How to use public transport in Belgium

Last updated: August 2026Written by Anthony Toast13 sources

Belgium is easy to cross by train, but local transport is split among Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia. The right setup is SNCB/NMBS for rail, plus the operator for the region where you will actually use buses, trams or metro.

Install SNCB/NMBS first. In Brussels, contactless STIB payment is simplest for one person making a few journeys. In Flanders, De Lijn offers app tickets and flexible group tapping. Wallonia's rules aren't identical, so use the TEC app and buy the correct ticket before boarding.

Choose the right transport option in Belgium

Your journey	Use this
Between Belgian cities or to Brussels Airport	Plan and buy in SNCB/NMBS before boarding.4 6
Metro, tram or bus in Brussels	Use STIB-MIVB; tap contactless for simple solo travel or use Brupass when several operators are part of the route.7 8
Bus or tram in Antwerp, Ghent or elsewhere in Flanders	Use De Lijn, with an activated app ticket or contactless payment.9
Bus, tram or metro in Liège, Charleroi, Namur or elsewhere in Wallonia	Use TEC and select Classic, Express or the airport product shown for that route.2 12

App details

SNCB/NMBSEssential

Belgium's official national rail app for live journeys, domestic fares and tickets, including airport rail connections.

Pro tip: Buy before boarding and open the live ticket in Purchases. An email or screenshot is not valid, and the lead passenger needs matching ID.

App Store Play Store Website

STIB-MIVB

Brussels' official metro, tram and bus app with live departures, accessibility status and digital Brupass tickets.

Pro tip: For a few STIB rides, tap a separate contactless card or device per person. Use the app for groups, ten-trip fares or live disruption details.

App Store Play Store Website

De Lijn

Flanders' official bus and tram app for live stops, disruptions, route planning and digital tickets.

Pro tip: Install it when using buses in Flanders. Contactless can pay for up to five people, but tap once per person within two minutes and use that same card or device throughout the journey.

App Store Play Store Website

TEC

Wallonia's official bus and tram app for route planning, live information and TEC ticket purchase.

Pro tip: Buy and activate the correct TEC ticket before travel, then keep the phone charged. Ordinary bank-card tapping was still a future rollout, not a network-wide payment method, when checked.

App Store Play Store Website

At a glance

Signing up: Planning needs no account. For a mobile fare, enter the passenger details and make sure the lead traveller can show matching identification.
Paying: Choose a method offered at checkout and wait for the fare to appear in Purchases before treating the transaction as complete.
English: English menus and passenger information are provided; station names may still appear in Dutch, French or German.
Where it works: Domestic SNCB/NMBS rail nationwide, including the stations beneath Brussels Airport and rail links used for Charleroi Airport connections.

How to get a SIM in Belgium→

One railway, three main local networks

SNCB, called NMBS in Dutch, runs the national railway. Local urban travel is divided mainly between STIB-MIVB in Brussels, De Lijn in Flanders and TEC in Wallonia. An app from one operator can show a useful route without selling the ticket required by another, so identify the operator before you pay.4 1 2

Brupass is the important exception in Brussels. Within its defined zone it can cover STIB, SNCB, De Lijn and TEC, which is useful when a route combines a city vehicle with a local train. It does not cover every journey beyond Brussels, and it does not replace the special airport fare on STIB line 12 when departing Brussels Airport.8 1

Buy the train ticket before you board

A mobile SNCB ticket lives inside the app on the device used to buy it. The confirmation email and a screenshot are not accepted as the ticket, and the lead passenger must be able to show matching identification. Buy up to 30 days ahead if that helps, but keep the actual ticket accessible before entering the train.4

The July 2026 rule change removed the conductor as a domestic payment fallback. If a web or app transaction fails, leave time to use a staffed counter or machine instead. A small set of international routes follows separate exceptions.5

Contactless is convenient, but group rules differ

On STIB, one physical card, phone or watch identifies one passenger. Tap the same medium again on each connection within the permitted transfer period. In 2026 the ordinary fare is €2.40 with an €8.50 daily cap, but the airport departure uses a separate Airport2City fare.7 1

De Lijn works differently. One card or device can cover up to five people if it is tapped once for each traveler within two minutes. The 2026 single costs €3 and lasts 60 minutes, including completion of the final ride. Keep the same payment medium for inspection and transfers.9 10

Do not rely on an SMS ticket with a foreign SIM on De Lijn. The operator says foreign SIM cards cannot buy its SMS ticket even while roaming on a Belgian network.11

TEC changed its fares in 2026

TEC removed its old zone structure on 1 February 2026. Classic now covers ordinary services, while Express and airport routes retain distinct products. Buying in advance is cheaper than paying onboard. The reform also prepares for future EMV payment, so do not mistake that plan for completed network-wide contactless acceptance.2

The TEC app can buy and activate tickets. Activate the ticket in the app before boarding, validate it on the vehicle and keep enough battery for inspection. Charleroi Airport routes use their own airport product, not an ordinary Classic single.12 13

Brussels Airport and Charleroi Airport are different trips

Brussels Airport has a railway station beneath the terminal. Most eligible train tickets include the airport supplement; verify it in the fare before paying. STIB line 12 is a separate city-bus option whose Airport2City fare applies when leaving the airport.6 7

Brussels South Charleroi Airport is not on the Brussels urban network. LETEC announced that from July 2026 it expected to strengthen A1 from Charleroi-Central and remove A2 from Fleurus and A3 from Luttre. Its older airport page still listed all three when checked in August. Do not plan a Fleurus or Luttre interchange from that older page alone; use LETEC's live journey planner or timetable.13 3

If the app does not work

If a phone, card or app fails, use a station machine or staffed sales point before travel. Keep one physical bank card separate from the phone wallet and never board a train assuming the conductor can sell the ordinary ticket.5 1 2

What this does not cover: Fares and rules were checked on 24 August 2026. Live disruptions, airport timetables, accepted card issuers and TEC's contactless rollout can change. The operator app or stop notice controls on the day.

Frequently asked questions

Which public transport app do I need in Belgium?

Start with SNCB/NMBS for intercity rail. For an urban leg, use the operator named in the route result rather than assuming the rail app sells that fare. Brupass is the main multi-operator exception around Brussels.

Can I tap a foreign bank card on Belgian public transport?

Often, but the rules differ. STIB requires a separate card or device for each passenger. De Lijn allows the same payment medium to cover up to five passengers if each person is tapped separately. TEC had not yet completed a network-wide bank-card rollout when checked.

Does the normal Brussels fare cover Brussels Airport?

No. Price the actual airport route in the official planner before travelling because dedicated rail and bus products apply. An ordinary Brussels fare can be the wrong ticket.