Given its small size, the center of Brussels can be easily reached on foot. It is divided into two areas: la upper part to the southeast, where the French-speaking elite lives, and where the large boulevards and the Belgian Parliament are located; there lower part instead, which includes the medieval old town, built around the majestic former market square, called Grand Place.

On foot, along the cobbled streets, you can reach the famous neighborhoods of Ilôt Sacré, Ste Catherine, St Géry e Marolles.

The city has a public transport system that consists of metro, tram and bus. The first ones are ideal for getting around in Brussels. Buses, on the other hand, are particularly comfortable during the evening. The public service is mainly managed by the STIB.

GETTING AROUND BRUSSELS BY METRO

The metro is the fastest way for getting around Brussels, from one part of the city to the other. With the metro, you can avoid city traffic, particularly evident during peak times.

Brussels has 4 meter lines shown with the numbers 1, 2, 5 and 6. The symbol indicating the stations is a white M, on a blue background. Fast and efficient, the metro allows you to move around Brussels in an easy and simple way. Inn cities also exist the 3 and 4 lines, called Pre-Metro. These are two tram lines with part of the underground journey.

The metro usually works, every day, from 05:00 about in the morning, up to 00:30. Frequencies range from 6 / 7 minutes during the week, to 10 minutes, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Furthermore, timetables are subject to change during the year.

TRAM AND BUSES

In the city, 18 tram lines and 52 daytime bus lines circulate. By tram and bus, it is possible to move to Brussels, reaching the more peripheral neighborhoods. The 70 lines connect the whole city in a capillary way. At peak times, Trams are more congenial than buses, due to city traffic. The means are all identified by a progressive number.

Usually, they run from the 05 in the morning until midnight. Times and frequencies vary depending on the line. Some, less frequented, terminate the service around the 20:30.

Il servizio Noctis (night buses) has 11 bus line and is active on Friday evening and Saturday night from around midnight until 03:00 in the morning. Keep in mind that, in some stops, the last bus could start around 02:40; be careful not to lose it! Buses that operate the night service are identified by the letter N before the number. All lines pass through Centraal Station, the city’s central railway station.