In this guide
💡 The Short Version: The train from the station under the terminal reaches Brussels-Central in about 18 minutes, with six direct trains an hour until around midnight; the Grand-Place is about 430 m from Central. SNCB adds a €6.90 airport supplement to the fare, included in most tickets. Bus 12 goes to the European Quarter, not the Grand-Place, and a STIB single is not valid from the airport: you need Airport2City, €7.90 by contactless card. Official taxis wait at the arrivals hall, with a minimum fare of €8. After midnight the trains stop, and a taxi is the way into the centre. Or book a ride: a private transferad is from €27.60 a person (GetYourGuide).
The options, compared
Brussels Airport is in Zaventem, about 12 km north-east of the centre. Prices are for one adult, one way.
| Option | Journey | Frequency | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | About 18 minutes to Brussels-Central, 11 to Brussels-North, 23 to Brussels-Midi | Six direct trains an hour until around midnight | The SNCB fare plus the €6.90 airport supplement; the planner shows the total |
| Bus 12 (line 21 on weekday evenings, weekends and public holidays) | Direct to the European Quarter | See the STIB timetable | Airport2City €7.90 |
| Official taxi | At the rank outside arrivals | No booking | Metered, minimum €8; average fare between the centre and the airport €50 |
| Private transfer | Door to door | Booked ahead | From €27.60 a person |
There is no metro to the airport.
The train
About 18 minutes to Brussels-Central · six direct trains an hour · until around midnight
The airport station is under the terminal, at level -1. Trains stop at Brussels-North (about 11 minutes), Brussels-Central (about 18) and Brussels-Midi (about 23), and two an hour also serve the European Quarter at Schuman (Brussels Airport). Central is the station for the Grand-Place and the old centre; Midi is the Eurostar station.
A platform at Brussels Airport station, under the terminal. Photo: Japplemedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- The supplement: SNCB charges the Brussels Airport supplement, formerly the Diabolo fee, of €6.90 a journey on top of the ticket. A Standard Ticket, a Weekend Ticket, a Youth Ticket and a season ticket to or from the airport already include it, and so does a Eurostar ticket with the “Any Belgian station” supplement. A Senior Ticket includes it once, so a same-day return needs a second one (SNCB).
- The fare: SNCB’s journey planner prices each trip, and that is the number to use.
- The gates: scan the ticket’s QR code or a MOBIB card to go in and out, so keep the ticket handy at the other end.
- Children: up to four children under 12 travel free with an adult.
- Strikes: Belgium has general strikes that can disrupt trains across the country, so check SNCB the day before you fly.
Bus 12: the Airport Line
Airport2City €7.90 · to the European Quarter · line 21 on weekday evenings, weekends and holidays
Bus 12 is STIB’s direct bus from the airport to Schuman, Maelbeek, Luxembourg and Trône, which are the stops for the European Parliament, the House of European History and the Parlamentarium. It meets the metro at Schuman (lines 1 and 5) and Trône (lines 2 and 6). The bus station is on level 0, about 100 m from the arrivals hall (STIB).
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Airport2City, contactless bank card, phone or watch | €7.90 |
| Airport2City, MOBIB card | €7.90 |
| Airport2City, paper ticket | €8.40 |
| Airport2City, 10 journeys | €52 |
| Airport Line season ticket | €68 |
- Going to the airport: any STIB ticket works on bus 12 from the city.
- Coming from it: a normal single is not valid, and the Airport2City fare is the one to pay. Tap a contactless card on the bus and the fare applies by itself.
- Changing: an Airport2City ticket lets you connect on the whole STIB network within the first hour.
- The Brussels Card: its public transport option includes bus 12 in both directions: the Brussels Card sums.
Taxis
Metered · minimum fare €8 · official rank outside arrivals
Official taxis wait outside the arrivals hall, marked with a “T” plate and the blue-and-yellow logo, and need no booking (Brussels Airport). The airport prints no fare. visit.brussels gives the regulated tariff for a taxi from a rank as a €2.60 pick-up, €2.30 a kilometre and €0.60 a minute, a €2 night surcharge from 22:00 to 06:00 and a €8 minimum, and says the average fare between the centre and the airport is €50. A taxi booked in advance has a lower tariff: a €1.50 pick-up, €1.50 a kilometre and €0.40 a minute (visit.brussels).
- The meter: it must be lit, and the driver gives a printed receipt.
- Only taxis with the Region’s official sign may pick up on the street.
- The Foreign Office’s advice: use only official, licensed taxis, and do not get into a taxi that stops to offer you a ride.
