Brussels Airport (BRU IATA) is in Flemish Brabant, 12 km north-east of Brussels and 3 km of Zaventem.
Understand
[edit]It is a larger and closer airport to the city than Brussels South Charleroi Airport, which is mainly served by low-cost airlines. The closest alternative airports are the latter in Charleroi and Antwerp.
Organization of the structures
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The airport, which covers an area of 1,245 hectares, is of category A, that is, it is, except for meteorological exceptions, accessible at any time and at all times. It has two parallel runways of 3,638 meters and 3,211 meters respectively and a secant runway of 2,984 meters which gives it the ability to accommodate the largest carriers. Each of these can be used in any direction.
The airport passenger facilities consist of a terminal with two piers with a surface area of approximately 17,000 m2. They have 55 boarding lounges equipped with fingers (35 single fingers, 19 double fingers and 1 triple finger for double-decker aircraft such as the Airbus A380) and 15 gate for low-cost flights connected to the aircraft by buses.
Flights
[edit]Belgium's flag carrier Brussels Airlines, which operates an extensive network of flights within Europe, also offers long-haul flights from North America and, quite uniquely for a European airline, many African destinations - especially in the former Belgian colony DR Congo. Major North American carriers also offer flights to Brussels, as do a few Asian ones. Direct connections from Asia are decent, while those from Latin America are almost non-existent, so you most likely have to change at an intermediate airport, and may want to consider using one of the Middle Eastern carriers (Emirates, Etihad and Qatar all serve Brussels) or change in one of Europe's major hubs like 
London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris Charles de Gaulle or Schiphol. The latter two have a direct train to Brussels. Turkish Airways (via Istanbul) and Finnair (via Helsinki) also have particularly developed networks of connections from the Far East, while Madrid is the best option to fly from Latin America.
Flight connections
[edit]Travelers from a Schengen country can reach Brussels at Gate A, while travellers from a non-Schengen country can reach Brussels at Gate B.
If you are travelling further into a Schengen country, you also fly through Gate A. All flights to non-Schengen countries depart from Gate B (except Brussels Airlines flights to Africa). All Brussels Airlines flights depart from Gate T.
Check-in
[edit]There are 12 check-in lines in the departure hall.
Ground transportation
[edit]By car
[edit]Brussels Airport is listed under POI (Points of Interest) in most GPS systems. An alternative is to enter the intersection A201/Vilvoordelaan, 1930 Zaventem. This intersection is the start of the access road to the airport.
The airport can be reached by car via the Brussels outer ring. It is located at the Zaventem motorway junction eastbound on the A201.
Parking
[edit]The airport has a total of 10,600 parking spaces within walking distance of the terminal building. There is an Express Park for short stays of up to 3 hours, a short-term car park for up to 3 days (P1 and P2) and a long-term car park for more than 3 days (P3).
In addition, hotels also offer their parking spaces at prices that are often cheaper than regular airport car parks, without the need to stay overnight there.
Car rental
[edit]Car rental company offices are located to the right of the double exit airlock of the baggage claim area in the arrivals hall and vehicle return is by following the "Car Rental" road signs.
- Avis, ☏ +32 2 7200944, [email protected]. M-Su 6:30-23:00.
- Europcar, ☏ +32 2 7210592, [email protected].
- Hertz, ☏ +32 2 7203636, [email protected]. Su-F 6:30-23:30, Sa 6:30-21:00.
- Rent-A-Car, ☏ +32 12 390959, [email protected]. M-Su 6:30-23:00.
- Sixt, ☏ +32 70 225800, [email protected]. M-Su 6:30-24:00.
By taxi
[edit]Taxis to the center cost around €60. Taxis bleus/blauw (blue): +32 2 268 0000, Taxis Autolux: +32 2 411 4142, Taxis verts/groen (green): +32 2 349 4949, Unitax: +32 2 725 25 25. Beware of "waiting" charges if your flight is delayed and you pre-ordered a cab, some companies charge you parking fees + €25-30/hour for waiting. Always confirm the final charge with your driver before getting in the car. It is not uncommon for drivers to rip you off and charge €120 to go to the center, especially if they realize that it is your first time in Brussels and don't know your way around.
On departure, taxis leave their customers in the "P34" car park. The forecourt of the departure hall (level +3) is directly accessible via elevators and a helical inclined plane. If you have luggage, do not try to enter the airport through the arrivals hall (level +2), you will be sent back and redirected to level +3.
On arrival, the taxi rank is located just outside the arrivals area. Go to the first free taxi in the front row. During peak hours, ushers will help you reach your taxi free of charge. If the taxi has been booked in advance, the driver will be waiting for his customers, holding a sign with their name, in the arrivals area.
For wheelchair users:
- Taxi Hendriks, ☏ +32 2 7529800, [email protected]. Special taxis to accommodate wheelchair users. Upon arrival, the driver picks up his clients from the arrivals hall.
