genoajim

I would like to use ground transportation from Belgium (Brussels or Bruges probably) to Copenhagen and I have no idea if that can be done via train or bus. If that would be really inconvenient I would conside a flight, but don't know how to do that either. Any dideas in this regard would be very useful an appreciated. Thanks, Jim

AuthorV

Check out the Eurorail website. They should have some facts about it.

Intrepid1

ttt

Intrepid1

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en


use the above URL for train schedules

you can check the possibility of budget flights at

www.whichbudget.com

Intrepid1

It looks like the fastest rail trip would take around 12 hours + or minus: Thalys service from Brussels to Cologne, changing there for an ICE to Hamburg, changing there for the four-hour trip (which include the ferry ride...45 minutes..the train rolls right onto the boat) from Hamburg to Copenhagen.

Both Maersk Air and Snowflake fly budget flights from Brussels to Copenhagen. Be aware of the checked baggage weight restrictions on intra-European flights.

BTilke

By train is fine. You can catch an ICE, Thalys or regular train to Koln, transfer to an ICE or IC to Hamburg, then transfer to the little train that goes to Copenhagen (it has to fit on the ferry for the crossing from Germany to Denmark).
It's a long train ride, about 11.5 hours at the shortest. You could also do an overnight train, but it wouldn't be very restful as you'd still have train changes.
One sample itinerary:
Depart from Brussels Midi at 6:25 am going to Koln on ICE 11. Arrive in Koln at 8:45 am.
At 9:11 am, catch the IC 2500 to Hamburg, arriving Hamburg at 1:11 pm (13:11).
Depart Hamburg at 1:23 pm on the EC, arrive Copenhagen at 5:59 pm (17:59).

Overnight train: leave Brussels Midi (Zuid) at 11:30 pm (23:30) arriving in Hamburg at 6:50 am, catch train to Copenhagen at 7:23 am, arriving just before noon.

Caveats: Aside from this being a LONG ride, I find that the German rail web site (www.bahn.de) is a little too optimistic about short train connections. I have mised enough connections in Germany to know not to pick connecting trains that have less than 15 minutes between them. I find it works best (for me) to do point to point research on www.bahn.de That is, I first find the train I want from Brussels to Koln, then do another search for trains from Koln to Hamburg, then a final search for trains from Hamburg to Copenhagen. When you find the trains you want, print out the number and itinerary.

My worst delays have been on sleeper trains and, for some reason, ICE trains. So far, the little s-bahn trains have been the most reliable.

Traveling at night is more expensive (figuring you'd want to book either a couchette or a private sleeping compartment) and you don't get to see much.

Would you consider stopping overnight somewhere en route? Hamburg? Koln? Lubeck?

Re flights, nonstop flights on SN Brussels or SAS airlines take only 90 minutes. One way flights are pretty expensive though, figure around 650 euros at the moment--versus only 200 euros for a round trip.

If you have time and could spread it over two days, I would take the train. I love riding trains in Europe. I have taken same day train rides that were about that long (Brussels to Vienna) and enjoyed it, but I know some people would get antsy at spending so much time on a train.

Happy travels!

BTilke

That was a good tip about Snowflake. They can fly you there (one way) for under 100 euros.

stardust

If you want to take the bus, check www.eurolines.be (website in French and Dutch). There's a straight bus route from Brussels to Copenhagen, but it takes 14 to 15 hours. The price for an adult is 81€ for a single trip (youth 74&euro. There's a bus every day at 23:00 and on some days at 14:00 as well.

I'd personally go for the low-cost flight though.

stardust

www.maersk-air.com

Single flight Brussels-Copenhagen from as low as 60€.