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Rail journey · 5 countries

Brussels to Munich by Rail: 12 Days

Brussels and Bruges, the Amsterdam canals, a Rhine cruise, Heidelberg, Lake Constance, Liechtenstein, Innsbruck and Munich, by train with a 1st class rail pass.

  • 12 days / 11 nights
  • Brussels (BRU) to Munich (MUC)
  • No car needed
  • 1st class rail pass
Bacharach and Stahleck Castle above the Rhine River, Germany

Attractions

What you will see as you travel the route, day by day, and how to make the most of each stop.

12sights on the route
5countries
7rail pass travel days, 1st class
1Rhine cruise
BrusselsBrugesAmsterdamCologneRhine ValleyHeidelbergLindauVaduzInnsbruckMunich
1Day 1

Welcome to Brussels

A first evening in Brussels

Grand-Place

On your own

Why it is worth itBrussels’ central square, ringed by ornate guildhalls and the Town Hall, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Insider tipIt is at its best lit up after dark, a short walk from your hotel.

2Day 2

Bruges day trip

Bruges by canal boat

Bruges canal boat

Why it is worth itA boat through the canals of the Bruges old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Insider tipThe boats are open, so bring a layer.

Optional add-on

Hands-On Chocolate Workshop, Brussels

A hands-on Belgian chocolate workshop at Choco-Story Brussels, where you make your own pralines and take them home.

$80 per person

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

3Day 3

Eurostar to Amsterdam

Amsterdam by water

Amsterdam canal cruise

Why it is worth itA cruise through the canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage Site lined with 17th-century houses.

Insider tipLook for the hooks at the top of the narrow houses, used to lift furniture in through the windows.

4Day 4

Amsterdam

Two great museums

Rijksmuseum

Why it is worth itThe national museum of the Netherlands, home to Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and works by Vermeer.

Insider tipHead for the Gallery of Honour first, where the most famous paintings hang.

Anne Frank House

Why it is worth itThe canal house where Anne Frank and her family hid during the Second World War, and where she wrote her diary.

Insider tipBe on time for your timed entry, and allow about an hour inside.

5Day 5

Cologne

Cologne Cathedral tower

Why it is worth itA Gothic cathedral and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tower climb is more than 500 steps, with a view over the Rhine.

Insider tipWear comfortable shoes and take the stairs at your own pace.

6Day 6

The Rhine Valley

KD Rhine cruise

Why it is worth itA cruise on the Middle Rhine past the Lorelei rock and hilltop castles, from Boppard to Bacharach.

Insider tipFind a spot on the open deck early for the castle views.

7Day 7

Heidelberg to Lake Constance

Heidelberg

Heidelberg Castle

Why it is worth itRed sandstone castle ruins above the old town, reached by funicular.

Insider tipLook for the Great Tun, a giant wine barrel in the castle cellar.

8Day 8

Liechtenstein day

A day in Liechtenstein

Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein

Why it is worth itLiechtenstein’s museum of modern and contemporary art, in the small capital, Vaduz.

Insider tipLook up at Vaduz Castle on the hill; it is the prince’s home and is not open inside.

9Day 9

Into the Alps

Arlberg line

Why it is worth itA mountain railway through the Austrian Alps from Lindau to Innsbruck.

Insider tipKeep your camera handy; the best views come on the climb through the mountains.

Optional add-on

Nordkette Cable Car to Hafelekar

The Nordkette cable cars from the center of Innsbruck up to Hafelekar, about 7,400 feet up, and back.

$105 per person

Optional. Not included in the trip price.

10Day 10

Munich

Marienplatz and the Viktualienmarkt

On your own

Why it is worth itMunich’s central square, with the Glockenspiel in the New Town Hall tower, and the open-air food market nearby.

Insider tipThe Glockenspiel plays at 11 AM every day.

11Day 11

Neuschwanstein

A fairytale castle

Neuschwanstein Castle

Why it is worth itKing Ludwig II’s 19th-century fairytale castle in the Bavarian Alps.