NCC
[edit]- Driver4You, ☏ +32 475 456095, [email protected]. M-F 8:00-20:00, Sa-Su 10:00-18:00. Transfer service to and from the airport.
- Luchthavenvervoer Kevin, ☏ +32 478 27 63 20, [email protected]. Daily 24 hours.
Shared taxi
[edit]- DriveNow, ☏ +32 800 60163, [email protected]. You will find the cars, "BMW" or "Mini", on level +2 of the "P3" parking lot. From €0.33/minute.
- ZipCar, ☏ +32 78 790980. You will find the cars, "Peugeot 208" in the "Car Rental" area of the "P2" parking lot. €0.25 per minute, €11.00 per hour, €69.00 for 24 hours.
By train
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- 1 Brussels National Airport train station.
Belgian Rail operates trains (2nd class: Single: €10.60 (January 2024); Weekend return: €18.40; 1st class: €11.80) every 15 min from the airport (Level -1) to Brussels' three main train stations, with most trains continuing to other parts of Belgium. The journey to the 
and 
M1 M5 Central Station takes 15-20 minutes. Tickets can be bought from vending machines (coins or PIN cards only) or the train ticket office (notes accepted) in the airport train station at Level -1. Trains are accessed at Level -2, you need a Diabolo Surcharge ticket to get in. The trains are clean and well-maintained. To enter or exit the train, push the green button on the door, as the doors are not automatically opened at the stations as they are in other systems. 
- Alternatively, Brussels can be reached by train much more cheaply via Zaventem village (dorp) station, within a 1 km (0.62 mi) walk from the airport. At €3.40 (January 2024), the fare is three times cheaper than the ticket from Brussels Airport Station to the city. This is because the Diabolo Surcharge on airport trains does not apply here. Zaventem Dorp station is served by frequent local trains to all Brussels stations, taking roughly the same amount of time as the airport trains (15-20 minutes to Central Station).
By bus
[edit]- MIVB/STIB buses 12 and 21 (Line 12 operates M-F before 20:00 and is an express, serving only major bus stops (although it is not any faster); line 21 operates after 20:00 and on weekends, serving all stops on the route) run every 20-30 minutes via metro station Schuman (where you can transfer to metro lines 1 and 5) to the European district around Place du Luxembourg/Luxemburgplein (on the other side of the park from Gare Central). When boarding the bus, make sure that the destination is Luxembourg, as some buses terminate at either the Schuman metro station or Gare de Bordet. The journey takes 30 minutes. When going from the airport to the city center, a special "Go2City" ticket is needed (for the journey to the airport, a regular ticket is valid). The Go2City ticket is valid for a total of 60 minutes on the trains (by SNCB), metro (by STIB), buses (by STIB, De Lijn and TEC) or trams (by STIB) from the moment it is validated. The buses depart from airport level 0. The ticket price is €7 when paid by contactless card at the vending machine or on board, or €7.50 for a paper ticket. Frequent travelers can buy a 10-trip ticket (€46).
- De Lijn buses 272 and 471[dead link] run every 30-60 minutes to Brussels' North Train Station (called Noordstation/Gare du Nord within the city or Brussel-Noord/Bruxelles-Nord in other places), 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Grand-Place. Night bus 620 operates to/from the airport with a stop at the M2 M6 IJzer metro station (45 minute ride), 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Grand-Place. The buses depart from level 0 of the airport. The ticket price is €3 on board, €2.50 (April 2022) on the ticket machine or €2.15 if you get an "sms ticket" by sending a text message[dead link] (note: may incur extra charges depending on your mobile carrier). In contrast to the tickets sold by MIVB/STIB, these tickets (sold by Flemish regional bus operator De Lijn) are not valid on other means of public transport within Brussels.
Get around
[edit]Wait
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- 1 Memorial Garden (By bus: De Lijn 820 and 821 (stop "Zaventem Memorial Garden"); by car: free parking possible Tuinwijkstraat). 24 hours. This park was inaugurated on March 22, 2017, one year after the terrorist attack that targeted the airport. In the center is the Flight in Mind sculpture by Olivier Strebelle that has dominated the departures hall since 1995. Heavily damaged by the first of the two explosions, it was repaired, leaving the stigmata visible, and relocated here. The park is accessible to the disabled. Free.
Eat and drink
[edit]There are numerous bars and restaurants throughout the airport.
Buy
[edit]Like any international airport, Brussels has a duty-free shopping area with all the classics: perfumes and cosmetics, alcohol, tobacco, luxury clothing and leather goods, watches, but also, and in the "Topaze" building on Pier A and Pier B, an Antwerp diamond shop that sells jewelry with diamonds cut in Antwerp.
With The Belgian Chocolate House, located both in Pier A ("Topaz building") and Pier B, the airport is the largest chocolate shop in the world. More than 815 tons are sold annually, which translates to about 2.25 tons per day and 2.7 kilograms per minute. All brands of the big Belgian chocolate manufacturers are sold there tax-free.
