Travelling to and from Brussels: The Complete Guide

Aug 28

10 min read

Updated: Aug 30

Brussels is one of Europe's best-connected capital cities and, thankfully, relatively easy to reach.

Whether you are flying in for a weekend, starting a longer journey through Belgium, joining a photography workshop or simply using Brussels as part of a wider European adventure, there are several good ways to get there.

Flying directly into Brussels Airport is naturally the easiest option, but it is certainly not the only one. Brussels also has excellent high-speed rail connections with cities such as London, Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne, while Brussels South Charleroi Airport can occasionally offer a useful alternative.

In this guide, we cover the main ways to travel to and from Brussels, how to get between the airport, railway stations and city centre, and a few practical tips to know before you travel.

Getting to Brussels
Flying directly to Brussels Airport
Getting from Brussels Airport to the city
Brussels South Charleroi Airport
Travelling to Brussels by train
Driving to Brussels
Public transport in Brussels
Taxis and private transfers
Practical travel tips
Choosing the best option

Getting to Brussels

Brussels sits in the heart of western Europe, which makes it remarkably easy to reach.

Belgium borders France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg, while London is only a short high-speed train journey away.

For international travellers, this means you have several options.

You can fly directly into Brussels, arrive by international train from one of Europe's major cities, or drive if Brussels forms part of a longer European journey.

For most visitors arriving from further afield, however, Brussels Airport is the simplest option.

Flying Directly to Brussels

Brussels Airport

For most visitors, flying directly into Brussels Airport is the easiest option.

Brussels Airport (BRU) is Belgium's main international airport (and is located in Zaventem, just northeast of Brussels.

It handles a wide range of European and intercontinental flights, making it particularly convenient for travellers arriving from the UK, North America and elsewhere in Europe.

One of the biggest advantages of Brussels Airport is its excellent connection with the city.

The airport has its own railway station directly underneath the terminal, so after collecting your luggage you can simply follow the signs downstairs and continue towards central Brussels.

A small tip for photographers

If you are travelling with a large camera bag, tripod and suitcase, convenience becomes particularly valuable.

Brussels Airport is especially easy in this respect because you do not need to take a shuttle from the terminal to a railway station.

Collect your luggage, take the lift or escalator downstairs, and you are already at the station.

After a long international flight with 15 or 20 kilograms of equipment, small conveniences like that can make quite a difference..

Getting from Brussels Airport to the City Centre

Getting from Brussels Airport into central Brussels is very straightforward.

You have four main choices.

Train (Here)

For most travellers, the train is the easiest option.

Brussels Airport-Zaventem railway station is located directly beneath the arrivals and departures halls on level -1.

Direct trains run between the airport and Brussels' three main railway stations:

Brussels-North / Bruxelles-Nord
Brussels-Central / Bruxelles-Central
Brussels-South / Bruxelles-Midi

There are around six direct trains per hour.

Brussels Airport gives approximate journey times of:

Brussels-North: 11 minutes
Brussels-Central: 18 minutes
Brussels-South/Midi: 23 minutes

For most visitors staying around Grand-Place and Brussels' historic centre, Brussels-Central is normally the most useful station.

Once you arrive there, many central hotels and attractions are within walking distance.

Buying your train ticket

Tickets can be purchased online through Belgian Railways, from ticket machines at the airport station, or even from ticket machines in the baggage reclaim area while you are waiting for your luggage.

Train journeys to and from Brussels Airport normally include a special Brussels Airport Supplement, formerly known as the Diabolo fee.

As of 2026, the supplement is €6.90 and is generally already included when you buy a normal train ticket to or from Brussels Airport.

Keep your ticket or QR code available.

You need it to pass through the access gates at Brussels Airport railway station.

Airport Bus (Here)

Another option is STIB/MIVB bus 12, also known as the Airport Line.

The bus provides a direct connection between Brussels Airport and Brussels. The bus station is located on Level 0, approximately 100 metres from the arrivals hall. A covered walkway connects the terminal with the bus station, making it easy to reach even with luggage.

It is particularly useful if you are staying around the European Quarter, rather than the historic centre.

When travelling from Brussels Airport towards Brussels, you need an Airport2City ticket.

As of 2026, contactless payment costs €7.90. You can simply tap a compatible bank card, smartphone or smartwatch when boarding.

