Brussels - Get Around

Petite central Brussels is just two km in diameter, bordered by the inner ring road (or pentagon), which marks the path of the old city walls.

At the centre it's hard not to find the enormous Grand' Place with its soaring spires. Travel south to gentrified Sablon squares, the up-and-coming Marolles district and shopaholic avenue Louise. Head east to the embassy-lined European Quarter on the way to cultural Cinquantenaire. Go north to foody Sainte-Catherine and arty rue Antoine Dansaert.

Outside the city centre, studenty Ixelles and Saint-Giles lies to the south and Heysel and royal Laeken to the north. In total, 19 communes make up Greater Brussels.

Walking is often the quickest and most pleasant way to get around. Wear flat shoes for the cobbled Grand' Place area.

Brussels is expanding and so is its public transportation system. The shiny new métro features six lines (instead of the old three), better connections and more frequent trains.. Métro stations are marked with a white ‘M' on a blue background.

Pré-métros (a tram/métro hybrid that runs over-ground and underground) cut a fast and pleasant route between the Gare du Nord and the Gare du Midi, as well as outlying districts such as Laeken, home to the Japanese Tower and Atomium. Pré-métro stops are marked with red-and-white signs – but so are bus stops.

Catch taxis at major ranks (around the Bourse and De Broukère). Since the naming of Brussels' tiny streets is sometimes counter-intuitive (one side of the wide space near avenue Louise is called boulevard de Waterloo, the other Toison d'Or – Golden Fleece), you may need to help the driver find your destination. Drivers don't expect a tip, but will welcome one.

Bus route maps are available at stations and people waiting at stops are usually happy to help. If you don't have a travel card, you can pay with cash on boarding. Most drivers are not willing to break big notes so have plenty of change handy. The airport-line bus links Brussels Airport with central Brussels in 30 minutes. Night buses carry partygoers safely home until 3am at the weekend.

Brussels' bike rental scheme, Villo!, makes 2500 bikes available at over 180 rental points across the city. Get a subscription for a day, a week, or even a year. You can take a bicycle on the métro (except on weekdays during rush hour).

Parking isn't always easy and Brussels streets are labyrinthine. It's nonetheless worth knowing that Cambio (28 rue Fossé aux Loups) offers a car-sharing service for frequent travellers.

One ticket is valid for multiple journeys across the network (métros, pré-métros and buses) for one hour. Buy a carnet of five or ten tickets or invest in a Day Travelcard. Stamp your ticket in the little orange machines to validate it, with the arrow facing down and towards you, and make sure you know the name of your station in both French and Flemish so you don't miss your stop – the Gare du Midi (French) is Zuidstation in Flemish. The Mobib travel card is worth looking into if you’re planning a longer stay.

Travel to medieval Brussels in the ornate Grand' Place; enjoy 19th-century opulence at Léopold II's Triumphal Arc in Cinquantenaire; see 20th-century progress at the Atomium and 21st-century power in the European Quarter.

Brussels Transport Network website

Villo! (bike rental scheme) website