Belgian Train Holiday Travel is becoming more popular as more people choose rail journeys for their trips across Europe. New figures from Belgium’s national rail operator show a strong rise in international train bookings, with travelers choosing trains instead of cars and planes for their summer holidays.
The Belgian rail operator recorded about 1.6 million international travel bookings last summer. This was almost 6% higher than the year before. Early sales data for the current summer season show that demand for international train trips is still growing.
Travelers in Belgium can now reach about 6,000 destinations in 15 European countries through international rail services. More than 1,000 locations can be reached from Brussels in less than six hours, either by direct trains or with only one change.
France remains the most popular destination for Belgian train travelers. Cities such as Paris, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Strasbourg, and Montpellier attract many visitors throughout the year. Disneyland Paris is also among the most popular choices for families.
The United Kingdom ranks second in international bookings, with London leading demand. The Netherlands follows closely, with Amsterdam and Rotterdam receiving the most Belgian visitors. Germany is another major destination, with cities including Cologne, Berlin, Aachen, Munich, and Frankfurt attracting travelers.
Switzerland completes the top five destinations. Zurich and Basel are the main cities chosen by Belgian passengers. Other popular countries include Italy, Spain, Austria, Luxembourg, and the Czech Republic, where Prague remains a favorite destination.
High-speed rail services are driving much of this growth. Many passengers prefer fast and direct connections that save time while offering a more comfortable travel experience.
The TGV INOUI service connects Brussels with several cities in southern France. Eurostar trains provide quick connections between Brussels, Paris, London, and Amsterdam. These services have helped make European rail travel easier for Belgian holidaymakers.
A new low-cost train service between Brussels and Paris has also increased interest in rail travel. The service began at the end of 2024 through cooperation between Belgian and French rail operators. The journey takes about three hours, with three trains running each day in both directions.
The low-cost route has become especially popular among families during school holidays. Many families see it as a practical option compared with long car journeys.
International train links are also expected to expand in the coming years. A new direct connection between Brussels and Basel in Switzerland is planned for July 2027. The route will extend existing high-speed services between Brussels and Strasbourg.
The planned service will operate as a pilot project with trains running on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. It aims to give Belgian travelers another simple way to reach Switzerland by rail.
Connections with the Netherlands have also improved. A new international service between Brussels-Midi and Amsterdam-Zuid began operations in December 2024. The journey takes around two hours, with 16 trains running each day in both directions.
Another 16 daily train connections operate between Brussels and Rotterdam through Brussels-Zaventem Airport. These services give passengers more choices for business trips and holidays.
The Belgian rail operator plans further growth in international travel options. Its goal is to increase the number of destinations available through its platform from 6,000 today to about 8,000 by 2030.
This expansion could strengthen Brussels-Midi station as one of Europe’s important international rail centers. Around 300,000 passengers currently use international trains passing through the station every week.
Passengers can also use the platform to buy Interrail passes for travel across 33 countries. They can also reserve seats on services such as Eurostar, TGV INOUI, Nightjet, European Sleeper, TGV Lyria, and Frecciarossa trains.
Environmental concerns are another reason behind the rise of train travel. Rail operators highlight that trains produce much lower emissions compared with planes and cars.
For example, a journey from Brussels to Paris by train creates far fewer carbon emissions than the same trip by air. The train also produces fewer emissions than traveling by bus. Similar benefits are seen on routes between Brussels and Amsterdam.
The Belgian rail operator advises passengers to book early to find better prices. Travelers can often save money by choosing weekday journeys or avoiding busy travel times.
As more Europeans look for comfortable and greener ways to travel, Belgian Train Holiday Travel continues to grow. The expansion of rail networks and new international connections could make trains an even bigger part of future holiday plans.
