Please help with transportation suggestions in Belgium
 

Hi everyone, I'll be in Belgium for 4 days and staying in Antwerp. I'd like to see Bruges, Ghent, Brussels and Leuven. I saw on Belgium's train website that they offer different passes such as the Key Card, Rail Pass and Jump. I don't think the Key Card would work for me since they're meant for short trips around a train station. (Am I understanding this correctly?) For traveling between those cities, would the Rail Pass be best? And for traveling within each of the cities, would bus be better or the metro? Is there a metro pass that would be cheaper? Thanks so much in advance!

The only one of those cities with a metro is Brussels. Ghent has trams and buses, I think the others only have buses. In Brussels, I found the metro most convenient as a day tourist, but I arrived by train and main spent time around Grand Place, although not exclusively. BUt in general, in most cities with one, I like metro if it goes fairly close to where I want to go, it just really depends on what I'm doing and how much time I have and the route. Buses can take longer due to traffic.

IN Brussels, I'd suggest the daily pass which is about 7.5 euro now, I think. So unlimited travel for a day on the STIB network. AS a visitor, you can buy this as a paper ticket. A single trip costs about 2 euro, after all. so that's just about 4 trips.

I think JUMP is just a name for certain areas that a pass or ticket covers of the STIB network. That one day ticket is a JUMP pass, for example. This is the definition : <<Jump area, i.e. (i) the entire STIB network (including the Bourget-Brussels Airport section) with the possibility to change lines, (ii) the TEC and De Lijn urban networks in the Brussels-Capital Region and (iii) in 2nd class on the SNCB rail network in the Brussels-Capital Region.>>

Assuming you will want to see the old historic areas of Bruges, you can walk there from the train station. The historic area is fairly compact and you can easily walk from one site to another.

Ghent has trams and buses, however depending on what you want to see you may will be walking from one site to another.

for information on trains between each city take a look at seat61.com

Jump is ok if you will be traveling around Brussels a lot. but if you will be in the area around the Grand Place and the Sablon, Petite Sablon, you are within walking distance of the central train station and wont need to take the metro or buses.. depending on how many trips you will take on the local transit, you can either pay per ride or get an unlimited day pass

if you travel fri-sunday the trains are cheaper, but if not the Rail card may be less than the cost of individual round trips... the Key card is for short distance travel from the rail station, not for travel between the cities you want to visit.

Thank you @Christina and @maxima! I really appreciate your help!

If you are senior (above 60) train is nearly for free after 9 something am and avoiding rush hour in early evening.

For travel between cities, just buy a ticket at the station, or online through www.belgianrail.be/en/

No need for a pass, and tickets are valid for any train on the day. Gent, Brugge, Leuven are small enough to walk everywhere, no need for public transport. Same for Brussel, if you are staying somewhere central.

If you make five return trips, it may be more economical to buy a Rail Pass at 76 euro which is good for 10 single journeys in 2nd class (or the Go Pass at 51 euro if you're under 26). http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-...rail-pass.aspx

Within the cities ... they are all so compact that you can get from one end to the other on foot. If need be, buy a ticket for the tram or bus when you need it.