Which ticket should tourists buy in Brussels?

For most visitors the best value is contactless bank card payment — €2,40 per ride with a daily cap of €8,50 (after 4 rides each extra ride is free). For longer stays, a 10-journey load on a MOBIB Basic card costs €18,90 (€1,89 per ride) and never expires. The MOBIB Basic card itself costs €6,00 once. Buy it from a vending machine in any metro station or via the STIB-MIVB app. The 1-day Brupass at €9,50 is now beaten by the contactless cap of €8,50.

What is the difference between Brupass and Brupass XL?

Brupass is the standard STIB ticket, valid only on STIB metro, tram and bus inside the Brussels Capital Region. Brupass XL is the extended version: it ALSO covers SNCB train, De Lijn and TEC buses inside the Brussels metropolitan area — including Brussels Airport (Zaventem). A Brupass XL single is €3,60 versus €2,70 for a regular Brupass single (or €2,40 by contactless). Buy XL if you plan to take the train, or if you need the airport line.

How do I get from Brussels Airport (Zaventem) to the city centre?

The fastest option is the SNCB train from Brussels Airport-Zaventem station (directly under the terminal) to Brussels Central, Midi or Nord — 17 to 23 minutes, every 10–15 minutes, €11,80 one-way (includes the €5,40 Diabolo airport surcharge). STIB bus 12 (weekdays peak) or bus 21 (evenings/weekends) goes to Schuman / Luxembourg for €3,60 with a Brupass XL but takes 30–45 minutes. A taxi to the centre is around €45–55 with the fixed airport tariff.

How do I get from Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) to Brussels?

Charleroi is 50 km south of Brussels — not actually in Brussels. The Flibco/Brussels City Shuttle bus runs every 30 minutes to Brussels-Midi station, takes about 1 hour and costs €21,00 one way (cheaper online in advance). The cheaper alternative is a TEC A bus to Charleroi-Sud train station, then a SNCB train to Brussels — total around €15,00 but takes 90 minutes.

Do I need to validate my ticket on the Brussels metro and tram?

Yes — always tap your MOBIB card or paper ticket on the orange validator at the metro turnstiles AND on every tram and bus, even if you have a 24-hour pass. Validation must happen every single trip. The fine for travelling without a validated ticket is €107 (first offence), rising to €214 if not paid within 10 days.

Does contactless bank card payment work on Brussels public transport?

Yes — STIB-MIVB has rolled out open payment with contactless bank cards (Mastercard, Visa, Apple Pay, Google Pay) at metro turnstiles and on most buses and trams. Each tap charges €2,40 per journey, with a daily cap of €8,50 (you reach the cap after 4 rides; extra rides that day are free). That makes contactless cheaper than the €9,50 1-day Brupass for most tourists. Always tap with the SAME card every trip — different cards count as different journeys.

Are children free on Brussels public transport?

Children under 6 travel free on STIB metro, tram and bus — no ticket needed. Children aged 6–11 need a Junior MOBIB card (€6,00 one-time) which is loaded with free travel for Brussels-region residents; non-resident families pay reduced fares. From age 12, the regular adult fare applies.

When does the Brussels metro stop running?

The metro and tram run from approximately 05:00 to 00:30. After that, the Noctis night bus network takes over — but ONLY on Friday and Saturday nights. Noctis runs from 00:00 until 03:00, every 30 minutes, with 11 lines all departing from De Brouckère in the centre. Sunday–Thursday nights there is no public night transport between 00:30 and 05:00; use a taxi or ride-hailing instead.

What is the fine for fare evasion in Brussels?

The fine for travelling without a valid ticket on STIB-MIVB is €107 if paid within 10 days, rising to €214 after that, and €321 for repeat offences. Inspectors are frequent and often plain-clothed — a forgotten validation counts as fare evasion.

