Brussels Airport Transfers: Train, Bus or Shuttle

Brussels Airport-Zaventem (BRU) is Belgium’s main airport, north-east of Brussels in Zaventem. Its railway station is directly beneath the terminal, on level -1, making the train the simplest connection to Brussels-North, Brussels-Central, Brussels-South and onward Belgian rail services. The bus station is on level 0, about 100 metres from arrivals, connected by a covered walkway. (Brussels Airport train, checked 2026-09-28; Brussels Airport buses, checked 2026-09-28)

For the European Quarter, STIB/MIVB Airport Line bus 12 runs directly to Schuman, Maelbeek and Luxembourg. It connects with the metro at Schuman and Trône/Troon. There is no metro line to Brussels Airport; the airport operator directs passengers to the train for fast city-centre access. (STIB Airport Line, checked 2026-09-28; Brussels Airport public transport, checked 2026-09-28)

Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) is the secondary airport used by many low-cost airlines, about 60 kilometres south of Brussels city centre according to Flibco. The terminal has no railway station. The direct option is Flibco’s shuttle to Brussels-Midi; the rail alternative combines an SNCB train with a TEC A bus from Charleroi-Central, Luttre or Fleurus. (Flibco Charleroi connections, checked 2026-09-28; SNCB Charleroi Airport, checked 2026-09-28)

A taxi suits groups, heavy luggage or accommodation away from a useful station. At Brussels Airport, official taxis wait outside arrivals. Use the marked rank and choose a vehicle with a “T” licence plate and blue-and-yellow logo. (Brussels Airport taxi, checked 2026-09-28)

From Brussels Airport, direct trains take about 11 minutes to Brussels-North, 18 minutes to Brussels-Central and 23 minutes to Brussels-South. These figures cover the rail leg. Add passport control, baggage collection, the walk to level -1 and the final connection from the station. Two trains per hour also connect the airport with Brussels’ European Quarter. (Brussels Airport train, checked 2026-09-28)

STIB describes Airport Line bus 12 as a direct journey of about 30 minutes to the European Quarter. Traffic, the walk from the bus station and any onward metro, tram or bus connection are additional. After validation, an Airport2City ticket allows connections across the STIB-MIVB network for the following hour. (STIB Airport Line, checked 2026-09-28)

Flibco lists Brussels–Charleroi at about 55 minutes and says actual journeys usually take 55 to 60 minutes depending on traffic. The shuttle is direct, without intermediate stops, but it ends at Brussels-Midi rather than at your accommodation. Continue by SNCB train, STIB metro or tram, taxi or on foot. (Flibco Brussels–Charleroi shuttle, checked 2026-09-28)

The Charleroi rail route has two legs. SNCB sends travellers to a selected transfer station, then to TEC line A: A1 from Charleroi-Central, A2 from Fleurus or A3 from Luttre. SNCB publishes no single universal end-to-end time on its airport-ticket page. Enter your origin, destination and travel date in the planner so the train and bus connection are matched. (SNCB Charleroi Airport, checked 2026-09-28)

SNCB prices a Brussels Airport train ticket from the railway origin and destination. Brussels Airport says journeys to or from the airport generally include a Brussels Airport Supplement of €6.90, often already included in the displayed price. Buy through SNCB’s website or app, or use machines in baggage reclaim or at the level -1 station. Up to four children under 12 can travel free with an accompanying adult holding a valid rail ticket, subject to SNCB conditions. (Brussels Airport train, checked 2026-09-28)

From Brussels Airport into Brussels, STIB’s Airport2City fare is €7.90 when paid contactlessly or with MOBIB. A paper ticket costs €8.40; ten journeys cost €52 and the Airport Line season ticket costs €68. From the city to the airport, any ordinary STIB-MIVB ticket or season ticket can be used on bus 12. (STIB Airport Line, checked 2026-09-28)

Flibco advertises Brussels–Charleroi fares from €14.99. The operator describes each ticket as an open-day ticket for one journey, valid until 04:00 the following morning, so a flight delay can be handled with a later departure on the same date. The exact price and luggage allowance depend on the package selected during booking. (Flibco Brussels–Charleroi shuttle, checked 2026-09-28)