Good to know: The Rolling Luggage depot located opposite aisles 3 and 4 of the check-in desks in the departure hall has a luggage lock machine.
Connect
[edit]We can use our laptop via WLAN or the devices installed in the communication centre in the arrivals hall on level 2. Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 20:00, Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 to 14:00.
Cope
[edit]- There is a pharmacy on the fourth level near the famous Brussels Café. It is open every day, including weekends: M-F 7:00-19:00, Sa 8:00-16:00, Su 10:00-18:00.
- Airport information is located in the departure hall (level 3). Opening hours: daily from 6:00 to 21:00.
- If your baggage is lost on board an aircraft, please contact the assistance agents on level 2: Brussels Airlines (Phone +32 2 723 30 52); Aviapartner Handling (Phone +32 2 723 08 40); FlightCare (Phone +32 2 788 33 44). If you have lost something at the airport, you can contact the Lost & Found Service (Tel. 0900/700 00, €0.45 per min from Belgium).
- ATMs are located in the departures hall, arrivals hall, baggage claim area, on the fourth level, Pier 1 at Gate A and Pier 1 at Gate B.
- Currency exchange offices are located in the transit area, in the departures and arrivals hall, in the Travel Value & Tax Free Shopping areas, at gate B and near the baggage claim area.
Left luggage facilities
[edit]Brussels Airport has a luggage locker service (Level 0) where you can leave luggage for a fixed duration. The lockers say that you will have to retrieve your bags within 72 hours or else they will be removed, but they are actually moved to the room next door and stored until you retrieve them. This is a useful facility for people wanting to stow away big suitcases somewhere safe. The rate is €10 per 24 hours for up to 3 pieces, payments by card only.
Sleep
[edit]At the airport
[edit]
- 1 Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel, Leopold III-laan (Level +3), ☏ +32 2 7108000. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. 4-star hotel with 289 double rooms and 5 en suite rooms, Wi-Fi, restaurant and fitness room. Free parking for 2 weeks ("Park, Sleep & Fly" service). Wheelchair accessible. Double room starting from €113.
Nearby the airport
[edit]With parking and free shuttle
[edit]Parking is free for 2 weeks if you rent a room for at least one night. This service is known as "Park, Sleep & Fly" (also at the Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel which does not have a shuttle service because it is located at the airport).
- 2 Crowne Plaza, Leonardo Da Vincilaan 4, 1831 Diegem, ☏ +32 2 4163400. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. 4-star hotel with free Wi-Fi, bar, restaurant, fitness room, hammam and sauna. Wheelchair accessible. Double room starting from €148.
- 3 Van der Valk, Cullinganlaan 4b, 1831 Diegem, ☏ +32 2 2772000, [email protected]. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 11:00. 4-star hotel with 241 double rooms and 5 suites, free Wi-Fi, restaurant, lounge bar with two large screens showing all the latest information on flight arrival and departure times at the airport and fitness room. Wheelchair accessible. Double room starting from €70.
- 4 Thon Hotel Brussels Airport, Berkenlaan 4, 1831 Diegem, ☏ +32 2 7217777. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 12:00. 3-star hotel with 100 rooms, 2 of which are equipped for PRM, free Wi-Fi, bar and restaurant. Wheelchair accessible. Double room starting from €59.
- 5 Parker Hotel, Bessenveldstraat 15, 1831 Diegem, ☏ +32 2 7136666, [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. 4-star hotel with 125 rooms and private bathroom, free Wi-Fi, bar, restaurant, free fitness room, heated outdoor pool (May to September). Wheelchair accessible. Starting from €89 breakfast included.
With only free shuttle
[edit]- 6 NH Brussels Airport, De Kleetlaan 14b, 1831 Diegem, ☏ +32 2 2039252, [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. 4-star hotel with 234 double and triple rooms, free Wi-Fi, bar, restaurant, fitness room, sauna and bike rental. Wheelchair accessible. Double room starting from €83.
- 7 Ibis Brussels Airport, Bessenveldstraat 17b, 1831 Diegem, ☏ +32 2 7254321. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. 3-star hotel with 98 double rooms (8 of which are interconnecting), free Wi-Fi, bar and restaurant. Wheelchair accessible. Starting from €69.
- 8 Ibis Budget Brussels Airport, Bessenveldstraat 17c, 1831 Diegem, ☏ +32 2 7095590. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. 2-star hotel with double and triple rooms, free Wi-Fi, breakfast room (no restaurants). Double room starting from €58.
- 9 Gresham Belson, avenue des Anciens Combattants 1, 1140 Evere, ☏ +32 2 7083100. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. 4-star hotel with single and double rooms, suites and apartments, free Wi-Fi, bar and breakfast room (no restaurants), fitness room and bicycle rental. Wheelchair accessible. Double room starting from €83.
Nearby
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