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A lot of European tourists want to visit both Paris and Brussels on their vacation. The good news is that it is very easy to travel from Paris to Brussels!
You can even visit Brussels as a day trip from Paris if you choose!
Although I suggest spending at least two days in Brussels to see all the city has to offer!
The two easiest ways to travel from Paris to Brussels are taking the train or a bus. Most people choose to take the train from Paris to Brussels. It takes half the time as the bus, but it is significantly more expensive. If you’re on a tight budget and not in a rush, you should consider taking the bus rather than the train.
It all comes down to your travel preferences though!
If you only have a short time in Europe and want to pack in as much as possible, it is well worth paying the extra money to take the train to Brussels from Paris.
If you’re on a longer European trip and want to stretch your money as far as possible, the bus is the best option for you.
And this post is going to help you figure out what the best choice for you is!
We’re covering all the different ways to travel from Paris to Brussels and breaking down the pros and cons of each method.
You’ll have a much better idea of how you should travel from Brussels to Paris after reading this post!
Table of Contents
Before We Get Started
One of my least favourite parts about travel is figuring out how to travel from one city to another.
It is a time suck, and you normally have to go to a number of different websites just to figure out how to travel between cities.
That’s why I write these transportation guides for you!
I want to make your travel experience the best it can be and give you all the information you need in one place!
Here are the other France transportation guides I’ve written. Hopefully they help you plan your perfect vacation!
Option One: Taking the Train from Paris to Brussels
The first (and in my opinion the best) way to travel from Paris to Brussels is to take the train.
It is the quickest and most convenient way to travel between the two cities.
Plus who doesn’t love taking a high-speed train. I know I do!
The downfall of taking the train to Brussels from Paris is the price. It is certainly the most expensive way to travel between the two cities, but it is worth it when you consider what your time is worth!
The train from Paris to Brussels is equipped with pretty reliable wifi. I’ve never had an issue connecting to it, and it makes the trip go by that much faster!
Just be sure you’re being internet safe and have a VPN installed on your phone to keep prying eyes out of your personal and private online information!
How Long Does the Train from Paris to Brussels Take?
The train from Paris to Brussels takes less than 90 minutes!
That’s super fast considering the two cities are over 300km apart!
There can be some variability on the time it takes to get between the two cities depending on the time of day and train traffic.
But, in general, you’ll be in Brussels about an hour and a half after you depart Paris!
How Much Does a Train Ticket Cost?
Well, this is where it get a bit painful.
Train tickets to Brussels from Paris generally cost €99 as a base price and go up from there.
You get a better price on your ticket the earlier you book it, so be sure to buy your ticket as soon as you know what day you’re travelling to Brussels.
Tickets go up for sale three months before the departure date.
If you can book it exactly three months before you travel, do it! You’ll save a lot of money.
You do not want to leave booking your train ticket until the last moment. You will be paying a premium price for it and run the risk of tickets being sold out.
I know a lot of people (me included) don’t like to do a ton of planning and kind of wing their trips.
I get it, but this is not the time for it.
Your wallet will thank you for being prepared and pre-buying your train tickets well in advance!
Where to Purchase Train Tickets
There are a few different ways you can purchase train tickets.
You can purchase them online or buy them at the train station in Paris.
I highly recommend you buy your tickets online in advance. It saves you money and is super easy to book online.
They have an English version of their website and accept foreign credit cards with no issue!
I like to buy my train ticket to Brussels from Paris through the Thalys website, but you can also purchase them through the Rail Europe website if you prefer.
I’ve had better luck finding less expensive tickets through Thalys, but I know people who have found cheaper tickets through Rail Europe.
You should check out both websites before making your final purchase!
If you’re purchasing tickets in person at the train station, I highly recommend you go to the train station a few days before you leave for Brussels and buy them in advance.
You can either purchase them at an in-person ticket booth or use the electronic ticket booth.
Just make sure you use the right electronic ticket booth! You want the one that is yellow!
You won’t be able to find the tickets you want if you go to one of the other electronic ticket booths.
The electronic ticket booth accepts foreign credit cards, so you don’t need to worry about having enough cash on hand to pay for your tickets!
Where Does the Train Depart from in Paris?
The train to Brussels from Paris departs from Gare du Nord.
Gare du Nord is the busiest train station in Paris, so you want to arrive early and give yourself time to navigate the station.
Plus you want to be one of the first people on the train, so you can get a good place to store your luggage!
Learn everything you need to know about wifi in Paris
Where Does the Train Arrive at in Brussels?
Trains from Paris arrive at Bruxelles-Midi/Brussels-Zuid train station.
It is a slightly outside the main core of Brussels, but it is really easy to get there.
You can take a metro from the train station to the centre of Brussels in less than five minutes.
Alternatively, you can walk from the station to the core of the city in about 25 minutes. It is an easy walk and is essentially a straight line, so it is nearly impossible to get lost along the way!
I love walking and highly recommend walking from the station to your accommodation. It is a nice way to stretch your legs and get a feel for the city.
Pros of Taking the Train from Paris to Brussels
- The quickest way to travel between the two cities
- Central departure and arrival locations
- Trains are comfortable
Cons of Taking the Train from Paris to Brussels
- It is the most expensive option
- You have to book your tickets in advance
- Most of the luggage storage space is overhead, which might be a problem for people living with disabilities or older/younger people
Option Two: Taking the Bus from Paris to Brussels
This is the best option for budget travellers.
