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railtour suisse

The diverse Benelux tour

Self-guided rail circuit through Cologne, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Brussels

Illustration of The diverse Benelux tour

railtour suisse runs this nine-day, eight-night self-guided rail tour through Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, starting from Basel and traveling by second-class train to Cologne, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Brussels before returning to Switzerland via Cologne. The journey opens with a 3-hour ride through the Rhineland wine regions to Cologne, where the cathedral stands right outside the central station, then continues by ICE train to Utrecht and on to Amsterdam for two nights that can include a canal cruise, the Rijksmuseum or the Anne Frank House. From Brussels, where travelers spend three nights, a day trip by train reaches the North Sea coast at Ostend. Accommodation is in named 3 and 4-star hotels with breakfast in each city. Because there is no tour manager, this trip suits independent travelers who want to move through several countries by train, mixing short overnight stops in Cologne, Utrecht and Antwerp with longer stays in Amsterdam and Brussels.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at CHF 1,298 every time.

CHF 1,2984 Jul12 Sep

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 2 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

  • The included train travel is described as based on a Half-Fare travelcard, 'Route according to programme'; confirm with railtour suisse exactly how this affects ticket eligibility and pricing.
  • The evidence does not list specific departure dates for this tour; confirm availability directly with the operator.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Cologne

    Switzerland – Cologne

    A 3-hour journey through Rhineland wine regions, idyllic villages and green landscapes towards Cologne. Stroll through the city near the imposing cathedral and enjoy a glass of Kölsch.

  2. Day 2overnight: Utrecht

    Cologne – Utrecht

    Stroll along the Rhine promenade and through the old town, then take the ICE (approx. 2 hours) to Utrecht, with its medieval towers and idyllic canals.

  3. Day 3overnight: Amsterdam

    Utrecht – Amsterdam

    A direct connection to Amsterdam runs every 30 minutes; a 30-minute journey arrives in the impressive historic Amsterdam Centraal station building.

  4. Day 4overnight: Amsterdam

    Amsterdam

    Explore the city by bike, take a canal cruise, visit the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum, or the Anne Frank House.

  5. Day 5overnight: Antwerp

    Amsterdam – Antwerp

    Direct connections take you to the Belgian fashion and design capital of Antwerp in 1 hour 30 minutes; explore the historic city centre, museums and boutiques.

  6. Day 6overnight: Brussels

    Antwerp – Brussels

    A 40-minute journey to Brussels, admiring impressive facades and architecture on the way to the hotel.

  7. Day 7overnight: Brussels

    Brussels

    Visit the Grand-Place (UNESCO World Heritage Site) with its guild houses, the Manneken Pis, the Royal Palace and the Parlamentarium; end the evening with Belgian fries and a beer.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Brussels

    Brussels – Excursion to Ostend

    A 1 hour 20 minute train trip to the North Sea coastal town of Ostend, with wide sandy beaches and a lively seaside promenade.

  9. Day 9

    Brussels – Switzerland

    One last breakfast before the return journey; the ICE takes you back to Switzerland via Cologne.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Arrival in Cologne places travelers steps from the 'imposing cathedral' right outside the central station.
  • Day 2The ICE train covers Cologne to Utrecht in 2 hours, arriving among 'medieval towers, idyllic canals and lively streets.'
  • Day 4A full day in Amsterdam for a canal cruise, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum or the Anne Frank House.
  • Day 7The Grand-Place in Brussels, a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by guild houses, plus a look for the Manneken Pis fountain figures.
  • Day 8A day trip by train to the coastal town of Ostend, reached in 1 hour 20 minutes, for wide sandy beaches and a seaside promenade.

Included

  • Train journey in 2nd class from/to Basel SBB, based on Half-Fare travelcard, route according to programme
  • Accommodation in a standard double room with breakfast
  • 1 night in Cologne, CityClass Hotel am Heumarkt ***
  • 1 night in Utrecht, Hampton by Hilton Utrecht Central Station ***
  • 2 nights in Amsterdam, CC Hotel ***
  • 1 night in Antwerp, Mercure Antwerp City Centre ****
  • 3 nights in Brussels, Hotel ALMA Grand-Place ***

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?
From CHF 1,298 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,592 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?
Yes, second-class train travel from and to Basel SBB is included, based on a Half-Fare travelcard, following the route in the itinerary.
Is it escorted or independent?
It is a self-guided rail tour with no tour manager mentioned in the evidence.
Which cities does the tour visit?
Cologne, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Antwerp and Brussels, with a day trip to Ostend on the North Sea coast.
What hotels are included?
Named 3 and 4-star hotels with breakfast: CityClass Hotel am Heumarkt in Cologne (1 night), Hampton by Hilton Utrecht Central Station (1 night), CC Hotel in Amsterdam (2 nights), Mercure Antwerp City Centre (1 night, 4-star), and Hotel ALMA Grand-Place in Brussels (3 nights).
Is there a day trip to the seaside?
Yes, day 8 is a train excursion from Brussels to Ostend on the North Sea coast.

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