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Public transport
Belgium has one of the world’s densest road and rail networks. It is also a major hub for air travel. So getting around is not a problem, especially if you opt for public transport or bike. Taking a train for just a few hours can get you to Paris, London or Amsterdam, while you can nip around the country for just a few euros.
Trains
The national railway network is easy to use, cheap and efficient. Trains are run by SNCB/NMBS and offer a multitude of discounted passes and season tickets. There are passes that allow those who frequently use the train system to pay less per ride. Students can also get a school pass. For weekend travel, SNCB/NMBS offers up to 50 percent off the price.
Bus lines
Within most cities, taxis, trams and busses are convenient options. Most small towns and villages have bus networks. Outside Brussels, two authorities serve Wallonia (TEC) and Flanders (De Lijn).
Taxis
Taxis operate in all the main cities and towns. The tip is included in the meter price, but most people round up the fare to the nearest euro. In Brussels, taxis must have a taximeter linked to a printer which provides passengers with a receipt at the end of the journey. Unlicensed taxi drivers charge exorbitant rates and may not be safe.
Car-pooling
Companies such as Taxistop provide car-pooling information and car-sharing arrangements. Rates are fixed according to the distance. Cambio is a car-sharing system for those who occasionally need access to a car but don’t want to buy one. In addition to monthly subscription fees, Cambio charges for the time used and the number of kilometres driven.
Public transport in Brussels
The Brussels City Transport Authority (STIB/MIVB) operates the metro, tram and bus network for Brussels region. Transport normally operates from 5.30 to about 00.30 depending on the destination.
Metro
Metro entrances are indicated by large blue signs with a white M on both sides. The names of the stations, which can be found on signs outside the stop, or on the map of the metro, are bilingual in French and Dutch – for example Gare Centrale/Centraal Station. There are six lines that cut the city into north/south and east/west corridors.
Tram and bus
Tram stops can be identified by street signs indicating the tram number. There are 17 tram lines serving the city. Timetables are posted on the tram (also known as pre-metro) and the stops are named after the nearest cross street. Bus timetables can also be found at the stops.
Night buses
While regular transport closes down at about 00.30, night owls have the option of night buses. Night buses run until 3.00 on weekends and have different line numbers and stops to daytime services. There’s also a collective taxi system which is not organised by STIB. It runs every day from 23.00 to 6.00. After reservation, it picks you up at one of the 200 stops (mostly STIB bus stops).
Get your ticket
There is a wide range of tickets available and it’s often cheaper to buy tickets in bulk. A 10-ride pass is, for example, much cheaper than 10 one-ride passes. A single ticket – known as a Jump ticket – allows you to change lines within a one-hour period. Season tickets are available for one month or a whole year. Tickets can be bought at GO vending machines in metro stations or just outside important tram and bus stops, on the bus or tram (though they are more costly), at a Kiosk (only at certain metro stations) or ticket offices called Bootiks.
For season tickets, new clients are advised to order a MOBIB pass. The card has a €5 euro deposit fee that is returned to the customer based on the number of years the MOBIB has been used. MOBIB can be bought at a Bootik or ordered via Bootik online (www.stib.be). Loading season tickets on the card is possible at a Bootik, Kiosk, Bootik online or Go vending machines for yearly and monthly season tickets.
Discounts
Children under six ride for free with a paying adult (maximum four children per adult). Children aged six to 11 are eligible for a J-Ticket, which is free with a €5 refundable fee for a MOBIB pass.
Senior citizens live in Brussels also travel for free on the STIB network, but must have a pass to do so. If a card is not automatically received in the mail, send a photocopy of both sides of your ID card and a passport-sized photo to STIB/MIVB, 76 Rue Royale, 1000 Brussels.
International travel
Belgium is at the heart of the high-speed train network, making travel to other countries easy. There are a several options depending on your destination, including Eurostar, Thalys, TGV and InterCity Express.
Eurostar
Eurostar trains use the Channel Tunnel, with a trip from Brussels to London clocking in at just under two hours. Trains leave from Brussels South Station several times a day for St Pancras in London. Discounts are available for business customers as well as frequent travellers. Tickets can be booked from travel agencies or international ticket desks, or online
Thalys
Thalys is a high-speed train that operates between Brussels South Station and northern European cities such as Amsterdam, Aachen and Paris. Booking in advance – at least 14 days – can lead to considerable savings. TGV trains travel from Brussels to more than 30 cities in France, including in the Alps and the French Riviera. It takes just over eight hours to reach Nice on the TGV. Though last-minute bookings can be quite costly, tickets can be cheap when booked well in advance.
ICE
The InterCity Express connects Belgium to Germany with service from Brussels to Frankfurt three times a day. The train makes several stops along the way, but the trip only takes three hours and 45 minutes. SNCB/NMBS also operates EuroCity trains that depart daily from Brussels for major European destinations in eastern France, Switzerland and Luxembourg. There is also a night train option that allows you to travel to various European cities.
Air travel
The major airports in Belgium are Brussels National at Zaventem, Antwerp and Brussels South Charleroi. Though Brussels National is the home base of the national carrier, Brussels Airlines, Charleroi is known for being the low-cost carrier hub, with airlines such as Ryanair and Wizz Air offering direct flights to many destinations. Flights can be as cheap as €10 to Dublin or €40 to Barcelona. You can also fly CityJet from Antwerp to London City and Manchester and you’ll enjoy free parking, plus a short 15-minute check-in time.
Hint: Tickets and MOBIB passes must be swiped before entering the metro and once you get onto a tram or bus. If you transfer, you must revalidate your ticket each time. Tickets are valid for one hour after the first validation.
Hint: Most metro stops have small photo booths where you can get passport-sized photos for about €5.
