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Good to know:, will i save money by booking in advance online, are there any other means of saving money when travelling on belgian trains, what about child tickets on belgian trains, tickets for seniors, do i need to reserve seats on belgian trains, can i use a ticket on any train, do i need a ticket for my dog, national booking agent:, general train ticket guides:, a guide to international trains to and from belgium:, what do i need to know about booking tickets for trains from belgium to luxembourg, which rail tickets can be booked on b-europe.com, how can i save money by booking on b-europe.com, how far ahead can i book tickets on b-europe.com, what about seat reservations on the international trains from and to belgium, how to use b-europe:, international ticket agents:, agents in other countries:, using rail passes within belgium:, using eurail and passes on the international trains:, national rail passes, international rail passes, online rail pass reservations:, the general guide to belgian rail travel:.

Buying and using Tickets & Rail Passes in Belgium

This guide will help you save money, time and confusion.

Welcome to ShowMeTheJourney's guide to booking train tickets for journeys within AND from/to Belgium , the info covers the core basics of what you can expect to encounter when making bookings. The intention is to provide is some context for the tickets and journey options you should encounter, in normal circumstances, when making a booking either online or at the station. SMTJ has striven to ensure that the included advice is as accurate as possible, but a guide such as this cannot cover every combination of journey options.

If you want to go right ahead with a booking, you can go use the content menu to go direct to the booking agents which sell train journeys to and from Belgium. Though before doing so, having an idea of what's available is recommended, hence the in-depth guide.

In summary three things which are good to know about tickets for train journeys within and from/to Belgium are:

• NMBS/SNCB operates Belgian trains and it provides two different websites for online ticket bookings:
• BelgianRail; sells tickets for domestic train journeys within Belgium
• B-Europe; sells tickets for international train journeys from and to Belgium. NMBS/SNCB does so, because differing terms apply to the domestic and international journey tickets.
• For journeys within Belgium you won't save by booking in advance online, so will pay the same price if you buy tickets last minute at the station.
• Reservations are not available for train journeys within Belgium.

Booking train tickets for journeys within Belgium:

Travelling in Belgium by train is comparatively straightforward which makes it relatively easy to explore the country by train; hence the list of questions being comparatively short!

The simple answer is 'no it isn't possible'. Tickets aren’t discounted if purchased online on BelgianRail in advance of the travel date, you pay the same price at the station as you do online, even if you will be buying tickets last minute at the station immediately before boarding the train. So there’s no need to book online to obtain the cheapest price. Therefore if you’re visiting Belgium, the balance tips in favour of buying at the station, where you can save time by taking an advantage of the straightforward ticket machines.

If you will be making a RETURN trip in Belgium by train between 19:00 on Fridays and midnight on Sundays, you can purchase Weekend Tickets , which give a 50% discount.

Or if you will be in Belgium for an extended period of time and want to explore the country by train, which is highly recommended, then this rail pass can be the best option. For only €83 it provides for 10 train journeys anywhere in Belgium in 2nd class, or for an additional €45 you can travel 1st class. So this pass can be used to travel around Belgium on an itinerary, or an individual can use it for five day trips, or it covers five train journeys when two people travel together. In comparison a 5 day InterRail Benelux pass, which also covers The Netherlands and Luxembourg, is €169.

Children aged under 12:

If you have young children exploring Belgium by train as a family is fantastic value for money! Each adult (12 and over) ticket enables up to 4 accompanied children age under 12 to travel for free, in both 1st class and 2nd class. Though be aware that you will need to be able to provide proof of the age of the children to the conductors, so take their passports with you on journeys within Belgium You don't need to book these 'free' child tickets; the adult ticket will be valid for the children too.

Children aged 12 and over:

Not such good news if your children are teenagers! Children aged 12 and over have to travel at the adult rates.

The Senior Ticket can be used by those aged 65 and over on any Belgian train departing after 09:00 on Monday to Friday and at any time on a weekend or national holidays. It can be used for a single or return journey anywhere in Belgium , on the day it is purchased at a station ticket counter. It costs only €7.20 for travel in 2nd class and €15.30 in 1st class, so you haven't got to go far to save money.

Seats can’t be reserved on any domestic train service within Belgium (they're available/compulsory on the high speed trains from and to Belgium). Therefore booking online in advance doesn’t guarantee you a seat, though SMTJ has taken dozens of Belgian trains and has yet to encounter a train on which no spare seats were available.

Standard prices are charged based on distance, so you won’t have to pay a premium at peak times. However, as a result the trains at peak times can be crowded and no reservations means that seats may not be available on all trains. So if possible avoid travelling at rush hours, particularly when travelling from/to Brussels/Bruxelles.

On routes served by both stopping (S) trains and express IC trains, tickets will be valid on any train. So you don't have to buy special tickets, or pay a premium to travel on the faster IC trains.

