Transportation in Brussels – Getting Around (or out of) Town

Even though Brussels is very walkable, when you need to pick up the pace or head out of town – there are a multitude of ways to navigate Europe’s vibrant capital city. Keep reading below to discover your preferred method for exploring the neighborhood… and beyond!

Public Transportation in Brussels

The public transport network in Brussels offers swift and reliable options for getting around town. Take your pick of trams, buses, and the metro depending on where you are and where you want to go. You can even check your commute time at the interactive transport site STIB-MIVB and also find the fastest way to get from point A to B in this bustling city.

Our Morton Place properties are very close to public transport stations, so we highly recommend using them for easy and reliable service. The public transport system in Brussels is safe and clean and most Morton Place residents use it regularly for commuting.

See which of the various MoBiB payment options is right for you and order your card online or in one of the vending machine kiosks in stations and around town. You can top it up with as much money as you need, and it can be used to pay for all of the public transport operators in Belgium. These days, you can also use contactless payment cards to pay on board, but you may save money by purchasing one of the MoBiB payment plans listed above.

Personal Mobility in Brussels

Brussels has seriously embraced personal mobility options, ranging from electric scooters to mopeds to private car shares and more. We’ve highlighted some of the more popular options below, but check out this comprehensive list of mobility options.

E-Scooters

Electric (kick) scooters have taken over almost every corner of this city! These personal transport options, accessible via app, are extremely popular and very useful for zipping around town. You’ll find a flurry of options such as DOTT, Bolt, Lime, Voi, Bird and Tier, which have hundreds of scooters available.

Bicycles

The e-scooter companies Bolt and Dott also offer e-bicycles to zip around town. But for a longer term option, Swapfiets lets you pay a monthly fee for your own personal electric or traditional bike — a great choice for shorter commutes and freedom on the weekends.

In a pinch you might consider the traditional bicycle share called Villo! but it’s a bit more work since you can only pick up and park between fixed points. blue-bike is a rental option based out of train stations in Belgium, including all the stations in Brussels.

Many of our residents have their own bikes and there is ample space to store yours safely at Morton Place.

If you’re in the market to purchase a new e-bike to go with your new room, visit Cowboy for the hippest new ride in town.

E-Mopeds

Want to feel the wind in your hair? Well, under your helmet at least! Sign up for Felyx, the electric moped service that’s as fun as it is useful. Download the app to find a moped near you and use the map online to see the range of distance you can travel. You’ll want to be sure that you stay within the Felyx -approved zones to park legally and also get back to where you need to go! Each moped comes equipped with two helmets.

Personal Car Sharing

Car sharing providers like Cambio, Poppy and Miles allow you to pick up a car at a station or within a zone and deliver it back when you’re done. Consider the different pricing, fueling up, parking and zone options depending on your needs — for instance, Miles is “pay by distance” whereas Poppy is “pay by time.”

National & International Trains

Looking for an adventure further afield? Brussels is well-connected to the rest of Belgium and throughout Europe & the UK by train. You can find high speed service via Thalys & Eurostar, while you can hop on many local & national trains by booking online at SNCB. (Pro tip: Visit the world’s most beautiful train station in Antwerp!)

Can You See Yourself at Morton Place?

We hope that you’ll join our Morton Place community! As a resident in one of our homes it is our mission to help you settle into Brussels while delivering you the unique benefits of a chic, all-inclusive, coliving environment. Feel free to reach out anytime!

25/04/2023

Brussels, Chatelain, St GIlles

Finding housing in Brussels: our top tips!

Tips to Find Your Perfect Apartment in Brussels

Thinking about moving to Brussels? You’re not alone—Brussels is the number one expat destination in Europe—and for good reason.

With its beautiful architecture, cultural diversity, efficient public transport, and buffet of culinary delights, this charming city offers something for everyone. It may seem overwhelming to start the search, but it’s easy to find your home-sweet-home thanks to tons of websites, chock-full of housing options. With traffic becoming an increasing problem in Brussels, public transportation should be part of your decision making in choosing your housing. Although you may hope for accommodation which is within walking distance to your office, that’s not always possible or preferable. Also think about whether you will need access to the Eurostar (Midi Station) or the Airport. The STIB is the Brussels’ transport service, and their journey planner is an excellent way to figure out whether the location you are considering will be an easy commute. Start by looking at STIB.BE the portal for the public transport system in Brussels. Figure out the trams, and metros which head to your office and then you can narrow down the neighborhoods which are good for you. (For more tips on choosing neighborhoods check out our top tips here Best Brussels Neighborhoods for Expats :)

1. Popular Rental Portals in Brussels

A quick Google search for “apartment+rental+Brussels” will land you hundreds of hits. How do you narrow it down—and how do you know if that dream room is legit? The more popular rental portal sites, such as immoweb or immo.vlan tend to specialise in unfurnished, long-term housing. This can be risky business if you are booking online, or with a private landlord, scams are not uncommon. We have heard horror stories of deposits paid for flats that didn’t exist. If you want to start with a furnished place, sites like spotahome can be useful. These portals tend to showcase a broad range of available options, with huge variations in quality.

Life in a new city can be daunting. With work taking up a lot of your time and energy, it’s difficult to find time and opportunities to make new friends. Shared housing can be a good opportunity to share costs and start making your new social network.

2. Try Coliving!

Brussels is the epicenter of the coliving movement in Europe. With such an influx of international professionals coming to work for the EU and related institutions there is consistent demand for flexible, all inclusive, furnished housing. At Morton Place, we focus on fostering communities of like minded residents with a variety nationalities with whom you can share your first steps in this new city. Coliving homes offer built-in community, camaraderie and exciting networking opportunities, especially as a new arrival in Belgium. Other shared housing options can be found on roommate sites such as s appartager, or housinganywhere . The providers might require a subscription, limiting you to a certain number of searches per week, or, in other cases, unlimited access until you find your dream space.

3. Find it on Facebook

There are several local Facebook groups that offer apartment hunting and shared housing resources. You can sign up with popular groups such as bxl a louer, bxl a louer studio-apart, as well as BRUXELLES: location and brussels flats and rooms to rent to start looking, and post while you’re on the hunt. While these sites are an excellent resource and helpful for making connections, it can be difficult to find the most up to date housing options.

4. Leverage Your Net-Work

If you’re moving for work, your HR department likely has lots of information about settling down in Brussels. Ask if your organization works with a relocation agent who might be able to pass along the inside scoop on any rooms or apartments on their radar. Maybe other colleagues are interested in coliving and you can go on the hunt together. If you work with the Commission or another EU organization, get connected to their welcome office intranet which lists hundreds of rentals around Brussels.

5. Trust Your Gut to Avoid a Scam

Although most providers are legitimate, beware of bad actors. If the posting is too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t transfer money until you’ve visited the space in person or via video tour. Ask your potential landlord for references if possible. Make sure you check dates, hidden fees and rental agreements so you know all the fine print before you commit.

Enjoy Brussels –

We hope we get a chance to introduce you to the vibrant coliving communities of Morton Place – contact us for a video or in person tour.

14/10/2022

MP Holdings

Brussels, Brussels Neighborhood Guide, Chatelain, Etterbeek, St GIlles

How to get around Brussels: Transportation Options