Insider tipWear comfortable shoes; it is an uphill walk from the village to the castle.

The order of stops can shift with the weather, and access to some sites can change with the season or local conditions. See Day by day for the full plan.

Why this trip

Eleven nights, seven central 4-star hotels and five countries, all by train. You start with Brussels and Bruges, take the Eurostar to Amsterdam, cruise the castle stretch of the Rhine, and roll south through Heidelberg to Lake Constance, Liechtenstein and the Austrian Alps before ending in Munich. Each traveler gets a 1st class Interrail pass, so on most travel days you simply pick the train that suits you.

  • Freedom by railA 1st class Interrail pass for 7 travel days: hop on almost any train in the Netherlands, Germany and Austria, any time that day.
  • The Rhine and HeidelbergA cruise past the Lorelei and the Rhine castles, then a night in Heidelberg’s old town under the castle.
  • Alps finaleLake Constance, a day in Liechtenstein, Innsbruck and a Neuschwanstein day from Munich, with the Nordkette cable car as an optional add-on.

Trip at a glance

Length
12 days / 11 nights
Starts / ends
Brussels (BRU) to Munich (MUC), one way
Getting around
Trains with a 1st class Interrail pass. No car needed
Pace
Active: 7 hotels and 6 train days, with 2 nights in most stops
Best time to go
April to mid October, when the Rhine cruises run
Great for
Couples, friends and first-timers to Europe
Accommodations
Comfort Plus (central 4-star hotels)
Flights
Not included. Book an open-jaw ticket: into Brussels, home from Munich

Day by day

Day 1 and day 12 are travel days. Every train ride is mapped in your plan, and the order of the days in between can shift with the weather.

Day 1Welcome to Brussels
Private car from Brussels Airport to your hotel (booked). An easy first evening: the Grand-Place lit up after dark, and dinner nearby.
Stay: Hotel Le Dixseptième, Brussels (night 1 of 11).
Day 2Bruges day trip
Train from Brussels to Bruges and back, about 1 hour each way (tickets booked, so your rail pass days are saved for later). A canal boat through the old town (booked), then back in Brussels, where you can add a hands-on chocolate workshop (optional add-on).
Stay: Hotel Le Dixseptième, Brussels (night 2 of 11).
Day 3Eurostar to Amsterdam
Eurostar from Brussels-Midi to Amsterdam Centraal, about 1 hour 50 minutes (rail pass; your seat reservation is booked). In the afternoon, a canal cruise through the canal ring (booked).
Stay: Hotel Estheréa, on the Amsterdam canal ring (night 3 of 11).
Day 4Amsterdam
The Rijksmuseum and the Anne Frank House, with timed tickets (both booked). Free evening in the Jordaan.
Stay: Hotel Estheréa, on the Amsterdam canal ring (night 4 of 11).
Day 5Cologne
ICE high-speed train from Amsterdam to Cologne, about 2 hours 40 minutes (rail pass). Climb the Cologne Cathedral tower for the view over the Rhine (ticket booked).
Stay: Mondial am Dom Cologne MGallery, by the cathedral (night 5 of 11).
Day 6The Rhine Valley
Train from Cologne to Boppard, about 1 hour 30 minutes (rail pass), then a KD Rhine cruise past the Lorelei and the castles to Bacharach (booked). Train on to Heidelberg via Mainz, about 2 hours (rail pass). Travel light: one suitcase each makes this day easy.
Stay: Hotel Zum Ritter St. Georg, Heidelberg old town (night 6 of 11).
Day 7Heidelberg to Lake Constance
Morning at Heidelberg Castle, with the funicular up (ticket booked). Afternoon train to Lindau via Stuttgart and Ulm, about 4 hours 30 minutes (rail pass).
Stay: Hotel Bayerischer Hof, on Lindau island (night 7 of 11).
Day 8Liechtenstein day
Train from Lindau to Feldkirch, Austria, about 40 minutes (rail pass), then the local bus to Vaduz, about 35 to 40 minutes (fare booked). The castle view, the Kunstmuseum (ticket booked) and a Liechtenstein passport stamp at the tourist office, then back to Lindau.
Stay: Hotel Bayerischer Hof, on Lindau island (night 8 of 11).
Day 9Into the Alps
The Arlberg line from Lindau to Innsbruck, about 3 hours of mountain views (rail pass). Afternoon in the old town, or add the Nordkette cable car from the city center to Hafelekar, about 7,400 feet up (optional add-on).
Stay: Hotel Innsbruck, in the old town (night 9 of 11).
Day 10Munich
Train from Innsbruck to Munich, about 1 hour 50 minutes (rail pass). Afternoon at the Marienplatz and the Viktualienmarkt, then a beer garden.
Stay: Hotel Torbräu, by the Isartor in central Munich (night 10 of 11).
Day 11Neuschwanstein
A guided day tour from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle, with transport and a timed castle ticket (booked).
Stay: Hotel Torbräu, by the Isartor in central Munich (night 11 of 11).
Day 12Home
S-Bahn train to Munich Airport, about 40 minutes (ticket booked), timed to your flight.