Public Transport in Brussels: Apps, Tickets & Tips 2026

Last updated: 29 April 2026
The capital of Europe runs on STIB-MIVB — small, bilingual and built around four metro lines

Brussels is served by STIB-MIVB (the bilingual French/Dutch transport authority), which runs the metro, tram and bus network across the 19 communes of the Brussels Capital Region. Suburban connections and the airport are covered by SNCB-NMBS (national rail), De Lijn (Flemish bus) and TEC (Walloon bus). The MOBIB card is the standard travel card — buy one once for €6,00, then load tickets onto it. For short stays the easiest option is just to tap a contactless bank card: €2,40 per ride, daily cap €8,50. Critical tip: always tap your MOBIB or contactless card at the orange validator every trip — even with a 24-hour pass — or risk a €107 fine.

iOS: STIB-MIVB | Android: STIB-MIVB

Essential Info

Main Form of Payment Contactless bank card (€2,40/ride, €8,50 daily cap) or MOBIB Basic (€6,00 once) Multiple people No (1 person per MOBIB or contactless card) Check-in/validate ALWAYS tap orange validator on metro, tram AND bus — every trip, even with a day pass Payment methods MOBIB card, contactless bank card (Visa/Mastercard), Apple Pay, Google Pay, STIB-MIVB app, vending machines (cash/card) Fine for fare evasion €107 (first offence, paid within 10 days) — rises to €214/€321 Night transport after 01:00 Only Fri/Sat (Noctis night buses 00:00–03:00) Exit scan required? No — only tap on entry Zones Brupass = STIB inside Brussels. Brupass XL = STIB + SNCB + De Lijn + TEC inside metro area (incl. airport) Real-time info Yes (STIB-MIVB app, Floya, Google Maps, Citymapper) Airport → Centre SNCB train: €11,80, 17–23 min to Brussels Central

CRITICAL INFO FOR BRUSSELS!

1. ALWAYS VALIDATE — even on a day pass. Brussels has gates on the metro but the tram and bus run on tap-validation. Touch your MOBIB or contactless card on the orange validator every single time you board. A non-validated 24-hour pass = no valid ticket = €107 fine.

2. Brupass ≠ Brupass XL. A regular Brupass single (€2,70 MOBIB / €2,40 contactless) does NOT cover the airport line, the SNCB train, or De Lijn/TEC buses outside Brussels. For the airport or any combined journey, buy Brupass XL (€3,60 single).

3. The airport train has a €5,40 surcharge built in. A standard SNCB ticket from Zaventem to Brussels Central is €11,80 — about €5,40 more than a normal commuter trip of the same distance. This is the Diabolo fee and applies to every airport-train ticket.

4. Charleroi airport (CRL) is NOT Brussels. It is 50 km south. Don't book a flight to Charleroi expecting a 30-minute taxi ride — the Flibco shuttle takes 1 hour and costs €21,00 to Brussels-Midi.

5. Night transport is weekends only. Sunday–Thursday after 00:30 there is NO public transport. Plan to walk, taxi or use a ride-hailing app on weeknights.

Quick Check before boarding

MOBIB Basic card bought (€6,00 once at any metro vending machine) OR contactless bank card ready (€2,40/ride, €8,50 daily cap)
STIB-MIVB app downloaded with offline map of metro lines 1, 2, 5, 6
Right ticket loaded: 1-day Brupass (€9,50), or 10 journeys (€18,90) for a longer stay — or just rely on the contactless cap (€8,50/day)
Brupass XL bought separately if you need the airport, train or De Lijn/TEC
Tap validator visible on every tram/bus — if no orange dot lights up, your trip is invalid

Which Ticket to Choose?

ROAMMATE ADVICE: For a 1–2 day city trip the simplest option is to tap a contactless bank card (€2,40/ride, daily cap €8,50 — cheaper than the €9,50 1-day Brupass). For longer stays or sporadic use → buy a MOBIB Basic (€6,00 once) and load 10 journeys (€18,90 = €1,89/ride) — they never expire. Skip paper singles (€2,60); the in-app/MOBIB price is €2,70 and contactless is even cheaper at €2,40.

