fridays, and last approximately 12 hours. The route is: Prague - Pilsen - Luxembourg - Brussels. Once in Brussels, however, the bus continues towards London.

Would you like to take advantage of this coach journey? Start your journey with a train connection from Poland to Prague. This route is on the permanent offer of PKP Intercity. You will take the Baltic Express train to the Czech capital from Warsaw, Wrocław, Katowice and Gdańsk.

An alternative is the European Sleeper train, which runs between Prague and Brussels, among others. It's an overnight journey without changing trains, where you can choose between sleeper cars, couchettes or comfortable seats.

Already in Brussels? Be sure to spend at least one day exploring the city before you take advantage of the opportunities offered by the trains in Belgium.

Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is a place full of history and monuments. Interesting buildings and numerous museums are a must-see. On your list of attractions should be:

• The Palace of Justice,
• Royal Palace,
• Brussels Park,
• Brussels Grand Place,
• St Michael's and St Gudulia's Cathedral,
• Royal Museum of Fine Arts.

Most importantly, the city's main attractions are within walking distance of Bruxelles-Midi train station (e.g. the Royal Palace about 2 km from the station).

Trains Belgium - wondering if this is a popular mode of transport in the country? We are already in a hurry to answer! Belgium's railway system is one of the better developed in Europe (around 3,600 km of railway lines) and journeys are popular with locals and tourists alike. For example, there are connections from Brussels to other important cities up to several times an hour (up to five times an hour to Bruges!). The main national rail operator is SNCB.

Brussels - Bruges

Travel time: approx. 54 min

What is worth seeing in Bruges?

Bruges is known as the Flemish Venice and is one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Bruges' original medieval urban layout has been preserved and the city is criss-crossed by a network of water canals (hence the comparison to Venice).

Be sure to plan time in Bruges for:

visiting the Grote Markt and the Town Hall at Burg Square with its Gothic Hall, climbing to the vantage point on the Beffroi Tower, cruising the canals of Bruges, seeing the St Boniface Bridge and the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Bruges railway station is located about 1 km from the historic part of the city.

Brussels - Antwerp

Travel time: approx. 46 min

What is worth seeing in Antwerp?

It is best to start your Antwerp sightseeing already at Antwerpen-Centraal train station, which is considered the most beautiful in Europe. After leaving this building, you will reach the market square on foot in about 30 minutes.

In Antwerp, find time to see:

• the market square with the town hall from the 16th century,
• Het Steen castle,
• St Mary's Cathedral,
• St. Charles Borromeo Church,
• Rubens House,
• Diamond Museum.

Going to Antwerp with children? Put the local zoo on your list of places to visit too!

Brussels - Ghent

Travel time: approx. 28 min

What's worth seeing in Ghent?

Full of medieval and Renaissance monuments, Ghent is quieter than Brussels and less crowded with tourists than Bruges. Get off the train at Gent Sint Pieters station and you'll find yourself right in the centre of the city, from where you'll start your tour the fastest.

In Ghent, find time to explore:

• Korenmarkt market,
• Gravensteen Castle,
• St. Bavon's Cathedral,
• the Graslei and Korenlei waterfront, ideal for walking,
• the historic district of Patershol,
• STAM city museum.

Want to buy tickets for Belgian railways? Check out PolishTrains - a service through which you can book international connections. If you are interested in a particular train in Belgium but do not see it on the website, be sure to contact Customer Service on +48 123 451 661 or email kontakt@polishtrains.eu.

Planning a short trip in Belgium and then further rail travel to other European countries? Take an interest in Interrail Global Pass tickets. You can read about the details on the PolishTrains website: https://www.polishtrains.eu/pociagi/interrail-pass.

Train journeys in Belgium are hugely popular, with a dense network of railways making it easy to reach the country's major cities by train. A journey from the capital to Antwerp, Bruges or Ghent will take you less than an hour, and the numerous connections will allow you to plan your trip flexibly.

Is the Eurostar passing through Belgium?

Eurostar trains, the high-speed train that runs under the English Channel, stop in Brussels! You can take these trains to Paris, London or Lille.

Example of travel time by Eurostar train:

London - Brussels: approx. 2 hours 1 min

Lille - Brussels: approx. 35 min

Brussels - Paris: approx. 1 hour 25 min

How to get from Brussels to Luxembourg?

Many visitors to Belgium also plan a visit to Luxembourg, so there are numerous trains between the two countries. Connections from Brussels to Luxembourg run several times a day and the journey takes an average of 3 hours and 16 minutes. This is an excellent opportunity to make at least a day trip to this country.

How to get from Poland to Belgium?

There is no direct train from Poland to Belgium. You can currently use one of the alternatives:

• train connection to Prague + RegioJet bus from Prague to Brussels,
• train connection from Poland to Berlin + European Sleeper train from Berlin to Brussels.

What's more, the European Sleeper train passes from Brussels to Prague and from Brussels to Berlin - convenient overnight connections for your return journey.