Brussels Airport

Brussels Airport (BRU) is located in Zaventem, on the outskirts of the capital, hence why it's also called Zaventem Airport. The airdrome is the city’s international and busiest airport and is the home base of Brussels Airlines.

The construction of the airport began in 1940, during World War II when the country was occupied by German troops. It currently serves 21 million passengers every year.

Brussels Airport has long competed with Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for being chosen each year as the best airport in Europe.

Getting to the City Center from Brussels Airport

Compared to Charleroi Airport, Zaventem Airport is extremely well connected with the city center and other cities in Belgium. Below, you'll find different examples of how to get from the airport to the center of Brussels.

Airport Transfer Services

If you book a private airport transfer service from Brussels Airport to your hotel, the chauffeur will be waiting for you at the arrival terminal with a sign with your name on it. This is the fastest way of getting to your hotel, especially if you don’t speak French or Dutch. The price is fixed (cheaper than a taxi) and without any fees.

You can book a transfer from the airport to Brussels here:

Book your easy, hassle-free transfer

Train

The airport train is a fast and inexpensive way to get to Brussels’ city center. All trains connect Brussels Airport to Brussels North, Brussels Central, and Brussels Midi railway stations. On weekdays a one-way journey costs € 9 (US$ 9.43) and on weekends it costs € 15.40 (US$ 16.14). It takes 20 minutes to get to the center. The airport train station is located below the terminal (basement level -1).

Bus

The bus lines 12 and 21 connect the Brussels Airport to the city. The bus runs every 20-30 minutes and a one-way ticket bought from the ticket machine costs € 4.50 (US$ 4.71). A one-way ticket costs € 6 (US$ 6.29) if you buy it directly from the bus driver. These buses go to the European Quarter, stopping at Schuman or Place Luxemburg, but they do not go all the way to the city center.

The bus company De Lijn connects the airport with the city centre and the STIB connects Zaventem with the European Quarter of Brussels. It takes between 30 and 40 minutes and it's probably the easiest way to get to your hotel if you’ve found accommodation in this area or if you're traveling to Brussels on business.

Taxi

A taxi from Brussels Airport to the city center is around € 70 (US$ 73.40); therefore, more expensive than a private airport transfer service.

Other Destinations

If you're not staying in Brussels, you'll find trains or buses to Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, and Leuven.