However, there are two exceptions to this rule:

(1) If you are travelling between Bruxelles and Antwerpen, tickets can't be used on Thalys trains. (They can be used on the IC ('Intercity Brussels') trains that will be travelling between Belgium and The Netherlands).

(2) If you are travelling between Bruxelles and Liege tickets can't be used to travel by the ICE trains or the Thalys trains.

The 'rules' set by the Belgian national rail operator set by SNCB are that if a dog can be fitted in a pet carrier / container measuring no more than 30x55x30cm, no ticket will be required for the dog. If it is too large for the container a 'pet supplement' ticket is required which has a flat rate of €3 for any journey within Belgium. Dog not in the containers do not have to be muzzled, but the conductor on the train apparently may request it.

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Booking tickets for international rail journeys from and to Belgium:

In contrast to tickets for train journeys within Belgium, booking tickets for the international trains from and to Belgium can be a little more complicated. However, for most journeys it's worth persevering with booking online in advance, as it's possible to make big savings!

Belgium's national rail operator NMBS/SNCB doesn't apply any special rules for journeys between Belgium and Luxembourg. Therefore booking tickets for journeys to Luxembourg is no different to booking tickets to Belgian cities, so tickets won't be discounted online and seats can't be reserved.

Travelling from Britain to Luxembourg by train:

Eurostar does not sell tickets for journeys between London, Ebbsfleet or Ashford and Luxembourg. However, an option is to

• book an 'Any Belgian Station' ticket(s) on Eurostar.com which will be valid to the Belgian border station at Arlon.
• then on arrival at Bruxelles-Midi station visit the SNCB 'International Ticket Desk and book a ticket from Arlon to Luxembourg.

B-Europe sells tickets for journeys by:

(1) Thalys trains to/from Paris, The Netherlands and Germany

(2) ICE trains to/from Germany

(3) IC trains to/from The Netherlands

(4) Eurostar trains

(5) TGV trains between Bruxelles and towns/cities in France other than Paris

(6) IC trains between Belgium and Lille

Limited numbers of discounted tickets will be available on the routes taken by the international trains from and to Belgium listed above; except for the IC trains between Belgium and Lille. So the further ahead you can book, the bigger the savings you can make, particularly if you be travelling on one of the high speed services: Eurostar, ICE, Thalys and TGB (TGV).

'Non-Flex Tickets':

On B-Europe the cheapest advance tickets are named ‘Non Flex’ and they live up to their name. They are valid only for travel on the specific trains you chose to travel by when making a booking AND don’t allow for any subsequent change of travel plans - so 'Non-Flex' tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.

However, Non-Flex tickets are rarely still available if you're not booking more than 2 months ahead; particularly on the high speed services/routes. They also inevitably tend to sell out fastest on the most popular trains, so you may need to search through the departures in order to track them down on your first choice of travel date.

B-Europe's 'Best Fares' Policy:

If you will be making an international train journey particularly from Belgium, but also to Belgium, the advice is to always check the prices being offered by B-Europe, as it operates a ‘Best Fares' policy

This depends on the train service you will be travelling by:

(1) Thalys trains to/from Paris, Lille, The Netherlands and Germany = 4 months ahead of the travel date

(2) ICE trains to/from Germany = 6 months ahead of the travel date

(3) IC trains to/from The Netherlands = 6 months ahead of the travel date

Note that that the IC trains can be booked two months ahead of the Thalys trains, so if you look up journeys more than 4 months ahead you will only see the IC trains available for booking and NOT the Thalys trains.

(4) Eurostar trains = 190 days ahead of the travel date (usually)

(5) TGV France-Belgium trains = 3 months ahead of the travel date

However, if you will be searching for journeys between mid-September and mid-November AND travelling after the second weekend in December - the booking windows may be shorter while the new timetables for the year ahead are confirmed.

In contrast to train services within Belgium, seat reservations are available on most, but not all, international train services from and to Belgium.

(1) Thalys trains to/from Paris, Lille, The Netherlands and Germany = reservations are included in the ticket price, so seats will be automatically assigned when making a booking

(2) ICE trains to/from Germany = Reservations are included in the price of 1st class tickets, so seats will be automatically assigned when booking 1st class.

However, when booking 2nd class seats for a journey by ICE train, they are optional. B-Europe will initially assign reservations for 2nd class journeys by ICE trains and the reservation fee will be included in the ticket price ; but as reservations are optional you can choose to remove it. If you do so the price will reduce.

Without a reservation seats are not guaranteed on the ICE trains; reservations are particularly recommended in 2nd class if you will be travelling at evening business hours, or in the afternoon/evening on Fridays and Sundays.

(3) IC trains to/from The Netherlands, Lille in France and Luxembourg = Reservations are NOT available.

Note that that reservations aren't available on the IC trains between Belgium and The Netherlands; in contrast they are included when booking tickets to travel by the Thalys trains.

However, spare seats on these IC (Intercity Brussels) trains are usually available, though avoid travelling north from Bruxelles in 2nd class in the evening business hours.

