Train World — Attraction in Brussels

Just wanted to share my amazing experience at Train World - easily a 5-star adventure, especially for someone who appreciates both history and the marvel of trains.

From the moment I stepped into Train World, I was transported into a captivating realm of railway history. The museum is brilliantly laid out, taking you on a journey through time, from the earliest steam engines to modern high-speed trains. It's like walking through a living timeline of train history.

The collection of locomotives and carriages is simply impressive. Each piece is meticulously preserved, offering a unique glimpse into the evolution of train travel. I was particularly fascinated by the vintage carriages - they give you a real sense of how travel used to be. And seeing the Royal Carriage was a definite highlight. The level of detaila and luxury in it is just extraordinary.

What really sets Train World apart is how interactive and engaging it is. There are plenty of hands-on exhibits, making it a great place not just for train enthusiasts but for families as well. The kids seemed to be having a blast with the interactive displays. Plus, the information provided is both education and accessible, striking a balance between being informative and entertaining.

The atmosphere of the museum is another big win. It's housed in a beautifully restored train station, which adds an authentic charm to the whole experience. Walking around, you really feel the grandeur and romance associated with trains and railway stations.

And let's not forget about the staff - friendly, knowledgable, and genuinely enthusiastic about their work. They were more than happy to share stories and details about the exhibits, which enriched the experience even more.

In terms of amenities, the museum is well-equipped and the museum shop has some great souvenirs for train buffs.

All in all, Train World is not just a museum; it's a celebration of railway heritage. It's an immersive and education experience that's enjoyable for all ages. Whether you're a train aficionado or just looking for an interesting day out, Train World is a must-visit. It's an enthralling journey through theh istory and...

Sure thing one can't fail with trains with a 3yo. So we visited and enjoyed this museum just like half of Brussels parents&kids population, in this rainy, gray Sunday. But the museum delivers well: keeps kids entertained, keep parents going and offers novelties (there are so many thing I was not aware I ignore about trains!), interactive activities, nooks to sit down and rest, peeks into the past, videos, a good audioguide (available in several languages, please ask at the kassa) and an inviting brasserie, to cool off after the visit.

Like all museums it has a shop, at the exit. As this month (March 2019) they team up with Lego and have many Lego miniatures + Lego play tables etc., there is a high chance that you experience a meltdown of your offsprings in the shop in front of the pricey Lego boxes. Be warned and go quickly through the shop :).

Price wise: kids below 5 (or was it 6?) enter free of change. Still, you need to declare them at the entry a d you get a "0 euro" ticket. Normal price is 12 euro. You can get famy tickets, in different formulas, as well as several types of discounted tickets. Please check the website for details. It is nicely up to date (in English too).

Timings: closed on Mondays. Open all through the other days (check for official holidays, though). Important: last admission: 15.30. It closes at 17.00.

If your kid is curious and likes trains, be prepared to spend there at least 2-2h30 hours.

It seems to be more crowded in the afternoon.

After the visit we wanted to have some dinner, but the brasserie could serve only waffles, since the kitchen closes at 15.00. The place looks good and we were sorry we cojld not stay.

Just as info: the area around the museum is not so rich in nice places to sit for a dinner (even an unpretentious one...

An impressive collection. It stimulates many questions of the history of trains and Belgium. The chocolate exhibition was remarkable.

Most frustrations are just Sign of the Times COVID life (you cannot climb into many of the engines to really see what they are about).

However, there are some design flaws in layout that are bad in COVID and would be horrific were it not thanks to the small crowds thanks to COVID. Specifically, after the grandeur of the museum's exhibits, a visitor is then guided to exit along a narrow elevated walkway. Along this path, there this a small offshoot path so peak in on a cute model train township. It is great that there is this exhibit of running model trains HOWEVER it just creates a giant traffic jam. The observation window for this setup only allows maybe four people to see, and if you want to observe in any detail the artisan effort you delay the line. Further, as it is a peninsular bridge, you have to walk back through the waiting crowd just to get back on the path to contribute to the exit. Ironically, immediately after this jam there is another that could be even worse if it weren't for COVID closing it: two virtual reality train simulators. And then a little movie theater! This rediculous design of people-flow management would be nightmarishly worse if you are visiting with small kids. With the permanence of the rolling stock exhibits, I do not think Train World can possibly improve this mess without a huge redesign. I could only imagine how awful a school field...