Travelling to, in and around Flanders
Flanders is the northern part of Belgium. It's mainly Dutch-speaking and fairly modest in size. To put things in perspective: it’s about the size of the state of Connecticut in the US or the county of Yorkshire in the UK. Because of its compactness, Flanders is an easy place to travel to, in and around.
Brussels is Flanders’ capital and the beating heart of Europe. It has countless flight and train connections. London, Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin are only a short distance away. Similarly, all of Flanders' cities are within reach of each other and easily accessible by public transport or car.
By air
Brussels Airport is Belgium's main international airport. Frequent train connections from the airport will take you to Brussels in 20 minutes and to Antwerp in 35. There are plenty of bus lines too, which run from 5 a.m. until midnight, from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, the first bus departs at 7 a.m.. Taxis are available 24/7 at Brussels Airport. They will take you to Brussels’ city centre for an average price of 45 euros.
Although located in Wallonia, the French speaking part of Belgium, Brussels South Charleroi Airport is a popular point of arrival when visiting Flanders. Brussels South is 37.28 miles (60 km) away from Brussels. A direct bus will take you from the airport to the Charleroi-South railway station in 20 minutes. From there, there are plenty of direct connections to Flanders’ largest cities, as well as direct shuttle buses to Ghent and Bruges.
By train
Flanders is easily accessible by international trains from the UK, the Netherlands, France, Germany and many other places. The recent merger of Eurostar and Thalys means more choices and better service for travelers, connecting Brussels and Flanders with their neighboring countries via a single high speed train network. The new Eurostar network connects Brussels South (Midi) with London (1h56), Paris (1h25), Amsterdam (1h52) and Cologne (1h50). Reserve your seats in advance at B-Europe, Rail Europe or directly on Eurostar. By the way, did you know that it is also possible to take your bicycle with you on the ICE trains from Amsterdam and Brussels to Cologne and Frankfurt? Book your bicycle space in advance on the Deutsche Bahn website.
By car: Low Emission zones
Flanders ' city are easy to visit by public transport, but if you were to travel by car, you must keep in mind the Low Emission Zones (LEZ) that have been introduced in Antwerp, Ghent and Brussels.
These were introduced as a measure to improve air quality. As a result, the more polluting cars are banned from these city centres. Cars, buses and campers, among other vehicles, must meet certain conditions regarding their emissions to have access to the zone.
Travelling in Flanders
By train, bus, tram and metro
- By train, it often takes less than an hour to travel between two major cities in Flanders. Find out more at Belgian Rai.
- For more information about the public bus services, visit De Lijn.
- When travelling through Brussels, you can rely on STIB-MIVB to take you around town by bus, tram and metro.
By (rental) car
- Another way of travelling, to make the most of your time in Flanders, is by rental car. Take a look at some tips from the European Consumer Centre and search for the car of your choice. Visit Auto Europe.
- Driving your own car through Flanders is also an option. In that case, don’t forget to check the latest information concerning Low Emission Zones (LEZ) in certain cities.
Taxi
If you only need to make a couple of journeys, a taxi might do the trick. You’ll find taxi stands at railway stations- and hotel entrances across the big cities. The taxi fare is always displayed on the meter, including the service charge. Minimum or initial fare in Brussels: € 2.40 (daytime); € 4.40 (evening). Average price per KM (0.62 miles) in Brussels: € 1.80 for journeys within the Brussels Capital Region; € 2.70 for a journey outside the region. Average taxi fare between Brussels Airport and Brussels city centre: € 45.00.
By bicycle
Flanders is a wonderful place to explore by bicycle. A rolling landscape with picturesque views, cosy spots by the water, the iconic (cobbled) slopes of the Flemish Ardennes and the restricted-traffic connecting roads between art cities such as Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges. The possibilities are endless. Already itching to go? Then you’re sure to find inspiration with the iconic cycling routes. These are nine impressive cycle routes along attractive cycle paths, each based around a central theme.
Would you rather divide that tour around Flanders into sections? Or would you prefer to travel back after your route, tired but satisfied, to the place where your cycling adventure started? The NMBS railway company is your ally on your bicycle tour through Flanders. You and your bicycle will find a place on every train in our country. The BikeOnTrain travel planner tells you which trains are best equipped for this, for example with lowered entrance steps or separate bicycle wagons. Here are a few tips: avoid rush hours, buy your ticket in advance and don’t forget to purchase your bicycle supplement.