Transports in Belgium
Bicycles, cars, streetcars, trains, buses, subway trains, and taxis are some means of transport that can take you anywhere in Belgium.
Bicycles in Belgium
There's an excellent infrastructure for biking in Belgium, so many people commute to work that way.
In general, bikes follow the same traffic rules as cars. However, you must always use cycle lanes if they're present. Also, you're able to go down one-way streets if they say “excepte” (French) or “uitgezonderd” (Dutch) with a picture of a bike.
Make sure you invest in a good lock, as there are many bike thieves. You'll want to lock it to something immovable, if possible.
You'll also want your bike engraved with a serial number (for free) by the police or local commune. The Pro Velo offices also provide this service for a lower cost. That way, if your bike ever gets stolen, it'll be easier to recover.
Cars in Belgium
We discuss driving in Belgium in detail in another article. If you're already used to driving in Europe, then driving in Belgium will be easy since they follow most (if not all) rules that the EU does.
Trams in Belgium
Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Charleroi all have efficient and complete tram networks. In Flanders, the company De Lijn manages the trams. In Brussels, the Brussels Inter-communal Society for Transport (STIB/MIVB) is in charge, and the TEC is in Wallonia. Trams have been a Belgian mode of transportation for a long time.
Each company manages the distribution of its transportation means. Different memberships and fixed prices exist, depending on how often you take the tram and where to go. You can ask for more information on board or at the tram station.
The minimum price for a tram ticket is between €2.10 and €3. You can purchase your ticket on board, online, or at automated machines at the tram station.
Trains in Belgium
The Belgian railway network is the most comprehensive one in Europe. You can visit the official railway website (SNCB, National Rail Belgium) for more information on traveling to and from Belgium.
As for the metro, young travelers benefit from some free travel. Children from 0 to 11 years old (4 children maximum) can take the train for free if accompanied by someone with a valid ticket (aged 12 ). Children aged 6-11 can take the train for free from Monday to Friday after 9:00 am. Families with a family card can take the train for free anytime.
Do note that if you buy a single ticket for the metro, you can use it for 60 minutes after you first validate it. During these 60 minutes, you can change buses as often as you'd like.
Finally, when you want to travel to Paris or London by train, your point of departure will be Brussels Midi/Zuid station. You can also take the Eurostar from Gare du Nord in Brussels to Paris and from Gare de Bruxelles-Midi/Zuid to London.
Buses in Belgium
Belgium has several bus companies operating in different linguistic regions of the country. The TEC company manages public transport in the French-speaking region, including buses. For the Flemish part, the company responsible is De Lijn, and for the Brussels-Capital region, STIB (Société des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles) provides bus and metro services.
If you must travel frequently in different regions, you'll probably need specific season tickets for each transport company. Children under six generally travel free on public transport, including buses, provided an adult accompanies them. For people over 65, there are often reduced fares or specific advantages, but these can vary according to region and transport company. It is not necessary to have a particular TEC pass to benefit from these advantages. The purchase of a single-use bus ticket in Belgium does not generally allow unlimited connections within 60 minutes, as is the case for the train and metro. However, some transport companies offer tickets with connections included or provide special fares for multiple journeys. Coach services are also available. These are relatively inexpensive and can take you to other countries, such as Germany and France. Private companies also offer international connections at generally affordable fares.
MoBIB card in Belgium
In Belgium, there's the MoBIB (Mobility in Belgium) card. It's relatively new; it was only introduced in 2018. It's similar to the public transportation card used in the Netherlands.
There are two cards: anonymous and personal. You can buy these cards at several places, such as online and in stores. If you're living in Belgium long-term, getting a personal card is worth it because you can get discounts for trips by getting monthly or annual subscriptions. Anonymous cards are better for short-term visitors.
You can use your MoBIB card for trams and buses. You can also use it to pay for car parking payments. In addition, the MoBIB card works for numerous car and bike-sharing platforms.
Taxis in Belgium
Taxis in Belgium are operated by private companies. They have an indicator light that says “TAXI” on their roof cars, and you can usually find taxi ranks at train stations and ports, as well as popular tourist attractions.
Fees are decided by each region in which the taxi company is implemented. It varies from €1.40 to €3 per kilometer. In addition, customer management fees may vary according to cab company policy and geographical area. Night rates may be higher due to factors such as increased demand and night-time conditions, but precise amounts vary by region and company.
Fees per kilometer change whether you travel inside or outside the region affiliated with the taxi company. As for waiting times, fees vary from €25 and €30 per hour or €0.50 per minute.
While it's not customary to tip, you should consider rounding up to the nearest euro when paying your driver.
Rideshares in Belgium
Many people prefer carpooling to cabs. There are various ride-sharing services available in Belgium, such as Uber (in Brussels), as well as other ride-sharing platforms like Bolt (formerly Taxify) and Heetch, which offer ride-sharing services in different cities across the country.
Last but not least, BlaBlaCar is also a popular car-sharing platform in Belgium, offering services that connect drivers and passengers to share journeys.
Useful links:
Brussels Inter-Urban Transport
