Taking the train, tram or bus

In Belgium, you can easily travel by train, tram or bus. Always purchase a ticket before boarding.

How do you know which train, tram or bus to take?

  • For long distances, or between cities: take the train
  • For short distances: take the bus
  • In Brussels: take the metro, tram or bus

Make sure you have a valid ticket before boarding. Fines for travelling without a ticket are very high in Belgium (up to €500). 

Buying a train ticket

Where can you buy a ticket?

You can buy a ticket at an automatic ticket machine, or at a ticket office in the stations, or from the bus driver.

Buying a ticket from a ticket inspector in a train is more expensive than buying one at the station.

You must validate your ticket! Are you travelling by tram, bus or metro? Scan your ticket every time you enter a metro, tram, bus or metro station.

There is a good chance that you will be checked.

You are staying in a reception centre

If you are an asylum seeker residing in a reception centre, you can request a free ticket from your social worker for the following reasons:

  • You need to go to an appointment for your asylum application (interview)
  • You are looking for a place to stay
  • You are following a training course
  • You have a medical appointment

A travel pass for te bus

If you live in Flanders, your social worker can suggest that you buy a travel pass for 1 year, for a small amount. This is much cheaper than buying multiple tickets. In Flanders, as an asylum seeker, you get a reduction on a travel pass. In Wallonia you do not get a reduction on a travel pass.

Calculate your journey

There are various apps to calculate your journey. They also show you which bus, tram or train to take.