An overview of convenient ways to get from any airport to the center of Brussels.
If you are planning to fly to Brussels, you need to take into account that you can arrive at one of two airports. Not far from the capital of Belgium, 12 kilometers, is the central airport of Brussels (Brussels Airport), considered the best in Europe. Much further away is Charleroi airport, which receives mainly low-cost airlines.
Let’s figure out how to get from these airports to the center of Brussels.
Brussels airport
Due to its relatively close location to the city, the cost of the trip will be quite affordable. All that remains for you is to choose the appropriate option.
Train
Where is the train station?
You will find the train station directly under the Departure and Arrival Halls of the airport (level -1). The escalator or lift will take you directly to the platform (or into the airport).
Have you just arrived at the Brussels Airport station? Have your train ticket ready. You will need to scan it at the entrance gates to enter the airport.
More details about the train journey
Your train journey will be visible in the route planner. Please note that a “stopover” is not a “transfer”. At a stop, the train stops briefly to allow passengers to board. When changing trains, you have to change trains and thus train tracks.
You are allowed to take up to 3 pieces of baggage on the train. And yes, your folding bike or pet can come along too. Check out all the details here.
For your own convenience, download the SNCB app here for Android and here for Apple.
Kids travel for free
Did you know that children under 12 travel for free on trains with an adult? No ticket is needed for children and you do not have to pay the diabolo supplement. At the entrance gates of Brussels Airport-Zaventem station, children can travel with another passenger through the gates.
- for children under 12 years of age
- in 1st and 2nd class
- without time or destination restriction
- a maximum of 4 children per passenger with a valid ticket
- the children travel without a ticket, your ticket also applies to them
Is your child travelling alone? Then it needs a Kids Ticket at 50% of the price. This already includes the diabolo supplement. The child can open the entrance gates with the QR code on the Kids Ticket.
In both cases, each child must be able to show their identity card.
Smoothly from and to Brussels
A total of 8 trains per hour run to and from Brussels on weekdays. Of those, 2 trains take you to the European district (Schumann station). At 5.24 am, the first train arrives at Brussels Airport and that rhythm continues until about midnight.
In the weekend there are 5 trains per hour to Brussels until about 23.00 hours Sunday evening. After that the trains run less frequently.
Would you like to go to the centre of Brussels? In just 17 minutes you can be at Brussels Central and start exploring the beautiful city.
Do you have a connection with an international train such as Thalys, TGV, Eurostar or ICE? Then get off at Brussels-Midi. A journey from Brussels Airport to Brussels-Midi takes 23 minutes on average.
To Belgian cities
A smooth journey to one of our beautiful cultural cities, the Belgian coast or the beautiful landscapes of the Ardennes? The train takes you Brussels Airport to all major Belgian cities in no time.
To the Netherlands
From Brussels Airport you can get to our Dutch neighbours in the blink of an eye. After about 1 hour and 40 minutes you can admire the Rotterdam skyline and after about 2 hours and 30 minutes you can experience the Amsterdam canals.
Smooth connections by various trains:
- IC Netherlands : 13 times a day to Amsterdam and 4 times a day to The Hague, via Breda and Rotterdam – with many connections in the Netherlands.
- Thalys: 14 times a day at high speed from Brussels or Antwerp to Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
- Eurostar : 3 times a day at high speed from Brussels to Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
To Germany, France or the United Kingdom
With a transfer in Brussels-Midi you can be under the Eiffel Tower or in front of Cologne Cathedral in no time. Or you can go on a shopping trip in London or Lille.
- Take the Thalys to Paris or Cologne
- Take the Eurostar to Lille or London
Diabolo fee
To provide Brussels Airport with a station, a huge tunnel was built: the Diabolo tunnel. The government agreed with the construction company to finance this with a compulsory “Diabolo fee“. So this is not a supplement for Brussels Airport, but a financing method between private company Northern Diabolo and the government. This supplement is:
- a supplement of €6.40 per single journey (in 1st or 2nd train class)
- in addition, you need a valid ticket to/from Brussels Airport
- the (Diabolo) supplement is automatically added to most tickets to or from Brussels Airport-Zaventem
- for a commuter ticket to and from Brussels Airport, the Diabolo supplement does not apply
Children under 12 do not pay a supplement. They can go through special gates where no scanning of the ticket is required.
Is the Brussels Airport supplement (Diabolo supplement) not included in your train ticket? Then buy a supplement separately here.
Bus
The bus station is located one floor down from the Arrivals Hall, at level 0. The escalator or elevator provides easy access to the bus station.
Airport Express
Taxi
The most popular taxi service in Brussels is Uber, so install the app in advance. The price for a trip from the airport to the city center depends on time and demand and ranges from 23 to 35 euros
Are you travelling with more people, more luggage or can things get a bit more luxurious? Then book the taxi service that suits you. Or have you or your travel agent arranged airport transport? With these reserved shuttles, the driver will be waiting for you in the arrival hall for the transfer home or to your destination. Your name will be displayed on their sign in the area after you have passed customs, unless otherwise agreed upon at the time of reservation.
Some partners of Brussels Airport are:
| Partners | Website & E-mail | Phone |
| Autolux | www.taxisautolux.be | Tél. : +32 (0)2 5 123 123 |
| dispatching@taxisautolux.be | ||
| Direct Way | www.directway.be | Tél. : +32 (0)2 772 00 00 |
| brussels@directwayworldwide.com | ||
| Modern Car | www.moderncar.com | Tél. : +32 (0)2 420 10 00 |
| info@moderncar.com | ||
| Flibco Door2Gate | www.flibco.com | |
| Taxi Walter Zaventem | www.taxizaventem.be | Tél. : +32 (0)2 720 10 00 |
| reservations@taxizaventem.be | ||
| Unitax | www.unitax.be | Tél. : +32 (0)2 725 25 25 |
Charleroi Airport
Charleroi is located significantly further from Brussels – 48 kilometers, so you will have to spend more time and money on the road.
Brussels City Shuttle
It runs only during a certain time period, from 8 a.m. to midnight. It takes about two hours to reach Brussels. The cost of the trip is 17 euros when purchased from the driver, 14.2 euros when booked in advance through the website.
Train
If you decide to take the train to Brussels, keep in mind that you will need to make transfers. You need to take a bus going to the town of Charleroi. The ticket will cost 15 euros and includes both a bus and a train ride, the journey time will be 15-18 minutes. When you arrive by bus at Charleroi Sud station, change to the train to Brussels. The train travels to Brussels for about one and a half hours.
Please note that the ticket is purchased not for a time, but for a date. If you have free time, we recommend taking a walk around Charleroi.
Taxi
As with Brussels Airport, you can book yourself an Uber taxi. The trip will cost about 100 euros for a passenger car, 140 for a minivan.