Getting Around Brussels
Brussels Airport information
Brussels Airport (code: BRU) is the main international airport serving the city and is located in Zaventem, about 12 km from the city center. It has a train station directly underneath the terminal, which makes it very easy for event attendees and business travelers to get into town without worrying about traffic or taxis. For planners, this is helpful because you can confidently tell guests they can reach central Brussels and major business districts in under 30 minutes using simple, clearly signed public transport options.
Main airport: Brussels Airport (BRU) in Zaventem, about 15–25 minutes from central Brussels depending on the transport mode.
Airport train: Up to 6 trains per hour run from Brussels Airport to Brussels-North, Brussels-Central, and Brussels-South (Midi) stations, running daily until around midnight.
Travel time by train: The airport train to Brussels-Central takes around 17–20 minutes, which is usually the fastest option for most travelers.
Ticket info: Airport train tickets are sold at machines in the arrivals area, online, and via the SNCB app; prices vary by ticket type (single, return, discount).
Airport buses: Several bus lines connect the airport with Brussels and nearby regions; local buses to the city cost less but usually take 30–60 minutes depending on traffic.
De Lijn routes: Regional operator De Lijn runs multiple lines (including day and night routes) between the airport and different parts of Brussels and Flanders.
For event planners: Consider choosing hotels near Brussels-Central or Brussels-South so guests can arrive by direct airport train with no transfers.
Private transfers: Taxis and pre-booked cars are widely available at the airport, useful for VIPs or groups with a lot of luggage or late-night arrivals.
Main airport: Brussels Airport (BRU) in Zaventem, about 15–25 minutes from central Brussels depending on the transport mode.
Airport train: Up to 6 trains per hour run from Brussels Airport to Brussels-North, Brussels-Central, and Brussels-South (Midi) stations, running daily until around midnight.
Travel time by train: The airport train to Brussels-Central takes around 17–20 minutes, which is usually the fastest option for most travelers.
Ticket info: Airport train tickets are sold at machines in the arrivals area, online, and via the SNCB app; prices vary by ticket type (single, return, discount).
Airport buses: Several bus lines connect the airport with Brussels and nearby regions; local buses to the city cost less but usually take 30–60 minutes depending on traffic.
De Lijn routes: Regional operator De Lijn runs multiple lines (including day and night routes) between the airport and different parts of Brussels and Flanders.
For event planners: Consider choosing hotels near Brussels-Central or Brussels-South so guests can arrive by direct airport train with no transfers.
Private transfers: Taxis and pre-booked cars are widely available at the airport, useful for VIPs or groups with a lot of luggage or late-night arrivals.
Brussels Public information
Brussels has a dense and fairly easy-to-use public transport network, combining metro, trams, buses, and local trains. The system is mainly operated by STIB/MIVB within the city, and once visitors understand the basic lines, it becomes simple to move between hotels, meeting venues, restaurants, and sightseeing spots. This is especially helpful for events, because you can plan around reliable, frequent services instead of depending only on taxis or private cars.
Main operators:
STIB/MIVB runs metro, trams, and buses within Brussels.
SNCB handles trains across Belgium, including stops at the city’s main stations.
Metro network: Four main metro lines (1, 2, 5, 6) link central Brussels with many business areas and neighborhoods; trains usually run every few minutes on busy routes.
Trams: Around 17 tram lines offer a scenic way to move across the city and reach many residential and business zones that are not directly on the metro.
Buses and night service: Over 50 bus routes cover areas not served by metro or tram, and the Noctis night buses run on Friday and Saturday nights to support evening events and nightlife.
Tickets and passes: Single tickets, day passes, and multi-day passes are available; options like the Brussels Card or STIB/MIVB passes can be good value for event groups staying several days.
Apps and planning: The STIB/MIVB app and the Floya app provide real-time schedules, route planning, and digital ticket options, which is helpful for first-time visitors.
For event planners:
Share simple route instructions (for example, “Take metro line 1 to this stop, then walk 5 minutes”) with your attendees in advance.
When choosing venues, check how close they are to a metro or tram stop so guests can arrive easily even during busy traffic hours.
Main operators:
STIB/MIVB runs metro, trams, and buses within Brussels.
SNCB handles trains across Belgium, including stops at the city’s main stations.
Metro network: Four main metro lines (1, 2, 5, 6) link central Brussels with many business areas and neighborhoods; trains usually run every few minutes on busy routes.
Trams: Around 17 tram lines offer a scenic way to move across the city and reach many residential and business zones that are not directly on the metro.
Buses and night service: Over 50 bus routes cover areas not served by metro or tram, and the Noctis night buses run on Friday and Saturday nights to support evening events and nightlife.
Tickets and passes: Single tickets, day passes, and multi-day passes are available; options like the Brussels Card or STIB/MIVB passes can be good value for event groups staying several days.
Apps and planning: The STIB/MIVB app and the Floya app provide real-time schedules, route planning, and digital ticket options, which is helpful for first-time visitors.
For event planners:
Share simple route instructions (for example, “Take metro line 1 to this stop, then walk 5 minutes”) with your attendees in advance.
When choosing venues, check how close they are to a metro or tram stop so guests can arrive easily even during busy traffic hours.
Brussels Train Information
Brussels is a major rail hub in Europe, so it is very convenient for delegates coming from other Belgian cities or nearby countries like France, the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK. The city has three main train stations that are all connected by frequent local trains, which makes it simple to move between venues, hotels, and meeting spaces spread across the city.
Main stations:
Brussels-South (Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid) – main international station for high-speed trains.
Brussels-Central (Bruxelles-Central / Brussel-Centraal) – right in the historic city center, close to many hotels and landmarks.
Brussels-North (Bruxelles-Nord / Brussel-Noord) – important for business districts and some office areas.
International links: High-speed services connect Brussels-South with Paris, Amsterdam, London, and German cities, with several departures per day.
Airport connection: Direct trains link Brussels Airport with Brussels-North, Brussels-Central, and Brussels-South throughout the day, which is useful for through-travel.
Domestic rail: Belgium’s national operator SNCB runs frequent trains between Brussels and other cities (like Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, and Liège), useful for regional meetings or multi-city events.
Metro connections: Brussels-Central connects directly to metro lines 1 and 5, making it easy to reach many central venues and hotels.
For event planners:
If attendees are arriving by international train, picking venues and hotels near Brussels-South or Brussels-Central can reduce transfer time.
For one-day events, give guests clear station names in both French and Dutch so they can recognize signs easily (for example, Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid).
Main stations:
Brussels-South (Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid) – main international station for high-speed trains.
Brussels-Central (Bruxelles-Central / Brussel-Centraal) – right in the historic city center, close to many hotels and landmarks.
Brussels-North (Bruxelles-Nord / Brussel-Noord) – important for business districts and some office areas.
International links: High-speed services connect Brussels-South with Paris, Amsterdam, London, and German cities, with several departures per day.
Airport connection: Direct trains link Brussels Airport with Brussels-North, Brussels-Central, and Brussels-South throughout the day, which is useful for through-travel.
Domestic rail: Belgium’s national operator SNCB runs frequent trains between Brussels and other cities (like Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges, and Liège), useful for regional meetings or multi-city events.
Metro connections: Brussels-Central connects directly to metro lines 1 and 5, making it easy to reach many central venues and hotels.
For event planners:
If attendees are arriving by international train, picking venues and hotels near Brussels-South or Brussels-Central can reduce transfer time.
For one-day events, give guests clear station names in both French and Dutch so they can recognize signs easily (for example, Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid).