Country Guides
Belgium
Getting Around
Getting Around
Belgium
Getting Around by Air
As Belgium is such a small country, there are no internal flights.
Getting Around by Water
Belgium's waterways offer a pleasant way to enjoy the country, whether it be on a one-hour cruise around the canals of Bruges, or an extended cruise along the rivers and canals linking the major cities of Wallonia with Antwerp and The Netherlands. Numerous operators offer everything from boat hire to luxury cruises - details are available from the tourist offices (see Contact Addresses).
Getting Around by Rail
NMBS/SNCB (Belgian National Railways) (tel: (02) 528 2828; website: www.b-rail.be) operates a comprehensive railway network with regular trains on most lines. There are more frequent trains on the main lines. Further information is available from Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK only; website: www.raileurope.co.uk).
Fares: First- and second-class, single and return tickets are available. However, a return ticket is double the single fare and is only valid on the day of issue. Children under 12 travel free in second class (restrictions apply).
Discount travel: Weekend return fares are available from Friday (after 1900) to Sunday for the outward journey and on Saturday and Sunday for the return journey (on long holiday weekends, these periods are extended). A 50% reduction card is also for sale for use at weekends. It entitles the holder to buy an unlimited number of half-price single tickets. Go Pass offers preferential tariffs for 10 second-class trips within one year to people aged under 26. The Rail Pass offers preferential tariffs for 10 second-class trips within one year to people over 26. People aged 65 and over benefit from special tariffs. Both are available from NMBS/SNCB (tel: (02) 528 2828; website: www.b-rail.be).
Rail Passes
InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Belgium. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar (website: www.eurostar.com) and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. Main towns are connected by toll-free motorways. Motorways are designated by a white ‘E' on green signs, other trunk roads by the prefix ‘N', and minor roads by a ‘P'.
Bus: Extensive regional bus services are operated by the bus companies which publish regional timetables. The main operators are De Lijn (tel: (070) 220 200; website: www.delijn.be) in Flanders, and TEC (tel: (010) 235 353; website: www.tec-wl.be) in French-speaking Wallonia. There are long-distance stopping services between towns.
Taxis: Plentiful in all towns. The tip is included in the final meter price. If there are no taxi stands, taxi companies may be telephoned for a small extra charge.
Car hire: Both self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars are available. All the major car hire companies are present in Belgium.
Regulations: The national speed limit is 120kph (75mph) on motorways, 90kph (56mph) on single lane roads and 50kph (31mph) in town. It is compulsory for seat belts to be worn in the front and back of vehicles. Children under 12 are not permitted to travel in the front seat of a car. A warning triangle must be displayed at the scene of a breakdown or accident. It is compulsory to carry a fire extinguisher or first aid kit in all vehicles. Trams always have priority on roads.
Emergency breakdown service: Royal Automobile Club de Belgique (tel: (02) 287 0911; website: www.racb.be). The emergency assistance number is (078) 152 000
Documentation: For non-EU nationals an international driving licence is recommended. EU nationals taking their own cars to Belgium should obtain a Green Card.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
There is a good public transport system in all the major towns and cities, with underground, tram and bus services in Antwerp and Brussels, bus and tramways in Charleroi, Ghent and Ostend and bus systems elsewhere. There is a standard flat-fare system, with discounts for five- and 10-journey multi-ride tickets. One-day tickets and multi-mode tourist travelcards are also available.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times from Brussels (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in Belgium.
Road Rail Antwerp 0.40 0.41 Bruges 1.00 0.53 Ghent 0.50 0.28 Liège 1.10 1.22
Getting Around by Air
As Belgium is such a small country, there are no internal flights.
Getting Around by Water
Belgium's waterways offer a pleasant way to enjoy the country, whether it be on a one-hour cruise around the canals of Bruges, or an extended cruise along the rivers and canals linking the major cities of Wallonia with Antwerp and The Netherlands. Numerous operators offer everything from boat hire to luxury cruises - details are available from the tourist offices (see Contact Addresses).
Getting Around by Rail
NMBS/SNCB (Belgian National Railways) (tel: (02) 528 2828; website: www.b-rail.be) operates a comprehensive railway network with regular trains on most lines. There are more frequent trains on the main lines. Further information is available from Rail Europe (tel: 0844 848 4064, in the UK only; website: www.raileurope.co.uk).
Fares: First- and second-class, single and return tickets are available. However, a return ticket is double the single fare and is only valid on the day of issue. Children under 12 travel free in second class (restrictions apply).
Discount travel: Weekend return fares are available from Friday (after 1900) to Sunday for the outward journey and on Saturday and Sunday for the return journey (on long holiday weekends, these periods are extended). A 50% reduction card is also for sale for use at weekends. It entitles the holder to buy an unlimited number of half-price single tickets. Go Pass offers preferential tariffs for 10 second-class trips within one year to people aged under 26. The Rail Pass offers preferential tariffs for 10 second-class trips within one year to people over 26. People aged 65 and over benefit from special tariffs. Both are available from NMBS/SNCB (tel: (02) 528 2828; website: www.b-rail.be).
