Belgium belongs to a number of countries that have dense, well-developed transport systems. From Brussels you can easily get to Germany, the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg and even to the UK through the Channel Tunnel. An excellent geographical position allowed to develop practically all types of transport in Belgium , except for domestic airlines, but a small area of the country does not need them.
Railway communication
A widespread type of public transport in Belgium is considered to be trains - the most high-speed transport throughout Europe. Railways are laid almost in all settlements, their length is about 34 thousand kilometers. Tourists can travel all over the country by train in only 3 hours, and to get from any remote area to the capital, it will take about 1.5-2 hours.
All trains of domestic lines are divided into three types: long-distance (these trains make stops only in large cities), interregional and ordinary daytime trains. The prices for tickets are different, mainly depending on the range of the trip. There is a good system of discounts, which depends on the number of journeys and the age of the passenger. The biggest discounts are used by pensioners.
Traveling the country by train is not only pleasant, but also economical, since you can get off at any stop, stroll around the city, enjoy the amazing beauty of the area, and, without buying a new ticket, go on. In each station of the state you can use the services of a storage room, and the stations themselves are always very clean and comfortable. Any kind of problem will always be tried by friendly and polite inspectors.
Buses, trolley-buses and metro
Such a vehicle, like a bus, forms the basis of public transport in Belgium. It is better to use the bus for suburban and regional trips. The main carriers are De Lijn and TEC. Each city has its own tariffs, but it is possible to issue travel tickets depending on the type of trip. A single ticket costs 1.4 euros, a day ticket costs 3.8 euros, and a night ticket costs 3 euros. You can also purchase a three-day ticket (9 euros), a five-day ticket (12 euros) and a ten-day (15 euros) travel card. You can buy one kind of ticket for all types of public transport.
In the capital, the main bus stations are located near the Southern and Northern railway stations. Public transport starts to walk from 5.30 am to 00.30 am. On Fridays and Saturdays night buses from the city center to the neighborhood run until 3 am.
Also in many cities of Belgium you can ride on trolleybuses. For example, in Brussels, 18 tram lines are laid, the length of which is about 133.5 kilometers. On weekdays and on weekends, trolleybuses go on a trip as well as buses. In rare cases, the route schedule may vary. The interval of trolleybus traffic on the schedule reaches 10-20 minutes. In large cities, such as Bruges and Antwerp , the metro network is also operating from 5.30 am to 00.30 am. Underground trains run every 10 minutes, and in the evening and on weekends - every 5 minutes.
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Rent a car and taxi
In Belgium, you can easily issue cars for rent , given that fuel is many times cheaper than in other countries. To do this you will need an international driver's license, a passport and a credit card. The cost of this service is from 60 euros, depending on what type of rental company you contact. As for parking, it is better to leave cars on paid parking. If the car will stand on the sidewalk or the roadside, it is possible that it will be taken away by the tow truck. Closer to the city center, parking is usually more expensive. In areas of red and green, the car can be no more than 2 hours, and in zones of orange color - no more than 4 hours. In large cities, you can use the underground parking. Also very popular with tourists is the rental of bicycles. You can rent a bicycle in any city.
Another type of affordable transport in Belgium is a taxi. Only in Brussels are about 800 companies. The work of all private companies is monitored by the Ministry of Transport, which established uniform rates for all services involved in the transportation of people. The minimum cost of the trip is 1.15 euro per 1 km. At night, the fare increases by 25%, and tips are usually included in the total amount. All cars have counters, the color of the taxi is white or black with a red sign on the roof.
Water transport modes
In Belgium, the water system is well developed. The country is famous for the largest port in the world - Antwerp, through which about 80% of the total cargo turnover of Belgium flows. The main seaports are also located in Ostend and Ghent . Tourists can travel between cities even by water. In Brussels, the Waterbus water bus has recently started operating twice a week (Tuesday, Thursday). This passenger boat can accommodate up to 90 people. It is worth the pleasure of 2 euros. For a boat trip along rivers and canals, you can hire a boat for about 7 euros, students get a discount (4 euros).
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