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.
| Your journey | Use this |
|---|---|
| Between Belgian cities or to Brussels Airport | Plan and buy in SNCB/NMBS before boarding.46 |
| 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.78 |
| 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.212 |
Belgium's official national rail app for live journeys, domestic fares and tickets, including airport rail connections.
Brussels' official metro, tram and bus app with live departures, accessibility status and digital Brupass tickets.
Flanders' official bus and tram app for live stops, disruptions, route planning and digital tickets.
Wallonia's official bus and tram app for route planning, live information and TEC ticket purchase.
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.412
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.81
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
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.71
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.910
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 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.1213
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.67
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.133
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.512
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.
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.
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.
No, not for an ordinary domestic journey since 1 July 2026. Complete the purchase before boarding. Only limited international exceptions remain.
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Guac eSIM covers Belgium with plans from $0.58 per GB. Install it before you land and activate instantly.
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