Ticket Type	Price (2026)	Validity	When to choose?
Contactless bank card (EMV)	€2,40/ride, capped at €8,50/day	Per ride (1 hour incl. transfers); cap = unlimited rides that day	BEST FOR TOURISTS! No card to buy — just tap your bank card
1-day Brupass	€9,50	24h after first validation	Only worth it if you do not have a contactless card — cap is cheaper
10 journeys (Brupass)	€18,90 (€1,89 per ride)	1 hour per journey, no expiry on unused rides	Best per-ride value — multi-day trip with sporadic use
Single (app / MOBIB)	€2,70	1 hour incl. transfers	One-off ride if you don't tap contactless
Single (paper ticket)	€2,60	1 hour incl. transfers	Avoid — paper costs the same as MOBIB but contactless is cheaper
MOBIB Basic card (one-time)	€6,00	5 years	Required to load any ticket — buy once, reuse forever
Brupass XL single	€3,60	1 hour incl. transfers	Airport, SNCB train, De Lijn/TEC bus inside metro area

Avoid travel stress and fines. Receive a free Brussels public transport update in your inbox 2 weeks before departure.

Coming soon — the travel reminder email for Brussels is being prepared and will be available shortly.

Age Limits & Prices

Age	Price	Card needed?
0–5 years	FREE	No
6–11 years	Reduced fare (free for Brussels residents)	Yes, Junior MOBIB (€6,00 once)
12–24 years	Adult fare (or €12/year for residents)	Yes, MOBIB Basic
65+ years	€60/year for residents — tourists pay full fare	Yes, Senior MOBIB

Tips for Families

Children under 6 ride completely free — no card, no ticket. Up to 4 children per accompanying adult
For 6–11 year olds, ask at the STIB BOOTIK at Bruxelles-Midi or Rogier for a Junior MOBIB and the right tourist load
Strollers are allowed on metro and most low-floor trams; older PCC trams have steps
The 1-day pass is per person — there is no family/group day pass in Brussels, unlike Paris or Amsterdam

Resident-only discounts

Most of the steep age-based discounts in Brussels (12–24 at €12/year, 65+ at €60/year) are reserved for people registered in the Brussels Capital Region. Tourists pay the standard fare regardless of age.

🧮 Cost Estimate for a 3-day Family Trip

Adults (2×): 2 × MOBIB (€6,00) + 2 × 10-journey load (€18,90) = €49,80
Children 6–11 (2×): 2 × Junior MOBIB (€6,00) + reduced rides
Children under 6: free
Typical spending per adult: €17–25 for transport over 3 days

Brussels has two airports — and they are not in the same place. Brussels Airport (BRU, Zaventem) is 12 km north-east of the centre and well connected by train. Brussels South Charleroi (CRL) is in Wallonia, 50 km away, and only reachable by shuttle bus or a bus+train combination.

Brussels Airport (BRU / Zaventem)

Option	Time	Price	Frequency
SNCB Train	17–23 min to Brussels Central	€11,80 one-way	Every 10–15 min
STIB Bus 12 (express)	30 min to Schuman / Luxembourg	€3,60 (Brupass XL)	Every 15–20 min, weekdays peak
STIB Bus 21	40–45 min to Schuman / Luxembourg	€3,60 (Brupass XL)	Every 30 min, evenings + weekends
Taxi (fixed tariff)	30–45 min	€45–55	Always available

SNCB Train (RECOMMENDED)

Route: Brussels Airport-Zaventem → Brussels Nord → Brussels Central → Brussels Midi
Time: 17 minutes to Brussels Central, 23 minutes to Midi
Price: €11,80 standard fare (includes the €5,40 Diabolo airport surcharge)
Frequency: 4–6 trains per hour, approximately 04:30 – 00:00
Tip: Buy from the SNCB ticket machine BEFORE going to the platform — there is no extra discount via app for this route, but contactless EMV is accepted at airport gates

Airport + city in one day: STIB-MIVB no longer sells a Brupass XL 1-day pass — only single tickets and monthly/yearly season tickets. For an arrival day, the cheapest combo is: SNCB train €11,80 from the airport, then tap a contactless bank card for STIB (capped at €8,50 for the day).

Brussels South Charleroi (CRL)

Distance: 50 km south of Brussels — in Wallonia, not Brussels
Flibco / Brussels City Shuttle: bus to Brussels-Midi, every 30 min, ~1 hour, €21,00 one-way (cheaper online in advance)
TEC bus + SNCB train: TEC line A to Charleroi-Sud (€3,50, 20 min) + train to Brussels-Midi (~€10, 50 min) — slower but cheaper
Taxi: ~€110 fixed price to Brussels — only worth it for groups of 4

When does the metro stop?