(4) Eurostar trains = reservations are included in the ticket price, so seats will be automatically assigned when making a booking

(5) TGV France-Belgium trains = reservations are included in the ticket price, so seats will be automatically assigned when making a booking

There is a difference between how Eurail and InterRail passes can be used on trains in Belgium compared to how they can be used on MOST international trains; hence the dedicated guide to using rail passes on the trains to and from Belgium which you'll find below.

As reservations aren't required on any train operated by NMBS/SNCB, you can hop on and off virtually any train in Belgium if you're travelling with a Eurail or InterRail Pass. The only notable exceptions are the Thalys trains between Brussels/Bruxelles and both Antwerpen and Liege/Luik.

To get value for money out of your pass, plan multi stop day trips and see more than one great city in a single day. Viable itineraries for exploring with a rail pass include:

• Antwerpen - Gent - Brugge - Antwerpen
• Bruxelles - Antwerpen - Gent - Bruxelles
• Bruxelles - Mons - Ieper/Ypres - Bruxelles
• Bruxelles - Gent - Brugge - Bruxelles

Simon Harper

I wanted to share my passion for train travel and explain how anyone can take the fantastic journeys I have taken.

This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney , which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.

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Price of public transport in Brussels

Find out and compare the prices of the different tickets and transport cards of Brussels , and choose the most convenient one for you.

The transport system in Brussels is not as efficient as the metro in Madrid for example or as extensive as cities such as  London . On a positive note, a one-journey is not very expensive and the travel cards are relatively cheap.

Below you will find a list of tickets and travel cards that are all valid for the Brussels Metro , local city buses and trams .

Price of a one-way journey ticket

A one-way ticket in Brussels is valid for an hour once you have validated it on a metro, bus, or tram machine. During that time, you can change between lines or form of transport.

• One-way ticket : € 2.40 ( US$ 2.60)
• Five-journey ticket : € 8 ( US$ 8.70)
• Ten-journey ticket : € 15.60 ( US$ 16.90)

Remember to always validate your ticket otherwise, you could get fined.

Travel cards

If you are staying in Brussels for a few days, you might prefer to buy a travel card that is valid for one or several days . These travel cards are valid for a day not 24-hours like other cities. This means that if you validate a ticket in the afternoon, it will expire at midnight that same day.

• One-day travel card: € 7.80 ( US$ 8.40)

Where to purchase a transport ticket?

All transport tickets and travel cards can be bought in any metro station or at a city newsstand .

You can buy a one-way journey ticket from any bus or tram driver if you catch the tram or bus without having a ticket, but these have a small supplement.

You may also be interested in

Although they are perhaps among the most expensive taxis in Europe, there still might come a moment when you need to take one. Find out taxi fares in Brussels here.

Getting to Brussels

Thanks to its location and standing as the capital of the EU, Brussels is one of the best-connected cities in Europe. It's pretty easy to get to by air from all major cities and has enviable rail connections with its neighboring countries.

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad
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Entry requirements

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Belgium set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Belgian Embassy in the UK .

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Belgium.

If a country is classified as very high risk for COVID-19, the Belgian government may restrict travel. See COVID-19 measures from the Belgian government for further information. There are currently no very high risk zones.

Children aged 17 and under

Adults travelling to or from Belgium with children aged 17 and under may be asked to provide proof of their relationship to the children they are accompanying at border control. This applies to:

• anyone exercising parental authority

Carry documents with you as proof, for example a birth certificate or court order, particularly if you have a different surname to the children.

If you’re resident in Belgium, see living in Belgium for recommendations on documents to carry if travelling with a child.

Travelling through Calais

If you’re travelling through Calais, check the travel advice for France .

Passport validity requirements

To travel to Belgium, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements .

To enter Belgium (and all Schengen countries) your passport must:

• have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive. Passports issued after 1 October 2018 are now valid for only 10 years, but for passports issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added if you renewed a passport early
• have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Checks at border control

Make sure you get your passport stamped.

If you’re a visitor, your passport must be stamped when you enter or leave the Schengen area (which includes Belgium). Border guards will use passport stamps to check you have not overstayed the 90-day visa-free limit for stays in the Schengen area. If your passport was not stamped, border guards will presume you have overstayed the visa-free limit.

If your passport was not stamped, show evidence of when and where you entered or left the Schengen area (for example, boarding passes or tickets) and ask the border guards to add the date and location in your passport.

Read about passport stamping if you live in Belgium .

At Belgian border control, you may also need to:

• show a return or onward ticket
• show you have enough money for your stay

Visa requirements

You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area (including Belgium) for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel:

• as a tourist
• to visit family or friends

to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events

• for short-term studies or training

If you’re travelling to Belgium and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries in the 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.

To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you must meet the Belgian government’s entry requirements. Check which type of visa or work permit you need with the Belgian Embassy .

