Getting from Brussels to Antwerp (and return)
· Updated · BootsnAll
Brussels and Antwerp are only about 45 km apart, and the train between them is fast, frequent and cheap enough that you don't need to plan much. Antwerp is Belgium's second city and main port, the capital of the world diamond trade, and a more relaxed place to spend a day or two than the capital. It's also the natural stop between Brussels and Amsterdam, so if you're doing a Benelux loop, this is the leg that ties it together.
Here's how to do the trip by train, from Brussels Airport, by bus and by car.
By train from central Brussels
This is the way to go. Belgian railways (SNCB/NMBS) run direct InterCity trains from all three central Brussels stations, Midi/Zuid, Central and Nord/Noord, to Antwerpen-Centraal, roughly three an hour through the day. According to the iRail timetable data, which draws on SNCB's schedules, the regular InterCity trains take about 46 minutes from Brussels-Midi, while slower services with more stops take nearly an hour.
- Tickets: Belgian domestic trains don't need reservations, and you can buy a ticket from the SNCB app, website or station machines. Since October 2025, fares are based on the distance you travel. Check the current fare on the SNCB ticket search.
- Eurostar: The high-speed Eurostar trains (formerly Thalys) between Brussels and Amsterdam also stop in Antwerp and cover Brussels-Midi to Antwerpen-Centraal in about 34 minutes, but they need a reserved ticket and cost more. Unless one leaves exactly when you want, the InterCity is fine.
- Arriving in Antwerp: Don't rush out of Antwerpen-Centraal. The station, finished in 1905, is one of the grandest in Europe, and it's a short walk from the diamond district and the zoo.
From Brussels Airport
You don't need to go into Brussels first. Direct trains run from Brussels Airport-Zaventem station, under the terminal, to Antwerpen-Centraal in about 30 minutes, according to the iRail timetable. That includes the EuroCity trains that continue toward Rotterdam. Some other connections involve a change and take closer to an hour.
Any train ticket to or from the airport station includes the Brussels Airport Supplement (formerly the Diabolo fee), so the airport leg costs noticeably more than the same distance elsewhere in Belgium.
By bus from Brussels Airport
If you'd rather skip the supplement, Flibco runs a shuttle between Brussels Airport and Franklin Rooseveltplaats in central Antwerp, a few minutes' walk from Antwerpen-Centraal. It runs every one to two hours, takes about 50 minutes, and fares start at €4.99 as of 2026. Flixbus also serves the route a few times a day. The train is faster and more frequent, so the bus mostly makes sense if you've got plenty of luggage and a flight time that matches the schedule.
By car
Brussels to Antwerp is about 45 km of motorway and usually takes 40 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic, which around both cities can be heavy at rush hour. There are no tolls on the direct route. Antwerp has a low emission zone covering most of the city, and cars with foreign plates have to be registered. Check whether your car qualifies and register it on the city's Slim naar Antwerpen site. Unless you're heading somewhere rural afterward, the train is less hassle than parking in either city.
Carrying on to Amsterdam
Antwerp is about halfway between Brussels and Amsterdam, which makes it an easy stop on the way north. Eurostar trains run from Antwerpen-Centraal to Amsterdam Centraal in about 80 minutes, and slower EuroCity trains cover the route too, with a change on some journeys. Our guides to getting from Antwerp to Amsterdam and from Amsterdam to Brussels have the details. If you're adding the Flemish art cities, see Bruges and getting from Bruges to Brussels.
For a longer trip that strings Belgium and the Netherlands together with other European cities, a multi-stop ticket saves you from buying separate one-ways. BootsnAll's sister company AirTreks has been putting together multi-stop and round-the-world tickets since 1987, and one of its sample routes finishes with exactly this stretch:
Four weeks through Central Europe on one ticket, with one overland leg, ending in Brussels and Amsterdam before the flight home to Toronto.
FAQ
How long is the train from Brussels to Antwerp?
About 46 minutes from Brussels-Midi on a regular InterCity, or about 34 minutes on a Eurostar, which needs a reservation.
Do I need to book the Brussels-Antwerp train in advance?
No. Domestic SNCB trains have no seat reservations, so you can buy your ticket on the day. Only the Eurostar needs a booking.
Is there a direct train from Brussels Airport to Antwerp?
Yes. Direct trains take about 30 minutes, and every airport ticket includes the Brussels Airport Supplement.