The transport infrastructure of the capital of Belgium is very well developed, and the residents of Brussels and its guests can easily, quickly and absolutely safely get to anywhere in the city. Public transport in Brussels includes trams and metro, buses and electric trains. All transport in Brussels, except for electric trains (4 metro lines, 18 tram and 61 bus routes, including 11 night ones), is managed by one company Société des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles (often abbreviated STIB).
Ticket prices
Travel in Brussels in all types of municipal transport is the same. Tickets vary in types:
- MOBIB - ticket for the trip by STIB transport with the possibility of line change; can be for one trip (2.10 euros) or for 10 trips (14 euros).
- JUMP - a ticket for the trip with the possibility of changing the route STIB, is valid on Brussels trains (SNCB) and buses De Lijn and TEC; the ticket for one trip will cost 2.50 euros, for 5 trips - 8 euros; There is also a one-day ticket that can be used for an unlimited number of trips, it costs 7.50.
- There is a round trip ticket on STIB lines within 24 hours, it costs 4.20 euros.
At the NATO section - International Airport (these are buses Nos. 12 and 21), these prices do not apply. Travel to Etnich will cost 6 euros for 1 trip, if you purchase a ticket right on the bus, and 4.50 - if you buy it at the sale center or online. You can buy a ticket for 10 trips, it will cost 32 euros.
There are also special tourist tickets, which you can travel by any means of transport. For 24 hours the ticket costs 7.50, for 48 hours - 14, and for 72 hours - 18 euros.
| | |
Trams
The tramway system of Brussels is one of the oldest in Europe: the first steam tram was launched in the city in 1877, and the electric one in 1894. Unlike the usual trams, the Belgians have two cabins and doors on both sides, and to get out on passengers must press the green button on the door.
Please note: trams have advantages over pedestrians, so on narrow streets in the center of the city you need to be especially careful when crossing the road to avoid getting under the car or under the tram. The entire tramway park in Brussels has a single color scheme - the cars are painted in silvery brown. In summer you can see old trams with sucker pantographs and even ride them - they run along the line from the Park of the Pentecost to Tervuren. Route charts and timetables can be seen at any tram stop.
Underground trams or metro trams (in Brussels they are also called "premetro") serve the center of the city. The stations are designed in the same way as the metro, but, nevertheless, they do not apply to the subway system.
Metro
The Brussels Metro is 4 lines with a total length of almost 50 km and 59 stations. The first two lines initially functioned as underground trams and became underground only in 1976. By the way, some sectors are located on the surface.
Please note: from 2014 the ticket must not only be scanned at the entrance to the metro, but also presented at the exit from the car.
| | |
Buses
The first bus appeared on the streets of Brussels in 1907. Today the bus network of the city is 50 days and 11 night routes. The daily routes "cover" 360 kilometers of roads. They run from 5-30 to 00-30, as well as the metro and trams. Night buses go on Fridays and Saturdays from 00-15 to 03-00 on the main Brussels routes.
In addition to municipal, in Brussels, shuttle buses are operated by De Lijn, which can be reached in different areas of Flanders.
Trains
In Brussels, there are several train stations, from which you can get to almost any corner of Belgium . The largest of the stations - North, South and Central. They are connected to each other by a tunnel.
What is very convenient is the fact that there is no time on the tickets for internal trains. So if you are late for an intercity train, it's okay, the next one will be not later than in an hour, and your ticket is still valid. Tickets are "composted" already in the train itself, and you can buy them at any of the railway stations, which are indicated by the letter "B" in the circle. Trains start to walk at 4-30, finish at 23-00. In trains there are cars of 1 and 2 classes, they differ in terms of comfort. If you bought a ticket of class 2, but want to go to the 1 st - just pay the conductor a difference.
Trains of international destination come mainly to the South Station. From here you can go to Cologne, Paris, Amsterdam, London. The train to Frankfurt runs from the Northern Railway Station.
| | |
Taxi
Taxi services in Brussels are provided by several operators, but all firms are under the control of the Directorate of Taxi of the Ministry of the Brussels region, so the tariff rate is unified. The management supervises both professionalism of drivers, and a technical condition of cars, here it is necessary to address with the complaints. In total, the capital is serviced by more than 1,300 cars, painted white or black, and equipped with a luminous TAXI sign. Each car has a counter, after a trip, the driver must give the passenger a check, which indicates the registration number of the car and the amount of travel. There is also a special night taxi service - Collecto. There are many parking lots of such cars around the city.
Bicycles
Very many people in Brussels are riding around the city on bicycles. Tourists can also rent this type of transport. This way of transportation will save money and at the same time enjoy all the sights of the Belgian capital. There are several companies engaged in rental bicycles, the largest of them is Villo. The points of hire in the city are about 200, they are located approximately every half a kilometer. You should know that bike paths around the city are not everywhere. Movement on bicycles on sidewalks is prohibited.
| | |
