Belgium
National rail, regional transit and simple card backups for Belgium
Belgium is easy to cross by rail, but local transport is split among STIB-MIVB in Brussels, De Lijn in Flanders and TEC in Wallonia.
The essentials
What to know before you go to Belgium
Install SNCB/NMBS for national trains and add only the operator app needed by your itinerary. Every train passenger must hold a valid ticket before boarding from 1 July 2026. Visa and Mastercard work widely, but a merchant's required electronic option can be a Belgian-only QR method, so carry a physical card and some euros. Bancontact Pay is not a normal tourist setup because it requires a Bancontact card issued by a Belgian bank.
Brussels Airport at Zaventem has a station under the terminal; Brussels South Charleroi Airport is much farther away and normally needs a bus connection. Strikes can be announced at short notice, and pickpocketing is common at major Brussels stations. Check the relevant operator before every important journey and keep luggage within reach.
Ride Hailing
BoltEssential
A major Belgian ride option in Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Charleroi, Leuven, Namur and selected other cities.
UberEssential
A familiar ride app with service across Brussels and many other Belgian cities and surrounding municipalities.
Taxis Verts
A Brussels licensed-taxi app for immediate or advance booking, online payment, tracking and accessible vehicles.
Food Delivery
Takeaway.comEssential
Belgium's broad delivery and collection catalog, including restaurants and grocery stores in large cities and many smaller towns.
Deliveroo
A large restaurant and grocery delivery alternative operating in more than 25 Belgian cities.
Uber Eats
A useful restaurant and grocery delivery comparison in Brussels and Belgium's other larger urban markets.
Navigation
Google MapsEssential
The best general map for Belgium's walking, cycling, driving, saved places and first-pass public transport planning.
Transit
SNCB/NMBSEssential
Belgium's official national rail app for live journeys, domestic fares and tickets, including airport rail connections.
STIB-MIVB
Brussels' official metro, tram and bus app with live departures, accessibility status and digital Brupass tickets.
De Lijn
Flanders' official bus and tram app for live stops, disruptions, route planning and digital tickets.
TEC
Wallonia's official bus and tram app for route planning, live information and TEC ticket purchase.
Language
Google Translate
A practical language backup for Dutch, French and German signs, menus and essential conversations across Belgium's regions.
Utilities
112 BEEssential
Belgium's official emergency app for ambulance, fire or police calls with location and registered profile information.
Also covered
Internet in Belgium
Mobile internet eSIM Best option when traveling
Guac
RecommendedReliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
Airalo
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Holafly
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
Buying a local SIM card ID registration required
- Bring your passport; the seller registers the prepaid SIM during activation.
- Typical prepaid offers include around 6 GB; compare the current validity and price before buying.
- Airport counters and city carrier stores are the easiest places to buy; confirm activation before leaving.
- A travel eSIM is the simpler option and avoids local SIM registration steps.
Use an official carrier store and complete registration and activation before leaving the counter.
Local carriers
Proximus
Best choice for broad coverage, including rural areas.
Orange Belgium
A solid alternative; compare current prepaid offers before buying.
BASE (Telenet)
A solid alternative; compare current prepaid offers before buying.
Digi Belgium
Strong in major cities, with weaker rural coverage.
MVNOs Mobile Vikings
Tourist-friendly choice with a straightforward purchase process.
Frequently asked questions
What are the must-have apps for traveling in Belgium?
The essential apps for Belgium are Bolt, Uber, Takeaway.com, Google Maps, SNCB/NMBS.
How many travel apps does Belgium have?
We've curated 13 apps across 7 categories for traveling in Belgium, including 6 essential apps.
What is the best ride hailing app in Belgium?
Bolt. A major Belgian ride option in Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, Charleroi, Leuven, Namur and selected other cities.
Keep exploring
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