The bus is significantly less expensive than the train, but it takes significantly longer.
You need to weigh out the pros and cons of saving money versus saving time.
Like I said at the beginning of this post, if you’re spending quite a while in Europe and aren’t in a rush, then the bus is a great option.
Probably the best option!
If, however, you’re only in Europe for a week or two and want to make the most out of your trip, the bus probably isn’t worth it.
Sure you save money, but you’re spending a lot more time travelling from Paris to Brussels than you need to.
How Long Does the Bus from Paris to Brussels Take?
It is a little bit harder to peg down exactly how long the bus to Brussels from Paris takes. It all depends on the traffic and if you get stuck in a traffic jam or not.
You can expect the bus journey from Paris to Brussels to take at least 4 hours.
It will probably be longer on weekends and if you travel during peak hours when the roads are busy.
As you can see, the bus takes more than twice as long as the train does!
How Much Does a Bus Ticket Cost?
The bus from Paris to Brussels cost anywhere from €9 to €35.
It all depends on what time of day, week, and year you travel.
Your ticket will be more expensive during peak times on weekends in the summer and less expensive during off-peak times on a weekday in the winter.
But, overall, the price of a bus ticket is at least three times less expensive than a train ticket!
You also don’t have to worry about purchasing your tickets in advance.
Bus tickets don’t fluctuate in price as dramatically as train tickets.
Buying your bus ticket early doesn’t necessarily mean you’re paying less than if you purchase your ticket the day of departure.
Learn why Paris and Brussels are two of the most overrated cities in Europe
Where to Purchase Bus Tickets
You can either purchase your bus tickets online in advance or purchase them at the station right before you depart.
The bus from Paris to Brussels normally doesn’t sell out (excluding super peak times like summer), so you can purchase your ticket at the bus station right before you depart with little to no issue.
My preference is to buy my tickets online in advance still.
That way you know for sure you’ll get a seat on the bus you want and can sometimes (but not always) select what bus seat you want directly on the website when you’re booking it.
There are a few website where you can purchase bus tickets online in advance:
I’ve tended to have the best luck with the Omio website, but you should check them all out to find the best price before you purchase your ticket.
Where Does the Bus Depart from in Paris?
Buses depart from Bercy Seine Station.
It is about 5km south of The Louvre, and Cour Saint Émilion is the closest metro station.
The bus station is about a five minute walk from the metro station.
Where Does the Bus Arrive at in Brussels?
Just like the train, buses from Paris arrive at Bruxelles-Midi/Brussels-Zuid station.
It is a super convenient arrival location, and it is easy to get anywhere in Brussels in just a few minutes with public transportation.
Pros of Taking the Bus from Paris to Brussels
- Significantly less expensive than the train
- Designated luggage storage under the bus
- Convenient arrival location
Cons of Taking the Bus from Paris to Brussels
- It takes more than twice as long as the train
- Departure location is a bit out of the way
- Most buses don’t have wifi on board
Other Ways to Travel from Paris to Brussels
There are a few other ways you can travel from Paris to Brussels.
I don’t really recommend any of these travel methods, so I’m not going to go into great detail about them.
I still wanted you to be aware of them though!
Flying to Brussels from Paris
Both Paris and Brussels have airports, so you could fly between the cities.
I don’t recommend it though!
It will end up being more expensive and time consuming than the train.
Especially when you take into consideration the fact that you have to arrive at the airport early enough to check in, go through security, and board the plane.
You also have to wait for any checked luggage you have and get to and from the airports in both Paris and Brussels.
It is a major pain, and you are infinitely better off taking the train than flying to Brussels from Paris.
Driving
You can rent a car and drive from Paris to Brussels, but it isn’t the best option.
You have to go through the process of renting a car, navigating how to drive between the two cities, figure out parking, and return the car when you’re done.
The only time I recommend driving between Paris and Brussels is if it is part of a larger road trip across Europe.
Don’t rent a car for the sole purpose of driving to Brussels from Paris!
Ride Sharing
The final option you have is to take a ride share from Paris to Brussels.
Europe has an extensive network of ride shares available that drive between cities and countries.
You can hop in a car and split the cost of the trip with the rest of the passengers.
I don’t really recommend this though!
They often cost the same (if not more) than a bus ticket, and you’re stuck sharing a car with strangers you may or may not get along with.
Plus you’re completely dependant on the driver.
When they choose to stop, you have to stop. If their care breaks down or runs out of gas, you’re stranded.
There are just too many things that could go wrong in my opinion!
The bus is the superior option in my mind.
If you’re interested in the ride share option, you can look for available rides through this website.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a few different ways you can travel from Paris to Brussels, and it all comes down to your travel preferences and budget.
Without a doubt the two best options are taking the train or bus to Brussels from Paris, so you should choose between those two transportation methods.
One important thing to remember is that while both countries are part of the EU and have open boarders, you may still be asked to show your passport when you enter Belgium.
This rarely happens (and most often happens when you take the bus), but you need to have your passport on you just in case you are asked to show it.
You do not want to be in a situation where you left your passport in Paris and get turned away at the Belgium boarded.
I know Europe is a magical place, and we often forget that we are crossing into other countries because there are rarely boarder checks, but you need to be prepared in the rare instance they occur.
Because the one time you don’t have your passport will be the time you’re asked to show it!