If your hotel is around Grand-Place, Brussels-Central or the historic centre, however, we would generally choose the train instead.

Taxi (Here)

For many travellers, a taxi is the easiest door-to-door option.

Taxis are available at Brussels Airport and take you directly to your hotel without having to navigate stations or public transport with your luggage. Official airport taxis can be recognised by a licence plate containing the letter T and the official blue-and-yellow taxi logo. Follow the signs to the taxi rank to make sure you are using an authorised taxi.

According to Visit Brussels, the average taxi fare between Brussels city centre and the airport is approximately €50. The exact amount depends on

Uber and Bolt also operate in Brussels and can be convenient alternatives to a traditional taxi, particularly if you already use one of these apps at home. Both can also be used for journeys to and from Brussels Airport.traffic and your destination.

If you have a suitcase, camera backpack, tripod or simply want to reach your accommodation without thinking about public transport after a long flight, the additional cost can be worthwhile.

Ride-hailing apps such as Uber (here) and Bolt (here) also operate in Brussels and can be a convenient alternative to a traditional taxi, particularly if you already use one of these apps at home. Both services can also be used for journeys to and from Brussels Airport.

Private Transfer

You can also arrange a private transfer in advance.

This is generally more expensive than taking the train or a regular taxi, but you know someone will be waiting for you when your flight arrives.

It can be particularly useful for families, small groups or travellers carrying a significant amount of luggage or photography equipment.

Joining an organised tour or workshop?

Always check what your tour operator provides before arranging your own transfer.

For example, participants joining our Belgium photography workshop who arrive in Brussels on the official arrival day will receive collection information before the trip, so they don't need to arrange a separate airport transfer.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport

There is one slightly confusing detail to be aware of when searching for flights to Brussels.

Brussels Airport and Brussels South Charleroi Airport are two completely different airports.

Brussels Airport – BRU

This is the main airport and the one we would normally recommend.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport – CRL

This airport is located much farther south of Brussels and is used extensively by low-cost airlines.

Flights into Charleroi can sometimes be considerably cheaper, but make sure you compare the total journey, rather than just the airfare.

Charleroi Airport does not have a railway station directly underneath its terminal like Brussels Airport.

The most convenient option is the direct Flibco shuttle bus between Charleroi Airport and Brussels-Midi. Buses currently depart approximately every 20 minutes in both directions, and the journey takes around 55 minutes. Tickets start from €14.99 when booked in advance.

You can also combine bus and train services via Charleroi.

If you find an exceptionally good flight into Charleroi, it can certainly work.

But if prices and departure times are reasonably similar, we would choose Brussels Airport (BRU).

Especially with photography equipment.

Travelling to Brussels by Train

One of the easiest ways to reach Brussels from elsewhere in Europe is by train.

Brussels sits at the centre of Europe's high-speed railway network, making rail travel a genuine alternative to flying.

International services connect Brussels with cities including:

London
Paris
Amsterdam
Rotterdam
Cologne
Lille

This can be particularly convenient if Brussels forms part of a longer European journey.

Instead of flying between neighbouring countries, you can often travel directly from one city centre to another.

Brussels-Midi / Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid

Most international high-speed trains arrive at Brussels-South, which you may see referred to as:

Bruxelles-Midi in French

Brussel-Zuid in Dutch

Brussels-South in English

They are all the same station.

This is worth remembering when looking at train tickets, hotel directions or Google Maps.

From Brussels-Midi you can continue towards the historic centre by local train, metro, tram or taxi.

If you have substantial luggage, a taxi directly to your hotel may be the simplest option.

Driving to Brussels

Brussels has good motorway connections with Belgium's neighbouring countries.

Driving can make sense if Brussels forms part of a longer road trip through Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany or Luxembourg.

However, once you are staying in central Brussels, you are unlikely to need your car very often.

The historic centre is relatively compact and Brussels has an extensive public transport system.

Parking in the centre can also be expensive and inconvenient.

Brussels Low Emission Zone

One important consideration when driving into Brussels is the city's Low Emission Zone (LEZ).

Access depends on the emissions standard of your vehicle, and additional registration requirements can apply to some foreign-registered cars.

If you are driving your own vehicle to Brussels, check the latest LEZ requirements before travelling.

Public Transport in Brussels

Brussels has an extensive public transport network consisting of:

Metro
Tram
Bus

The main operator is STIB/MIVB.

