Getting There & Away
Belgium has two international airports, the main one being Zaventem,
14km north-east of Brussels. The other one, Deurne, is close
to Antwerp and has less frequent flights to Amsterdam, London,
Liverpool and Dublin only. Depending on when you leave, flights
to London can be cheaper from Deurne. If you're in Europe already,
a bus or train is the best option. Eurolines and Hoverspeed
Citysprint operate international bus services to and from Belgium.
Belgium Railways has frequent international services. Brussels
has three main station and is the central hub, with lines in
all directions. Two companies operate car/passenger ferries
to and from Britain: North Sea Ferries (overnight from Zeebrugge
to Hull) and Oostende Lines/Sally Ferries (six boats daily between
Ostend and Ramsgate).
Getting Around
Getting around Belgium is cheap and easy, which makes up for
the rather expensive, and often heavily booked, accommodation.
While there are plenty of buses and hiring a car is an easy
enough option, the country's transport system is dominated by
its efficient rail network. The fastest services are the InterCity
trains, backed up by InterRegional and local trains. In the
more remote areas, buses take up the slack. There's a good public
transport system (including trams and a small metro system in
Brussels and Antwerp). Taxis, which lurk outside most train
stations, are metered and expensive. Cycling is popular in the
flat north and many roads have separate lanes for bikes. Railway
stations rent bikes. It's also possible to hire a boat to cruise
along the many rivers and canals. |
