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Cross-border route · Europe
Bruxelas–Colônia–Frankfurt by train
By train from Belgium to Germany: Bruxelas, Liège, Colônia and Frankfurt in about three hours, from central station to central station.
Belgium
Germany
4 cities 2 countries
In the photo: Aachen Cathedral
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The route
What is Bruxelas–Colônia–Frankfurt by train
The ICE of Deutsche Bahn links Bruxelas to Frankfurt in about 2 hours 50 minutes, without changes. The train departs from Bruxelles-Midi, stops at Liège-Guillemins, Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle), Colônia (Köln Hbf) and, on many services, at Frankfurt airport before arriving at Frankfurt central station.
Between Bruxelas and Colônia there is also the Eurostar, the former Thalys, which covers the section in about 1 hour 50 minutes and continues to Düsseldorf and other cities in the Ruhr area. Combining the two services, about a dozen trains run daily between Bruxelas and Colônia.
Belgium and Germany are in the Schengen area and use the euro: there is no passport control on the train. The trip can fit into a morning, but the most common approach is to stop: one or two days in Liège, two in Colônia, with day trips to Düsseldorf or Bonn, and finish in Frankfurt, from where trains depart for the Rhine valley.
The map
4 cities in 2 countries
Outlines: Natural Earth, public domain. Adapted by Cidade Turismo.
The journey
City by city
Distances and times are approximate: check before you set out.
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1 · Belgium
Bruxelas
The route begins at Bruxelles-Midi (Brussel-Zuid). Some ICE services also stop at Bruxelles-Nord. From the centre, the Grand-Place, the Saint-Hubert galleries, the Mont des Arts and the Atomium.
→ Liège cerca de 45 min ICE ou Eurostar, da Bruxelles-Midi a Liège-Guillemins, por linha de alta velocidade.
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2 · Belgium
Liège
The train stops at Liège-Guillemins, a station of white glass and steel arches, about 45 minutes from Bruxelas. In the city, the Montagne de Bueren staircase, the Palace of the Prince-Bishops and the Outremeuse district. Spa is nearby by regional train. Shortly after, already in Germany, the train stops at Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle), home to Charlemagne's cathedral.
→ Colônia cerca de 1h ICE ou Eurostar, com parada em Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle), já na Alemanha.
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3 · Germany
Colônia
Köln Hbf sits beside the cathedral, about 1 hour 50 minutes from Bruxelas: you step out of the station and the façade is right there. Beyond that, the Hohenzollern Bridge, the old town on the Rhine and the museums. Düsseldorf is under half an hour by train, and Bonn about 20 minutes.
→ Frankfurt cerca de 1h05 a 1h20 ICE pela linha de alta velocidade Colônia–Frankfurt; muitos horários param no aeroporto de Frankfurt.
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4 · Germany
Frankfurt
The ICE arrives at Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, near the centre. Many services stop at the airport beforehand, which has a long-distance train station. In the city, the Römerberg, the cathedral, the museum embankment on the Main river and views of the skyscrapers. Trains to Rüdesheim and the Rhine valley depart from both the airport and the central station.
How to travel
The way and the tickets
By train, with a ticket purchased in advance. On ICE seat reservations are not mandatory, but they help on busy days. On Eurostar seats are assigned and included with the ticket. There is no check-in: just find your train on the departure board and board.
Best time to go
When to go: month by month
From May to September, with long days and mild temperatures. December has the Christmas markets of Colônia and Frankfurt. Colônia's carnival usually falls in February or March and fills the city.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Planning
Planning the trip
How many days
The ICE does the whole route in about 2 hours 50 minutes. To see all four cities, allow 6 to 9 days; with 4 days, stay in Bruxelas, Colônia and Frankfurt.
Who it is for
For those already in Belgium who want to continue to Germany without flying, for those arriving or departing via Frankfurt, and for those who enjoy cathedrals, museums and riverside towns on the Rhine.
Your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Bruxelas–Colônia–Frankfurt by train
Quanto tempo leva o trem de Bruxelas a Frankfurt?
Cerca de 2 horas e 50 minutos no ICE direto, da Bruxelles-Midi à estação central de Frankfurt. Até Colônia são cerca de 1 hora e 40 a 1 hora e 50 minutos.
Qual a diferença entre o ICE e o Eurostar nesta rota?
O ICE, da Deutsche Bahn, vai de Bruxelas a Frankfurt, passando por Liège, Aachen e Colônia. O Eurostar (antigo Thalys) vai de Bruxelas a Colônia pelas mesmas paradas e segue para Düsseldorf e o Ruhr, não para Frankfurt. Para Frankfurt, use o ICE direto ou troque de trem em Colônia.
Precisa reservar assento no ICE?
Não é obrigatório, mas é recomendado nas sextas, nos domingos e nos feriados. Sem reserva, você se senta onde houver lugar livre sem a indicação de reservado.
Posso descer numa cidade e seguir viagem depois?
Sim. Com a tarifa flexível (Flexpreis) da Deutsche Bahn, você pode pegar qualquer trem do trajeto no dia do bilhete; as tarifas promocionais (Sparpreis) valem só para o trem escolhido. Para ficar alguns dias em cada cidade, compre um bilhete por trecho.
Dá para ir direto do aeroporto de Frankfurt a Bruxelas?
Em muitos horários, sim: o ICE para na estação de longa distância do aeroporto de Frankfurt (Fernbahnhof). Confira no bilhete se o seu trem para lá.