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The average train time from Brussels to Paris is 1 hour and 23 minutes. There are about 22 Eurostar trains running from Brussels in Belgium to Paris in France every day, with the first train departing at 06:43 am and the last train at 09:16 pm from Brussels-Midi station.
Forget uncomfortable plane journeys and stressful car rides, Eurostar high-speed trains can whisk you directly from the center of Brussels to the center of Paris in less than an hour and a half. Travel in Eurostar's First Class on your way to swapping waffle houses in Belgium for patisseries in France, with wider comfortable seats and a complimentary meal along the way.
Once you arrive at Paris Gare du Nord station, it’s just a 15-minute stroll to the banks of Canal Saint-Martin – the perfect place for people watching as barges navigate the locks. Whether you’re venturing to Paris to take in iconic sights like the Eiffel Tower or watch the sunset over the city from Montmartre and Sacre Coeur, Eurostar trains will get you there smoothly. Don't miss a visit to the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame and the Louvre too. Or perhaps you fancy yourself as a runner? You're in luck: Paris' marathon is one of the 5 best marathons in Europe according to our guide.
If you're headed to Paris during the holidays, we've got the answers to your festive questions in our article all about Christmas trains from Brussels to Paris.
If you're looking for somewhere to stay, why not check out where Paris sits in our list of Europe's most iconic hotels? Some hotels may also offer a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower - check out our guide to the best hotels in Paris with views of the Eiffel Tower learn more!
Keen to learn more? Start your search for train tickets from Paris to Brussels in our Journey Planner at the top of the page, or keep reading for more information on:
It takes an average of 1h 25m to travel from Brussels to Paris by train, over a distance of around 164 miles (264 km). There are normally 22 trains per day traveling from Brussels to Paris and tickets for this journey start from $32.94 when you book in advance.
First train | 6:13 am | |
---|---|---|
Last train | 9:16 pm | |
Departure station | Brussels | |
Arrival station | Paris | |
Journey time | From 1h 22m | |
Distance | 164 miles (264 km) | |
Frequency | 22 trains per day | |
Changes | Direct trains available | |
Price | From $32.94 | |
Train and bus operators |
SNCF is the national train operator of France. It operates all domestic trains and routes across France, as well as international services to Spain and Germany. There are three different types of domestic trains that operate under the SNCF banner – TGV (high-speed, full-service trains that connect the major cities in France), Intercités (usually a more frequent stopping service, but with all the amenities), and TER (regional train services with basic onboard facilities).
SNCB is the national railway company of Belgium, with services that include national (Intercity) and regional (Local) express trains. All SNCB trains come with both First Class and Second Class carriages. Belgium has one of the densest rail networks in the world. Seat reservations aren’t possible for any of the company's trains.
Eurostar is the exclusive high-speed train service that links London to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and the rest of Europe at speeds of up to 186 mph (300 km/h). All Eurostar trains have modern, comfortable facilities, plenty of room for baggage, and onboard food and beverage car. There are three comfort classes on offer – Standard, Standard Premier (equivalent to Premium Economy, with light refreshments served), and Business Premier (equivalent to First or Business Class, with flexible travel options, priority boarding, lounge access and delicious food and drink included). On October 1, 2023, Eurostar and Thalys joined forces and are now united under the Eurostar name. Eurostar now runs trains on more routes between France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. These trains, with their distinctive red color scheme, have three classes: Standard, Comfort and Premium (equivalent to First Class, with lounge access included).
In Standard class, you'll find comfortable seats, free WiFi and a large selection of drinks and snacks for sale in the onboard bar car.
As well as all the facilities you'll find in Standard Class, in Eurostar Standard Premier you'll also get a light meal served at your seat for trips to and from London. Instead of Standard Premier, Red trains traveling around Europe have Comfort Class. Though you won't get a meal at your seat for trips solely in Europe, you'll get to sit back and relax in comfier seats.
For trains to and from London, Business Premier gives you the freedom to travel on your own timetable, with speedy boarding and Eurostar's exclusive Business Premier lounges where you can relax before your trip. In Premium Class, exclusively on trains in Europe, you'll benefit from complete comfort, including a free meal and free drinks at your seat.
From November 4, 2024: In Eurostar Standard, you'll find comfortable seats, free WiFi and a large selection of drinks and snacks for sale in the onboard café-bar.
From November 4, 2024: As well as all the facilities you'll find in Eurostar Standard, in Eurostar Plus you'll also get a light meal served at your seat for trips to and from London. Though you won't get a meal at your seat for trips solely in Europe, you'll get to sit back and relax in comfier seats.
From November 4, 2024: Eurostar Premium gives you the freedom to travel in your own time, with same-day boarding guaranteed and Eurostar's exclusive lounges (where available) where you can relax before your trip. In Premium Class, you'll also benefit from complete comfort, including a free meal and free drinks at your seat.
If you're traveling in Second Class, you'll find plenty of baggage storage and power outlets as standard. You can reserve your seat only if you buy a group ticket.
