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Paris to Gent / Ghent / Gand by train
How to take a train journey from Paris to Gent/Ghent
There are two options for taking the train from Paris to Gent/Ghent:
- Making only one connection between trains at Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel-Zuid station
- A longer, but usually cheaper route via Lille
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Routes
Option 1: the faster and simpler route via Brussels
Journey Summary
2hr 10min (via Bruxelles)
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Amsterdam or Bruxelles or Dortmund or Essen or Koln
The Thalys trains are non-stop between Paris and Bruxelles
**Change trains in: Bruxelles
1 x connection per hour**
This routing via Bruxelles/Brussels is the fastest and easiest option for train journeys between Paris and Brugge/Bruges; compared to the alternative route via Lille.
Though that 2hr 10min journey time is dependent on making a transfer between trains in Bruxelles/Brussels in under 20 mins.
Don't be too concerned about making the connection because your ticket will be valid on any train between Bruxelles/Brussels and Gent/Ghent; and there are 2 - 3 express (IC) trains per hour between the two cities.
Reservations aren't available on the trains between Bruxelles and Gent/Ghent.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 3 months ahead of the travel date
If you'll be travelling with a valid Eurail or InterRail pass, you'll save money if you take the alternative route via Lille.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| B-Europe | * | |
| SNCF Connect | * | |
| Trainline | * |
Train 1
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
For a stress-free journey it's a good idea to be at the Gare Du Nord at least 20 minutes before departure as all passengers taking the Thalys trains have to pass through security checks.
So being at the back of the queue wondering if you'll be able to board in time is a scenario best avoided.
Around seven minutes after departure the train will move on to the high speed line and it will then travel at more than 270 km/ until it reaches the suburbs of Bruxelles.
Train 2
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
If you see Gand on the electronic departure information at the station, the train will be heading to Gent.
Final Destination: Oostende or Blankenberge or Brugge or Knokke
There are also other (much) slower trains (R) trains from Bruxelles to Gent, but take care to avoid those, as tickets won't be any more expensive if you take the fast IC trains.
Some of those slower trains terminate at Gent/Gand, so they stand out on the departure screens.
Option 2: Travelling via Lille can be cheaper, particularly if you will be using a rail pass
Journey Summary
2hr 37min (via Lille)
Daily
Travel Information
Note that these trains depart from the Gare Du Nord in Paris.
Final Destination: Lille
The overwhelming majority of the TGVs between Paris and Lille arrive at Lille Flandres station, which is where the train on to Belgium will depart from.
up to 13 x connections per day.
This routing via Lille is longer than travelling from Paris to Gent/Ghent to train via Bruxelles, but it can be around 50% cheaper.
If you will be travelling with a Eurail or an Interrail Pass, you will definitely be saving as the rail pass reservation fees are cheaper on the TGV trains to Lille, than on the Thalys trains to Bruxelles
The connecting time between trains at Lille Flandres station will be usually be around 20 mins.
If the train from Paris arrives too late to make this connection, tickets will be valid on a later train, seats can't be reserved on the trains between Lille and Gent/Ghent,
There is 1 x train per hour between Lille and Gent/Ghent/Gand*
*Gand and not Gent will be shown on the electronic departure information at Lille Flandres station.
At Lille Flandres station look for the train heading to Anvers.
It's a good idea to look up the location of your final destination in Gent/Ghent before booking the alternative routing via Bruxelles.
These trains from Lille to Gent/Gent also call at [Gent-Dampoort station]https://goo.gl/maps/kDJ9ADohRai426VK6) after they have called at Gent-Sint Pieters station.
Gent-Dampoort is closer to the city centre than Gent-Sint Pieters station and the trains from Bruxelles only call at Gent-Sint Pieters.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date
If you will be travelling with an InterRail or Eurail pass, you will have to pay a reservation fee prior to the boarding the TGV to Lille, but it will be cheaper than the rail pass fees for taking the Thalys trains, on the alternative routing via Bruxelles.
If you want to avoid paying any reservations at all, you will need to take this routing:
- Paris to Amiens on TER trains
- Amiens to Lille on TER trains
- Lille to Gent
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| B-Europe | * | |
| SNCF Connect | * |
Train 1
Travelling On
Journey Features
The train will be travelling at more than 280 km/h from the outskirts of Paris, all the way to Lille.
Train 2
Travelling On
Good to Know
Final Destination: Anvers (Antwerpen)
Anvers is the French name for Antwerp/Antwerpen, so when looking at the departure board and info screens at Lille Flandres station, you need to look for the trains heading to Anvers.
All trains also call at: Mouscron; and Kortrijk (connect for Ypres/Ieper)
Note that these trains depart from Lille Flandres station and NOT from Lille Europe station.
You may have to change trains at Mouscron, despite joining a train that is apparently heading to Anvers.
These trains call first at Gent St-Pieters station (the main station in Gent) and then at Gent-Dampoort station.
This latter station is to the east of the heart of the city, closer to the city centre than St-Pieters.
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