A private transfer
The private transferad is a direct ride of about an hour, from €27.60 a person for up to 8 travellers, in English, rated 4.5 from 63 reviews on GetYourGuide. A 30-minute private transferad is from €50 a person, 4.4 from 15 reviews. Both cancel free. For one or two people the airport train or Airport2City is cheaper, so a transfer is a comfort purchase for a group with luggage or a late arrival.
The sums
| Travellers | Airport2City on bus 12 | One taxi, at visit.brussels’ average | Private transfer, from |
|---|---|---|---|
| One adult | €7.90 | €50 | €27.60 |
| Two adults | €15.80 | €50 | €55.20 |
| Three adults | €23.70 | €50 | €82.80 |
| Four adults | €31.60 | €50 | €110.40 |
Add the €6.90 airport supplement for each adult on the train, on top of the fare for the distance.
Other airports
- Brussels South Charleroi Airport is about 60 km south of the city, served by the Flibco coach to Brussels-Midi from €14.99 and by a combined train and bus ticket: see Charleroi Airport to Brussels.
- Antwerp: the Airport Express and Flibco coaches run from Brussels Airport’s bus station to Antwerp, and FlixBus runs to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Maastricht, Lille and Paris (Brussels Airport).
- At night: the De Lijn night bus N62 runs from 00:55 to 04:45 about every 30 minutes, with stops at Zaventem, Diegem, Evere and Schaerbeek.
Passport control
Arrivals from outside the Schengen area have their photo and fingerprints taken at the first entry under the EU’s Entry/Exit System, which has been fully operational since 10 April 2026 and costs nothing. Australia’s Smartraveller warns that it is causing delays of up to 4 to 6 hours at some European airports, so allow extra time. What to book before you go to Brussels has the entry rules.
Which to take
- To the Grand-Place, the Sablon or the old centre: the train to Brussels-Central, then a short walk.
- To the Eurostar: the train to Brussels-Midi, about 23 minutes. London to Brussels by Eurostar covers the station.
- To the European Quarter: bus 12 at €7.90, or the train to Schuman on two trains an hour.
- A group of four with luggage: a taxi, at an average €50 for the car against €31.60 for four on Airport2City.
- After midnight: a taxi from the rank.
- Door to door with luggage: a private transfer, from €27.60 a person.
From the station to your hotel
The train ends at Brussels-Central, Brussels-North and Brussels-Midi, and the rest of the trip runs on STIB: Brussels public transport explains the €2.40 fare and the €8.50 daily cap. Where to stay in Brussels compares the areas, hotels near Brussels-Midi station lists the hotels by the Eurostar, and day trips from Brussels leave from the same stations. For the first day, 3 days in Brussels plans the visits round the closed days.
Common questions
How do I get from Brussels Airport to the city centre?
Take the train from the station under the terminal. It reaches Brussels-North in about 11 minutes, Brussels-Central in about 18 and Brussels-Midi in about 23, with six direct trains an hour until around midnight. Bus 12 runs to the European Quarter, and official taxis wait outside the arrivals hall.
How much is the train from Brussels Airport to Brussels-Central?
SNCB charges the airport supplement of €6.90 a journey on top of the fare for the distance, and most tickets already include it. SNCB's planner shows the total for your journey, so no single price is printed here.
How much is bus 12 from Brussels Airport?
A STIB single is not valid on a journey that starts at the airport. You need Airport2City: €7.90 by contactless bank card, phone, watch or MOBIB card, €8.40 on a paper ticket, and 10 journeys for €52. Tap a contactless card on the bus and the €7.90 fare applies by itself.
Does bus 12 go to the Grand-Place?
No. Bus 12 runs to the European Quarter: Schuman, Maelbeek, Luxembourg and Trône. It meets the metro at Schuman (lines 1 and 5) and at Trône (lines 2 and 6). For the Grand-Place, take the train to Brussels-Central, about 430 m away.
How much is a taxi from Brussels Airport to the centre?
The airport prints no fare. visit.brussels gives the rank-taxi tariff as €2.60 pick-up, €2.30 a kilometre and €0.60 a minute, with a minimum fare of €8, and says the average fare between the centre and the airport is €50. Use the official rank and make sure the meter is on.
How do I get to Brussels from Charleroi Airport?
Charleroi is about 60 km south of the city. The Flibco coach to Brussels-Midi takes about 55 minutes and is from €14.99. See Charleroi Airport to Brussels for the train and bus option.
