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Transportation
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Air
Brussels Zaventem is located 12km (8 miles) northeast of Brussels, offering flights to over 150 destinations worldwide. Airport facilities include a post office, bank, bureaux de change, ATMs, bars, restaurants, shops, tourist information and car hire. The Skyport Corporate Meeting Centre offers eight small meeting rooms and secretarial services. The STIB Airport City Express trains to the city (journey time around 15 minutes) depart every 15 minutes to Brussels' three main stations: Gare Centrale, Gare du Nord and Gare du Midi. Services operate between 06.00 and 00.00. The Airport Line bus service, operated by MIVB/STIB, runs between 05.00 and 0.00 (journey time about 40 minutes). The De Lijn bus operates every 45 minutes to the city center and has a journey time of 40 minutes.
South Charleroi Airport, Brussels' second and smaller airport, is located 55km (37 miles) south of Brussels, in Charleroi. The privately owned airport is an international airport for passenger and freight traffic, a test and training flight base for aeronautical industry and a center for general and business aviation. Airport facilities include bars, shops, a bank and duty-free shop. The MIVB/STIB bus number 68 departs from Charleroi Airport to the nearby Charleroi train station (journey time is 10 minutes) The service runs on weekdays between 06.00 and 23.30, and on weekends between 06.20 and 22.30. From there, a SNCB train service connects to Brussels' main stations, between 05.00 and 00.00 (journey time is approximately 45 minutes). The journey time by taxi is approximately 40 minutes.
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| Public Transport
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Train
The Belgian National Railways (SNCB/NMBS) runs a fast and very efficient service. There are three major railway stations in Brussels: Bruxelles-Central (in the city center), Bruxelles-Nord (to the north of the main ring road) and Bruxelles-Midi (to the south). All three stations have bars, refreshments and disabled access, while Bruxelles-Midi and Bruxelles-Nord both have car parks. All three stations connect to the metro, Bruxelles-Midi and Bruxelles-Nord have a direct connection to Bruxelles-Central, as well as to other cities and the airport.
Eurostar trains (from London) and Thalys express trains (from Aachen, Amsterdam, Cologne and Paris) run a fast and efficient service and stop at the TGV (High-Speed Train) terminal at Bruxelles-Midi. The journey time to Paris is 1 hour and 30 minutes. In addition, local trains depart from Bruxelles-Chapelle, Bruxelles-Quartier Léopold, Bruxelles-Schuman and Bruxelles-Congrès, linking the inner city to the suburbs.
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Subway
The metro can be identified by a sign bearing a white 'M' on a blue background. Line 1A runs northwest to southeast, from Roi Baudouin to Herrmann-Debroux. Line 1B runs southwest to northeast, from Bizet to Stockel. Both lines join in the middle, running along the same lines from Beekhant to Merode, to serve the central part of the city. Line 2, from Simonis to Clemenceau, follows the inner ring road underground.
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Bus / Tram
The system operates from 06.00 to 00.00. Tram and bus stops are indicated by red and white signs. De Lijn and TEC provide bus services to nearby Belgian cities. Most buses depart from Gare du Nord, although some depart from Place Rouppe, in the Marolles district. Eurolines operate international services to major European destinations.
The trams, bright yellow and blue, serve the city center and suburbs. The trams, which also travel underground, run south, underneath the heart of the city from Gare du Nord, stopping at Place de Brouckère and Bourse, and Bruxelles-Midi (Eurostar terminal). Some services run on to St-Gilles and Albert.
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| Tickets
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Trams, buses and the metro system are designed to interconnect, using the same ticket system. Tickets can be purchased at metro stations, newsagents, at the tourist reception desk at Rue du Marché-aux-Herbes 63, and at the TIB at the Town Hall in Grand-Place. Tickets must be validated at the metro ticket barrier, either prior to or upon boarding the bus or tram. The ticket is valid for any form of public transport, including changes.
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| Taxi
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Autolux are the official taxi's in Brussels. These are marked with a blue and yellow plaque and travel from Brussels Airport to the city. In central Brussels, taxi's are available at centrally located taxi ranks at the major railway stations and at the Bourse, Place de Brouckère and Porte de Namur. The price of the trip is displayed on the meter, including the service charge.
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| Car
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Motorways are marked with a white 'E' on a green background, major roads with an 'N' and minor roads with a 'P'. The speed limit on motorways and dual carriageways is 120kph (75mph), on single carriageways outside built-up areas 90kph (56mph) and in built-up areas 50kph (31mph). Routes E19 and A12 will take you north to Antwerp and The Netherdlands. Route E19 also heads south to Paris, becoming E15. Route E40 links Brussels with Ghent. Traveling time from: Antwerp - 35 minutes; Ghent - 45 minutes; Amsterdam - 2 hours and 25 minutes; Paris - 3 hours and 20 minutes and Frankfurt - 4 hours and 15 minutes.
In addition to car parks located in the city center, there is pay-and-display parking in certain streets. Parking rates apply from Monday to Saturday, from 09.00 to 13.00 and 14.30 to 19.00, with free parking available on Sunday and holidays.
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| Weather
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Summer temperatures in Brussels range from 18 to 27 degrees Celsius (65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit). In winter, snow may fall occasionally, with temperatures dropping to 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit). Furhermore, rain may be expected at any time of the year. |
| Currency
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The currency used in Belgium is the Euro. Notes come in denominations of €100, €50, €20, €10 and €5 and the coins in use are €2, €1, 0.50C, 0.20C, 0.10C, 0.05C, 0.02C and 0.01C.
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| Tipping
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Service charges are generally included in the price. Porters, waiters and taxi drivers do not require a tip unless you receive particularly outstanding service.
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