Getting Around Belgium: Trains, Buses & Public Transport

One of the things I genuinely love about Belgium is how easy it is to get around without a car.

I’m Belgian myself, so I’ve used public transport around the country plenty of times, and for most travellers, the train is by far the easiest way to travel between Belgian cities.

Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Leuven and many other cities are all connected by train, and journeys are often surprisingly short.

You can easily visit several cities during one trip without ever renting a car.

If you’re wondering how long you need to see Belgium, check out my guide to how many days you need in Belgium, including my 3-, 5- and 7-day itinerary ideas.

For getting around within cities, you’ll mainly use trains, buses, trams and the Brussels metro.

Here’s everything you need to know before travelling around Belgium.

If you haven’t arrived in Belgium yet, start with my guide on how to get to Belgium by plane, train or bus.

Public Transport in Belgium: How Does It Work?

One thing that can be slightly confusing when travelling around Belgium is that public transport is divided between different regions.

Belgium has three main public transport operators:

NMBS/SNCB – trains across the entire country
De Lijn – buses and trams in Flanders
STIB/MIVB – metro, trams and buses in Brussels
TEC – buses and some trams in Wallonia

So which one you use depends on where you are travelling.

Planning your Belgium trip?

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Explore the Belgium Map → €5

Trains in Belgium

If you’re travelling between Belgian cities, take the train.

Belgium’s national railway network, operated by NMBS/SNCB, connects most major cities and tourist destinations.

Some typical journey times are:

Brussels → Antwerp: around 40 minutes
Brussels → Ghent: around 30–35 minutes
Ghent → Bruges: around 25–30 minutes
Brussels → Leuven: around 25 minutes
Brussels → Bruges: around 1 hour

This makes Belgium particularly easy to explore if you’re visiting for a few days.

You could easily stay in Brussels and take day trips to Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp or Leuven, for example.

Download the NMBS app

My biggest recommendation is to download the NMBS app before your trip.

You can use it to:

Check train times
Plan your route
See delays and disruptions
Buy train tickets
Check which platform your train leaves from

And trust me, checking the app before heading to the station is always a good idea.

Belgian trains can have delays or last-minute platform changes, so I wouldn’t rely entirely on Google Maps.

Important: Buy your ticket before boarding

Since 1 July 2026, NMBS no longer allows passengers to buy a regular ticket on board the train.

Make sure you have a valid ticket before getting on. You can buy one through the NMBS app or website, at a ticket machine, or at the station ticket counter.

Travelling by Train Under 26

If you’re under 26, Belgium becomes even cheaper to explore by train.

Young travellers automatically get 40% off the standard fare, regardless of the time of day or journey.

And if you’re travelling around Belgium a lot, there’s also Train+.

For travellers under 26, Train+ costs €4 per month or €32 per year and gives you:

A maximum price of €5.50 per journey in second class
An additional 40% discount during off-peak hours
Extra discounts on weekends and public holidays

So if you’re planning to visit several Belgian cities, it can be worth looking into.

One thing to remember: prices and conditions can change, so check the current NMBS options in the app before buying anything.

Travelling by Train Over the Weekend

Weekend travel can also be cheaper.

Adults aged 26–64 currently receive a 30% discount on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Travellers under 26 already receive their 40% youth discount, while Train+ can provide additional discounts depending on your journey.

So if you’re planning a weekend city trip around Belgium, definitely check the train fare before booking.

My Local Tip: Don’t Overthink Your Route

Belgium is small enough that you can easily combine several cities.

For example:

Brussels → Antwerp → Ghent → Bruges → Leuven

is completely doable by public transport.

Want to see how I’d actually organise a trip around Belgium? Check out my perfect 5-day Belgium itinerary for a day-by-day route.

Not sure which Belgian cities are worth adding to your itinerary? My Belgium Cities Compared guide breaks down the differences between the country’s most popular cities.

You don’t necessarily need to buy every ticket days in advance either. For most domestic journeys, I would simply check the NMBS app when planning your day.

And if you’re confused at the station, don’t panic. Most major Belgian train stations have a help desk or staffed ticket counter, where you can ask which train to take, where you need to change and which ticket is best for your journey. Don’t be afraid to ask, especially if you’re not used to the Belgian train system.

As a Belgian, my biggest tip is honestly just: don’t make Belgian public transport more complicated than it needs to be.

