By Train
The Belgian rail network (SNCB/NMBS) is excellent and covers most of the country. Trains between major cities run frequently — Brussels, Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, Liege, and Leuven are all within an hour of each other. For most visitors, trains are the obvious way to get between cities.
Check timetables and buy tickets at www.belgiantrain.be. The Go Pass (10 trips for a flat rate) is good value if you're making several journeys. Seat reservations are not required on domestic trains.
By Car
Belgium is a small, densely connected country, and a car opens up the Ardennes and the rural areas between cities that trains don't reach well. The motorway network is among the densest in Europe and is entirely toll-free. Navigation by road sign requires some adjustment: place names switch languages at the language boundary — what is "Liège" in French becomes "Luik" in Dutch, and "Mons" becomes "Bergen". Bring a bilingual map or use GPS.
Speed limits: 120 km/h on motorways, 90 km/h on main roads, 50 km/h in towns, and 30 km/h in residential zones — the last is widely enforced with cameras.
Street parking in cities is limited and paid; underground car parks are usually the easier option.
By Bus
Buses fill in gaps in smaller towns and rural areas but are slower and less frequent than trains. De Lijn covers Flanders, TEC covers Wallonia, and STIB/MIVB operates Brussels city buses. For intercity travel, stick to trains.
By Bike
Cycling infrastructure in Flanders is genuinely impressive — dedicated lanes, signposted routes, and a flat landscape make it a pleasure. Wallonia is hillier but has routes in the Ardennes for mountain biking. Most train stations have bike hire (Blue-bike scheme), and many cities have rental options.
By Tram and Metro
Brussels has an extensive metro, tram, and bus network. Antwerp and Ghent are well served by trams. The coast is famously served by the Kusttram — the longest tram line in the world — running 68 km from De Panne near the French border to Knokke near the Dutch.