Brussels public transport is run by STIB-MIVB: 4 metro lines (1, 2, 5, 6; about 40 km), 18 tram lines including the underground north-south 'premetro' (trams 3 and 4 between Gare du Nord, De Brouckere, Bourse and Gare du Midi) and about 50 bus lines. Belgian rail (SNCB) links the three main stations - Nord, Central and Midi - through a tunnel, and De Lijn (Flemish) and TEC (Walloon) buses also run into the city. The network runs roughly 05:30 to 00:30-01:00. The centre is compact and walkable; metro is most useful for the European Quarter, Heysel/Atomium and the outer communes.
Paying: Contactless bank card or phone (tap on the validator), MOBIB card, or tickets from GO machines and the STIB app
How to buy
Tap a contactless bank card or phone on the validator at the metro gate or on board every tram and bus; STIB also sells single, 10-journey, 24h and multi-day tickets on MOBIB cards from GO machines and in its app. Brupass tickets also cover SNCB, De Lijn and TEC inside the Brussels region. Buses to the airport need a special airport fare.
Fares
A ticket is valid for one hour with free transfers between metro, tram and bus. Check current fares on stib-mivb.be.
Lines and services
- MetroMetro lines 1 and 5
Share the east-west trunk: Gare de l'Ouest - Comte de Flandre - Sainte-Catherine - De Brouckere - Gare Centrale - Parc - Arts-Loi - Maelbeek - Schuman (EU) - Merode (Cinquantenaire). Line 1 continues to Stockel, line 5 to Herrmann-Debroux and west to Erasme.
- MetroMetro lines 2 and 6
Run around the inner ring: Simonis (Koekelberg) - Arts-Loi - Porte de Namur (Matonge) - Louise - Porte de Hal - Gare du Midi. Line 6 continues north to Heysel (Atomium) and Roi Baudouin.
- TramPremetro trams 3 and 4
Underground north-south axis Gare du Nord - Rogier - De Brouckere - Bourse (Grand-Place) - Anneessens - Lemonnier - Gare du Midi; tram 4 continues to the Parvis de Saint-Gilles. The axis is due to become Metro 3 around 2030.
- TramTram 8, 81, 92, 7
8: Louise - Bois de la Cambre; 81: Midi - Flagey - Montgomery; 92: along Rue de la Regence (Sablon, Petit Sablon) and Chaussee de Charleroi (near Horta Museum); 7: outer ring to Heysel via Schaerbeek.
- BusSTIB buses
Bus 71 (De Brouckere - Porte de Namur - Flagey - ULB) is the key local line through Ixelles; bus 12 runs from the European Quarter to Brussels Airport.
- TrainSNCB trains
Frequent trains between Midi, Central and Nord in a few minutes; to the airport in under 30 minutes (airport supplement charged).
- TaxiLicensed taxis
Licensed taxis carry a blue-and-yellow emblem; ranks at stations and in front of the airport arrivals hall. Ride-hailing apps also operate.
- BikeVillo! bike share and e-scooters
Public bike-share docks across the region plus dockless e-bikes and scooters; the centre has many cobbled streets and steep hills between lower and upper town.
Common trips
Brussels-Midi stationGrand-Place12 min
Premetro tram 3 or 4 to Bourse (4 stops), then 3 min walk
- Train to Brussels-Central, then 5 min walk
- Walk 25 min via Boulevard Lemonnier
Brussels Airport (BRU)City centre (Central)20 min
SNCB train to Brussels-Central
- STIB bus 12 to Schuman for the EU quarter
- Taxi from the arrivals rank
Charleroi Airport (CRL)Brussels-Midi60 min
Flibco shuttle bus
- Bus to Charleroi-Sud station, then SNCB train to Brussels
City centre (De Brouckere)Atomium30 min
Metro 1/5 to Beekkant or Arts-Loi and change to line 6 to Heysel, or tram 3 to Esplanade and 5 min walk
- Tram 7 on the outer ring
- Taxi about 20 min
Grand-PlaceEuropean Quarter (Schuman)20 min
Walk to Gare Centrale and take metro 1 or 5 to Schuman (4 stops)
- Metro to Trone for the Parlamentarium
- Walk 30 min via Parc de Bruxelles
SchumanCinquantenaire / Place Jourdan10 min
Walk 10 min
- Metro 1 or 5 one stop to Merode
Grand-PlaceHorta Museum (Saint-Gilles)25 min
Tram 92 from the Sablon along Chaussee de Charleroi, then about 5 min walk to Rue Americaine
- Metro 2/6 to Louise, then tram 92 or 97
- Walk about 35 min
City centrePlace Flagey (Ixelles)20 min
Bus 71 from De Brouckere or Gare Centrale to Flagey
- Tram 81 from Montgomery or Gare du Midi
- Walk about 35 min
Brussels-MidiCantillon Brewery10 min
Walk 10 min west via Rue Gheude
- Metro 2/6 to Clemenceau, 5 min walk
Avenue LouiseBois de la Cambre15 min
Tram 8 along Avenue Louise to the Bois de la Cambre stops
- Walk 30 min through Ixelles and La Cambre Abbey
City centreKoekelberg Basilica25 min
Metro 2 or 6 to Simonis, then 10 min walk
- Metro 1/5 to Beekkant and change
Brussels-NordTrain World15 min
SNCB train one stop to Schaerbeek station
- Tram 92 to Schaerbeek Gare
Grand-PlaceMarolles / Jeu de Balle15 min
Walk 15 min via Rue Haute or Rue Blaes
- Metro 2/6 to Porte de Hal, 5 min walk
To and from the airport
BRU
- Train · 20 minRegular fare plus the Diabolo airport supplement (2026 amount not verified)
At least four trains an hour from the station under the terminal to Nord, Central and Midi.
- Bus · 35 minSpecial STIB airport fare (2026 amount not verified)
STIB line 12 runs to the European Quarter (Schuman, Luxembourg, Trone); good if staying near the EU institutions.
- Taxi · 30 minMetered; ask for an estimate before leaving (not verified 2026)
Licensed blue-and-yellow taxis wait in front of arrivals; ignore anyone soliciting inside the terminal.
CRL
- Bus · 60 minShuttle fare varies by booking time (not verified 2026)
Brussels South Charleroi is about 40-60 km away and mainly low-cost airlines; the Flibco shuttle links it to Brussels-Midi. Book online for lower fares; journey time is approximate and traffic dependent.
Good to know
- Tap your card or phone on the validator every time you board a tram or bus, not only when entering the metro - a transfer within the hour is free but still needs a tap.
- Use the same card for everyone only if you each have your own; one contactless card pays for one person.
- The Grand-Place, Sablon and Marolles are closer on foot than by metro: the centre fits in a 30-minute walk.
- Bourse and De Brouckere premetro stations and the Midi and Nord station areas are pickpocket hotspots; keep phones out of back pockets.
- From the airport, the train is fastest to the centre; the 12 bus is better for the European Quarter.
Useful apps
- STIB-MIVB (tickets, real-time times)
- SNCB (Belgian rail tickets)
- De Lijn and TEC (regional buses)
- Citymapper or Google Maps for routing
- Villo! (bike share)
- Taxis Verts / ride-hailing apps