What’s included

Included

  • 11 nights in 7 central 4-star hotels, with taxes
  • An Interrail Global Pass for each traveler: 7 travel days in 1 month, 1st class
  • Eurostar seat reservation, Brussels to Amsterdam
  • Bruges day-trip train tickets and the Munich airport train
  • Private car from Brussels Airport to your Brussels hotel
  • Bruges canal boat
  • Amsterdam canal cruise, Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank House tickets
  • Cologne Cathedral tower and a KD Rhine cruise from Boppard to Bacharach
  • Heidelberg Castle with the funicular
  • Liechtenstein bus fare and Kunstmuseum ticket
  • Neuschwanstein guided day tour with the castle ticket
  • A day-by-day plan with every train mapped, and one point of contact from booking to landing

Not included

  • Flights
  • Meals and drinks
  • Local trams, metro and taxis
  • Tips
  • Optional extras (a Salzburg day, Dachau memorial, Swarovski Crystal Worlds)
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal spending

Optional add-ons: Hands-On Chocolate Workshop, Brussels ($80 per person), Nordkette Cable Car to Hafelekar ($105 per person). Add them in the booking box or in Attractions.

Getting around: No car needed. Each traveler gets a 1st class Interrail pass in the Rail Planner app, and your day-by-day plan maps every ride: the station, about how long it takes and how often trains run. In the Netherlands, Germany and Austria you can take almost any train on a travel day, at any time, with no booking. The Eurostar is the one train that needs a seat, and it is reserved for you.

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Included or in the itinerary    Not part of that trip

Brussels to Munich by Rail: 12 Days compared with Belgium by Train: 7 Days
TripThis tripBrussels to Munich by Rail: 12 DaysFrom $7,25912 days / 11 nightsBook this tripCompared tripBelgium by Train: 7 DaysFrom $2,8497 days / 6 nightsView this trip
The basics
Length12 days / 11 nights7 days / 6 nights
Price per person (2 sharing a room)$7,259Own room: $7,619$2,849Own room: $2,999
Hotels11 nights in 7 central 4-star hotels6 nights in 3 central 4-star hotels
PaceA new stop every 1 or 2 nights, 6 train days3 hotels, short train rides of 25 to 50 minutes
Getting aroundA 1st class Interrail pass for each traveler, 7 travel daysTrain tickets booked for every ride; no rail pass needed
Starts / endsBrussels (BRU) to Munich (MUC), one wayBrussels Airport (BRU), round trip
Best time to goApril to mid OctoberMarch to mid December
Great forTravelers who want to see a lot of EuropeTravelers with about a week
What’s the same
Trains, with every ride mapped day by dayIncludedIncluded
Brussels and the Grand-PlaceIncludedIncluded
Hotels and experiences booked for youIncludedIncluded
Pre-trip guide: travel insurance, packing, money and train tipsIncludedIncluded
One point of contact, from booking to landingIncludedIncluded
Cancel 90+ days out for 100% trip credit.IncludedIncluded
What’s different
Bruges: a canal boat day tripIncludedNot part of this trip
A 1st class Interrail pass, 7 travel daysIncludedNot part of this trip
Amsterdam: canal cruise, Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank HouseIncludedNot part of this trip
A Rhine cruise past the Lorelei and Heidelberg CastleIncludedNot part of this trip
Lake Constance and a day in LiechtensteinIncludedNot part of this trip
Innsbruck and the Arlberg lineIncludedNot part of this trip
Munich and a Neuschwanstein day tourIncludedNot part of this trip
Bruges: a canal boat and the BelfryNot part of this tripIncluded
Antwerp day tripNot part of this tripIncluded
Ghent: the Ghent Altarpiece and Gravensteen castleNot part of this tripIncluded
Not included on either trip: Flights, meals and drinks, local trams and taxis, tips, travel insurance and personal spending.
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Questions

