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Train from Brussels Airport to Paris

Hi everyone. My fiance and I will be flying into Brussels for our Paris honeymoon. We got a return flight out of Paris, so all we need to do is get from the Brussels airport to Paris on the day we arrive.

I have tried to figure out the train system, and I am a bit confused. It looks like we'd have to take the train from the airport to a more central train station in the city to get to Gare du Nord.

If anyone has done this before and can offer me some advice, from the basics of the layout of the airport to the best way to purchase tickets (beforehand vs. once we arrive) I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!

Posted by
9109 posts

The only way to get from Brussels to Paris via rail, is to take the Thalys high speed trains (www.thalys.com). The trains run between Brussels-Midi and Paris Nord. From the Brussels Airport you will have to take the shuttle train to Midi to connect with the Thalys trains. You can order tickets online print them out at home via the Thalys web site (tell the website you are living in France at the opening screen).

Posted by
334 posts

The train at the Brussels airport is easy to use. It's just downstairs in the terminal. The Brussels airport isn't very big, compared to Paris or Frankfurt, so much easier to find your way around. We haven't taken the train to Paris from there so haven't taken the Thayls. Check Die Bahn to see if that's your only option.

Posted by
8700 posts

While Thalys is the simplest way, it isn't the only way. You can take regional trains from Brussels to Lille and a TGV from there to Paris. Or you can take a TGV directly to the CDG airport and the RER from there to Paris.

The regular Thalys 2nd class fare is 78 EUR. Smilys fares, when available, are 54 EUR. (It will be shown as 27 EUR each way, but it is only sold as a roundtrip ticket.) Book an arbitrary return and throw away the unused portion. To have the best chance of getting a Smilys fare, book as far in advance as allowed (up to 90 days).

Posted by
4 posts

Anyone know how long and how much the shuttle from Brussels National Airport to Brussels-Midi station costs? Thanks