Brussels-Capital is, with its 19 municipalities and 1.2 million inhabitants, Belgium's largest urban area — and at the same time one of the most complex public transport networks to navigate as a wheelchair user. The MIVB/STIB network (Maatschappij voor het Intercommunaal Vervoer te Brussel / Société des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles) combines metro, premetro (underground tram), tram, and bus — with different accessibility levels per mode.
In this guide: how to cross Brussels-Capital by wheelchair in 2026, which lines deserve priority, and the pitfalls to avoid. Part of our urban public transport accessibility series.
Overview of the modes
MIVB/STIB has 4 transport modes:
| Mode | Network | Wheelchair accessibility |
|---|---|---|
| Metro | 4 lines (1, 2, 5, 6) | ~50% of stations accessible, growing |
| Premetro | Underground tram (part of tram network) | Limited lifts |
| Tram | 17 lines | Majority low-floor since 2020 |
| Bus | 50+ lines | Nearly 100% accessible |
Best rule of thumb for wheelchair users: bus is the default, tram is fine for most lines, metro for short trips where stations are accessible.
🚇 Metro — which stations are accessible?
Accessible metro stations (2026 status — check current info via stib.brussels):
Line 1 (Erasmus-Stokkel): the most recent line, most accessible — ~70% of stations with lift and/or ramp.
Lines 2/6 (ring line north + south Brussels): central stations accessible (Porte de Namur, Louise, Arts-Loi), outer-ring stations are lagging behind.
Line 5 (Erasmus-Herrmann-Debroux): variable — modern stations accessible, older ones not.
What works in the accessible stations:
- Lift from street to platform
- Tactile guidance lines for visual impairment
- Accessible ticket sales at the MoBIB machine (wheelchair height)
- Gap management: some older lines have a height difference between platform and carriage — ask the driver for assistance or use a ramp (in station).
What works less well:
- Not all exits in accessible stations are themselves accessible — check which exit goes your way
- During rush hour (7-9am, 5-7pm) the lift is heavily used
🚋 Tram — largely low-floor
MIVB/STIB has made a major switch to low-floor trams since 2020. ~80% of the tram network is now served with low-floor rolling stock.
Best-accessible tram lines (2026):
- Tram 3, 4, 7, 9: nearly 100% low-floor, accessible stops at most halts
- Tram 51, 92, 94, 97: largely low-floor
- Older high-floor trams: avoid — check on the app or at the stop
Practical:
- Accessible stop = raised platform so you can roll from stop-height into the carriage. Not all stops are accessible — check on the map.
- At an old stop: the driver can deploy a ramp — signal with a hand gesture when the tram approaches.
🚌 Bus — the most reliable mode
The majority of MIVB/STIB buses are fully low-floor with an automatic ramp. For wheelchair users, bus is the default for unknown routes.
Practical:
- Signal to the driver when boarding — he operates the ramp
- Wheelchair space at the front in almost every bus — reserved seats are swapped when a wheelchair enters
Best buses for tourist routes:
- Bus 27, 71, 95: serve many attractions
- Bus 12/21 (Airport Line): accessible, to the airport
💳 Ticket + fares
MoBIB card: rechargeable travel card — buy at a MoBIB machine or at MIVB/STIB agencies.
Wheelchair user fare: free with PWB-MoBIB (Person with Disability MoBIB) for people with a recognised disability. Companion free with PWB-MoBIB. See our disability rights article for the PWB application.
Tourist single tickets: valid 1 hour for all transfers. Day pass = 6 tickets = better value from 3 rides.
🎯 Planning an accessible Brussels day
Morning: Grand Place (Grote Markt/Grand-Place) + Manneken Pis (accessible walking — tram 3 from Brussels-South Station → Bourse stop).
Afternoon: Mont des Arts museum district — Magritte Museum + Musical Instruments Museum + Royal Palace within walking distance or via Arts-Loi metro (accessible).
Evening: Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries + city-centre dinner. Bus 71 back to the hotels.
🚫 What not to do — warnings
Cobblestones in the centre: around the Grand Place (Grote Markt/Grand-Place) there are many old cobblestones — avoid where you can, or accept that you'll have to roll more slowly.
Limited lift capacity in metro stations: during rush hour lifts are overloaded. Plan trips outside 7-9am and 5-7pm where possible.
Night buses (Noctis): not all accessible — check per line. For returning from a restaurant in the evening, plan a taxi as back-up.
Small streets: not every MIVB stop has accessible access. Check the MIVB app or 'accessible stops' map in advance.
Combine with other pillars
- Citytrip Brussels 2 days
- Accessible museums Brussels
- Accessible parks Brussels + Antwerp
- NMBS/SNCB assistance guide — for train travel to Brussels
- Wheelchair-friendly day trip Brussels
Finally
MIVB/STIB is, for wheelchair users in 2026, better than its reputation — the tram renewal since 2020, nearly 100% accessible buses, and the growing metro-lift rollout make the network inclusively usable for most days. Bus as the default, tram for most routes, metro for short trips with accessible stations at both ends — that's the winning formula.
Our recommendation: start with a day trip Grand Place + Mont des Arts — this combines the most accessible MIVB routes with the classic Brussels attractions.
Do you have a MIVB/STIB experience we should include here? Let us know — first-hand info about accessible stops, ramp service and rush-hour crowding helps the next visitor enormously.