Getting around · Brussels · Belgium
Getting around Brussels
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Central Brussels is compact enough to walk, though the climb between the Lower and Upper Towns is steep. STIB runs the metro, trams and buses on one ticket system, and the three main stations — Nord, Central and Midi — are linked by frequent trains through the city. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- BRU, CRL
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- STIB day passes
Ways to get around
Metro
Four metro lines (1, 2, 5 and 6) cross the city east–west and form a loop around the centre, with underground premetro trams on a north–south axis. Line 6 reaches the Atomium at Heysel.
Tap a contactless bank card or phone on the validator at the gate; it charges the standard single fare.
Tram
Trams are the best way to reach Ixelles, Saint-Gilles, Avenue Louise and the Bois de la Cambre, and run on the same STIB tickets.
Walking
The Grand-Place, Sainte-Catherine, the Sablon and the Upper Town museums are all within about 15 minutes' walk of each other.
Bus
STIB buses fill gaps in the tram and metro network, and express bus lines link Brussels Airport with the European Quarter.
Train
SNCB trains link Brussels-Nord, Brussels-Central and Brussels-Midi in a few minutes, and run to Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Leuven and the airport. Eurostar and international high-speed trains use Brussels-Midi.
Cycling
Villo! bike-share stations are spread across the city, and dedicated cycle lanes have expanded, though cobbles, hills and traffic make it less relaxed than in Dutch cities.
Taxi
Licensed taxis wait at stations and ranks, and ride-hailing apps operate in the city. They are useful late at night or with luggage.
Tickets and passes
STIB day passes
24-, 48- and 72-hour passes cover unlimited metro, tram and bus travel within the city; loaded onto a MOBIB card or bought as tickets.
Brussels Card
A 24-, 48- or 72-hour pass with free entry to dozens of museums and optional unlimited public transport.
From the airport
Brussels Airport (BRU) is at Zaventem, about 12 km north-east of the centre. Trains reach Brussels-Central in about 20 minutes (an airport supplement applies), and STIB express buses run to the European Quarter. Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), used by low-cost airlines, is about 55 km south; shuttle coaches reach Brussels-Midi in about an hour.
Do you need a car?
No. Brussels has heavy traffic, a low-emission zone and expensive parking; public transport and trains cover the city and the main day trips.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Bruges | About 1 hour by direct train | SNCB train from any of the three central stations |
| Ghent | About 30–35 minutes by train | SNCB train to Gent-Sint-Pieters, then tram |
| Antwerp | About 40–50 minutes by train | SNCB train to Antwerpen-Centraal |
| Leuven | About 20–30 minutes by train | SNCB train to Leuven |
| Mechelen | About 20 minutes by train | SNCB train to Mechelen |
| Waterloo | About 40 minutes by bus or train | TEC bus or train to Braine-l'Alleud, then bus |
| Dinant | About 1 hour 45 minutes by train | SNCB train via Namur |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Brussels?
No. Brussels has heavy traffic, a low-emission zone and expensive parking; public transport and trains cover the city and the main day trips.
+How do you get from the airport to Brussels?
Brussels Airport (BRU) is at Zaventem, about 12 km north-east of the centre. Trains reach Brussels-Central in about 20 minutes (an airport supplement applies), and STIB express buses run to the European Quarter. Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), used by low-cost airlines, is about 55 km south; shuttle coaches reach Brussels-Midi in about an hour.
+What is the best way to get around Brussels?
Metro: Four metro lines (1, 2, 5 and 6) cross the city east–west and form a loop around the centre, with underground premetro trams on a north–south axis. Line 6 reaches the Atomium at Heysel.