Check the app, buy your ticket, get on the train and go.

Ostend sign at the train station in Belgium

Buses in Belgium

For shorter journeys and getting around towns, buses become more useful.

Belgium doesn’t have one single bus company covering the entire country. Different regions have different public transport operators.

De Lijn

If you’re travelling through Flanders, you’ll mainly use De Lijn.

This is particularly useful for getting around places such as:

Leuven
Antwerp
Ghent
Bruges
Hasselt
Smaller towns and villages

De Lijn operates both buses and trams throughout Flanders.

Contactless payment

One of the easiest options for travellers is simply paying contactlessly.

You can tap your bank card, smartphone or smartwatch on the white contactless terminal when boarding a De Lijn bus or tram.

A single journey currently costs €3, and the same payment method can be used to pay for up to five travellers. Transfers within 60 minutes aren’t charged as a new journey.

You can also buy tickets through the De Lijn app or website.

My recommendation: if you’re only taking one or two buses during your trip, contactless payment is probably the easiest option.

TEC

If you’re travelling through Wallonia, you’ll mainly use TEC.

TEC operates buses throughout the French-speaking part of Belgium, making it particularly useful for places such as:

Liège
Namur
Charleroi
Dinant
Smaller towns and villages
The Ardennes

Unlike Flanders, where you’ll mainly see De Lijn buses, TEC is the main regional bus network in Wallonia.

If you’re visiting somewhere more rural in the Ardennes, you’ll probably rely on TEC more than on trains, as not every small town or village has a train station.

You can buy tickets through the TEC app, website or at designated sales points. For some journeys, contactless payment is also available, so it’s worth checking the current options before travelling.

My local tip: if you’re heading somewhere in Wallonia and aren’t sure whether you should take a train or bus, check both NMBS/SNCB and TEC. A train might get you close to your destination, but a TEC bus can sometimes be what gets you the final few kilometres.

Brussels Public Transport

Brussels has its own extensive public transport network operated by STIB/MIVB.

You’ll find:

Metro
Trams
Buses

For tourists, this is usually all you need to get around the city.

If Brussels is part of your itinerary, check out my Brussels Travel Guide for my favourite neighbourhoods, things to do and local tips.

The metro is particularly useful for travelling longer distances quickly, while trams and buses can be more convenient for shorter journeys.

You can tap your bank card

You don’t necessarily need to buy a separate transport card for a short visit.

On the STIB/MIVB network, you can currently use your contactless bank card, smartphone or smartwatch to pay.

A contactless journey costs €2.40, and you simply tap when entering the metro or boarding a bus or tram.

This is honestly one of the easiest options if you’re visiting Brussels for a few days.

Trams in Belgium

Trams are particularly useful in some of Belgium’s larger cities.

You’ll find tram networks in places such as:

Antwerp
Ghent
Brussels

In Antwerp, trams are one of the easiest ways to move around the city, especially when you’re travelling between the historic centre and other neighbourhoods.

Planning to visit Antwerp? My Antwerp Travel Guide covers the best things to do, eat and drink in the city.

Ghent also has an extensive tram network, which can be useful if you’re staying outside the historic centre.

If you’re spending a few days in Ghent, check out my Ghent Travel Guide for the best things to do, eat and drink.

In Brussels, trams are integrated into the wider STIB/MIVB network.

What About Taxis, Uber and Airport Transfers?

You can obviously also use taxis, especially if you’re travelling late at night, carrying lots of luggage or simply want a door-to-door transfer.

If you’re arriving at Brussels Airport (BRU) and don’t want to figure out public transport after a long flight, you can also book a private airport transfer in advance. This can be particularly convenient if you’re travelling with a group or have lots of luggage.

→ Book a private Brussels Airport transfer to or from Brussels with GetYourGuide

The private transfer takes you directly between Brussels Airport and your accommodation in the city, so you don’t have to worry about finding the right train, bus or taxi after arriving.

Ride-hailing options are also available in larger Belgian cities, although I honestly wouldn’t rely on them for normal sightseeing.

Public transport is usually much cheaper and often just as convenient.

For most city trips, I’d use:

Train → between cities

Tram/metro → around larger cities

Bus → smaller distances and towns

Private transfer/taxi → airport arrivals, late nights or lots of luggage

Walking → historic city centres

Do You Need a Car in Belgium?