Metro and tram services run roughly 05:00 – 00:30. After that, public transport is sparse — Brussels does NOT have 24-hour service. The Noctis night-bus network only runs on Friday and Saturday nights (and the night before public holidays).

Transport	Last service	First service
Metro (lines 1, 2, 5, 6)	~00:30	~05:00
Tram	~00:30	~05:30
Daytime bus	~00:30	~05:30
Noctis (Fri/Sat only)	~03:00	00:00 from De Brouckère
SNCB airport train	~00:00 from airport	~04:30

Noctis Night Buses

Brussels has 11 Noctis night-bus lines (N04, N05, N06, N08, N09, N10, N11, N12, N13, N16, N18) all departing from Place De Brouckère in the city centre. They cover most of the suburbs every 30 minutes from 00:00 until 03:00. Only on Friday and Saturday nights. Pay with a normal STIB ticket — same fare as during the day.

Useful Noctis lines for tourists:

Line	Route	Fare
N04	De Brouckère → Bockstael → Heysel	€2,40 contactless / €2,70 MOBIB
N06	De Brouckère → Schaerbeek → Bordet	€2,40 contactless / €2,70 MOBIB
N18	De Brouckère → Place Stéphanie → Uccle	€2,40 contactless / €2,70 MOBIB

Night Transport Tip: On a Sunday–Thursday night, your only options after 00:30 are taxi or ride-hailing. Bolt and Uber both operate widely in Brussels and are usually cheaper than a street-hailed taxi. For Friday/Saturday nights, plan your route around De Brouckère — every Noctis line starts there.

The Network in 60 Seconds

Metro: 4 lines — 1 (Stockel ↔ Gare de l'Ouest), 2 (Simonis ↔ Elisabeth, ring around inner city), 5 (Erasme ↔ Herrmann-Debroux), 6 (King Baudouin ↔ Elisabeth)
Premetro: trams 3, 4 and 7 run underground through the north-south axis like a fifth metro line
Tram: 17+ surface lines covering communes outside the metro grid
Bus: extensive — including the airport bus 12/21 and the Noctis night network

Practical How-To

Buy a MOBIB Basic card from any vending machine (€6,00) — load 10 journeys (€18,90) or a 1-day Brupass (€9,50) onto it. Or skip the card entirely and just tap a contactless bank card
Tap the orange validator at the metro turnstile, AND tap again on the tram/bus when transferring — the system tracks transfers as one trip within 1 hour
Use the STIB-MIVB app for journey planning and live disruptions (works in EN, FR, NL)
Floya (SNCB-led mobility app) combines train, STIB, De Lijn and shared mobility in one trip plan — useful for the airport

Common Tourist Mistakes

Don't assume the metro covers the whole city — many tourist sights (e.g. Atomium, EU quarter) need a tram or bus
Don't forget to validate when transferring from metro to tram or bus — validation at the metro entrance does NOT count for the tram
Don't buy a paper single ticket from the driver at €2,60 — the same trip is €2,70 on MOBIB but only €2,40 by contactless bank card
Don't tap two different cards within an hour for two people — each card = one passenger; group tickets do not exist on STIB

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)

Brussels' accessibility is improving but still uneven. The metro is largely step-free at street level on newer stations; older stations on lines 1 and 5 in the centre often require lifts that are not always operational. Trams are mixed: the modern T3000/T4000 fleet is low-floor, while older PCC trams on lines like 39 have steps. Buses are nearly all low-floor with extending ramps.

Metro: Variable

Newer stations (lines 2, 6 outer extension): step-free with lifts
Older stations (Bourse, De Brouckère, Madou): lifts often need maintenance — check status in the STIB-MIVB app before travelling
Tactile guidance paths: present on most platforms
Wheelchair spaces: in every metro carriage, clearly marked

Buses: Best Option

100% of STIB buses are low-floor with a deployable ramp on request
The driver will deploy the ramp — wave or ask before boarding
Priority area for wheelchairs and strollers near the second door

Trams: Mixed Picture

T3000 / T4000 (modern, low-floor): lines 3, 4, 7, 25, 51 and many others — fully accessible
Older PCC trams: still in use on a few peripheral lines — steps only, NOT wheelchair accessible
Check the tram model on the STIB-MIVB app before boarding (icon shown on each departure)