If you stay in Belgium with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

Vaccination requirements (other than COVID-19)

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and certificates you need in TravelHealthPro’s Belgium guide .

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods that can be brought into and taken out of Belgium . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking food into Belgium

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries . There are some exceptions such as powdered baby milk, baby food and special foods or pet feed required for medical reasons.

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Belgium Public Transport Guide

The Belgium public transport network is quite extensive, making it easy to travel through Belgium on train, tram or bus. At first our public transport system might sound a bit confusing for foreigners, since it’s nearly as divided as our local governments. Luckily it’s far much easier to explain and rather convenient to use, once you get a hang of it and know the tricks.

In this guide I will try to explain everything you need to know about getting around in Belgium using the public transport network, how all the different ticket systems work and what kind of tickets you should buy to get the cheapest rate.

Last update : 13 februari 202 4

Table of Contents

Introduction to Belgium’s Public Transport Network

There are 4 different transport companies operating the public transport lines in Belgium. It has to be noted that all of these companies and lines offer great connection with each other.

• SNCB/NMBS operates the national railway services .
• MIVB/STIB operates bus, tram and metro lines in Brussels
• De Lijn operates tram and bus lines in Flanders
• TEC operates tram and bus lines in Wallonie

The Mobib Travel Card

All different transport companies use their own separate ticket systems and rates. To make things easier, the MOBIB Travel card was introduced in 2018. It’s a chipcard that allows you to buy all the tickets you’ll need with 1 card and top it up at one of the many dispenser points. The card is valid on the entire Belgian public transport system.

Pricing : The Mobib Travel Card costs 5€ and is valid for 5 years. More Info : https://www.stib-mivb.be/article.html?l=en&_guid=30af0085-2483-3410-5394-a71daf08acd1

It’s no longer required to buy a Mobib Card for using the Brussels Public Transport.

The answer is probably yes! Having a Mobib travel card will make it easier buy all the tickets you need at the lowest fare possible.

This depends on how much your planning to travel around the country and rely on the public transport system.

Types of public transport in Belgium

Traveling by train in belgium.

Belgium has an extended railway system, making it very easy to travel travel by train between all major cities and several smaller towns. Trains are the backbone of Belgium’s public transport system and the preferred method of transportation to cover longer distances.

Tickets & fares:

• Single ticket fares vary according to the destination.
• 10 trips railpasses cost 99€ and can be shared with your friends or family
• Weekend return tickets are 50% cheaper!
• Children under 12 always travel for free
• Are you under 26? A youth tickets lets you travel for 7,50€ per single trip

Below are a few examples of the fares between most visited tourist destinations in Belgium. Find your ticket rates and plan your journey on SNCB official website (belgiantrain.be)

Note that the MOBIB Travel card is not needed to get the best prices for NMBS/SNCB train tickets.

A Standard Multi Rail pass for 10 trips  costs 99€ and is valid for an entire year. Unless you’re traveling short distance, the fixed price of 9,90€ per trip allows you to save extra money. However the best thing about this railpass is that you can share it with your family and friends.

During the weekends, return tickets are sold at half price! They can be used starting from Friday 7 p.m. until Sunday evening.

Travelers and backpackers from ages 12-25 can travel inexpensively with the youth ticket to any destination in Belgium for a fixed rate of 7,50€

The Youth Multi Go Pass is a cheap and share-able 10 journey pass for travelers from ages 12-25. It costs 60€ and allows you to travel anywhere in Belgium for a fixed rated of 6€. Just like the Standard Multi Rail Pass, it can be shared between family or friends.

During the Belgian school holidays you can get a special Youth Holidays Pass , allowing you to travel all across Belgium for just 18€ for an entire week. In July and August you can also buy a Youth Holidays pass that’s valid for an entire month costing 35€

Brussels – Zaventem Airport has a underground train-station with up to 6 trains per hour, bringing you to all major Belgian cities and beyond. It’s an end-station wich means it will only serve passagers who arrive and depart at Brussels Zaventem Airport.

An additional Airport Supplement of 6,70€ per journey, called Diablo Tax, shall be charged on top of your regular railway ticket. Find out more about it on this link:  https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/tickets-and-railcards/airports/diabolo-fee

Taking the bus in Belgium

Busses in Belgium work complimentary with the Belgian Railways, and are the preferred method of transportation for short and local journeys, or destinations that aren’t reachable by train. Belgian buses are affordable, accessible, and run frequently, ensuring that travelers reach their destination on time.

There are three main bus companies in Belgium, each operating in different regions. In Brussels, the bus network is run by MIVB/STIB, while in Flanders, it is managed by De Lijn, and in Wallonia, TEC is in charge. Understanding which company operates in your area is crucial for buying the right ticket and ensuring a smooth journey.

The cost of bus tickets in Belgium varies depending on the region and the bus line you’re traveling on. In general, bus fares are budget-friendly, making it an attractive option for travelers. For more information on bus fares in Brussels, Flanders, and Wallonia, read on.

