The small country of Belgium is home to various attractions that entice both locals and visitors alike. Moreover, the partially-landlocked geography of Belgium makes it easy for inter-city travel, especially with the presence of an extensive railway network.

While the capital Brussels is where many of the country’s landmarks are located, other cities like Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, the Meuse Valley, and Waterloo are not to be overlooked. The old towns of Mechelen and Ghent contain excellent medieval architectural treasures.

What also makes Belgium historically important is that the country is front-and-center in many of Europe’s most significant events. It was in Waterloo, Belgium, where Napoleon suffered his final defeat. During World War I and II, Belgium was in the forefront. The Ypres battlefields, which significantly figured in during World War I, are now vital pilgrimage sites that see thousands of visitors a year.

Whether you’re a local going to another city to see family or friends or a visitor on business or wanting to see the country’s natural and manmade sights, you can get an Interrail Belgium pass or Eurail Belgium pass. With access to these passes, you can easily traverse throughout many of the sights in Belgium.

Interrail / Eurail Belgium – what to do, where to go?

When exploring Belgium via Interrail or Eurail., here are a few places that would inspire the inner artist, historian, or culinary connoisseur in you.

Antwerp

Antwerp is Belgium’s second-largest city. It’s also becoming popular for its effortlessly hip and cool vibe. The city is a draw for the fashionistas and design aficionados, and also attracts revelers to party until the wee hours of the morning.

In Antwerp, you can start your night by sampling the Belgian beers, which are offered at pubs like Pater’s Vaetje. After you’ve had your fill, go on ahead to the repurposed docklands and party hard at any of the city’s vibrant nightclubs.

Ardennes

If you want to break away from cosmopolitan Brussels, the Ardennes are the best place for you to head to. The Ardennes has everything for the outdoorsman.

Go biking or hiking around the woods of the Ardennes. You can go white-water rafting, kayaking, or fishing within the flowing rivers in the area. Along the way, you can enjoy the quaint villages like La Roche-en-Ardenne and Dinant. The latter is also an excellent location for you to enjoy outdoor activities like paintballing, climbing, and abseiling.

Brussels

If you seek a bit of action in Belgium, there’s no better place to go than Brussels, which is home to the headquarters of NATO and the European Union. As a vibrant metropolis, you would expect the city to have a vibrant and multi-cultured air.

The city center is the Grand Place square, which is also the city’s foremost meet-up and hangout spot. At any of the city’s café terraces, you can enjoy fine gastronomic flavors throughout the day. You can also tour the 18th century guild houses and the spired Old Town hall.

Brussels is a city that you would want to spend in for a few days at least. The Grand Place square is just five minutes away from the main train station.

Ghent and Bruges

Bruges is considered the ‘Venice of the North.’ Bruges does get a lot of visitors because of its quaint charms and medieval flair. You can bask in the authentic architecture and the city’s pristine canals. It takes a 15-minute walk to get from the Bruges city center to the main train station.

Near Bruges is the quintessential medieval city Ghent. There are many unique experiences and sights awaiting you in this place. You can spend a day at the medieval-era Gravensteen Castle, which is partially moated. You can also enjoy Ghent aimlessly. You can walk through the numerous cobbled streets. You can also ride the boats and breeze through the canals.

The Coastline

Belgium is not all about cosmopolitan majesty and hard parties. The country does have a narrow 65-kilometer stretch of coastline in West Flanders.

At the popular Grootstrand beach, you can find a lot of Dutch and Belgian visitors lying under the sun. The city of Ostend also has a vibrant night scene. After enjoying the scorching sun, you can end your day with a few bottles of chilled beers at a cozy pub.

Interrail and Eurail Belgium Map and Planner

Planning is essential if you want to experience you perfect Belgian town and countryside adventure. While spontaneity is a good thing, planning is even better, and you have to be prepared with some emergencies that may come your way.

It’s fun to plan your Interrail Belgium or Eurail trip. The first thing you need to do is choose your Interrail pass. Decide if you want to explore Belgium with the One-Country Pass or you want to get the Global Pass and see 30 countries.

Once you have decided on the pass you’re getting, plan your route. The Interrail map shows the primary European ferry and train routes covered by Interrail Belgium. Next is to look up the train times and, if necessary, makes the reservations for your train.

Contingencies should also be considered. Know the tips for traveling on a budget, and arrange sightseeing, accommodation, and taxi transfers. The important thing to get the best out of your Interrail or Eurail Belgium adventure is to plan ahead.

Interrail Belgium – best places to stay

You’ll need to have somewhere to stay when you’re on your Interrail or Eurail Belgium trip. Here’s some places where you can do just that, brought to you by our readers, as well as our partners at Booking.com.

Reader Recommendations

We want to hear about the best places you stayed while you were on your Interrail Belgium trip – bonus points if they’re a little off the beaten track! Share the love and give us a recommendation – get in touch or add yours in the comments section (coming soon)!

[your recommendations here!]

Recommended Interrail Belgium Route

If you want to explore the best of Belgium while seeing other major cities on fringes, you can take the route that covers the cities of Amsterdam and Maastricht in the Netherlands, Brussels in Belgium, and Luxembourg City in Luxembourg.

Amsterdam is equally cosmopolitan as Brussels. In the Dutch capital city, you can walk through the city’s historic center and take in the vibrant atmosphere that blends the old with the new. Book your hotel or hostel.

After a Maastricht tour, you can visit Antwerp in Belgium. The bustling Belgian city is known for its dynamic architecture and fashion-forward boutiques. Book your hotel or hostel.

After Antwerp, be sure to stop by – and stay at – Brussels. The activity of culturally-rich city revolves around the Grand Place square. Book your hotel or hostel.

The last destination in the Benelux adventure is Luxembourg City. Rich in history and basking in luxury, you can enjoy dazzling scenery at the Chemin de la Corniche. This spot is also called the most beautiful balcony in Europe. Book your hotel or hostel.

For the tri-country route, you can avail of the Interrail Benelux Pass. You can see these cities within three days for a price tag of €90. You can also take a longer 8-day trip for a price tag of €181. The choice is yours. After all, you make your own European adventure with Interrail.

For the tri-country route, you need the Eurail Benelux Pass. The trains stop at each of the city’s centers. The Eurail Benelux Pass is the fun and comfortable way to explore Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. This pass is also flexible. You can visit other cities like Bruges and Ghent.

Interrail Belgium, Eurail Belgium Photo Gallery

Here are some of the best photographs people have been kind enough to share from their previous Interrail Belgium trips.

If you have photos to share, we’re open to considering them for display on this page – just email us to start a conversation!

Conversely, if you see your photo here and want it taken down, just let us know.

Interrail Belgium FAQ

Whichever Interrail or Eurail Belgium guide you read, there will always be unanswered questions. If you feel that there is anything missing from this guide or the FAQ below, let us know in the comments or send an email!

Interrail and Eurail Belgium – get your Pass today!

You made the right decision by touring Europe and Belgium via train. After all, the scenery as your ride along the countryside is priceless. Traversing the continent via Interrail or Eurail offers you the opportunity to fully appreciate Europe’s dazzling landscapes, as well as its historical and cultural heritage.

Decide where in Belgium you want to go, secure your Interrail or Eurail pass, check the train times, and enjoy your adventure. The few days you spend in each Belgian or European destination will leave you a lifetime of memories.