Transport Tips for Brussels

Ticket essentials: Single journey costs €2.80 covering zone 1 (entire tourist area), valid 60 minutes with unlimited transfers between metro/tram/bus. Ten-journey card at €14 offers much better value for longer stays. Tap your contactless card or phone directly at validators — Paper tickets are basically obsolete now.

Tourist-essential lines: Metro line 1/5 connects Brussels Central to EU Quarter (Schuman station) and Cinquantenaire Park (Merode station). Tram 92 is your lifeline — Runs from North Station through Grand Place area to Sablon antique district. Tram 93 covers Louise shopping area and Uccle neighborhoods. For quick city center navigation, use metro between Central, Park, and Arts-Loi stations.

Airport connections: Brussels Airport train to Central Station costs €8.50, takes 20 minutes, runs every 15 minutes. Budget Charleroi Airport requires bus A to South Station (€5, 60 minutes) then metro connection — Total journey 90 minutes but saves serious money. STIB app provides real-time arrivals and trip planning that actually works unlike many European transit apps.

Service runs 5am-midnight weekdays, 6am-midnight weekends with night buses covering main routes until 3am. Google Maps integration is flawless for route planning, and locals always help if you look genuinely lost.