Overview
The Brussels Metro is a rapid transit system serving a large part of the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. It is run by the Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company, known in French as the Société des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles (STIB) and in Dutch as the Maatschappij voor het Intercommunaal Vervoer te Brussel (MIVB). The system is heavily used, carrying 125.8 million journeys in 2011 and 138.3 million in 2012.
For a visitor, the system is easy to use end to end. STIB/MIVB operates the metro, trams and buses, and a single ticket or travel card is valid across all three modes. Services generally run from 06:00 to midnight, with timetables posted at stops. You can pay contactlessly on all STIB buses, trams and metro stations using a bank card (debit or credit), smartphone or smartwatch, with compatible apps including Google Pay, Apple Pay, Fitbit Pay and Garmin Pay. Traditional tickets require a reloadable MOBIB card, though some tickets are also available in paper form. Tickets are sold at metro stations and STIB information offices, and one-way tickets can be bought from bus and tram drivers for a small supplement. The STIB-MIVB app shows all Belgian public transport stops plus Villo! docking stations, Cambio carsharing stations and Collecto shared taxi stops, and the website offers a dynamic map of tram, bus and metro lines with real-time schedules.
The network
The Brussels Metro consists of four conventional metro lines and three premetro lines. The metro-grade lines are M1, M2, M5 and M6, which share some sections and together cover 39.9 kilometres (24.8 mi) with 59 metro-only stations. The premetro network consists of three tram lines (T4, T7 and T10) that partly travel over underground sections originally intended to be converted into metro lines; underground premetro stations use the same design as metro stations. Including short underground tramway sections, there is a total of 52.0 kilometres (32.3 mi) of underground metro and tram network, with 69 metro and premetro stations as of 2011.
The metro lines, as reorganised on 4 April 2009, are:
- Line 1 — from Gare de l'Ouest/Weststation in the west to Stockel/Stokkel at the east end.
- Line 2 — a loop starting and ending at Simonis via the eastern side of the Small Ring.
- Line 5 — from Erasme/Erasmus in the south-west to Herrmann-Debroux in the south-east.
- Line 6 — from Roi Baudouin/Koning Boudewijn in the north-west to Simonis, including the loop of the extended line 2.
The premetro tram lines are:
- Line 4 — runs from Brussels-North to Stalle Parking in the south, using the North–South Axis tunnel.
- Line 10 — runs from Hôpital Militaire/Militair Hospitaal in the north to Churchill in the south, also using the North–South Axis.
- Line 7 — the main line of the Greater Ring, serving Heysel/Heizel, running under Laeken Park and then via the Greater Ring to terminate one stop later at Vanderkindere for connections to tram lines 4, 10 and 92.
- Line 25 — a somewhat shorter line that also runs the Greater Ring premetro, with different termini at both ends; its southern terminus connects to Boondael/Boondaal railway station.
The North–South Axis tunnel crosses the city centre from Brussels-North via Brussels-South to Albert. It is being upgraded to metro service, with works begun in 2019 including a north-eastward prolongation of the metro tunnel, and the transition to conventional metro is foreseen for 2030.
Beyond the metro and tram network, the system is complemented by an S-train network serving the broader metropolitan region, opened in late 2015. The metro connects with six railway stations of the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS/SNCB), many tram and bus stops operated by STIB/MIVB, and stops of the Flemish De Lijn and Walloon TEC bus operators. Some metro stations also offer suburban railway links as part of the Brussels Regional Express Network (RER/GEN) system.
Tickets & fares
Fares and pass prices are approximate and change, so always check current rates before you travel. The figures below reflect the available source material.
Contactless tap-to-ride: You can tap in with a contactless bank card or smartphone (for example Apple Pay) with no physical ticket needed. Pricing starts from €2.30 for 60 minutes, with a daily cap of €8.40. You must tap in with the same card each time, and only one person per card.
MOBIB smartcard: MOBIB is the STIB/MIVB electronic smart card, introduced in 2007. A MOBIB basic card costs €6 and is purchased at any metro station; it is required for traditional tickets. Standard MOBIB fares include a one-way ticket at €2.40 (60 minutes, unlimited transfers) and a 10-journey ticket at €16.80.
Travel cards: A 1-day unlimited pass costs €9.50, and a monthly pass costs €55.50.
Brupass: This is valid on STIB plus the regional networks TEC, De Lijn and SNCB trains within Brussels. A 10-journey Brupass costs €18.90, a monthly pass €56, and an annual pass €660. It can be loaded onto a MOBIB card.
Single tickets: A single ticket costs €2.10 from a machine and €2.60 from sales points. A 24-hour travel pass costs €7.50 (except from the airport).
Go2City: A special ticket for the airport line, valid for one journey at €7 by contactless payment or €7.50 in paper form, and valid also from the airport.
Night network: The Noctis night network applies daytime rates.
