Brussels Public Transportation Question

There’s a train from BRU Zavantem Airport to Brussels Centraal train station every 15 minutes and the journey takes 18 minutes. There are train ticket machines and a staffed booth where tickets can be bought for the trains underneath the Airport Terminal— basically at the basement level (-1) where the trains depart from. The App for trains in Belgium is the “SNCB” App. At Brussels Centraal train station she can transfer to the Metro and Metro tix can be bought from the ticket machines or at a staffed booth. Alternatively, the App called “STIB-MIVB” is good for the metro, trams and buses of Brussels.

I can understand why you have not provided any information, not even the street or neighborhood of your daughter's lodging. That has a negative effect of the quality of answers that can be given to your question. But the airport trains all stop at all three downtown Brussels stations, and it's conceivable that she could walk to her housing from one of them. Or take a tram, bus or taxi. I also mention this because handling luggage for an underground Metro can be troublesome.

If you don't want to post any more information, you could type her address into Google Maps and look for the nearest of the three railroad stations. Google Maps is not that good with urban public transport, but it's possible that it could sketch out busses and Metro from that station to her destination, without having to post it on a newsboard.

She's a three-minute walk from De Broukere.

https://www.belgiantrain.be/EN/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/use-the-sncb-app

I see that De Brouckere Metro is one stop from Bruxelles Centrale station. But I remember that that direction is uphill, so I guess I wouldn't walk, even with a rolling bag. I see that Metro 1 and 5 go there from Gare Centrale, but Metro 3 and 4 go there from Brussels-Midi/Zuid station, which the train from BRU also stops at. I mention that in case one more Metro stop might end up nearer her housing.

It looks like there are five busses that go from Gare Centrale to De Brouckere, 29, 38, 63, 66, 71. If it's a light crowding part of the day, that might avoid the Metro stairs. But I have never taken a bus in Brussels.

https://www.brusselsguide.net/wp-content/uploads/Brussels-Metro-Map.pdf

Obviously she's going to be spending some time in Brussels, so she'll need a public transit stored value card. It's worth mentioning that transit in other cities of Belgium used to be a different card from the capital's.

I’ve stayed at the historic Hotel Metropole on De Brouckere It’s less than a half-mile walk from Brussels Centraal station and an easy and rather scenic route to walk. If she’s weighed down with more than a roller carry-on she could take the metro the one stop, although it actually will take longer getting down to the Metro tunnels and then back up to street level than the 10-minute walk from Centraal station to De Brouckere.
BTW, the Hotel Metropole (1872) is now closed but its “Cafe Metropole” is still open and is a great spot to relax.

Your daughter will need a ticket for the train from the airport (a 'Diabolo'), but on buses and trams she can use her credit card to tap on (not off, tickets are a flat price, not measured by distance, and a second tap would be a second charge). Tickets (taps) are capped then at three fares for a day, and might show up in your bank account initially but will then be refunded. It is a similar charge to buying a ticket. You can also use this in the metro but will need to tap to get out of the metro also. I would take the train to Bruxelles-Central and then the metro or the 71 bus down to De Brouckère. She could even walk from Central if the weather is good as it's downhill to De Brouckère.

Good luck to your daughter!

Lavandula

Thank you guys for the advice. I just want to make sure I'm understanding. She has a backpack and a large rolling suitcase. So there is no escalator, just stairs, on the metro? Are you guys suggesting she take the train to the central station and walk to her lodging (and skip the metro)?

I see an escalator going up to De Brouckere from the Metro.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Brussels,+Belgium/@50.8511685,4.3528184,3a,30y,61.15h,86.59t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1swwD9xN9_r8Pj2i8GAIWD0A!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D3.4134206949838557%26panoid%3DwwD9xN9_r8Pj2i8GAIWD0A%26yaw%3D61.14518608021613!7i16384!8i8192!4m6!3m5!1s0x47c3c486740f9fff:0x10099ab2f4c8030!8m2!3d50.8260453!4d4.3802052!16zL20vMDE3N3o?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDUyMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

There is definitely an escalator at De Brouckère, and a electronic gate that she will have to take her bag through, but she won't need to tap off there, the exit gates are automatic so as not to cause a traffic jam. I am not sure if there is a wider gate for suitcases, I've never looked out for that. But yes, if she is near De Brouckère she could feasibly walk from Bruxelles-Central station, although there are cobblestones and it is a bit of a walk. Use the directions function on the Google Maps page for a good estimate of how long it will take on foot.

Lavandula

EDIT: changed 'Gare Centrale metro' to 'Bruxelles-Centrale station' as your daughter will be on the train and not the metro coming from the airport.

Thank you all for the help! My daughter made it safely to her lodging this morning. I think it was definitely a great move to take the train to Centrale and then walk, it made it easier for her. She did great.

That's fantastic, Brussels is very walkable (hill up to Central notwithstanding). Hope she has a great time!

Lavandula