Taking a tram in Belgium

In addition to the local bus network, several of Belgium’s largest cities also have an extensive tram network. Trams are part of the same transport network as the buses and use the same ticketing system , making it convenient for travelers. Cities such as Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège, and Charleroi have well-established tram systems. Along the Belgian coast there’s also a 67km long tramline connecting all Belgian coastal resorts.

Using the Metro in Belgium

Currently, Brussels is the only Belgian city with a metro system. The metro is operated by MIVB/STIB and is an efficient option for commuting in the city. Antwerp, on the other hand, has a series of pre-metro tunnels that are used by the tram lines, providing travelers with a convenient alternative to traditional metro systems.

Brussels Public Transport system

The Brussels Public Transport system consists out of 3 different companies, who each run their own coaches, trams and metro lines. The good news is that they all share the same ticketing system, called the Brupass . This makes it very easy to get around in Brussels by bus, tram and metro.

Tickets & Fares

The Brupass is valid all around Brussels city centre on all public transport networks. The Brupass XL allows you to travel to the outskirts of Brussels and Brussels Airport.

Pro Tip: When you plan on doing more then 3 single trips in a day, buying a Day Pass will be the cheaper option.

Where to buy your tickets

Update december 2023: Rushing to the vending machine to charge your Mobib travel card is a thing of the past. Thanks to the digital tickets, you can now purchase them in the official MIVB app.

• Paper Tickets can be purchased at the BOOTIK, KIOSK and GO vending machines. They are however more expensive then other tickets.
• The Mobib Travel Card works as a ticket holder . It has an initial cost of 5€ and can be recharged at the vending machines.
• Digital Tickets can be purchased in the official MIVB-STB app.

Public Transport in Flanders

The local public transport system in Flanders consists mainly out of bus & tram lines, which are all operated by De Lijn .

Tickets & Rates:

Single tickets are valid for 60 minutes. Within this time period you can change lines unlimited. After the 60 minutes you can continue your ride towards your destination. If you need to change lines again, you need to buy a new ticket.

• Single Tickets cost 2.50€
• Lijn cards are prepaid cards. They cost 17€ for 10 rides.
• Day passes cost 7,50€

Where to buy your tickets:

The easiest and most convenient way to buy your De Lijn tickets is buy using the official app.

SMS tickets are available, by simply texting DL to 4884. Please keep in mind that your cellphone-provider will charge you a small amount extra.

On-board you can by a single journey ticket by using a contactless bank card or other medium. Simply hold it in front of the white terminal and wait for the validation.

Finally you can buy your single ticket or 10 trip tickets from various selling points. You can locate them by using this link: https://www.delijn.be/en/storelocator/

If you already have a MOVIB travel pass, you can use it as a carrier to buy your tickets at one of the ticket vending machines. However the card is not necessary in order to purchase “De Lijn” tickets.

Routeplanner

In order to plan your route and consult the timetables it’s best to download the official “De Lijn” app from your appstore. This app is available in English and thanks to the route planner, it will notify you when you reached your destination. Tickets can be bought through the app as well.

Weblink: https://www.delijn.be/en/routeplanner/

Public Transport in Wallonia

Busses and tram lines in Wallonie are operated by TEC.

Tickets & rates:

Just like in Brussels and Flanders are Single tickets valid for 60 minutes. Within this time period you can change lines unlimited. After the 60 minutes you can continue your ride towards your destination. If you need to change lines again, you need to buy a new ticket.

There are 3 kinds of single tickets, depending on the distance you’re traveling:

• A single Next ticket will bring you across up to 2 zones and costs 2€ in pre-sale, or 2,50€ on board. This ticket will get you all around the city.
• A single Horizon ticket has no zone limitation and costs 3€ in pre-sale or 3€50 on board. These tickets are used to cover medium distrances and travel towards or between cities.
• A single Horizon plus ticke t includes the fast busses which cover larger distances between different towns. In pre-sale you’ll pay 5€ and on board 5€50.

It’s advised to buy your tickets in advance, since on-board tickets are much more expensive. The TEC app allows travelers to buy single tickets online at the best rate.

Travelers who have a MOVIB travel card, can load their ticket on it using the TEC E-Shop, as well as the Ticket Machines and TEC Vending points that can be found around most train and bus stations in Wallonia..

Onboard paper tickets are available at a higher price.

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Last Updated on 13 February 2024 by BertBeckers

Public transport : STIB/MIVB

Metro, tram and bus. Public transport in Brussels is operated by STIB / MIVB.

Timetables:  06:00 - midnight - consult the timetables shown at the stops.

Where to buy your ticket: In public transport with contactless payment. You can pay for your trip using your contactless bank card (debit or credit), smartphone or smartwatch. Every STIB bus, tram and metro station is equipped with a specific contactless payment device. This device supports any bank card with the contactless logo. For smartphones and smartwatches, compatible payment applications are Google Pay, Apple Pay, Fitbit Pay and Garmin Pay. In the various metro stations and at the STIB information offices. 

