These are the most popular destinations

Train trips to France in particular are proving very popular this summer, NMBS reports. About four out of every ten international train passengers who book through NMBS choose a destination in the southern neighbourhood. It is followed by the Netherlands (28 percent), the United Kingdom (16 percent) and Germany (13 percent).

France also tops the list for each city: Paris is the most popular destination, followed by London and Amsterdam. The top 15 only contains cities from neighboring countries, and it’s not true all those train travelers will avoid the plane this summer: Three airports are also among the most popular destinations.

It is clear that NMBS has an ambition to better facilitate international rail travel. The SNCB International website currently offers train tickets for 5,500 international destinations, spread over fourteen European countries.

At the moment, travelers mainly find their way to neighboring countries by rail, but the aim is to further expand the range in the coming years, particularly with destinations in Spain, Austria and the UK.​

If you also want to travel abroad by train, the railway company also recommends that you book as early as possible. After all, tickets are cheaper then. NMBS also indicates the existence of an Interrail pass. With this ticket, you can travel in Europe for a certain period at a fixed price.