Upgrade to First Class and enjoy more legroom and comfortable seats. You can reserve your seat only if you buy a group ticket.
Although there's no weight limit for your baggage on Eurostar trains, you must be able to carry your bags safely by yourself.
Each bag must be clearly labeled and must be no longer than 33.4 inches (for trains to and from the United Kingdom) or no larger than 29.5 x 20.8 x 11.8 inches (for trains in Europe).
Are you traveling to or from the United Kingdom? In Eurostar Standard Class, choose from a wide selection of drinks and snacks at the Eurostar Café, the onboard bar car in the middle of the train. Cards and cash (Euros or pounds) are accepted. If you're traveling in Standard Premier, a light meal and a drink will be served at your seat. Travel in Business Premier and you'll be treated to a gourmet meal, as well as a continuous drinks service throughout your journey.
For all other Eurostar trains (red trains, formerly Thalys), head to the bar car and choose from a wide range of hot and cold drinks as well as savory and sweet snacks.
In Premium class, you'll get a free meal served directly to your seat.
Eurostar doesn't have an onboard entertainment portal. However, there is free WiFi available, as well as UK and EU power outlets at your seat so you can charge your devices while traveling.
Generally, Eurostar trains running to and from the United Kingdom can't transport fully assembled bikes - though on certain trains between London and Brussels, you may be able to book a bike space by contacting Eurostar. You can, however, take a foldable bike on board Eurostar trains to and from the UK provided that it's no more than 33.4 inches long and it fits in a protective bag that covers the whole bicycle. Folded bikes are treated as standard baggage.
For all other Eurostar trains in Europe, a limited number of non-foldable bikes can be brought on board, provided that the wheels are taken off and the whole bicycle is stored in a suitable cover (max. size 53.1 x 33.4 x 11.8 inches). Foldable bicycles are also permitted and count towards standard baggage limits.
The rules around traveling with your pets depend on whether you're traveling across the Channel or not, so check before you travel:
Eurostar trains to and from the United Kingdom:
Trains in the rest of Europe:
If you need help getting on or off the train, you should contact Eurostar directly before your trip. To use Eurostar's special assistance program, fill in this contact form at least 48 hours before your journey so that the team can help you.
If you're traveling on trains to/from the United Kingdom:
If you're traveling on red trains in the rest of Europe:
Specific restrictions for trains to/from the United Kingdom:
Liquids:
Sports equipment:
When traveling with SNCB, each passenger can take 3 items of baggage on board, as long as the total weight does not exceed 30kg (66.1 pounds). Once you’ve found your seat, you can stow your baggage in the space provided above and below your seat. You can take the following baggage on board for free:
Currently, SNCB does not offer a food and drink service. Although, you may bring food and drink with you to enjoy on the train.
SNCB offer free WiFi in their main stations, including Brussels Central, Bruges, Antwerp Central and more. Currently, SNCB do not offer WiFi onboard their trains.
As long as they are traveling with a person aged 12 or above with a valid ticket, children under 12 can travel for free without a ticket. However, please note that this only applies to a maximum of 4 children per passenger with a valid ticket. If you have any additional children traveling with you, they will need a half-price Kids Ticket.
Hoping to travel with your bike? You’ll need to add a Bike Supplement to your ticket. However, if you’re traveling with a folding bike, you don’t need to worry about paying. Bike Supplements are paid on top of your rail fare and cost €4 for a single journey.
When boarding, speak to the train conductor and they will tell you if there are spaces available and where you can put your bicycle. SNCB advise you not to travel with a bike at Peak times, because bicycle spaces may not be available.
Guide and assistance dogs
Travel is free for guide and assistance dogs. You won’t need to add a Pet Supplement to your ticket.
Pets
Pets are welcome to travel on SNCB trains if they are on a lead or in a small basket, cage or box. For animals on a lead, a Pet Supplement costs €3 for a single trip. If your pet is in a small basket, cage or box that is smaller than 30 x 55 x 30 cm (11.8 x 21.6 x 11.8 inches), you do not need to pay for a Pet Supplement. Finally, your pet is not allowed to sit on the seats or tables.
Passengers with reduced mobility should directly contact SNCB to make use of their free assistance service. You can take your wheelchair on board the train for free, regardless of whether or not you use the SNCB's free assistance service. If you are blind or partially sighted, you can take the train for free in 2nd class.
Most of the train companies across Europe release their tickets around three to six months in advance, many of which can be cheaper the earlier you book. If you know the dates you want to travel, you may be able to find some cheaper train tickets from Brussels to Paris by booking early.§
Many of the train services in Europe are also popular commuter services, lots of train companies increase ticket prices during “peak hours” (generally between 06:00 – 10:00 and 15:00 – 19:00 on weekdays). If you can, consider travelling outside of peak hours to find lower priced tickets.
On some of the busier routes, you might also have the option to take a slower or connecting train. It may take a little longer than some high-speed or direct services, but if you have a little extra time on your hands, you might find a cheaper fare. Plus, you'll have more time to enjoy the view of the countryside!
