Compare Train Ticket Costs: Map shows point-to-point, one-way, 2nd-class rail fares in $US. Add up fares for your itinerary to see whether a rail pass will save you money. For 1st class fares, add 50%. Sources: www.b-rail.be and www.ns.nl.
Best Value: Most visits to Belgium, Luxembourg, or the Netherlands (Holland) don't cover enough miles to justify a rail pass. This region has plenty of money-saving local deals (see web links at right for more info). For example, the Amsterdam train station offers many same-day round-trip tickets for only 25% over the regular one-way fare. For €55 and a photo, the Netherlands Off-Peak Discount Card (sold at stations) saves 40% on most tickets and can be shared by up to three people outside of rush hours.
Reservations: Regional and InterCity trains do not need reservations, allowing you plenty of schedule freedom as you explore Benelux. Between Amsterdam-Brussels or Brussels-Cologne, fast Thalys trains cost more (for point-to-point train tickets) or require expensive reservations with a rail pass, so I'd choose regular, non-reserved trains on those routes. The only direct service from Amsterdam, Brussels, or Cologne to Paris is by Thalys, with reservations costing $40 - $85 in addition to a rail pass that covers Benelux and France. To avoid Thalys fees when heading from Bruges or Brussels to Paris, you can take a little more time and connect in Lille to a TGV with cheaper (but limited) $11 seat reservations. See more details about train schedules and train reservations.
Two-Country Eurail Passes: Options later on this page work for those traveling between Benelux and one neighbor: France or Germany (but not Britain).
Private Trains: Any rail pass that covers Belgium allows you a discounted ticket price on the Eurostar train to/from London.
| Benelux Eurail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Adult | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Adult | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 3 days in 1 month | $302 | $258 | $194 | $166 | $128 | ||
| 5 days in 1 month | $413 | $352 | $266 | $226 | $175 | ||
| Covers trains in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Valid on Thalys trains within Benelux (with expensive seat reservation), but not to/from Paris. Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4 - 11 pay half of adult or saver fare, under 4 free. Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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While the Benelux Pass allows travel within one month, these rail passes offer a two-month window.
| Benelux - France Eurail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Individual | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Individual | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 5 days in 2 months | $464 | $388 | $401 | $342 | $296 | ||
| 6 days in 2 months | $509 | $428 | $445 | $388 | $329 | ||
| 8 days in 2 months | $588 | $504 | $524 | $451 | $390 | ||
| 10 days in 2 months | $664 | $567 | $599 | $512 | $448 | ||
| Benelux = Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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| Benelux - Germany Eurail Pass | |||||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Indiv. | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Indiv. | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth | ||
| 5 days in 2 months | $445 | $336 | $336 | $272 | $272 | ||
| 6 days in 2 months | $493 | $372 | $372 | $297 | $297 | ||
| 8 days in 2 months | $582 | $437 | $437 | $350 | $350 | ||
| 10 days in 2 months | $677 | $509 | $509 | $407 | $407 | ||
| Benelux = Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change. | |||||||
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If your only travel in Benelux is between Amsterdam and the German border at Emmerich ($20 2nd class), then it's cheaper to buy that train ticket locally before boarding.
