Destination guides > Europe > Belgium > Brussels > Local transport

Brussels

Local transport

The Brussels' public transport network, operated by STIB, is made up of buses, trains, four metro lines and 15 tram lines that are known as the premétro when they run through tunnels in the city centre. This network is supplemented by buses operated by TEC and De Lijn, respectively serving both the surrounding French and Dutch speaking regions.

METRO, PREMETRO & TRAMS

The four métro lines include lines 1 and 5 that run a circular route around the city centre and lines 2 and 6 that run east-west through the city centre.

 

The premétro offers a similar service to the métro but this system is made up of trams running through tunnels in the city centre which surface and run along the streets in the suburbs. The most useful pre-metro lines run north-south through the city centre from Gare du Nord to Albert with stations at Rogier, De Brouckere, Gare du Midi/Zuid Station and Porte de Hal/Hallepoort.

 

Stations for both the métro and premétro are indicated by a blue sign with a white M. The métro is not as busy as other European systems like those of London or Paris and trains and stations can get quite deserted as early as 10pm.

 

Trams are a good way to visit places in the suburbs, including the Atomium, the Museum voor Midden-Afrika as well as the good hitch-hiking spots. Trams are generally clean and comfortable.

FARES

A single ticket costs €1.70 (€2 if it is bought on board a bus or tram), although it is better value to pay for five or ten journeys at a time. A ten-ride ticket (une carte des dix trajets, s'il vous plaît) costs €12.30. A five-ride ticket is €7.30.

 

If you're planning to see a lot of Brussels in one day, you may like to invest in a one-day pass which costs €4.50. A three-day pass is €9.50.

 

Monthly passes cost €44 if you're aged 25 and older or €30 if you're younger than 25.

 

STIB is in the process of transferring its ticketing system to MoBIB tickets, which is a contactless smart card similar to London's Oyster card. Fares a slightly cheaper with the MoBIB system (a single ticket costs €1.60 instead of €1.70 or €2), but the MoBIB card incurs a refundable €5 fee in addition to the cost of travel.

 

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