Taxis are found at marked stands throughout the city. Including tip, taxi fares in Brussels are expensive. ‘Rate 1’ concerns the 19 communes of the Brussels-Capital region; ‘Rate 2’ lies outside the 19 communes.

Although heavy traffic can be found on the outskirts of the city during rush hour, due to ongoing construction to reduce city centre traffic, the centre is relatively easy to negotiate by car. Rates of the multi-storey car parks in the centre cost 2,00 EUR per hour. Street parking is also available Mon–Saturday 9am–1pm and 2.30pm–7pm, with varying rates. Free street parking is available on Sundays and holidays.

Railway There are plenty of train options to Brussels. The city features the high-speed (300km/h) Thalys train network, connecting the Belgian capital with Paris, Amsterdam, The Hague, Bordeaux, Marseille, Avignon, Liège, Aachen and Cologne. Travelers from the UK can take the Eurostar directly to Brussels, via the Channel Tunnel. Most domestic trains stop at the three main stations. The high-speed trains leave Brussels South to the aforementioned destinations. Brussels Central is an underground station located in the heart of the city centre, only a five-minute walk from the Great Market. Brussels North also comprises a bus station and is connected to an underground tramway.

Long-distance buses travel from across Europe to Bruxelles-Nord bus terminal. Most of these routes depart from London’s Victoria Coach Station, three times per day, and use the Channel Tunnel. The tram network is a good way of navigating around the centre of the city. Trams are frequent and wind through the centre, as well as reach further suburban areas. The STIB also operates a bus network throughout Brussels which operates at night. Fares include buses operated by Tec or De Lijn within the Brussels urban fares zone, as well as the tram fares.

The metro in Brussels is efficient and relatively inexpensive. A one-hour ticket can be purchased for all metro, bus and trolley services. The metro is operated by the Societé des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles (STIB/MIVB), which is also responsible for a tram network. Upon purchasing a metro ticket, it needs to be stamped by one of the machines located at the station. The Brussels Card, at 30 EUR, offers unlimited three-day public transport, as well as free admission to various landmarks. All JUMP tickets (to ‘jump’ from one transport to another) are valid on the metro, as well as on buses (STIB, De Lijn, TEC), trams and suburban trains (SNCB).