MOBIB:  If you want to buy transport tickets, you need a personal or Basic MOBIB card. This reloadable card allows you to travel very easily in Brussels. Some tickets are also available in paper form.

Airport Line:  The Airport Line is a direct link between Brussels Airport and the European district, just a few steps away from the commercial and touristic heart of Brussels’ upper town.

Ticket cost :  Available in metro stations, STIB / MIVB BOOTIK, KIOSK and GO .

The prices mentioned on our web portal are “for information purposes only and subject to change”.  We advise you to consult the www.stib-mivb.be website for more information.

• BRUPASS 1 JOURNEY - Price: €2.40
• BRUPASS 10 JOURNEYS - Price: €16.80
• BRUPASS 1 DAY - Price: €8.40
• GO2CITY 1 JOURNEY – At the airport, buy your ticket before you get on the bus at one of the GO ticket machines. There are ticket machines in the airport and outside at the bus stop – Price on the contactless validating machine: €7.00 – Price at a sales point: €7.50
• GO2CITY 10 JOURNEYS - At the airport, buy your ticket before you get on the bus at one of the GO ticket machines. There are ticket machines in the airport and outside at the bus stop – Price: €46

Download the STIB-MIVB App

Having all your travel options in a single app will not only save you time but il will also give you more flexibility. The map in the STIB/MIVB mobile app will show you all public transport stops in Belgium, as well as the Villo! docking stations, Cambio carsharing stations and Collecto shared taxi stops. Combining several transport options has never been this easy!

Get in touch with STIB/MIVB Brussels

The STIB/MIVB Customer Care department is working for you. Whether you have a simple question or a rather complicated complaint, they will answer you as quickly as possible and will try to find you the best solution.  

Find out about the BRUPASS

Valid on STIB, TEC, De Lijn and SNCB trains, buses, trams and underground trains in the Brupass zone.

Are you travelling in the Brussels Capital zone? With the Brupass, you can enjoy the full range of regional travel options all on a single ticket! You can load your Brupass onto your  MoBIB card  and board trains, trams, buses and the underground.

Brussels Card

The key to easily discover Brussels!

Free access to 49 Brussels museums

Discounts at attractions, shops, restaurants, bars and guided tours

Free information guide, city map and museum map

Optional: unlimited access to public transport, hop on hop off buses Tootbus and access to the Atomium

Public Transport

You can find all the information you need about train transport in Belgium on the  SNCB website . This includes information on timetables, domestic connections and international rail links. You can also buy your train tickets online at this website.

Bus-tram-metro

The bus is a convenient means of travel and the network covers a wide area not served by other forms of public transport. The bus routes in Belgium are handled by 3 different companies: De Lijn (in Dutch), TEC and STIB .

De Lijn is responsible for the Flanders network, while TEC handles bus travel in Wallonia. The STIB buses cover the Brussels metropolitan area.

Tram - metro

Tram and metro are the ideal means to get around in the city. They encounter little or no hindrance from other forms of traffic and bring you safely and quickly to numerous destinations in the city.

You can travel by tram in the cities of Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Charleroi. You can travel along the entire coast by taking the coast tram (in Dutch).

The metro is currently only available in Brussels. The metro forms part of the  STIB network together with the bus and tram services of the Brussels metropolitan area.

Taxis are primarily run by private companies but there are standard regulations for taxis. The companies can fix their own rates within the maximum rates prescribed by law. You can find a comprehensive overview of this service on the Brussels metropolitan area taxi service website .

All the information contained on this website refers exclusively to Brussels metropolitan area taxi services. In other parts of the country, the companies may have different methods of operating.

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Watch the Skies

When and How to Spot the ‘Devil Comet’

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is one of the brightest known periodic comets . It earned the nickname of “devil comet” in 2023 when an outburst caused the comet to have an asymmetrical appearance, like having horns. It comes around every 71 years and is currently getting brighter as it flies toward the Sun.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the comet is best viewed with binoculars or a small telescope – right after the Sun dips below the horizon, look West just beneath the Moon, and just right of Jupiter. An hour after sunset, the comet drops so low, it will be difficult to see without a perfectly clear view of the horizon. The comet then sets an hour later.

Bill Cooke, who leads the Meteoroid Environment Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, encourages viewers to have more realistic expectations about what they might see. “Many images depict a bright comet with a long green tail,” Cooke said. “That’s not going to happen.”

By July, it will be too dim to view even with binoculars.

As for viewing this comet with the naked eye, it might be possible in the coming days, but by mid-April, it will be too close to the Sun and then growing fainter as it makes its way away from the Sun.

The brightest stars are a magnitude 1, the faintest are a magnitude 6. Comet 12P will peak around a magnitude 5 unless an outburst occurs.

