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As the capital of both Belgium and Europe, Brussels boasts a wealth of identities: an Art Nouveau city, the comic book capital, a hub for fine dining and European institutions—all packed into a downtown area that’s easy to explore on foot! And the best part is that it’s just a stone’s throw from France by train.
From Paris Gare du Nord, the Eurostar (formerly Thalys) connects to Brussels-Midi in about 1 hour and 22 minutes, with no stops along the way.
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A more economical alternative has been available since late 2024: the OUIGO Classic Train, which connects Paris to Brussels-Midi in just under 3 hours, with stops in Aulnoye-Aymeries and Mons, with tickets starting at €10.
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From Lille, the trip is even shorter: just 35 minutes by TGV INOUI or Eurostar.
From Lyon, a direct TGV INOUI train reaches Brussels-Midi in 3 hours and 40 minutes to 3 hours and 55 minutes (with stops at Paris Gare de Lyon, Paris-Nord, and Lille Europe), and from Strasbourg, two direct TGVs daily take you to the Belgian capital in 3 hours 40 minutes to 4 hours, without passing through Paris.
Once you arrive, the city has several train stations: Brussels-Midi (the international station, about a 20-minute walk from the Grand-Place or two metro stops away), Brussels-Central (right next to the historic center and the Grand-Place), and Brussels-North, which is further out. The STIB network (metro, tram, bus) makes it easy to complete your journey, with a single ticket valid for one hour across the entire network.
And if you want to continue your journey by train from Brussels, the city is also a departure point for several European night trains heading to Prague, Berlin, or Vienna!
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It all starts, of course, with the Grand-Place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by magnificent buildings such as City Hall and its historic guildhouses. It’s the perfect starting point for exploring the historic center on foot.
Next, we head to the Atomium, the futuristic symbol of the 1958 World’s Fair: its nine stainless-steel spheres represent an iron crystal lattice magnified 165 billion times, and the top sphere offers a 360° panoramic view of the city, with a restaurant at the summit.
For a more down-to-earth experience, head to the Marolles neighborhood and its Place du Jeu de Balle, where a daily flea market (8 a.m.–3 p.m.) has been held for 150 years—made famous in particular by Tintin. It’s one of the few markets in Europe open every day of the year, perfect for hunting down furniture, tableware, and old vinyl records among Brussels’ antique dealers.
The Mont des Arts, with its terraced gardens and view over the city’s rooftops, connects the historic center with the major museums (Royal Museums of Fine Arts, Bozar). Comic book fans can follow the Comic Book Trail, a series of large murals painted on walls throughout the city center, paying homage to Belgium’s comic book tradition (Tintin, Lucky Luke, the Smurfs...).
And if you're planning a slightly longer stay, here are some ideas to help you fill 2 to 3 days there:
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