This will be my first solo trip to Belgium. I"m doing slow travel for 12 nights, flying into Brussels airport, then off to Ghent for 4 nights, Bruges for 3 nights and 5 nights in Brussels. What's the best card or passes to travel via train and buses throughout these cities? Is there a national reloadable card or do I have to buy a different card for each city? Thanks for your help.
Posted by
San Diego, California
5647 posts
Posted by
Belgium
67 posts
Belgian cities are quite small so if you can walk a bit, you won't be needing to many buses in the cities. You mostly pay a cheap rate per hour and can go wherever you want in 1 hour. 10 trip passes are also an option.
Train depends on your age. Young people (<26) or elderly people (65+) get a nice discount so this rate is almost always favorable. In weekends you can get a weekend rate if you opt for a two way ticket. Then you'll get a 50% discount. For longer distances a 10 trip ticket is an affordable option. Don't use it for a short distance as a normal ticket will be cheaper.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33991 posts
as just said above. The same bus and tram system is throughout Flanders so except for Brussels you will be on De Lijn. A day ticket in Gent is also valid in Bruges.
Key - are you either a Youth or a Senior?
Posted by
San Diego, California
5647 posts
Nigel, we will be in the country next spring. As seniors, can we get the senior discount with the tap mode, or do we need to purchase senior tickets? Thanks so much!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33991 posts
you need the super spifty senior tickets - incredible fares
Posted by
OP
San Francisco
32 posts
I don't qualify for any of the special fares, not under 26 years old or over 65 years old. How do you buy the 10 trip pass for short distance travel? Do I have to go to the ticket counter to buy?
I read about the contactless payment, can I just use my contactless credit card, or do I need to register my credit card with the transportation website? I've never done contactless payment for transport, is it safe?
Posted by
Belgium
67 posts
More info on the fares:
1) Train: different tickets. Keep in mind that the local multi is for very local train rides. It's not for going from Ghent to Bruges
2) Bus: different tickets
3) Brussels: different tickets. Brussels has different public transport companies so the tickets for de Lijn won't always work.