In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Charleroi is about 60 km from Brussels, and the Flibco coach is the plan: direct to Brussels-Midi with no stops, about 55 minutes, every 20 minutes, from €14.99, on an open ticket valid until 04:00 the next morning. The cheapest Light fare takes only a 35 × 20 × 20 cm bag; a hold bag needs the Smart or Plus package. The train and TEC bus A take 70 to 90 minutes on a combined SNCB ticket. A missed coach after a late flight costs nothing: you take the next one. Midi is the Eurostar station, and Brussels-Central is one train stop from it. Or book ahead: GetYourGuide’s Charleroi Airport shuttlead is from €15.60, rated 4.6 from 1,733 reviews.
The options, compared
Prices are for one adult, one way.
| Option | Journey | Frequency | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flibco coach | Direct to Brussels-Midi, about 55 minutes (55 to 60 in traffic) | Every 20 minutes | From €14.99 |
| TEC bus A and SNCB train | Bus A to Charleroi-Central, then a train to Brussels-Midi: 70 to 90 minutes | See the SNCB planner | One combined SNCB ticket; the planner shows the fare |
| Shuttle on GetYourGuidead | A bus transfer to and from the airport | Booked ahead | From €15.60 |
The Flibco coach
From €14.99 · about 55 minutes · every 20 minutes · open day ticket
Flibco runs a non-stop coach between the front exit of Terminal 1 at Charleroi and Brussels-Midi, where it stops just off the Rue de France. A ticket is valid for any departure on its day, until 04:00 the next morning, so a delayed flight does not strand you: the next coach is free. It has seat belts, toilets and Wi-Fi. You pay by card, PayPal or cash, and you can buy online, in the app or at the airport.
Terminal 1 at Brussels South Charleroi Airport, seen from the apron. Photo: MisterQ, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The package decides the bag, and the Light package is the trap on a low-cost flight:
| Package | Cabin bag | Hold bag |
|---|---|---|
| Light | One bag, up to 35 × 20 × 20 cm and 10 kg | None |
| Smart | The same | One bag, up to 55 × 85 × 40 cm and 25 kg |
| Plus | The same | Two bags of that size |
Smart and Plus tickets can be changed up to three times, up to a day before departure. Flibco’s page also says you can cancel a booking one day before departure.
- The Brussels Card carries a coupon for 10% off a Flibco ticket booked online, valid to 31 January 2027: see the Brussels Card sums.
- At the Brussels end, Midi is the Eurostar station, and Brussels-Central, one train stop away, is the station for the Grand-Place. London to Brussels by Eurostar has the station.
The train and TEC bus A
One SNCB ticket · 70 to 90 minutes in all
SNCB sells a single combined Charleroi Airport Ticket for the train to Charleroi-Central and the TEC bus from that station to the airport. A return is bought at the ticket office or a machine, in first or second class. From Brussels-Midi an InterCity train takes 50 to 60 minutes to Charleroi-Central, and TEC bus A, which waits outside the station, takes about 20 minutes to the terminal (Eurostar’s Brussels-Midi guide).
- Children: up to four children under 12 travel free on the train with an adult; on the TEC bus, children under 6 are free and from 6 they need a ticket.
- The fare depends on the distance and is shown only in SNCB’s planner.
- Strikes: Belgium has general strikes that can disrupt trains across the country, so check SNCB the day before you fly.
The GetYourGuide shuttle
GetYourGuide’s Charleroi Airport shuttlead is a bus transfer to or from the airport, from €15.60, rated 4.6 from 1,733 reviews, with free cancellation. That is €0.61 above Flibco’s “from” price. A separate bus transfer between Charleroi and Antwerpad takes 110 minutes and is from €21.49, 4.5 from 41 reviews.
Which to take
- The usual choice: the Flibco coach to Midi.
- A cabin bag only: the Light package, with a bag of 35 × 20 × 20 cm at most.
- A hold bag: the Smart package.
- A flight that may be late: the open day ticket, and the next coach is free.
- A hotel by the Eurostar: the coach stops at Midi; see hotels near Brussels-Midi station.
- Brussels Airport instead: Brussels Airport to the city compares the train, bus 12 and taxis.
Once you are in the city, Brussels public transport explains the €2.40 fare and the €8.50 daily cap, and where to stay in Brussels compares the areas. What to book before you go to Brussels has the closed days, and day trips from Brussels all start from the same stations.
Common questions
How do I get from Charleroi Airport to Brussels?
The Flibco coach runs direct to Brussels-Midi without stops in about 55 minutes, every 20 minutes, from €14.99. The alternative is a combined SNCB train and TEC bus A ticket: bus A to Charleroi-Central station, then a train to Brussels-Midi, about 70 to 90 minutes in all.
How much is the Flibco bus from Charleroi to Brussels?
From €14.99 one way, depending on the package and when you book. The Light package allows only a hand bag of 35 × 20 × 20 cm and 10 kg, Smart adds one hold bag of up to 25 kg and Plus adds two. The ticket is an open day ticket valid until 04:00 the next morning.
Where does the Charleroi bus stop in Brussels?
At Brussels-Midi, just off the Rue de France. At the airport the stop is at the front exit of Terminal 1. Midi is the Eurostar station, and Brussels-Central, about 430 m from the Grand-Place, is one train stop away.
What happens if my flight is late and I miss the coach?
Flibco says that after a delayed flight you can take the next available bus at no extra cost, because the ticket is valid all day until 04:00 the next morning.
Is there a train from Charleroi Airport to Brussels?
Not to the airport itself. SNCB sells a combined train and TEC bus ticket to the airport: a TEC bus A ride of about 20 minutes links the airport with Charleroi-Central station, and InterCity trains run from there to Brussels-Midi in 50 to 60 minutes.
Can I use a Brussels Card on the Flibco bus?
The Brussels Card carries a coupon for 10% off a Flibco ticket booked online, which is not a transport option. The coupons are revised each 1 February and the current ones run to 31 January 2027.
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