{"id":46314,"date":"2025-07-23T16:29:05","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T16:29:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/?p=46314"},"modified":"2025-09-09T14:52:16","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T14:52:16","slug":"one-flight-five-cities-your-european-train-adventure-starts-in-brussels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aerlingus.com\/hub\/one-flight-five-cities-your-european-train-adventure-starts-in-brussels\/","title":{"rendered":"One flight, five cities: your European train adventure starts in Brussels"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Planning your next great European escape this autumn? Start in Brussels and take the train.<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re looking for a holiday that blends caf\u00e9 culture, historic cities and hassle-free travel, this incredible rail route is calling your name. Let us fly you direct from Dublin to Brussels<\/a>, then hop on the train and cruise through the Netherlands, stopping off in cities like Utrecht, Rotterdam and Maastricht, before looping back to Belgium for a final few days in charming Bruges. With no rental car needed and quick travel times between cities, this is a holiday that takes in a lot but moves at a really nice pace.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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One return flight, five amazing cities, and no need to hire a rental car. What’s not to like?<\/h4>\n

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Why settle for one country when you can experience two in a single trip?<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t

With great value direct flights to Brussels and a rail network that carries you across European borders in under two hours, this great escape blends Belgian charm with Dutch style. Take it one train journey at a time, as you relax and breathe it all in.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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A taste of what’s to come…<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Day 1: Brussels’ Grand Palace<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Day 2: Charming Utrecht<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Day 3: Cube houses of Rotterdam<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Day 4: Picturesque Maastricht<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Day 5: The canals of Bruges<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Day 1: Brussels<\/h2>\n

Welcome to Brussels, centre of Europe. After your seamless flight from Dublin to Brussels Airport, it’s time to embark on your rail-based city-hopping adventure. Spend your first day strolling the cobbled streets of the Grand-Place (the city’s central square), marvelling at the surreal Magritte Museum<\/a> or sampling the flavours of the city\u2019s famous chocolate shops. Grab some frites, order a Trappist beer, and soak up some of that unique Brussels atmostphere.<\/p>\n

Top tip:<\/strong> The train station is right in the city centre, meaning you can hop back on board quickly when it’s time to move on.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Brussels: the effortlessly cool capital of Belgium. With world-class chocolate, comic strip murals on the walls, and some of Europe’s best walking streets, it\u2019s a city made for exploring on foot. From grand squares to neighbourhood frites stalls, everything here is easy to reach and worth the stroll.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Day 2: Utrecht<\/h2>\n

You’ll trade waffles for stroopwafels as you cross the border from Belgium into the Netherlands. A short train ride from Brussels to Utrecht takes you to one of Holland\u2019s most liveable cities.<\/p>\n

Quieter than Amsterdam but just as charming, Utrecht offers a slower pace and achingly pretty streets. Its split-level canals are unique, with terraces and caf\u00e9s tucked in at water level. Climb all 465 steps of the Dom Tower, or just wander around the Oudegracht (old canal) with a coffee.<\/p>\n

Good to know:<\/strong> The direct train from Brussels to Utrecht takes around two hours and drops you right in the heart of the action.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t

Day 3: Rotterdam<\/h2>\n

Rotterdam is just 40 minutes from Utrecht by train and offers a modern change of pace. This city was almost entirely rebuilt after WWII; instead of focusing on the past, it built a new future. Today, Rotterdam is all clean lines, bold architecture and ambition.<\/p>\n

Start your day at the iconic Cube Houses or take in the excellent views from the Euromast observation tower. Wander through the lively Markthal<\/a> food hall, with its gourmet stalls and colourful murals, or take a water taxi for a breezy ride through the harbour. This is a city made for exploring by foot, bicycle and by boat.<\/p>\n

Top tip:<\/strong> Get lunch at Fenix Food Factory<\/a>, a riverside market packed with local bites and brews.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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From leafy canals to bold design, each city on your rain adventure has its own flavour. From Utrecht\u2019s calm canals, you’ll move onto Rotterdam\u2019s creative energy; a place where street art, modern architecture and riverside markets take the focus.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Day 4: Maastricht<\/h2>\n

Today it\u2019s a direct train south to Maastricht (just over two hours), where the Netherlands blurs into Belgium; the result is a city full of quiet surprises and unmistakable charm.” Life moves at a leisurely pace and the simple pleasures come to the fore. Expect winding lanes, baroque buildings, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to linger. Browse indie bookshops, order a glass of wine in a hidden square, and sample the famous Limburgse vlaai (fruit pie).<\/p>\n

Good to know:<\/strong> Maastricht is very walkable and many of its main attractions are close together, but don\u2019t miss the bookshop inside a 13th-century church (Boekhandel Dominicanen<\/a>). It\u2019s one of the city\u2019s most unexpected surprises.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Maastricht is a mood: slow, soft, and full of atmosphere. Spend your morning browsing local boutiques, then settle in for an afternoon of people-watching by the river. It\u2019s the kind of place that makes you really glad you got off the train.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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Day 5: Bruges<\/h2>\n

Time to head back into Belgium for a the perfect finale. Bruges is every bit as charming as the guidebooks promise, with cobbled lanes, peaceful canals and charming architecture at every turn. Hop on a boat to see the city from the water, browse lace boutiques and little galleries, or wander without a map and see where you end up. In the evening, settle into a centuries-old cellar bar for a Belgian beer tasting, the perfect way to toast your last night.<\/p>\n

The perfect ending:<\/strong> Stay overnight, then head back to Brussels (just over an hour by train) for your flight home.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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What to eat and where to try it<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t
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Belgian frites<\/h6>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Maison Antoine in Brussels<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Apple pie (vlaai)<\/h6>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Bisschopsmolen in Maastricht<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Bitterballen<\/h6>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Caf\u00e9 de Zaak in Utrecht\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Stroopwafel<\/h6>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Markthal in Rotterdam<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Brugse Zot<\/h6>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan in Bruges<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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