Best airport when flying to Brussels: Zaventem vs Charleroi
Brussels is not only the largest city in Belgium but also an extremely important hub in Europe. To visit the city, you will have two main options of airports close to Brussels you can fly to, Zaventem Airport and Charleroi Airport. In this post, I show you how to get to Brussels city center from both, sharing some additional information about each. This way, you are equipped to decide which airport in Brussels is the best for your trip.
Zaventem Airport or Brussels International Airport
The Zaventem Airport, also called Brussels International Airport, is the main and largest airport in Belgium.
This airport definitely deserves the fame, as it is simply enormous and very complete. Even inside the boarding area, you will find several options of restaurants and the main Belgian brands, including the amazing Belgian chocolate stores (in case you missed the chance to buy a yummy souvenir for the trip home).
Due to its size, we recommend arriving early for your flight if you will be flying out from the Brussels International Airport. Some of the gates are located at a 20-min walking distance from the initial passport control area, so you don’t want to be caught out of time there.
As the name suggests, the Zaventem Airport is not located in Brussels itself, but in the city of Zaventem, which is located only 15 km away from Brussels city center. Zaventem is the closest airport to Brussels and the best choice if you are looking for comfort and practicality.
Which airlines fly to Brussels Zaventem?
Zaventem Airport is used as a base for the national company Brussels Airlines. However, you will also find flights with many other international airlines arriving and departing from here. See below a few examples of airlines that fly to Brussels Zaventem Airport:
- Brussels Airlines
- Lufthansa
- KLM
- British Airways
- Qatar Airways
- Royal Air Maroc
- United
- Delta Airlines
- Air Canada
There are also a few options for low-cost airlines that operate through the Brussels International Airport:
- easyJet
- Ryanair
- Transavia
- Vueling
How to go from Brussels International Airport to the city center
Zaventem Airport is one of the best-connected airports I have been to. You will find a train station inside the airport, a bus terminal, extensive parking lots, and rental car companies. Below we will describe how to get to Brussels city center from the airport using the train or the bus.
How to go from Brussels Airport to the city center by train
Using the train is not the most affordable option, but it is the fastest and most comfortable way of going from Brussels International Airport to the city center.
The train station is located at level -1, which is easily accessible from the arrivals or departure lounge.
A train ticket from the airport to Brussels city center will cost you 9.10 € each way. You can buy it directly at the station or online beforehand. The train ride will take between 20-30 min, depending on which will be your final station.
From the airport train station, you can also hop on a train directly to other cities in Belgium.
Pro tip: There are four main train stations within Brussels’ city center. Check beforehand which is the closest one to your accommodation so you avoid having to take another transport.
How to go from Brussels Airport to the city center by bus
The bus terminal is located at level 0 at the airport, on the same floor where you will find luggage lockers (which may also come in handy!).
The best option to go to the city center is to get a bus from the company called De Lijn, which has several options of lines connecting the airport to different regions in Belgium. The single ticket will cost you 3.00 € and the trip will take between 30-45 min.
Taking the bus is a good alternative for people staying in the European District, the area around the European Parliament buildings. If this is your case, we recommend taking the bus line from the company STIB which offers an Airport Line (numbers 12 and 21), an express service connecting the airport and the European District. The trip takes only 30 min and a single-way ticket will cost you 4.50 € if bought on the machines or 6.00 € with the driver.
If your final destination isn’t Brussels but another city in Belgium, you will also find bus connections at this terminal. For example, many Flixbus routes will make a stop at the Zaventem Airport.
Other transport options to get to Brussels International Airport
If you seek an extra dose of comfort, you can also choose to hire a transfer service. A typical transfer price between the airport and Brussels city center will be around 45 €.
At the main exit, you will also find many taxi companies available. You can expect to pay at least 45 € for a ride to the city center, which can potentially be higher depending on the traffic and your exact destination.
The last option is to rent a car for your trip through Belgium. If Brussels is the only city you will be visiting, we do not recommend renting a car as the city is very well connected with public transport or by foot.
Renting a car is a very interesting option if you intend to visit other cities around Belgium, as the train prices may add up quite quickly. If you choose this option, we recommend renting from a company that has an office in the airport, to make it easy for you to pick up the car and drop it off.
Do you need to rent a car for your trip?
We always use DiscoverCars to rent our car. So far it has proved to be not only the cheapest option but also the most reliable one. We used DiscoverCars to rent our car for our trips through Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Italy, and so many other countries, and we never had any issues. We even convinced all of our friends and family to use it. So that’s why we are also recommending it to you!
