Brussels Gare Du Midi is one of the first things many visitors to Brussels see upon arrival whether from the airport or from an international destination. Unfortunately, apart from being smelly and cryptic, it also can be confusing. This guide is here to help make it a little less unexpected.

Bonus: If you take the Eurostar from Gare du Midi to get to the UK, you may need my guide to London’s St Pancras station too.

Arrivals

• Are you sure you want to go to Gare Du Midi? If your destination is closer to the northern part of Brussels, Gare Du Nord is more appropriate; likewise, Gare Central for the central part of Brussels.  If in doubt, consult a map before leaving.

Tip: At the airport, many trains are advertised as heading to Gare du Midi because they terminate there. All of them go to Gare Du Nord and Gare Central.

Bonus Tip: If you’re heading for the European District, go to Gare Central and take the metro to “Schumann“.

• Before you even get off your train, make sure it is Gare Du Midi. Do not get confused with the Flemish spelling of the place.
• Every platform at Gare Du Midi has a single escalator at one end of the platform.  If you get off at the wrong end, you’ll find steps and a very rickety elevator.  While the escalators do not always work, look for the escalator sign.

• If you need a taxi, there are two taxi ranks.  One is close to the international platforms (platforms 1 – 6) but is open air.  The other is 50 metres or so away from the entrance to the metro.  This second taxi rank can be a little dodgy at night.
• The tourist information booth does not have information about trains, despite being located in a train station. Use the ticket booths located under the platforms instead.

• If you need the trams or metro, walk away from the escalators and past the shops till you see the signs. The metro sign is a huge letter “M”:

Departures

• You can buy a ticket from the automatic machines available along the concourse but they will only accept Belgian bank cards. Use the ticket desks underneath the train platforms instead.
• You should have a ticket before boarding as otherwise you can be fined.

Bonus tip: If you are running late, tell the conductor that you do not have a ticket before boarding and the fine won’t apply.

• If you arrive early, you can wait for your train on the platform but since platform changes are common, I would not recommend this.  Keep an eye on the departure boards to find out if your platform, or departure time, has changed.

As in most cities, Gare Du Midi is constantly full of activity so do keep a close eye on your luggage at all times and beware of pick pockets. In case of any emergency, there is a police station that you can find located next to the entrance to the metro.  The police there are friendly and most can speak English too.  In case of theft, make sure that you get a full report from them for insurance purposes.