Pop quiz, travelers!
There are five train station names below, but they only refer to three stations: which ones are the same Brussels train station?
- Brussels Central
- Bruxelles-Midi
- Brussel-Zuid
- Brussels North
- Brussels South
Traveling internationally is tough, especially when you’re crossing into Belgium: the literal political center of Europe where Flemish (the Dutch spoken in northern Belgium), French, and German are the official languages.
(Answer: 2, 3, and 5 are the same station: 2 is the station's French name, 3 the Dutch name and 5 the English name.)
In Brussels, officially a bilingual French–Dutch city, you'll often find places with both a French and Dutch name. The linguistic variety on signs across the city means it’s mighty easy to get confused about which station in Brussels for the Eurostar or which of the many train stations in Brussels is the one you need to get to the airport. Here’s what you need to know about the three train stations in Brussels, Belgium.
🚆 Trainline tip: Looking for the coolest hotels in Brussels? Here are our faves for all budgets.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Allan Baxter. Image Location: Brussels South station (Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid), Brussels, Belgium
Everything you need to know about Brussels train stations
Because getting to Brussels shouldn’t be a headache.
How many train stations in Brussels?
There are three main train stations in Brussels. There’s Brussels South, also known as Brussel-Zuid in Dutch and Bruxelles-Midi in French. This is the main international train station and it's a 20-minute walk from Manneken Pis. There’s also Brussels North—also known as Brussel-Noord in Dutch and Bruxelles-Nord in French—about a half-hour walk north from the city center. Finally, Brussels Central (or Brussel-Centraal in Dutch and Bruxelles-Central in French) is right in the heart of the historic district and only a six-minute walk from the Grand-Place.
Which station in Brussels for Eurostar?
Bruxelles-Midi train station is the Eurostar station serving Brussels. Also called Brussel-Zuid or Brussels South, this Eurostar station has connections throughout Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, and even London.
Can you store luggage at Brussels train station?
Yes, you can rent a locker to store your luggage at Brussels South, Brussels Central, and Brussels North. Want to visit the Institute of Science, Parlamentarium, or Wiertz Museum before catching your train home? There’s convenient luggage storage available at Bruxelles-Luxembourg train station, too.
Can you get to the Brussels airport from the train station?
Yes, you can take the train directly between Brussels city center and BRU Brussels Airport (Brussels-Zaventem Airport). The train stops at Level 1 of the airport and has connections to both Brussels Central and Brussels South (Bruxelles-Midi). You can reach Central in 17 minutes; the journey from Midi takes about 23 minutes.
What is Bruxelles Chapelle train station?
Spotted a rogue train station in between Bruxelles-Central and Bruxelles-Midi, have ya? The map’s not lying: Bruxelles Chappelle, aka Brussels-Chapel, is a true blue train station. However, few trains stop here and you should have no need to visit it.
Image Credit: Getty Images, cineberg. Image Location: Brussels Central station (Bruxelles-Central/Brussel-Centraal), Brussels, Belgium
1 City, 3 Stations, Endless Memories
Getting to Brussels is as easy as 1, 2, 3…
Option 1: Bruxelles-Midi
You’ve arrived in Brussels via London or are looking to bail from Belgium’s borders: Bruxelles-Midi is your station. This Eurostar railway station is a popular city gateway and a crossroads for travelers making their way into Belgium and out of Belgium, both via train and plane.
🚆 Trainline tip: Let’s say you accidentally schedule your flight to or from the other Brussels airport, Charleroi. Although it doesn’t have a terminal train station, you can catch the airport shuttle service from Brussels Midi train station.
#️⃣ Also called: Brussel-Zuid | Brussels South | Gare Du Midi
🍴 Amenities: Cafes | Shops | Lockers | Currency
🏛️ Closest Landmark: Porte de Hal | Belgian Chocolate Workshop
🛎️ Nearby Hotel: Pullman Brussels Centre Midi
🚏 Connections: Metro | Bus | Tram
Option 2: Brussels North
Why are you at Bruxelles-Nord? Great question: though it doesn’t connect to the airport, this lesser-populated train station is still a convenient railway hub for those staying outside of the city center. The Maison Autrique, Botanical Garden, and a less touristy area await you here.
#️⃣ Also called: Bruxelles-Nord | Brussel-Noord
🍴 Amenities: Restaurant | Lockers | Blue Bike Sharing
🏛️ Closest Landmark: Botanical Garden | Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles
🛎️ Nearby Hotel: The Hoxton
🚏 Connections: Bus | Tram
Image Credit: Getty Images, Teka77. Image Location: Brussels North station (Bruxelles-Nord/Brussel-Noord), Brussels, Belgium
Option 3: Brussels Central Station
If you’re visiting Brussels by train, chances are high that you’ll visit both Brussels Midi and Brussel-Centraal. Within walking distance of nearly every museum, square, and urine-spilling statue you want to see, you’ll get to know the area around Brussels Central train station well.
#️⃣ Also called: Bruxelles-Central | Brussel-Centraal
🍴 Amenities: Cafe | Lockers | Blue Bike Sharing
🏛️ Closest Landmark: Mont des Arts | Grand-Place
🛎️ Nearby Hotel: Warwick
🚏 Connections: Metro | Bus
Want to know more about Brussels beyond chocolate and beer? Check out our first-timers guide to Brussels and download the Trainline app to purchase rail tickets around Belgium. Wanna get out of the city? Check out our guide to the best day trips from Brussels by train.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Santiago Urquijo. Image Location: Brussels North station, Brussels, Belgium