My family of 2 adults and 2 kids (ages 11 & 6) will be spending a few days in Brussels seeing sites. What is my best option for mass transit passes for unlimited on/off on subway, trams, & busses? We will be all over the city. Thanks in advance!!
Posted by
Sydney, Australia
148 posts
I think you want either a Brupass 10 journeys or a Brupass XL 10 journeys. The difference is the zone in which the tickets are valid, you can just go a bit further with the XL. You either buy a Mobib card and load them onto that, or get an app and buy them on your phone. Have a look here: https://www.stib-mivb.be/home/buy/product-catalog-tickets
There is also a thing where you can just use your debit or credit card and scan them on public transport, up to a cap of €7,50 per day. I usually use that but I am on my feet most of the time and not in public transport. You each need a different card, even if the same account. The 10-journey tickets are good though, and just a little cheaper, I think.
Lavandula
EDIT:
In Brussels, children under 6 can travel for free on STIB (MIVB) public transport if accompanied by a paying adult. Children between 6 and 11 can also travel for free, but they need a special free J season ticket (MOBIB card) that needs to be requested at a STIB sales point.
Posted by
Sydney, Australia
148 posts
There is also an unlimited 1-day Brupass XL for €9,50 but I find the 10-journey tickets better because they are valid the next day/s if you don't use them up.
Lavandula
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Lavandula,
Thank you for the wonderful information!! Are these tickets available for purchase from a representative at the Burssels Midi station?
Posted by
Sydney, Australia
148 posts
Yes, to explain the station a bit: there is the main concourse, which is like a big hall which is the main part of the station and where you first arrive after getting off the platforms. But if you walk towards the exits there is a more closed-in area, and two floors below this is the metro (called 'Gare du Midi' station). There are 'M' signs, just follow them. But if you just go down one floor you will find a ticket booth (it's either called 'Bootik' or 'Kiosk', I don't know which it is). The person there will speak English, enough to be able to sell you the appropriate tickets for your family. They will expect you to buy a Mobib card which costs €5,00 and the ticket/s are loaded onto that. But if you use an app you might be able to skip this stage and just buy it on your phone (I haven't done this). So when you have finished you can either go downstairs to catch the metro, or back up to street level to catch the trams. Or indeed catch a taxi, depending on how unwieldy your luggage is (no dishonour in doing this, travelling with everyone plus luggage can be daunting).
Here is a link to the station with a map (scroll down on the page, it's a downloadable PDF):
https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Stations/Brussels-Midi
Good luck!
Lavandula