--- title: "Trains from Cologne to Brussels | EveryRail" description: "Around a dozen direct ICE and Eurostar trains a day run from Köln Hbf to Bruxelles-Midi in about 1 hour 50 minutes, calling at Aachen and Liège." image: "https://everyrail.com/api/route-image/cologne-to-brussels/" --- [Home]()[Europe by train]()[Germany]()Cologne to Brussels by train [Home]()[Europe by train]()[Germany]()Cologne to Brussels by train **Share** - - [Share on WhatsApp]() - [Share on X]() - [Share on Facebook]() - [Share by email]() **On this page** - [About Cologne to Brussels by train]() - [Where to book]() - [Find places to stay in Brussels]() - [Frequently asked questions]() - [More routes]() [Book now]() Last updated November 2026 # Cologne to Brussels by train Around a dozen direct ICE and Eurostar trains a day run from Köln Hbf to Bruxelles-Midi in about 1 hour 50 minutes, calling at Aachen and Liège. ![Ornate guild houses on the Grand Place in Brussels under a blue sky]() Origin [Cologne]() Destination [Brussels]() Main stations Köln Hbf to Bruxelles-Midi Countries [Germany](), [Belgium]() Around a dozen direct trains a day leave Köln Hbf for Bruxelles-Midi, and the journey takes about 1 hour 50 minutes. ## ICE or Eurostar The [Deutsche Bahn]() ICE from [Frankfurt]() calls at Köln Hbf roughly every two hours on its way to [Brussels](). Eurostar trains fill most of the gaps; some start in [Dortmund]() and run on to Paris. A few Eurostar departures run Monday to Saturday only. Both stop at Aachen Hbf and Liège-Guillemins, and the journey time is close to identical. Take whichever is cheaper at the hour you want. Two more ICEs a day run to [Antwerp]() via Leuven and Brussels Airport, reaching the airport in about two hours. They bypass central Brussels. Book one only if you are flying out. ## Arriving in Brussels Stay on to Bruxelles-Midi (Brussel-Zuid) unless you have a reason not to. It is where both trains end or call, and the station for onward trains to Paris. The ICE stops at Bruxelles-Nord a few minutes earlier, useful for hotels north of the centre. Eurostar goes straight to Midi. Neither train calls at Brussels-Central. ## Tickets, reservations and passes Eurostar Standard tickets from [Cologne]() start from €19 one way. Deutsche Bahn's Super Sparpreis Europa fares to Brussels start from €19.99 in second class and €29.99 in first. Seats at those prices are limited. Deutsche Bahn sells ICE tickets up to 12 months ahead, and Eurostar opens 7 to 12 months ahead depending on the season. Eurostar reservations are compulsory, so a ticket ties you to one train. The ICE works more loosely. A reservation is optional, Sparpreis tickets are valid on the booked train only, and Flexpreis lets you take any train. With an Interrail pass, you can board the ICE on the pass alone; a seat reservation is optional at around €5.50 in second class. Eurostar is different. You need a pass-holder reservation, around €27 in Standard or €32 in Plus, and pass places on each train are limited. ## Timetable change and the January closure in Cologne The new timetable starts on 13 December 2026. Early 2027 shows the same mix of ICE and Eurostar trains, though times can still move. From 21:00 on 8 January to 21:00 on 19 January 2027, Köln Hbf is closed to long-distance trains while Deutsche Bahn switches to a new signal box. The ICEs to Brussels are timetabled to leave from Köln-Ehrenfeld instead. Eurostar has not yet shown how its trains run during the closure, so whichever train you take in that window, check which Cologne station it leaves from before you set off. ## Where to book ![]() ### Book with Omio Find times and prices for Cologne → Brussels. [Check times & prices]() ### Other places to book Ticket websites - [Rail Europe]() - [Trainline]() These links open the provider’s website. Search for your journey there. ### Train service - [Deutsche Bahn]() Deutsche Bahn (DB) is Germany's national railway, running ICE, IC and regional trains with Flexpreis, Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis fares. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() - [Eurostar]() Eurostar runs high-speed trains from London St Pancras to Paris (2 h 16 min), Brussels (1 h 53 min) and Amsterdam; London departures require border checks. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() ## Find places to stay in Brussels [![Bright bedroom with white bedding and a breakfast tray on the bed]()**Browse stays in Brussels**Hotels and apartments via Booking.com]() ## Frequently asked questions ### How long does the train from Cologne to Brussels take? About 1 hour 50 minutes. Every ICE and Eurostar from Köln Hbf to Bruxelles-Midi is direct, with stops at Aachen and Liège. ### Should I take the ICE or Eurostar from Cologne to Brussels? Whichever is cheaper at your time, as neither is faster. The ICE needs no reservation and also stops at Bruxelles-Nord. Eurostar tickets are always for a reserved train. ### Can I use an Interrail pass from Cologne to Brussels? Yes. The ICE accepts the pass with no reservation needed. Eurostar requires a pass-holder reservation, around €27 in Standard or €32 in Plus, and pass places are limited. ### Which Brussels station does the train from Cologne arrive at? Bruxelles-Midi, the main international station. The ICE calls at Bruxelles-Nord a few minutes before. ### Is there a direct train from Cologne to Brussels Airport? Yes. Two ICEs a day run from Köln Hbf to Brussels Airport, taking about two hours, then continue to Antwerp. ## More routes [![Ornate guild house facades on Brussels' Grand Place]()![SNCB]()![NS]()![Eurostar]()Amsterdam to Brussels by trainDirect Eurostar from Amsterdam Centraal in 1h52, or Eurocity Direct from Amsterdam Zuid in just over two hours, up to 16 a day. Fares from €25.]()[![Cologne Cathedral and the Hohenzollern Bridge across the Rhine]()![ÖBB]()![NS]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Amsterdam to Cologne by trainDirect ICE International from Amsterdam Centraal to Köln Hbf roughly every two hours, taking about 2 hours 40 minutes. Fares from €20.]()[![View of Brussels, Belgium]()![SNCB]()![Eurostar]()Antwerp to Brussels by trainAntwerp to Brussels by train takes about 45 minutes on frequent direct SNCB InterCity trains, with a choice of three central Brussels stations.]()[![Deutsche Bahn ICE trains beneath the glass roof of Berlin Hauptbahnhof]()![Eurostar]()![European Sleeper]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Berlin to Brussels by trainDaytime trains take about 7 to 8 hours with a change, usually in Cologne; European Sleeper runs direct overnight from Berlin Hbf six times a week.]()[![Cologne skyline and Rhine River]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Berlin to Cologne by trainBerlin to Cologne takes 3 hours 43 minutes on the fastest direct ICE; most trips take 4 to 5 hours, with around 35 daily trains from DB and FlixTrain.]()[![Ornate guild house facades on Brussels' Grand Place]()![SNCB]()Bruges to Brussels by trainDirect SNCB trains connect Bruges and Brussels in about an hour, roughly every 30 minutes, with distance-based fares and automatic weekend and age discounts.]()[![Amsterdam canal houses and houseboats illuminated at night]()![SNCB]()![NS]()![Eurostar]()Brussels to Amsterdam by trainDirect trains link Brussels and Amsterdam: Eurostar reaches Amsterdam Centraal in around 1h52, while Eurocity Direct uses Amsterdam Zuid.]()[![Antwerp Central Station facade with ornate clock and gold detailing]()![SNCF Voyageurs]()![SNCB]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Brussels to Antwerp by trainBrussels to Antwerp trains take as little as 33 minutes, run every 15 to 30 minutes, and cost €6 to €12 one way.]() ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://everyrail.com/_astro/everyrail-logomark-2026.VJ4vNX1T.webp", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization-logo-1" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.instagram.com/everyrailtravel/", "https://www.facebook.com/everyrail", "https://www.threads.com/@everyrailtravel" ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#website", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/trains/cologne-to-brussels/#webpage", "name": "Trains from Cologne to Brussels | EveryRail", "description": "Train travel information for Cologne to Brussels. 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