Trying to figure out if buses and metros in Belgium take cards or if Ill need small cash. Any recent experiences?
In Antwerp and Ghent this spring I stayed at Hostel Uppelink and Meininger Brussels City Centre. Both places took my FNB contactless Mastercard and Visa credit card for booking and extras. No need to check in cash. I did keep twenty euros in small bills and coins for old tram ticket machines and snack vendors, but the hostels themselves were all card friendly.
Visited Ghent, used my Bancolombia Visa debit linked to my Revolut card for trams and buses. Scanned at the front door on the tram, the driver nodded and away I went. In local buses you sometimes need cash but mostly I saw the electronic validators work with Bancontact and international cards. I kept ten euros in coins for old ticket machines.
In Brussels two days ago I tested the metro system using my Shinhan Bank Mastercard credit card. Tap on at the gates and you’re good. I saw people using Samsung Pay and Google Pay too. They even have readers inside some buses where you just hold your card over the sensor. For smaller regional buses I carried about five euros in coins just in case but I never needed it.
I got to Antwerp last week and wanted to hop on the tram so I tried tapping my AIB Visa debit with Apple Pay. It worked perfectly. Driver didn’t bat an eye and I got a receipt on my phone. Later on the bus someone paid with a Maestro card as well. No need for cash unless you want a paper ticket. They take all the usual cards and contactless wallets.