Rail Passes
Fares: First- and second-class, single and return tickets are available. However, a return ticket is double the single fare and is only valid on the day of issue. Children under 12 travel free in second class (restrictions apply).
Discount travel: Weekend return fares are available from Friday (after 1900) to Sunday for the outward journey and on Saturday and Sunday for the return journey (on long holiday weekends, these periods are extended). A 50% reduction card is also for sale for use at weekends. It entitles the holder to buy an unlimited number of half-price single tickets. Go Pass offers preferential tariffs for 10 second-class trips within one year to people aged under 26. The Rail Pass offers preferential tariffs for 10 second-class trips within one year to people over 26. People aged 65 and over benefit from special tariffs. Both are available from NMBS/SNCB (tel: (02) 528 2828; website: www.b-rail.be).
InterRail One-Country Pass: offers travel for three, four, six or eight days in one month within Belgium. Travel is not allowed in the passenger's country of residence. Travellers under 26 years receive a reduction. Children's tickets are reduced by about 50%. Supplements are required for some high-speed services, seat reservations and couchettes. Discounts are offered on Eurostar (website: www.eurostar.com) and some ferry routes. Available from Rail Europe (website: www.raileurope.co.uk/inter-rail).
Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. Main towns are connected by toll-free motorways. Motorways are designated by a white ‘E' on green signs, other trunk roads by the prefix ‘N', and minor roads by a ‘P'.
Bus: Extensive regional bus services are operated by the bus companies which publish regional timetables. The main operators are De Lijn (tel: (070) 220 200; website: www.delijn.be) in Flanders, and TEC (tel: (010) 235 353; website: www.tec-wl.be) in French-speaking Wallonia. There are long-distance stopping services between towns.
Taxis: Plentiful in all towns. The tip is included in the final meter price. If there are no taxi stands, taxi companies may be telephoned for a small extra charge.
Car hire: Both self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars are available. All the major car hire companies are present in Belgium.
Regulations: The national speed limit is 120kph (75mph) on motorways, 90kph (56mph) on single lane roads and 50kph (31mph) in town. It is compulsory for seat belts to be worn in the front and back of vehicles. Children under 12 are not permitted to travel in the front seat of a car. A warning triangle must be displayed at the scene of a breakdown or accident. It is compulsory to carry a fire extinguisher or first aid kit in all vehicles. Trams always have priority on roads.
Emergency breakdown service: Royal Automobile Club de Belgique (tel: (02) 287 0911; website: www.racb.be). The emergency assistance number is (078) 152 000
Documentation: For non-EU nationals an international driving licence is recommended. EU nationals taking their own cars to Belgium should obtain a Green Card.
Bus: Extensive regional bus services are operated by the bus companies which publish regional timetables. The main operators are De Lijn (tel: (070) 220 200; website: www.delijn.be) in Flanders, and TEC (tel: (010) 235 353; website: www.tec-wl.be) in French-speaking Wallonia. There are long-distance stopping services between towns.
Taxis: Plentiful in all towns. The tip is included in the final meter price. If there are no taxi stands, taxi companies may be telephoned for a small extra charge.
Car hire: Both self-drive and chauffeur-driven cars are available. All the major car hire companies are present in Belgium.
Regulations: The national speed limit is 120kph (75mph) on motorways, 90kph (56mph) on single lane roads and 50kph (31mph) in town. It is compulsory for seat belts to be worn in the front and back of vehicles. Children under 12 are not permitted to travel in the front seat of a car. A warning triangle must be displayed at the scene of a breakdown or accident. It is compulsory to carry a fire extinguisher or first aid kit in all vehicles. Trams always have priority on roads.
Emergency breakdown service: Royal Automobile Club de Belgique (tel: (02) 287 0911; website: www.racb.be). The emergency assistance number is (078) 152 000
Documentation: For non-EU nationals an international driving licence is recommended. EU nationals taking their own cars to Belgium should obtain a Green Card.
Getting Around Towns and Cities
There is a good public transport system in all the major towns and cities, with underground, tram and bus services in Antwerp and Brussels, bus and tramways in Charleroi, Ghent and Ostend and bus systems elsewhere. There is a standard flat-fare system, with discounts for five- and 10-journey multi-ride tickets. One-day tickets and multi-mode tourist travelcards are also available.
Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times from Brussels (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in Belgium.
| Road | Rail | |
| Antwerp | 0.40 | 0.41 |
| Bruges | 1.00 | 0.53 |
| Ghent | 0.50 | 0.28 |
| Liège | 1.10 | 1.22 |
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