However, Cooke warns that outbursts are unpredictable. “There have been minor outbursts roughly once a month but it’s impossible to predict them,” he said. “The last one was on Leap Day, Feb. 29.”

Will the comet be visible during the eclipse ?

It is certainly a possibility. If Comet 12P remains around a magnitude 5, it would only be visible in binoculars during the few minutes of totality. Consider enjoying the main spectacle instead of using that time to locate Comet 12P and attempt to view it at another time.

For more skywatching highlights in April, check out Jet Propulsion Lab’s What’s Up series.

By Lauren Perkins NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center

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When is Eid al-Fitr 2024 and how is it celebrated?

The three-day festival celebrates the completion of the fasting month of Ramadan by Muslims across the world.

As a new moon was not sighted on Monday evening after Maghrib prayers, Muslims in Saudi Arabia and neighbouring countries will fast one more day, completing 30 days of Ramadan. The first day of Eid will then be celebrated on Wednesday, April 10.

The first day of Eid al-Fitr is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon marking the start of the month of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar.

Keep reading

A ramadan no palestinian will ever forget, the cost of a ramadan iftar meal around the world, ramadan 2024: where do your dates come from, in washington, dc: celebrating ramadan, protesting israel’s siege of gaza.

Lunar months last between 29 and 30 days so Muslims usually have to wait until the night before Eid to verify its date.

Other countries follow independent sightings.

When the sighting has been verified, Eid is declared on television, radio stations and at mosques.

How do Muslims celebrate Eid?

Traditionally, Eid is celebrated for three days as an official holiday in Muslim-majority countries. However, the number of holiday days varies by country.

Muslims begin Eid day celebrations by partaking in a prayer service that takes place shortly after dawn, followed by a short sermon.

On their way to the prayer, which is traditionally held in an open area, Muslims recite takbeerat, praising God by saying “Allahu Akbar”, meaning “God is great”.

It is customary to eat something sweet before the prayer, such as date -filled biscuits known as maamoul in the Middle East. This particular festival is known as the “sweet” Eid – and the distribution of sweets is common across the Muslim world.

Muslims usually spend the day visiting relatives and neighbours and accepting sweets as they move around from house to house.

Each country has traditional desserts and sweets that are prepared before Eid or on the morning of the first day.

Children, dressed in new clothes, are offered gifts and money to celebrate the joyous occasion.

Girls and women in many countries decorate their hands with henna. The celebration for Eid begins the night before as women gather in neighbourhoods and large family gatherings for the application of henna.

In some countries, families visit graveyards to offer their respects to departed family members right after the morning prayers.

It is common for Muslim-majority countries to decorate their cities with lights and hold festivities to commemorate the end of the fasting month.

Eid amid the onslaught in Gaza

For some 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza this Eid, this will be the first Muslim religious holiday after more than 33,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks. With little food aid, and very limited water, Gaza’s Eid al-Fitr will be mired in destruction amid the continuing attacks.

What are common Eid greetings?

The most popular greeting is “Eid Mubarak” (Blessed Eid) or “Eid sa’id” (Happy Eid). Eid greetings also vary depending on the country and language.

The video below shows how people say Eid Mubarak in different languages around the world.

Your last-minute guide to Monday's total solar eclipse

A total solar eclipse will cross North America on Monday , offering millions a rare opportunity to see afternoon skies temporarily darken as the moon blocks the face of the sun.

Tune into NBC News NOW as Lester Holt hosts a two-hour special at 2 p.m. ET Monday from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The eclipse's path fortuitously cuts across Mexico, 15 U.S. states and a small part of eastern Canada. In all other states in the continental U.S., viewers will be treated to a partial solar eclipse, with the moon appearing to take a bite out of the sun and obscuring part of its light.

Here’s everything you need to know about the rare celestial event.

What is a solar eclipse?

Solar eclipses occur when the sun, moon and Earth align. The moon passes between Earth and sun, temporarily blocking the sun’s light and casting a shadow on Earth.

A total solar eclipse is when the moon fully obscures the sun, whereas a partial solar eclipse means it blocks just a portion of the sun’s face.

Solar eclipses occur only with the new moon. Because the moon’s orbit around Earth is tilted, the three bodies don’t always line up in a way that creates an eclipse.

“Imagine if the moon’s orbit were in the plane of Earth’s orbit around the sun — if that were the case, then every new moon, you’d have a total solar eclipse and every full moon, you’d have a lunar eclipse,” Neil DeGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, told NBC News. “So, because things don’t always align, it lends to the rarity of the event and the specialness of the event.”

Where and when will the eclipse be visible?

This year’s eclipse will follow a slightly wider path over more populated areas of the continental U.S. than other total solar eclipses have in the recent past.

NASA estimates that 31.6 million people live within what’s known as the path of totality, where the total solar eclipse will be visible. An additional 150 million people live within 200 miles of the path, according to the agency.

The path travels through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Tiny parts of Michigan and Tennessee will also be able to witness totality if conditions are clear.

After the eclipse crosses into Canada, it will pass over southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, at the eastern end of Nova Scotia.

Those outside the path of totality can still take part in the astronomical event by viewing a partial solar eclipse — visible throughout all 48 states of the contiguous U.S. — or a NASA livestream.

The timing, including how long totality lasts, depends on the location, but some spots will see the moon fully cover the sun for up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds.

Below is a list of timings for some cities along the path of totality, as  provided by NASA . A number of other resources, including NationalEclipse.com  and  TimeandDate.com , can also help people plan.

• Dallas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:23 p.m. CT and totality at 1:40 p.m.
• Little Rock, Arkansas: Partial eclipse begins at 12:33 p.m. CT and totality at 1:51 p.m.
• Cleveland: Partial eclipse begins at 1:59 p.m. ET and totality at 3:13 p.m.
• Buffalo, New York: Partial eclipse begins at 2:04 p.m. ET and totality at 3:18 p.m.
• Lancaster, New Hampshire: Partial eclipse begins at 2:16 p.m. ET and totality at 3:27 p.m.

How to safely view a solar eclipse

It is never safe to gaze directly at the sun, even when it is partly or mostly covered by the moon. Special eclipse glasses or  pinhole projectors  are required to safely view solar eclipses and prevent eye damage. Failing to take the proper precautions can result in severe eye injury,  according to NASA .

Eclipse glasses are thousands of times darker than normal sunglasses and specially made to enable wearers to look at the sun during these kinds of celestial events.

Sky-watchers should also never view any part of the sun through binoculars, telescopes or camera lenses unless they have specific solar filters attached. Eclipse glasses should not be used with these devices, as they will not provide adequate protection.

However, during the few minutes of totality, when the moon is fully blocking the sun, it is safe to look with the naked eye.

Beware of fake eclipse glasses. On legitimate pairs, the lenses should have a silver appearance on the front and be black on the inside. The manufacturer’s name and address should be clearly labeled, and they should not be torn or punctured. Check, as well, for the ISO logo and the code “IS 12312-2” printed on the inside.

If you don’t have eclipse glasses, you can make a homemade pinhole projector, which lets sunlight in through a small hole, focuses it and projects it onto a piece of paper, wall or other surface to create an image of the sun that is safe to look at. 

All you need is two pieces of white cardboard or plain white paper, aluminum foil and a pin or thumbtack. Cut a 1- to 2-inch square or rectangle out of the center of a piece of white paper or cardboard. Tape aluminum foil over that cut-out shape, then use a pin or thumbtack to poke a tiny hole in the foil.

During the eclipse, place a second piece of white paper or cardboard on the ground as a screen and hold the projector with the foil facing up and your back to the sun. Adjusting how far you hold the projector from the second piece of paper will alter the size of the image on the makeshift screen.

What to look for while viewing the total solar eclipse

For people along the path of totality, there are some fun milestones to keep track of as the total solar eclipse unfolds.

As the eclipse progresses and the sun gets thinner in the sky, it will start to get eerily dark, according to Tyson.

When the last beams of sunlight are about to become obscured, look out for the “diamond ring effect”: The sun’s atmosphere will appear as an illuminated halo, and the last light still visible will look like the diamond of a giant ring.

As the sunlight decreases even further, an effect known as Baily’s beads will be created by the moon’s rugged terrain. Tiny “beads” of light will be visible for only a few seconds around the dark moon, as the last bits of sunlight peer through the moon’s mountains and valleys.

When the moon is fully blocking the sun, it is safe to remove eclipse glasses and look at the total solar eclipse with the naked eye.

Some lucky sky-watchers may even catch a glimpse of a comet .

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks — nicknamed the “ devil comet ” because an eruption last year left it with two distinct trails of gas and ice in the shape of devil horns — is currently visible from the Northern Hemisphere as it swings through the inner solar system.

The comet can be seen in the early evenings by gazing toward the west-northwest horizon. During the eclipse, when skies darken during totality, it may be possible to see the comet near Jupiter, but its visibility will depend on whether it’s in the middle of an outburst and thus brighter than normal.

Most likely, all eyes will be on the alignment of the moon and sun.

“Most people won’t even notice,” Tyson said. “But if you know to look, it’s there.”

When is the next solar eclipse?

The next total solar eclipse will be in 2026, but it will mostly pass over the Arctic Ocean, with some visibility in Greenland, Iceland, Portugal and northern Spain. In 2027, a total solar eclipse will be visible in Spain and a swath of northern Africa.

The next total solar eclipse visible from North America will be in 2033, but only over Alaska. Then in 2044, a total solar eclipse will cross Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, parts of Canada and Greenland.

The next total solar eclipse to cross the continental U.S. coast-to-coast in will occur in 2045. The path of totality for that eclipse will cut through California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

Denise Chow is a reporter for NBC News Science focused on general science and climate change.

Lucas Thompson is a content producer for the NBC News Climate Unit.