Getting Into Brussels

Getting to and from the main airport

By bus

You can take the bus from level 0 (basement) of the airport terminal. The De Lijn bus system serves most of central Brussels. For information, in Flemish (English isn't available at the moment), go here.

For another bus option, you can ride on the MIVB/STIB lines. Tickets are €3 for one journey which takes approximately 30 minutes from the airport to Brussels' city center.

Getting to and from the main train station

By tram or metro

Brussels' three main train stations are all well situated for travel. Just note that the Gare Centrale (Brussels Central) station is actually located in the Upper Town part of the city (just east of the Grand Place). From here-and from the other two main train stations (Gare du Midi and Gare du Nord), you can take any number of trams or metro lines into the city or suburbs. A ticket costs €2 if purchased on the bus or tram; €1.50 if purchased in advance at a kiosk or machine. Maps are available in the train stations. Trams run north to south; metro lines run east to west.

Note: All tickets for metro and tram trains must be time-stamped at a machine before you board.

Timetables and maps for all metro and tram services are available at the info center at Gare du Midi, the Porte de Namur station, and Rogier station. For more information, you can also visit the Brussels national rail website.

By taxi

Taxis are available at the airport and, as you can imagine, they're not cheap. Going rates inside city center are €1.23 per kilometer plus a fixed charge of €2.40 (€4.40 at night). Waiting time in a taxi is €23 per hour though most companies will charge less than this for trips to and from the airport. Expect to pay around €35 from the airport to city center. Airport shuttle vans cost about €23 per person.

More transport information

Visit the Brussels International Airport website.

And, don't forget that if you're staying at a larger chain hotel, ask if you're entitled to a free shuttle bus service from the airport to your lodgings.

Flying into Brussels

Visit our Brussels budget flights section for more information on low-cost airlines flying into and out of Brussels. Also worth reading is the guide to flights to Belgium on Bootsnall.com.