Metro, Buses & Trams

Public transports In Brussels are well-developed, but may be a bit confusing for first timers. There are 4 metro lines (#1, 2, 5 and 6), 11 additional "pre-metro" lines (partly underground tramway), 8 tram (trolley or streetcars for Americans) lines and 50 bus lines. Each line has a number rather than a name. Oddly enough, the two pre-metro lines (#3 and 4) that run between Brussels-North and Brussels-South railway stations are indicated on the metro map and numbered as if they were metro lines.

The whole network is managed by the STIB/MIVB, a semi-public company founded in 1954. Tickets for the metro, tram and bus are the same and therefore valid for any kind of transport, allowing for unlimited change within one hour. A single journey cost 1.7 €, a 10-ride pass is 12.30 €, while a day-pass is 4.5 € and a regular adult one-month season ticket is 45 €. There are numerous other passes and discounts. Don't forget to stamp your ticket once before riding to validate it. More information is available in English on the STIB/MVIB's official website.

Rental Bicycles

In 2009, a cooperation between the Brussels-Capital region and the company JCDecaux installed over 180 bicycle stations around the city, providing 2,500 bicycles with automated rental 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The system is easy; buy a weekly or yearly subscription card with your credit card, then rent a bike and return it to any Cyclocity station whenever you want. Stations are distant of about 400 meters from each others.

A one-week card cost 7 &euro, while an annual card is 30 €. Bikes can also be rented on a hourly basis, with a minimum fee of 1.5 € covering the first half hour. The next half-hour costs 0.5 €, the second hour 1 €, and so on. More information on the website of Villo!.

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