Where to stay next to Brussels International Airport?
If you are looking for a good option for places to stay next to Brussels Airport, here are our tips:
- Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel – This is the only hotel located inside Brussels International Airport, so if you are looking for convenience, this is the best option.
- Novotel Brussels Airport – Located only 1.5 km from the airport, Novotel is a great option for travelers that have early or late flight connections since they offer a free shuttle bus to the airport and breakfast starting at 4 am.
- Ibis Budget Hotel Brussels Airport – This is a great budget-friendly option for a place to stay close to the airport. They also offer a free shuttle bus to the hotel and back.
The eSim we recommend!
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Charleroi Airport
The Charleroi Airport is considered the secondary airport in Brussels. It is considerably smaller than Brussels International Airport but hosts on average 7 million travelers per year.
Charleroi Airport is located in the city named Charleroi, 1h away from Brussels city center. Charleroi is a very small city, that offers very limited public transport options. For this reason, if you choose to fly to the Charleroi Airport, you will have to take a bit more time to deal with the logistics of coming and going to your flight.
The majority of airlines operating from the Charleroi Airport are low-cost companies. It is very common that backpackers and low-budget travelers are attracted by the cheap ticket prices and end up flying to Charleroi without knowing it is located quite far from Brussels city center. To avoid falling into this trap, take some time to consider the pros and cons of flying to Charleroi vs Zaventem and the total cost of your trip including the transfer cost and time.
In terms of infrastructure, Charleroi Airport is much simpler than Zaventem. You will still find some options for snack bars and small shops, but don’t expect to find renowned shops and a large selection. Charleroi Airport also has 4 parking lots, whose prices vary based on the distance to the airport. To avoid any last-minute inconvenience, you can book your spot in advance through the Charleroi Airport website.
How to go from Charleroi Airport to Brussels city center?
Brussels city center is located approximately 50km away from Charleroi Airport. Below you can see the best transport options for going from the airport to the center:
Going from Charleroi Airport to Brussels center using a shuttle bus
Using the shuttle bus is the alternative that has the best value for money. The largest bus company operating on this route is called Flibco. They have a stand right outside the airport where you can buy your bus ticket, or you can buy it online if you prefer (you may get some discounted prices online).
The one-way ticket costs 17 € if you buy it at the airport and the trip will take around 1h to the train station Brussels Midi. They have buses departing the airport every 30min and vice-versa. From the Midi station, you may have to take a subway, bus, or walk to your accommodation.
Pro tip: Flibco also offers connections to other cities in Belgium besides Brussels.
How to go from Charleroi Airport to Brussels city center by public transport
I only recommend this option for people traveling to other cities in Belgium, with which there is no direct bus connection. If you use public transport to go from Charleroi Airport to Brussels center, you will spend almost the same amount of money and take almost double the time.
The bus station is located right outside the airport, to the left. Take bus line A (3.00 €) which makes the direct connection between the airport and the train station in about 20min. From the train station, you can buy your ticket to Brussels or any other Belgium city.
Pro tip: The ticket machines at the bus station sell a ticket that is a combo for the bus + train.
Other transport options at Charleroi Airport
- A transfer service from Charleroi Airport to Brussels city center will cost you around 80 € per car. Larger groups can also get a van or larger vehicle for transport.
- A taxi ride will cost between 80 – 100 €, depending on your final destination in Brussels. We recommend talking to the taxi driver beforehand to get a good estimation before hopping on the cab and always making sure the taxi belongs to a registered company.
- You can also rent a car if you will be traveling throughout Belgium. You will find the car rental companies located in the arrivals lounge.
Do you need to rent a car for your trip?
We always use DiscoverCars to rent our car. So far it has proved to be not only the cheapest option but also the most reliable one. We used DiscoverCars to rent our car for our trips through Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Italy, and so many other countries, and we never had any issues. We even convinced all of our friends and family to use it. So that’s why we are also recommending it to you!
Where to stay near Charleroi Airport
If you will need a place to sleep near Charleroi Airport due to an early or late flight connection, here are the best accommodation options we can find:
- Hotel South Charleroi Airport – This hotel is located fairly near to the airport, and they offer a free shuttle bus service and free parking on site.
- Park Hotel Airport – Family-owned property is located in the surroundings of the Airport, but we do advise you to contact them for a free shuttle service or to take a taxi instead of walking the 40-min distance.
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