Find cheap flights to Brussels

Think waffles, chocolates or beer, and there’s no better place than Brussels, the capital of Belgium to indulge your taste buds! But Brussels is not just about its gastronomic delights, it is also a multicultural and vibrant destination offering an equally large variety of museums, events, architecture and historic centres. The cool summers and mild winters makes it an ideal destination all year round. However, the best time to visit is between March – May and September – October which are the shoulder seasons with cheaper accommodation, fewer crowds and average temperatures of 15 – 18 degrees Celsius. June – August is peak tourist season with long queues for the main attractions. November – February is wet and noticeably cold but prices for flights and hotels still tend to rise during the holiday season.

Brussels Airport (BRU)

Buses

You can take the Airport Line Bus #21 which will stop at Royal Palace from where it is a short, 10-minute walk to Brussels Centrale. The fare will be €6.00 EUR if you buy your ticket on-board the bus or €4.00 EUR if you buy it at the ticket vending machine. The De Lijn bus company-operated Bus #471 to Brussels-Nord station takes approximately 45 minutes and the fare is €3.00 EUR.

Taxis

Taxis with a taximeter are always available outside the arrival halls and the fare to the city centre is normally around €45.00 EUR. Licensed taxis can be recognized by their blue and yellow emblem.

Trains

There is a train going from Brussels Zaventem Airport to Brussels Central Station every 10 minutes between 5 am and midnight, 7 days a week. The ride takes 18 minutes and costs €12.70 EUR.

Hotel Shuttles and Limousines

Most hotels in the vicinity provide a free shuttle for pick up and drop off to the airport. You may want to check if the hotel you booked offers one. If you wish to book a limousine service for your transport to and from Brussels Airport, Direct Way and Modern Car are excellent service providers.

Car Rental

In the arrivals hall, you will find the desks of all major car rental car companies. If you book early, you may find the best deals for car rentals with momondo.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL)

The Charleroi Airport is located in Gosselies, 46 kilometres south of central Brussels. Most flights out of the UK will fly in to Brussels Airport, however some Ryanair flights land at the Charleroi Airport too.

Taxis

Taxis from Charleroi Airport to Brussels city centre will cost approximately €90.00 EUR and you will reach the centre in 45 – 55 minutes.

TEC Bus plus SCNB Train

The TEC-operated Airport Express Bus A departs every 30 minutes from the airport to Charleroi Sud train station with a journey time under 20 minutes and the fare is €6.00 EUR . From there, you can take a train to any of the stations closest to your destination. You can also buy a Combi-ticket, which covers the train and TEC bus journey. For example, a Combi-ticket from Charleroi Airport to Brussels Centrale will cost €15.80 EUR and the total journey time will be 80 minutes.

Shuttle Buses

Brussels City Shuttle runs a service every 20 – 30 minutes from Charleroi Airport to Brussels Midi station and the fare is €14.00 EUR. Your journey time will be close to 60 minutes.

Many of the attractions in Brussels are within 15 – 25 minutes distance of each other and exploring the city on foot may not be a bad idea. Most public transport in Brussels is operated by the STIB and their network includes metro lines, buses and tram connections. A single ride ticket is €4.20 EUR while a 1-day JUMP Card for €7.50 EUR allows unlimited usage on all STIB rides. You also have the option of renting a bike through Pro Velo at €7.00 EUR per hour or €15.00 EUR per day. Through the shared bike system, Villo, you can pick up a bike from any of their stations in the city and ride free for the first 30 minutes. The next 30-minute slot is charged €0.50 EUR, then €1.00 EUR and then €2.00 EUR per 30 minutes after the first 90 minutes. With the Collecto taxi service available between 11 pm and 6 am, a ride to anywhere within the Brussels-Capital Region will cost you only €6.00 EUR irrespective of the destination.

Things to do and places of interest in Brussels

Brussels is a multicultural city known for its museums, marketplaces, culinary delights and ornate squares set between medieval streets.

• You may want to start your Belgian visit at the Grand Place, one of the most beautiful squares in Europe with Gothic and Baroque style buildings, street performances, flower shows, light shows (in summer) and a lively vibrant atmosphere.
• Check out the St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral and the famous Mannekin Pis, a bronze statue of a nude child taking a tinkle! Brusselians dress him up to celebrate several events and festivities of countries around the world.
• If you are going to do the Museum circuit, a visit to the Musical Instruments Museum, Horta Museum, Royal Museum of the Army and Military History, Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium, Museum of Natural Sciences, Belgian Centre for Comic Strip Art and Museum of Belgian Brewers, will be some of the more interesting options.
• A must-see in Brussels is the molecule-shaped stainless steel structure of the Atomium which offers a walk through its tubes and spheres, and a 360-degree view over Brussels city.
• Visit the Mini-Europe theme park featuring miniature scale models of all the key landmarks of Europe, including the Big Ben, Eiffel Tower, Sacre Coeur, Mount Vesuvius, the Berlin Wall, and many more.

Tips and tricks for visiting Brussels

Purchase a Brussels Card which allows you access to 32 museums and attractive discounts to the guided tours, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. A 24-hour, 48-hour or 72-hour access will cost €22.00 EUR, €30.00 EUR and €38.00 EUR respectively. Instead of spending on food at the famous Grand Place, take a walk to the nearby Boulevard Anspach and enjoy better food for less. Or you could indulge in the waffles and frites (French fries) from stalls that are spread out on practically every street in Brussels. Belgium is known for its chocolate and beer, so you should definitely consider a visit to the Museum of Cocoa and Chocolate and also join a Belgium Beer Tour to experience a good number of Belgian brews. Delirium Café near Grand Place has more than 3000 beers to choose from, so you will be spoilt for choice!