How to get around Belgium
Navigating Belgium is straightforward with a variety of public and private transport options. Here's what you need to know about getting between and within its cities and towns.
Inter-City Travel
Travelling between Belgian cities is primarily efficient by train, operated by SNCB/NMBS. Standard tickets for a single journey typically range from €2.50 to €26, depending on distance. For frequent travel, a 10-trip 'Standard Multi' (Rail Pass) costs €99, or €99 via the SNCB app, and can be shared.
Travellers aged 12-25 can use the 'Youth Multi' (Go Pass), offering 10 journeys for €60, also shareable. Weekend return tickets are 50% cheaper, valid from Friday evening until Sunday. Children under 12 generally travel free when accompanied by a paying adult. Booking tickets in advance is not usually necessary as prices are fixed. An on-board ticket purchase incurs an additional €9 fee.
While trains are the main intercity option, intercity buses, like those offered by FlixBus or BlaBlaCar Bus, are available, with routes such as Brussels to Bruges costing around €13-€17. Car rental is also an option, with compact car rentals averaging around $42-$60 per day, though prices can vary, and can be found from €19-€23 per day. Belgian motorways are toll-free.
Travel Within Cities
Within Belgian cities, public transport networks consist of buses, trams, and in Brussels, a metro system. Each region has its own operator: STIB/MIVB in Brussels, De Lijn in Flanders (including Antwerp and Ghent), and TEC in Wallonia.
A single journey ticket in Brussels typically costs €2.40 if purchased on a MOBIB card or at a vending machine, and €2.50-€2.60 when bought on board. A day pass in Brussels costs €7.80-€8.40, allowing unlimited travel. Contactless payment is available in Brussels, with a single journey costing €2.30 and a daily cap of €8.40.
In Flanders, single tickets for De Lijn services are approximately €1.80 via the app or €2.50 via text, valid for 60 minutes with unlimited transfers. A 10-ride card (m-card10) costs €15, and a day pass (m-daypass) is €7.50.
In Wallonia, TEC bus fares vary by zone, from €2 for a 'Next' ticket (up to 2 zones) bought in advance to €3.50 for a 'Horizon' ticket (no zone limitation) bought on board. The MOBIB card, costing €5 and valid for 5 years, can store tickets across different operators.
