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 - $95 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 Buy This Pass | |||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Adult | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Adult | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth |
| 3 days in 1 month | $310 | $264 | $200 | $170 | $131 |
| 5 days in 1 month | $423 | $361 | $272 | $232 | $178 |
| 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. | |||||
While the Benelux Pass allows travel within one month, these rail passes offer a two-month window.
| Benelux - France Eurail Pass Buy This Pass | |||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Individual | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Individual | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth |
| 5 days in 2 months | $476 | $405 | $405 | $345 | $311 |
| 6 days in 2 months | $522 | $444 | $444 | $387 | $341 |
| 8 days in 2 months | $604 | $514 | $526 | $461 | $394 |
| 10 days in 2 months | $681 | $580 | $600 | $523 | $451 |
| 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. | |||||
Thalys reservations from Amsterdam, Brussels, or Cologne to Paris cost $40 - $95 in addition to a rail pass that covers Benelux and France. This pass is a better value if you have long trips within France, too, with more normal seat reservation fees. Places for passholders are limited on both types of train.
| Benelux - Germany Eurail Pass Buy This Pass | |||||
| Type of Pass | 1st Class Indiv. | 1st Class Saver | 2nd Class Indiv. | 2nd Class Saver | 2nd Class Youth |
| 5 days in 2 months | $457 | $343 | $343 | $279 | $279 |
| 6 days in 2 months | $504 | $381 | $381 | $304 | $304 |
| 8 days in 2 months | $596 | $448 | $448 | $359 | $359 |
| 10 days in 2 months | $694 | $520 | $520 | $416 | $416 |
| 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. | |||||
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.