For the Charleroi public-transport alternative, SNCB sells the train ticket separately from the TEC airport-bus supplement. The supplement costs €6. In the route planner, select “CHARLEROI Airport [TEC]”; the system chooses Charleroi-Central, Luttre or Fleurus according to your origin. Children under 12 travel free on the train with an eligible adult, while accompanied children aged 6 and over need a valid TEC bus ticket. (SNCB Charleroi Airport, checked 2026-09-28)

Brussels Airport’s taxi page publishes the rank, official vehicle markings and advance-booking option, but no fixed fare to Brussels addresses. Take a taxi from the signed rank or book through the airport’s listed service, then confirm the price or meter arrangement before departure. (Brussels Airport taxi, checked 2026-09-28)

Brussels Airport publishes six direct trains per hour to Brussels-North, Brussels-Central and Brussels-South, from early morning until around midnight. Two trains per hour also serve Brussels’ European Quarter. This is a general service pattern, not a universal first- and last-train table. Enter Brussels Airport-Zaventem, your destination and travel date in the SNCB planner before relying on a particular departure. (Brussels Airport train, checked 2026-09-28)

Airport bus 12 is the direct STIB service to the European Quarter; other buses serve northern Brussels and nearby municipalities. The airport page directs passengers to the operator planners but publishes no fixed first and last departure for every date. Check the live route, direction and stop, particularly when roadworks or a disruption affects surface transport. (Brussels Airport buses, checked 2026-09-28; STIB Airport Line, checked 2026-09-28)

Flibco publishes departures every 20 minutes in both directions between Brussels-Midi and Charleroi Airport, daily from early morning until late-night hours. Its current page lists the last airport departure around 01:00 and the last Brussels-Midi departure around 03:00. Select the travel date and direction in the booking planner because the displayed departure list controls the service you can board. (Flibco Brussels–Charleroi shuttle, checked 2026-09-28)

For the Charleroi train-and-bus option, SNCB publishes the three transfer stations and TEC A lines but no universal first or last departure for every connection. Search the date-specific itinerary and allow time at the selected station instead of assuming that the next train meets the next airport bus. (SNCB Charleroi Airport, checked 2026-09-28)

For a late Brussels Airport arrival, check the SNCB itinerary first. Direct rail service is published from early morning until around midnight, but the airport does not publish a universal overnight train service. Outside that general window, the official taxi rank remains available outside arrivals. Identify airport taxis by the “T” plate and blue-and-yellow logo. (Brussels Airport train, checked 2026-09-28; Brussels Airport taxi, checked 2026-09-28)

De Lijn N62 is the published overnight public-transport option for Brussels Airport. It runs every night of the year between Rogierplein and Brussels Airport, with two buses per hour from 00:55 to 04:45 via Schaerbeek, Evere, Diegem and Zaventem centre. The usual De Lijn fares apply. Use the De Lijn route planner for the exact stop and direction; N62 is a regional night bus, not a door-to-door Brussels service. (De Lijn N62 night bus, checked 2026-09-28)

At Charleroi, Flibco’s late pattern is the clearest direct option: departures every 20 minutes, the last airport departure around 01:00 and the last Brussels-Midi departure around 03:00. Its open-day ticket remains valid for one journey until 04:00 the following morning. After Midi, check the final metro, tram, train or walking route to the accommodation. (Flibco Brussels–Charleroi shuttle, checked 2026-09-28)

Sunday service is included in the published patterns for the main options: De Lijn states that N62 runs every night of the year, and Flibco states that its shuttle runs daily. SNCB and STIB direct passengers to date-specific journey information rather than promising one universal Sunday timetable. For a Sunday flight, check both directions and make sure the final connection continues after Brussels-Central, Brussels-Midi or the European Quarter. (De Lijn N62 night bus, checked 2026-09-28; Brussels Airport buses, checked 2026-09-28)