Ticket to ride

One only has to experience a traffic jam on Brussels’ inner ring to know that increasingly the best way to travel around the city is by public transport. Eco-friendly, cheap and on your doorstep, Brussels’ efficient system often makes for a far more pleasant experience than moving about by car. Here is a guide on how to make the most of it

When it comes to public transport in Brussels, the company that dominates the cityscape is STIB/MIVB (Société des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles/Maatschappij voor het Intercommunaal Vervoer te Brussel). It runs the city’s entire network of underground, tram and bus lines where you can switch from one to the other with the same ticket.

STIB operates from 5.00 to midnight (Friday and Saturday until 3.00), covering the 19 communes as well as 11 other outlying communes. The network consists of 4 metro lines, 50 bus lines, 19 tram lines and 11 Noctis (night) bus lines. In recent times STIB has focused on the development of new technologies including the launch of the MOBIB chip card (similar to London’s Oyster card) and the introduction of ticket gates in underground stations.

Tickets

A MOBIB card (€5) is valid for five years. It can store different travel formulas, which are cheaper than the paper ticket versions. You can buy a MOBIB card from STIB ticket offices around town. Be prepared to provide a photo and ID when you apply for your first card. Top up your card using payment machines at STIB hubs.

MOBIB prices

Single ticket €1.60/5 journeys €7.30/10 journeys €11.20/1 day €4.20/3 days €9.20/Return €3.30/STIB season ticket, €45.50 (25-64-year-olds)/MTB season ticket, €51 (25-64-year-olds)

SNCB/De Lijn/TEC

STIB MTB season ticket holders can travel on SNCB/NMBS, Belgium’s national railway system, De Lijn (Flemish network of buses and trams) or TEC (buses serving the Walloon Region) within the Brussels Region.

Brussels Card (24-hour, 48-hour and 72-hour) allows entry to over 30 museums, use of public transport and exclusive offers in restaurants and tourist attractions. Prices are €24, €34 and €40. Book a card online at www.brusselscard.be

Airport bus

No 12/21 runs from the Schuman district to Zaventem (airport). A single journey costs €3.

Noctis

Night buses run from 00.15 to 3.00 every Friday and Saturday, and day fares apply.

Bicycles

Bikes are allowed on metro/tram lines except during rush hour Monday to Friday, 7.00 to 9.00 and 16.00 to 18.30.

MOBIB card holders are entitled to a discount when they use Villo!, a scheme where you can pick up a bike at one of the 180 stations, 24/7 all over the city.

Car-sharing/collective taxi service

MOBIB card-holders are entitled to a discount when they use the car-share Cambio scheme.

Collecto (tel 02.800.36.36, 20 minutes in advance) is a cheap taxi service for a group of up to 4 passengers wishing to travel together in the same direction. It operates between 23.00 and 6.00, 7 days a week in the 19 communes. The price of a journey is €6 (€5 for MOBIB ticket holders) per passenger. There are 200 pick-up spots located at STIB stops.    

Where to buy STIB tickets

BOOTIK Located at six Brussels metro stops.

KIOSK 19 Kiosk ticket offices in the major underground stations.

GO Some 275 vending machines in underground stations and at the most important bus and tram stops.

Shops Most supermarkets/newsagents. Check the SHOP signs at stops.

Bootik online MOBIB monthly and annual tickets.

Children

Children under 6 (4 maximum per paying adult) travel free. Children between 6 and 12 travel free too if they possess a J card (issued by STIB to children from EU member states resident in Brussels).  

Fines

Range from €75 to €250 for not having a valid ticket. The STIB website provides a week’s list of the lines that will be checked but look out for surprise inspections.   

Tips

1 Drivers are not obliged to accept more than a €5 note.

2 Trams and buses only stop on request.

3 Tickets are cheaper if you use a MOBIB card or if you buy the tickets before boarding.

4 Some bus numbers change after 20.00/weekends - the 12 airport bus becomes 21 after 20.00 and at weekends.

5 Don’t keep your mobile next to your MOBIB as it can demagnetize the card.  

6 Tickets, valid for one hour, should be validated with each transfer.

New

From this month, tram 62 Bordet runs from Evere to Schaerbeek. Also, line 33 (evening line) is set to be replaced by the existing line 4 and line 32 (evening line) will be extended from Gare du Nord to Bordet. 

Links

STIB www.stib.be (m.stib.be for mobiles with internet access)

SNCB www.b-rail.be

De Lijn www.delijn.be

TEC www.infotec.be

Car-sharing www.cambio.be

Collecto taxi service www.bruxelles.irisnet.be/mobilite-et-transports

Bikes www.villo.be