Routes and stations
Metro lines 1 and 5 run east–west through Gare Centrale, De Brouckère and Schuman, the European Quarter. Lines 2 and 6 form a ring. Line 6 goes north to Heysel for the Atomium.
Premetro trams run underground through the centre between Gare du Nord and Gare du Midi, stopping at Bourse near the Grand-Place.
Tickets and fares
Tapping a contactless bank card or phone at the gate costs about €2.40 per trip in 2026, valid for one hour with changes. From the fourth trip in a day, you pay no more than the day ticket price, about €8.50.
The Brupass costs a little more but is also valid on SNCB trains, De Lijn and TEC buses inside Brussels. Brupass XL extends to the airport area.
STIB fares are adjusted each February, so check the official site before you travel.
How to buy
Tap your contactless card at the metro gates and on validators in trams and buses. Use the same card each time so the daily cap works. Each traveller needs their own card.
You can also buy tickets in the STIB app, at GO machines in stations, or load them on a MOBIB card.
Tips for travellers
From Brussels Airport, trains run several times an hour to Brussels-Nord, Central and Midi in about 17–25 minutes. The fare includes an airport fee, so expect about €9–13 one way.
STIB bus 12 (Airport Line) runs from the airport bus station to Schuman and Brussels-Luxembourg in the European Quarter. It needs a special airport ticket of about €7.50–7.90.
Charleroi airport is far from the city and served by coaches, not by STIB.
Last checked: October 2026. Fares and timetables change, so confirm on the official website before you travel.