What if I need to cancel?
Plans change. If you need to cancel, you'll receive trip credit toward another itsTripEasy trip: within 24 hours of payment, 100% trip credit, so you can swap to a different destination; 90 or more days before your trip start date, 100% trip credit; less than 90 days before, no trip credit, unless you added Flexible Cancellation: with it, you get 100% trip credit if you cancel at least 10 days before your trip start date, for a trip you take within 12 months. Other trip credits never expire. To cancel or change your dates, use the cancellation request form. For a date change, choose the reason "I'd like to change my dates".
How many people can share a room?
Rooms on this trip hold 1 or 2 people. The booking box offers own room or 2 sharing. A group of 3 is booked into 1 shared room and 1 own room; a group of 4 into 2 shared rooms, all on one booking. For a larger group, use Plan My Trip.
Is a rail pass included, and can we take any train?
Yes, and it gives you real freedom. Each traveler gets an Interrail Global Pass: 7 travel days within 1 month, in 1st class. On a travel day you can hop on almost any train in the Netherlands, Germany and Austria with no booking and change your mind about the time. The Eurostar from Brussels to Amsterdam is the one train that needs a seat reservation, and it is booked for you. The Bruges day trip and the Munich airport train are booked as separate tickets, so your 7 pass days cover the long rides.
How does the rail pass work?
It's easy. Each pass is bought in the traveler's name exactly as it appears on the passport, then send you the pass number, the code to add it to the free Rail Planner app, and a short how-to. On the day you start, you activate it in the app and add each journey as you go. Eurail is now part of Interrail, so the pass is an Interrail pass, and it works the same way for travelers from anywhere. If you live in Europe, it covers just one trip out of and one trip back into your home country.
Why does the trip end in Munich?
Great question. Munich has many more direct flights home than Stuttgart, it's the gateway to Neuschwanstein, and it's just under 2 hours by train from Innsbruck, so the trip ends on an easy ride. Prefer to finish in Stuttgart? The route can be shaped that way.
Do I need a car?
No. Every leg is by train, plus one short local bus into Liechtenstein, and your rail pass, reservations and tickets are all arranged.
Are flights included?
Flights are up to you, and your pre-trip guide includes timing tips so your arrival and departure fit the plan. For this trip, book an open-jaw ticket: into Brussels and home from Munich.
Can the trip be customized?
Yes, right in the booking box: add up to 3 extra nights at the start or end of your trip and choose how many travelers share each room.

Good to know

  • Weather and nature. Weather, rail and natural conditions are outside anyone’s control and can change quickly. They may change the plan, delay or cancel trains, or delay, shorten or cancel tours and activities, and the order of days may shift.
  • Your choices. You are responsible for your own decisions, safety and choices while traveling, including which activities you take part in, and following local guidance, posted warnings and your guides’ instructions.
  • Photos. Photos on this page are for inspiration. They may not show the exact location, hotel, season or conditions of your trip.
  • Not included. Flights aren’t included; you book those yourself.
$14,518
2 travelers · 12 days / 11 nights
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