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Image by Sarah Van Parys
Villo! is a great service that allows you to rent bikes all over Brussels. You need to get a subscription for either one day, a week or a year and then you’re free to use the bikes as often as you like and at no extra cost providing you do not exceed half an hour. If you keep the bike for any longer, you’ll have to pay a small fee.
I’ve used them through wind and on snow, and they’re a great substitute for a taxi late at night, when public transport is (practically) nonexistent and you can’t be bothered to walk home.
The initiative is more than a year old, and Villo! is progressing towards being present in all the Brussels communes, but you should check out their site, where you’ll find a map indicating where the stations are situated with a live feed of the number of bikes and parking spaces available. If you have an iPhone, Villo! created an app you can download for free, which will also tell you where the closest station is located.
It’s a fun way to explore Brussels, but don’t forget that stations at the bottom of a hill are much more likely to be full. It isn’t much fun to find out when you’re at the bottom that you’ll have to trek all the way up again to drop your bike off!
Details about this spot (Show on map)
Villo! | Relaxing | 1 day € 1.50
All over brussels | Center
24 hours daily
Android users also have an app available: CityBikes. I use it all the time for Brussels but it is made to be used throughout a variety of cities worldwide, all of them providing bike sharing plans…
I recently had the opportunity to experience villo and I have to say it was really good fun even if it was a very short ride!
Although it seems that most of the stations are concentrated in the city centre, new stations will be available soon (apparently).
I hope this will encourage visitors to discover Brussels by bike, which is an amazing experience!
Have fun!!!