How do you get to Brussels?
Getting There6/10Easier to reach than about 55% of cities
- Main airport
- Brussels Airport (Brussels-Zaventem)
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: brusselsairport.be, stib-mivb.be
Good to know
Good to Know
- Trains are the fastest and most reliable airport transport option, running every 10 minutes 5am-midnight with station directly under terminal. Cost approximately €12 to city center.
- Avoid unlicensed taxi drivers soliciting in arrivals hall—they routinely quote €80-120. Use official blue-yellow Brussels Region licensed taxis which charge metered fares €45-50 to city center.
- Bus Line 12 (STIB Airport Line) costs only €7.90 with contactless payment and allows free metro/tram connections within first hour—good budget option if luggage is minimal.
- For early morning flights (before 5am when trains don't run), book a private transfer or taxi 24 hours in advance. Few taxis available on streets before 6am.
- Night surcharge on official taxis runs 22:00-06:00 (25-50% extra); Uber has no official surcharge but surge pricing often triples fares during these hours.
- Brussels-Midi (South) Station is the main Eurostar hub for Paris, Amsterdam, and London connections. Arrive 20 minutes before Eurostar departure.
- All major Belgian cities (Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Liège, Namur) are 30-75 minutes by direct train from airport.
- For couples/groups, a taxi is often cost-competitive with train (€45 fixed price splits down, plus door-to-door comfort with luggage).
- Temporary bus station operates from May 2026 on Level 0 of airport with 100m covered walkway; check current status for Flixbus/Flibco departures.
Airport
- Name
- Brussels Airport (Brussels-Zaventem)
- Location
- 12 km southeast of city center
Ground Transport Options
Train
- Cost
- €12
- Travel Time
- 11-23 minutes to major Brussels stations
- Notes
- Airport supplement included in ticket. No separate purchase needed for most tickets.
- Description
- Fastest public transport option. Direct trains run every 10 minutes between 5am and midnight, 7 days a week. Brussels Airport-Zaventem railway station is located directly beneath departures and arrivals halls (level -1). Journey to Brussels-Central takes approximately 18 minutes.
Destinations
Brussels-Central
- Travel Time
- 18 minutes
Brussels-North
- Travel Time
- 11 minutes
Brussels-South
- Travel Time
- 23 minutes
Bus (STIB Airport Line 12)
- Cost Paper
- €8.40
- Travel Time
- 30-45 minutes
- Cost Contactless
- €7.90
- Notes
- Contactless payment (bank card/phone) is fastest and most affordable option. Within first hour of validation, ticket allows connection on entire STIB-MIVB network.
- Description
- Direct link between Brussels Airport and city center. Runs Mon-Fri until 8pm with limited weekend service. Takes approximately 30-45 minutes depending on traffic. Stops at Schuman metro, Maelbeek, and Luxembourg station.
Bus (De Lijn Line 471/659)
- Cost
- €3.00
- Travel Time
- 45-60 minutes
- Description
- Regional bus service to Brussels-Nord station and surrounding areas. Takes approximately 45 minutes.
Taxi (Metered)
- Travel Time
- 25-40 minutes depending on traffic
- Cost Estimate
- €45
- Cost With Traffic
- €70
- Notes
- Always use official blue-yellow Brussels Region licensed taxis. Confirm meter is set to base fare before departing.
- Description
- Official Brussels-licensed taxis use taximeter. Base fare €2.40 plus €1.80/km within Brussels-Capital Region, €2.70/km outside. Night surcharge (22:00-06:00) of 25-50%. Avoid unlicensed drivers in arrivals hall who charge inflated fares (€80-120).
Rideshare (Uber)
- Cost Peak
- €100
- Cost Estimate
- €35
- Notes
- Can be more expensive than metered taxi during surge pricing. No official night surcharge but surge multipliers often triple prices.
- Description
- Dynamic pricing applies. Prices vary significantly by time of day and demand. Peak surge pricing occurs 4-6am and during evening hours.
Private Transfer/shuttle
- Cost Estimate
- €45
- Notes
- Fixed pricing eliminates surge surges. Transparent pricing communicated at booking.
- Description
- Pre-booked private car services with fixed prices. Often include flight tracking and waiting time.
Coach Bus
- Bus Station
- Located 100 meters from arrivals hall on Level 0 with covered walkway to terminal
- Description
- Budget intercity bus services connect Brussels to European destinations.
Operators
FlixBus
- Destinations
- Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Maastricht, Lille, Paris and other European cities
- Notes
- Often budget-friendly for longer distances
Flibco
- Destinations
- Antwerp, Breda, Bruges, Ghent, Luxembourg, Lille and other cities
- Notes
- Direct services with adapted departures to flight schedules
Airport Express
- Travel Time
- Approximately 45 minutes to city center
- Destinations
- Antwerp and nearby cities
- Notes
- Departs from temporary bus station (Level 0) with covered walkway to terminal
Domestic
- Description
- Frequent direct trains from Brussels Airport and major city stations to destinations across Belgium.
Destinations
Antwerp
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Travel Time
- 30 minutes
Bruges
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Travel Time
- 1 hour 25 minutes
Ghent
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Travel Time
- 55 minutes
Leuven
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Travel Time
- 13 minutes from airport
Liège
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Travel Time
- 53 minutes to 1h12
Namur
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Travel Time
- 1 hour 11 minutes
International
- Notes
- Booking 4 months in advance recommended for best fares. Free exchanges up to 1 hour before departure.
- Description
- High-speed Eurostar (formerly Thalys) connections to major European cities. Direct trains from Brussels-Midi station.
Destinations
Amsterdam
- Cost Range
- From €25-€92 depending on class
- Travel Time
- 1 hour 52 minutes
- Notes
- Multiple daily departures. Standard class from €25, Plus from €45, Premier from €92.
Paris
- Travel Time
- 1 hour 22 minutes
- Notes
- Multiple daily departures via Eurostar
London
- Notes
- Connections available via Eurostar network
Cologne
- Travel Time
- 2 hours
- Notes
- New high-speed service starting September 2026 via Deutsche Bahn
Rotterdam
- Travel Time
- 1 hour 39 minutes
Breda
- Travel Time
- 1 hour 8 minutes
Day Trip Destinations
Nearby Cities
Antwerp
- Distance
- 43 km
- Transport
- Direct train
- Travel Time
- 30-34 minutes by train
Bruges
- Distance
- Variable
- Transport
- Train or car rental
- Travel Time
- 1 hour 9 minutes by car / 1h25 by train
Ghent
- Distance
- 68 km
- Transport
- Train or car rental
- Travel Time
- 48 minutes by car / 55 min by train
Leuven
- Distance
- Variable
- Transport
- Direct train
- Travel Time
- 13 minutes by train
Liège
- Distance
- 91 km
- Transport
- Train or car rental
- Travel Time
- 59 minutes by car / 53min-1h12 by train
Namur
- Distance
- Variable
- Transport
- Train
- Travel Time
- 1 hour 11 minutes by train
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Brussels
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.