Probably not.

If you’re visiting Belgium’s major cities, I would not rent a car.

The train network makes travelling between cities easy, while buses, trams and metros take care of most local transport.

A car can actually become more of a hassle in city centres because of:

Parking costs
Traffic
Narrow streets
Limited parking
Low-emission zones in some cities

However, there are situations where renting a car can make sense.

If you’re planning to explore the Belgian Ardennes, small villages or more rural parts of the country, having a car gives you much more freedom.

For a classic Belgium itinerary like:

Brussels → Ghent → Bruges → Antwerp → Leuven

I’d definitely stick with public transport.

Getting Around Belgium: My Recommendation

If you’re visiting Belgium for the first time, you really don’t need to stress about transportation.

Between cities: take the train.

Around Brussels: use the metro, tram or bus.

Around Flanders: use De Lijn buses and trams.

Around Wallonia: use TEC buses and NMBS/SNCB trains.

In historic city centres: walk.

And if you’re under 26, definitely check the current NMBS youth and Train+ fares before buying your tickets, because travelling around Belgium by train can be surprisingly affordable.

Honestly, one of the biggest advantages of travelling around Belgium is that you can see a lot in a short amount of time.

You could have breakfast in Brussels, spend the afternoon exploring Ghent and be back in Brussels for dinner.

That’s pretty much the beauty of travelling around a small country like Belgium.

FAQ: Getting Around Belgium

Is it easy to travel around Belgium without a car?

Yes! Belgium is one of the easiest European countries to explore without a car. Most major cities are connected by train, while local buses, trams and metros make it easy to get around once you arrive.

Is the train the best way to travel around Belgium?

For travelling between major Belgian cities, the train is usually the easiest option. Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Leuven and many other cities are connected by frequent train services, and most stations are close to the city centre.

Can you use public transport in Belgium as a tourist?

Absolutely. Belgium’s public transport system is easy to use as a visitor once you understand the different operators. NMBS/SNCB operates trains, while De Lijn, TEC and STIB/MIVB operate regional and local buses, trams and metro services.

Is Belgium expensive to travel around by train?

It depends on your age, route and ticket type, but travelling by train in Belgium can be relatively affordable, especially for younger travellers. If you’re under 26, check the current NMBS youth fares and Train+ options before buying your tickets.

Can I travel between Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp by train?

Yes. These are some of the easiest cities to combine by train. You can travel between Brussels, Ghent, Bruges and Antwerp without needing to rent a car, making them ideal for a first Belgium trip.

How do you get around Belgium’s cities?

Most Belgian city centres are very walkable. For longer distances, you can use buses, trams or the metro depending on the city. Brussels has a metro, tram and bus network, while Antwerp and Ghent also have extensive tram networks.

Can you use contactless payment on public transport in Belgium?

Yes, on several Belgian public transport networks. Contactless payment is available on services including De Lijn and STIB/MIVB. However, the exact fares and conditions differ between operators, so check the relevant transport operator before travelling.

Do I need to buy Belgian train tickets in advance?

Usually, you don’t need to book domestic Belgian train tickets days in advance. For most journeys, you can simply buy your ticket through the NMBS app, website or at the station before travelling. However, always make sure you have a valid ticket before boarding.

Is public transport in Belgium reliable?

Belgian public transport is generally convenient, but delays and disruptions can happen, particularly on the railway network. I recommend checking the NMBS app before leaving for the station so you can see current delays, cancellations and platform information.

Should I stay in one Belgian city and take day trips?

Yes, especially for a short trip. Belgium is small and the major cities are close together, so staying in one city such as Brussels or Ghent and taking day trips to places like Bruges, Antwerp or Leuven can be much easier than changing hotels every night.

Do you need a car to visit the Belgian Ardennes?

Not necessarily, but a car can be useful. Public transport can get you to larger towns and some destinations in the Ardennes, but a car gives you much more flexibility if you want to explore hiking trails, small villages and rural areas.

What is the easiest way to travel around Belgium for a first-time visitor?

For a classic first trip, I’d keep it simple: train between cities, public transport within larger cities and walking in historic city centres. For example, you can easily travel between Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp and Leuven without renting a car.

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Getting Around Belgium: Trains, Buses & Public Transport

Public Transport in Belgium: How Does It Work?

Planning your Belgium trip?