Tourist pass: The Brussels Card gives free access to over 40 Brussels museums, discounts at attractions, shops, restaurants, bars and tours, plus a free information guide, city map and museum map. It offers optional unlimited public transport, Tootbus hop-on hop-off buses and Atomium admission. It does not cover the airport train to Brussels Airport, but it does cover bus line 12 to the airport.
Where to buy: Tickets and cards are available at any metro station or city newsstand, at STIB information offices, and from bus and tram drivers (with a small supplement).
From the airport
Brussels Airport (BRU), also called Brussels National or Zaventem, is Brussels' main airport and has good train connections with the rest of Belgium and with many European cities. Several public-transport options connect it to the city centre.
- Belgian Rail train: Trains run every 10–20 minutes from the airport (Level -1) to Brussels' three main train stations, with most continuing to other parts of Belgium and some to the Netherlands. The journey to Central Station takes 15–20 minutes. Tickets can be bought from vending machines (coins or PIN cards only) or the train ticket office (notes accepted) at Level -1; trains are accessed at Level -2. You need a Brussels Airport Supplement ticket to get in, which is almost always included in your train ticket. To enter or exit the train, push the green button on the door, as the doors are not automatically opened at stations.
- MIVB/STIB bus 12: Runs every 10–40 minutes (it does not run to or from Brussels Airport Monday to Friday during Belgian school holidays) via metro station Schuman to the European district around Place du Luxembourg/Luxemburgplein and to Trône metro station. The journey takes 30 minutes. From the airport to the city centre you need a special "Go2City" ticket; for the journey to the airport a regular ticket is valid. The Go2City ticket is valid for a total of 60 minutes on SNCB trains, STIB metro, STIB/De Lijn/TEC buses and STIB trams from the moment it is validated. Buses depart from airport Level 0. The price is €7.90 when paid by contactless bank card or MOBIB card (which can be purchased for €6 at vending machines), or €8.40 for a paper ticket. Frequent travellers can buy a 10-trip ticket for €52. When boarding from the city to the airport, make sure the destination is Brussels Airport, as some buses terminate at Gare de Bordet or a stop even further from the airport.
- De Lijn bus R26: Runs every 15–30 minutes to Brussels' North Train Station (Noordstation/Gare du Nord), 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Grand-Place.
- De Lijn bus R59: Runs to Roodebeek metro station every 15–30 minutes.
- De Lijn night bus N62: Operates to and from the airport to Rogier metro and premetro station (a 30-minute ride), 1 km (0.62 mi) north-east of Grand-Place.
The De Lijn buses depart from Level 0 of the airport. Their ticket price is €3 on board, at the ticket machine, or by getting an "SMS ticket" by text message (which may incur extra charges depending on your mobile carrier). Unlike MIVB/STIB tickets, these De Lijn tickets are not valid on other means of public transport within Brussels.
A cheaper train alternative is to reach Brussels via Zaventem village (dorp) station, within a 1 km (0.62 mi) walk from the airport. At €3.80, the fare is about three times cheaper than the ticket from Brussels Airport Station to the city, because the Brussels Airport Supplement does not apply here. Zaventem Dorp station is served by frequent local trains to all Brussels stations, taking roughly the same time as the airport trains (15–20 minutes to Central Station).
For reference, taxis to the centre cost around €60, but beware of "waiting" charges if your flight is delayed and you pre-ordered a cab, and always confirm the final charge with your driver before getting in.
Etiquette & customs
Brussels public transport is busy and largely informal, but a few habits will make your journeys smoother.
- Queuing: Wait for passengers to exit before boarding, and let others off the tram or bus first. At busy stops, form an orderly line rather than crowding the doors.
- Escalators: Stand on the right and walk on the left, as is standard across Belgium and much of Europe.
- Priority seating: Seats near the doors are reserved for the elderly, pregnant passengers and those with reduced mobility; offer your seat if someone needs it more than you do.
- Quiet: Keep phone calls and music volumes low, especially in the quieter early-morning and late-evening hours.
- Eating and drinking: Avoid eating or drinking on board; it is generally frowned upon and can be restricted.
- Rush hour: Peak periods are crowded, so move down the carriage, keep bags close and be ready to stand. Allow extra time for your journey.
Official links
Survival terms
- Subway/metro: métro (French) / metro (Dutch) — the rapid transit system.
- Ticket: ticket (French) / ticket (Dutch) — a single or multi-journey fare.
- Line: ligne (French) / lijn (Dutch) — a numbered route.
- Entrance: entrée (French) / ingang (Dutch) — where you enter a station.
- Exit: sortie (French) / uitgang (Dutch) — where you leave a station.
- Transfer: correspondance (French) / overstap (Dutch) — changing between lines or modes.
- Single fare: aller simple (French) / enkele rit (Dutch) — a one-way journey.
- Day pass: pass journée (French) / dagpas (Dutch) — unlimited travel for one day.
Before you travel, download the STIB-MIVB app so you can check real-time schedules and plan your route on the move.