Brussels Transportation Tips by irisbe Top 5 Page for this destination

Trainstations Trains Review

There are many trainstations in Brussels but the most known are :

-Brussel Noord/Bruxelles Nord
-Brussel Centraal/Bruxelles Central
-Brussel Zuid/ Bruxelles Midi

It is a bit confusing with the bilinguality of Brussels for the foreigner I admit but with a bit of imagination and help you will be able to find your way around pretty easy.

Logical if you enter Brussels from the Northern side you will first pass Brussels North station.
If you are on the most left track (facing Brussels) you might catch a glimpse of the red light district just next to the trainstation. Hardly dressed women are offering themselves to passing by men, even on early hours you would not immediatly expect.
A little but nearer the station and a wall will block the view of this somewhat less nice side of Brussels.
The main entrance however is completely different: new modern buildings are raising up with incredible speed.

From here the train goes underground to it's next stop (passing Brussels Congress) of the Central Station (see picture 1).
Here it is a bit confusing to take the right way out as there are ways towards the metro, the main entrance/exit and other smaller exits.
The building itself is a nice piece of Art Deco designed by the famous Victor Horta and constructed in 1952.

From here the train goes underground further coming above again near Lachapelle station and stopping at Brussels South (see picture 2).
At this station you can catch the TGV and the Eurostar. There are about 22 traintracks so it is really huge. As in many big trainstations keep your pockets closed and safe for pickpockets!

Every Saturday there is a huge market near this trainstation.

Mode: TO,AROUND

Type: Train

Explore Brussels by cycle on your own risks Trains Review

You can hire a bicycle at:
Pro Vélo
Londenstraat 15
1050 Brussel

You can even subscribe for guided tours.
Mostly they are done in small groups.
Sunday is the best time to cycle in Brussels as the traffic is less.
Very recently some improvements have been made for some cycling lanes but they are still insufficient.
It remains a hazardeous way of moving around.

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The bicycles are of very good quality and in Summertime they organise guided cycling trips through Brussels!

Mode: AROUND

Phone: +32 (0)2 502 73 55

Type: Bicycle

Website: http://www.provelo.org/

This is definitly different !

Didn't knew you could do this in Brussels as well? It was the first time this Summer I have spotted this horses and carriage. Maybe the tourist information centre can give you more info.

I wonder, with all the heavy traffic in Brussels, this is really an enjoyable ride and if you actually can hear anything the guy in front of you is saying.
I remember that any guided tour in Brussels is a pain because of the terrible noise of the traffic (except in traffic free zones).

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Lately October/November 2004, it is the best way to travel in Brussels as bus and metro's are mostly on strike during Fridays.
Bad working schedule and aggression towards the drivers has made them decide to go on strike every Friday until things are cleared up.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Other

Braille at the metro Métros/Trams/Bus Review

Humour is life’s best friend. That is one of my mottos.
Laugh a lot and live longer, relativating is the way to a healthy life.
So I hope I won’t upset anyone when I write things with a wink.

When we took the metro to the metro station Graaf van Vlaanderen/Compte de Flandres, we arrived at a rather huge station, just opposite the canal.
In the big hall we suddenly discovered some plates with the name of the metro station in French and Flemish and … underneath even the same information, written in Braille.
One at the left, one at the right side… and yes, I joked that it might be Braille for left handed and right handed, but of course it was Brialle writing in both languages.
Here Nathalie demonstrates how to use it.

At the end of the stairs you even have huge Braille on the floors!
And no… silly me I tried to read it wrong! is not to read with by using your hands!
This one is to read with your feet and it says “Watch out, take one more step and you fall down the stairs!”

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Panoramic picture! If you want to enjoy the full view, click on it to enlarge!

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Little note of the editor:
We found out that in every big metro station you can find these signs but... there is a but!
We were all wondering how, if we hardly can spot the signs, the blind people can?

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Little acknowledgment of the editor:

Thank you Alain_smeets for that lending me the right side picture!

Mode: AROUND

Type: Subway/Metro

Website: http://www.stib.irisnet.be

Brussels National Airport Zaventem Planes Review

Brussels is easily reached by plane.
The major airport is Zaventem.
More info about Zaventem on my Zaventem page.

Mode: TO

Type: Airplane

Website: http://www.brusselsairport.be/

Are you lost ? or not yet? lost in the eyes ! Métros/Trams/Bus Review

The metro network might be a little bit overwhelming if you have just arrived and try to find out how and where to go.
Nathalie (Nathalie_B) and me were making our way to the map hanging near the ticket counter of the metro in Central Station basement, or this gentle guy came to the rescue!
He must have notices our desperate faces (see picture).
He asked where we were going to and pointed out what lines to take. No he didn’t asked where we were going to that evening `-)
We thought he was soooooooooo kind we wanted to have this forever burned on a picture.
I often complain about the stressed and sometimes bold people in Brussels so when I find a nice friendly person I put the spotlight on him!
I hope I find so many that Brussels won’t need no more streetlights at night `-)

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You can buy tickets at several prices (one drive; several drives; groups ticket of 5 persons, day ticket) at the vendor machine, or you can buy them at the ticket counter.
Check first the lines in front of both and then the person behind the counter `-)
If he is smiling and friendly, go there and say hello.

Don't forget to value your ticket when entering the metro station!

Mode: AROUND

Type: Subway/Metro

Website: http://www.stib.irisnet.be

The right balance: time for the subway? Métros/Trams/Bus Review

When you go from one place to another, it is best to check how far you need to go. Metro is often a good solution to safe time, you will miss what is above you, but sometimes that can be heavy traffic streets with nothing but uggly concrete office buildings.
Consider buying a day card at less then 2 Euro.
When you are going to stay together the whole day with a group, consider to buy a groups ticket. You can have groups tickets of maximum 10 persons.

Find the right balance between walking and sightseeing and traveling by metro and saving time!

Mode: AROUND

Type: Subway/Metro

Website: http://www.stib.irisnet.be