🛠️ Assistance & Discounts

STIB Mobib Plus assistance: registered disabled passengers can request accompanied assistance via the STIB website 48 hours in advance
Companion travel: a registered companion travels free with a Belgian disability card
Guide dogs: allowed free on all STIB metro, tram and bus services
SNCB Assist: free station assistance for disabled rail passengers — book 24 hours in advance via SNCB

Best Accessible Tourist Routes

1. Centre → Atomium

Metro line 6 from De Brouckère to Heysel — fully step-free

2. Airport → Centre

SNCB train from Brussels Airport-Zaventem to Brussels Central — both stations have lifts and SNCB Assist available

3. Centre → EU quarter (Schuman)

Metro line 1 or 5 to Schuman — step-free; alternatively bus 60 (low-floor)

4. Sablon → Place Royale

Modern tram 92 (T3000) — low-floor with ramp

Accessibility Tip: Always check the STIB-MIVB app for live lift status — the icons show whether a station's lift is in service. Cobblestones in the historic centre (Grand Place, Sablon) are challenging for wheelchairs and strollers; route around via Boulevard Anspach or use a taxi with mobility access.

Villo! Bike-share

Villo! is the public bike-share system in Brussels, run by JCDecaux. ~5,000 bikes (regular and e-bike) at 360+ stations across the 19 communes.

1-day pass: €1,80 with first 30 minutes free per ride
7-day pass: €8,90
Beyond 30 min: €0,50 for the next 30 min, €1,00 thereafter
Brussels is hilly: pick an e-bike for the climb up to Sablon or the upper town

Taxis

Taxis in Brussels are metered, regulated and generally safe. They display a distinctive blue diamond sign on the roof.

Day tariff (T1): €2,40 base + ~€2,15/km in Brussels region
Night tariff (T2): applies 22:00–06:00, ~€2,55/km
Brussels Airport fixed tariff: €45–55 to most central addresses
Major firms: Taxis Verts, Taxis Bleus, Autolux — all bookable by phone or app

🚗 Ride-hailing

Uber: widely available, often cheaper than a hailed taxi
Bolt: strong coverage in Brussels with both ride-hailing and e-scooters
Heetch: night-focused alternative on Fri/Sat

E-scooters & Car-sharing

Bolt, Lime, Dott: e-scooter providers — strict no-parking zones in the pedestrian centre, fines for leaving them outside designated bays
Cambio: traditional car-share, station-based, hourly rentals
Poppy: free-floating car-share in Brussels (Toyota fleet)

Transport Tip: Brussels has a low-emission zone (LEZ) covering the entire 19 communes. Older diesel rentals are fined automatically by camera. If you rent a car, confirm it meets the current LEZ standard — and consider not bothering with a car at all: parking and traffic in the centre make public transport much faster.

Roammate Tip

Tip: All-in-one app for shared transport

In Brussels you can use the app umob. With this you book and pay easily for all shared transport (bikes, scooters, cars) from different providers in one handy app. Convenient, because you no longer need separate accounts.

Brussels is part of the EU roam-like-at-home zone — most European travellers can use their domestic data plan without surcharges. Visitors from outside the EU should pick up an eSIM before arriving. 4G/5G coverage is good across the city, including in the metro tunnels.

Roammate Tip

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Brussels tip: Activate your eSIM at home before flying. Free WiFi is available in most cafés, the BOZAR, the main libraries and at Brussels Airport — but not in the metro tunnels for non-EU users.

Don't drag your suitcases up and down the cobbled streets of the Sablon. Brussels' main stations have lockers, and on-demand luggage storage is widely available near tourist hotspots.

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Store your bags in 30+ local shops and hotels. Best coverage near Grand Place, Bruxelles-Midi and Sainte-Catherine.

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Station Lockers (SNCB)

Self-service lockers are available at Bruxelles-Midi, Bruxelles-Central and Bruxelles-Nord.

Price: €4,50–7,50 per 24 hours depending on size
Note: Often full at Midi during weekends and Eurostar peak hours — book a Bounce host as backup

Roammate Advice: For most visitors, Bounce is the safest bet — book in advance, locations are near tourist spots, and your bags are insured. SNCB station lockers are convenient if your hotel is along the north-south rail axis but can be full on weekends.