For occasional visitors, one of the easiest options is contactless payment.

You can use a compatible bank card, smartphone or smartwatch directly at the reader when entering the metro or boarding a tram or bus.

A standard contactless journey currently costs €2.40.

For visitors spending most of their time in central Brussels, however, you may find yourself walking surprisingly often.

Grand-Place, the Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries, Mont des Arts, the Sablon and many of the historic streets in central Brussels are relatively close together.

And for photographers, walking is often the nicest way to explore.

Some of the most interesting photographs appear while walking between the famous locations rather than standing directly in front of them.

Taxis and Private Transport

Taxis are easy to find throughout Brussels.

You will find taxi ranks at Brussels Airport, major railway stations and various locations throughout the city.

For journeys within central Brussels, public transport is usually cheaper, but a taxi becomes considerably more attractive when you are travelling with luggage or photography equipment.

Visit Brussels publishes regulated taxi rates and notes that fares are displayed on the meter. Tipping is optional.

Private transfers can also be arranged in advance.

These may make sense when several people are travelling together, you

have a lot of luggage, or you simply prefer to have everything organised before arrival.

Uber and Bolt are available in Belgium. If you already use one of these apps at home, they can be a very convenient option because you can see the estimated fare, pickup point and vehicle details before travelling. Availability and prices can vary with demand, so it is worth comparing the app price with a regular taxi, especially for airport journeys.

A Few Practical Travel Tips

Check your airport code

This is probably the most important one.

BRU = Brussels Airport

CRL = Brussels South Charleroi Airport

Both may appear when you search for flights to “Brussels”, but they are not equally convenient for reaching the city.

Take the train from Brussels Airport

Unless your hotel is particularly inconvenient for Brussels-Central or you have a large amount of luggage, the train is normally the easiest way into the city.

The station is directly underneath the terminal and Brussels-Central is only around 18 minutes away.

Know your station names

Brussels is bilingual, which means railway stations often have both French and Dutch names.

For example:

Bruxelles-Midi = Brussel-Zuid = Brussels-South

Bruxelles-Central = Brussel-Centraal = Brussels-Central

Don't worry.

You have not accidentally booked a ticket to a different railway station.

Think about your luggage

A journey that looks very simple on Google Maps can feel rather different with a 20-kilogram suitcase, camera backpack and tripod.

Brussels also has plenty of cobbled streets.

Sometimes the slightly more expensive transport option is worth every cent.

Allow enough time on your return journey

Brussels Airport recommends arriving approximately two hours before a European flight and three hours before an intercontinental flight. (HERE)

Give yourself some additional travel time as well.

Trains get delayed, traffic happens and airports rarely cooperate perfectly with our carefully planned schedules.

Consider arriving one day earlier

This is particularly useful if you are joining a tour, cruise, photography workshop or other organised trip with a fixed starting time.

Flights get cancelled and connections occasionally go wrong.

Arriving the previous day removes much of that stress and gives you the opportunity to explore a little of Brussels before your main trip begins.

It is even more useful if you are arriving from North America and dealing with a significant time difference.

Staying Connected in Belgium

Planning your journey is only part of preparing for your trip. Reliable mobile internet can also make travelling considerably easier, whether you need navigation, weather information, messaging or access to your bookings.

For more information about mobile data, roaming, eSIMs and Belgian networks, read our guide Staying Online While Travelling in Belgium.

So, What Is the Best Way to Reach Brussels?

For most travellers, we would recommend checking the options in this order.

1) Brussels Airport is the easiest.If you can find a convenient direct flight, this will usually be the simplest option.

2) International train is an excellent alternative if you are travelling from elsewhere in Europe.Brussels has direct high-speed rail connections with cities including London, Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne.

3) Brussels South Charleroi Airport can be worth considering if it offers a significantly cheaper or more convenient flight.Just remember that the airport is much farther from Brussels and the onward journey takes longer.

4) Driving can make sense if Brussels forms part of a wider journey through Belgium or neighbouring countries.

For most international visitors, however, flying into Brussels Airport or arriving by high-speed train will be the most convenient options.

The good news is that Brussels is extremely well connected.

Find the combination that best balances price, travel time and

convenience, then start looking forward to Brussels itself.

Because once you arrive, getting there will very quickly become the least interesting part of the trip.