Airport bus Brussels Zaventem

Brussels Zaventem Airport is an international airport situated partially in Zaventem, partially in the Diegem area of Machelen, and partially in Steenokkerzeel, 12 km northeast of the capital of Belgium. The airport serves as a base to Brussels Airlines and TUIfly Belgium and provides connections to over 50 countries worldwide. More than 24 million passengers used the Brussels Airport in 2017.

How to get from Brussels Zaventem Airport to Brussels

The airport is well connected to Brussels and there are several means of transport at your disposal.

Bus

There are several different platforms at the airport and they are all used by different companies: De Lijn, MIVB/STIB, Antwerp-Brussels Airport Express, Ouibus, etc.

  • De Lijn: Lines 272 and 471 drive to Brussels North station, lines 272, 471 and 620 to NATO, while lines 359 and 659 take you to underground Roodebeek station. Inside the perimeter of the airport, De Lijn buses are free of charge. Buses than run through Bucargo depart from Platform B, the other services depart from Platform A. A single fare ticket is €3.
  • MIVB/STIB: An express service between Brussels airport and the European quarter, it departs from platform C and the journey takes 30 minutes. Line number 12 operates from Monday to Friday, while line number 21 operates during all week, including weekends and holidays, and serves all the stops.
  • Antwerp-Brussels Airport Express: A service running between Antwerp and Brussels airport which stops at the Central Station (Kon. Astridplein) and Crowne Plaza. Travel time is 35 – 45 minutes, depending on the station. A one way adult ticket is €10, while for children the fare is €5.

Train

Brussels airport – Zaventem station is located at the basement level of the airport and offers both national and international connections. The journey to Brussels-Central, the main railway station in Brussels, takes 17 minutes.

  • International trains run frequently to the main cities in the Netherlands, such as Rotterdam, The Hague or Amsterdam. You can also go to Brussels Midi Station where there are trains that run to Cologne (Germany), Paris (France), Lille (France) or London (UK).
  • National trains operate to Antwerp (32 min), Bruges (90 min), Charleroi (83 min), Ghent (54 min), Liege (60 min), Leuven (15 min) and Namura (72 min). During weekends there are trains that depart from Luxembourg, Schuman and Etterbeek to Brussels airport.

Getting from Brussels Zaventem Airport to other destinations

If your final destination is not Brussels but some other nearby city, there are several more bus lines operating directly from Brussels Zaventem. Check out the most popular routes and details about departures and tickets below.

Brussels Zaventem Airport to Ghent

Brussels Zaventem Airport to Lille

Brussels Zaventem Airport to Bruges

Taxi

If you prefer a comfortable ride over crowded public transport, we recommend you to take a taxi, which are located outside the Arrivals Hall 24/7. You can easily recognize them since they are blue with a yellow logo. The journey downtown takes about 20 minutes and the fare is €45 (to Midi Station €43 and to Grand Place €41). If you wish to take a taxi to Antwerp, it will cost you €116, and to Leuven €62.

Transfer

If you are not a fan of public transport and hesitate to take a taxi, we recommend you to book a private transfer online which will wait for you at the airport and take you to your destination. You can even pre-order a child safety seat in case you are travelling with children.

Renting a car at Brussels Zaventem airport

For those who would prefer to reach the city and explore the area on their own, the best option is to rent a car directly at the airport. Offices of several car rental companies such as Avis, Budget, Europcar, Sixt, Thrifty, Hertz and Enterprise are located in the Arrivals Hall. Compare rental prices in advance and book your car online.

Renting a bus at Brussels Zaventem airport

Larger groups of passengers should consider renting a bus at the airport. However, it is recommended to book it online, so the bus rental companies have enough time to advise you on the meeting point and all other information.

From BRU to other destinations

On platform E you can find departures for Lille at 09:00 am, 1:30 pm and 7:30 pm. The journey time is 2h 15min. On the same platform you can find night service to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels, Lille and Paris as well.

Accommodation

FAQ – bus and transport from Brussels Zaventem Airport

I arrive late at the airport. Will it be a problem for me to get to the city?

Yes, you have several bus and train lines which operate until late hours at your disposal, but in case you can’t make it to any of them, keep in mind that there are taxis outside the Arrivals hall and they can take you to your destination 24/7.

I have an early morning departure from the airport, are there any airport hotels I can stay at?

Yes, there are few hotels nearby where you can spend the night in case to make it to your early flight, the closest one being Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel only 0.2 km from the main terminal building, followed by Arku and Zaventem hotels 1.3 km from Brussels airport.

I would like to visit Brussels in between flights. Is that possible?

Yes, the airport is well connected to the city by the several bus and train lines, and the journey takes around 30 – 45 minutes, but, just in case, check your timing twice in order to avoid being late or stuck in the traffic.

Can I exchange money at the airport to pay for my transfer?

ATMs are available across the airport, you can find them in Departures Hall, Arrivals Hall, Baggage Reclaim area, Pier A and Pier B. Travelex offers currency exchange services in the same places, but you can also buy your foreign currency online.

I am continuing my journey outside Brussels. Are there any direct lines to other destinations?

Yes, as mentioned above there are several transfer companies which offer connections both to national and international destinations. Apart from cities in Belgium, you can visit Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels, Lille and Paris as well.

  2Comments

  1. Ronald M Ferrell Jr

    When a good time to visit croatia beaches.weather wise and youk ow

    • Dear Ronald

      The best time to visit Croatian beaches is late May – early June because they are not too crowded with tourists yet. Or late September/early October 🙂

      Best regards,
      Melani GBB Team

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