Take a look at our handy guides to find out when train operators release their special deals and offers to see if you can find cheap European train tickets for your journey.
For specific information about how to get your hands on cheap tickets, check out our European train tickets hub.
Flying into Brussels and not sure how to get from the airport to the city center? Read on for more information on how to get to the heart of the city from Brussels Airport.
Brussels has one main airport – Brussels-Zaventem Airport – which is located around 7 miles northeast of Brussels’ city center. From the airport, you can take a train or bus to reach the city center.
If you want to get from Brussels Airport to central Brussels in a fast and inexpensive way, you should take the train! On average, the train from Brussels Airport to Brussels-Midi station takes around 20 minutes on the quickest SNCB services. Generally, the train from Brussels Airport to Brussels-Midi runs every 10 minutes between 5am and midnight, 7 days a week. The airport train station is located directly below the terminal.
Although not the fastest option, taking the bus from the airport to the city center is the cheapest option. From Brussels Airport, you can take the Airport Line (Line 12) from Level 0, below the arrivals hall (Level 2). You’ll get to the European district, which is a stone's throw from the shops in the upper town, in about 30 minutes.
Trains to Paris depart from Brussels-Midi station. Not sure how to get there? We’ve got you covered.
Brussels-Midi station, also known as Gare du Midi in French and Zuidstation in Dutch, is located in the southern part of Brussels, which is why it is referred to as ‘Midi’ (meaning ‘south’ in French).
To get to Brussels-Midi station from the city center, you can use different modes of transport:
As soon as you’ve arrived at Brussels-Midi station, you can take advantage of the different facilities available:
Your Eurostar train from Brussels will arrive right in the heart of the French capital at Paris Gare du Nord station.
Not far from the platform, you’ll find Métro and RER trains to whisk you to Paris’ top museums and galleries. From the quaint cobbled streets and independent boutiques along Canal St Martin to the hip new foodie hangouts across the 10th arrondissement, this is an area packed with Parisian flavor you don’t want to miss!
Paris Métro is the quickest, easiest, and cheapest way to travel around the city. If you’re planning to travel around Paris and France, we recommend you buy a T+ ticket – it allows connections between the Métro and RER trains in central Paris and will take you to all the main stations in Paris where you can catch a connecting TGV high-speed train to other French cities.
Did you know? Children under 4 can travel for free on the Métro, RER, bus, and tramway services, provided they sit on your lap and don’t occupy a seat. Kids under 10 get 50% off the ticket price.
In total, around 60 bus lines run through Paris. Each week, buses operate between Monday and Saturday from 07:00 am to 8:30 pm. You can buy your bus ticket from Métro stations, or the driver as long as you use cash.
If you want to get a taxi, you can find a line of taxis parked near Eurostar arrivals at Paris Gare du Nord station. Just head to the concourse at the front of the train, then take the exit on the right where you'll see the line of taxis.
Boasting fascinating architecture, delicious cuisine and monument-lined boulevards, Paris is always a great idea! To help inspire your trip to the French capital, here are some ideas for things to do in Paris:
After visiting Paris, why not continue exploring Europe by train? With a Eurail Pass, you can travel across 33 European countries as much as you want on participating European train networks for a set amount of travel days.
You can use a Eurail Pass if you’re not a European citizen or resident. If you're a European citizen or a non-European who is an official legal resident of a European country, you can use an Interrail Pass instead.
If you’ve enjoyed your time in Paris and want to explore more of Europe, you can easily reach nearby towns and cities by train. To inspire your next trip, here are some of the most popular train journeys from Paris:
Is Paris the last stop on your European tour? If you’re flying back home to the States and want to know how to get from central Paris to the airport, keep reading for more details.
There are three major airports in Paris:
Each airport offers a bus and taxi service, but only Charles de Gaulle and Orly Airports have their own dedicated train stations (the nearest train station to Beauvais Tillé is nearby Beauvais station). Find out more about transfers to the main airports in Paris.
The average journey time by train between Brussels and Paris is 1 hour and 25 minutes, with around 22 trains per day. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner on this page to search for a specific travel date.
The fastest journey time by train from Brussels to Paris is 1 hour and 22 minutes.
Train tickets from Brussels to Paris can start from as little as $32.94 when you book in advance and are usually more expensive when purchased on the day. Prices can also vary depending the time of day, route and class you book.
Yes, it is possible to travel from Brussels to Paris without having to change trains. There are 21 direct trains from Brussels to Paris each day. Though there may be fewer direct services available depending on your exact departure date.
The first train from Brussels to Paris leaves at 06:13. Times and services may vary during weekends and holidays.
The last train from Brussels to Paris leaves at 21:16. Trains that depart in the early morning hours or very late evening may be sleeper services, time and services may also vary during weekends and holidays.
Trains travelling from Brussels to Paris cover a distance of around 164 miles (264 km) during the journey.
If you’re looking for the return train journey, check out trains from Paris to Brussels.