Brussels Airport has a direct train connection that makes this one of the more affordable major airport transfers in Europe.
Complete price comparison
| Transport | Cost (EUR) | Time | Best for | |---|---|---|---| | Train | €5.40 | 17 min | Most travelers | | Airport Line bus | ~€5 | 30-40 min | Train disruptions only | | Uber | €30-45 | 20-30 min | Door-to-door | | Taxi | €45-55 | 20-30 min | Convenience | | Pre-booked transfer | €50-70 | 20-30 min | Families, late nights |
The train — clearly the best value
The €5.40 train fare (including the Diabolo supplement) for a 17-minute ride to Brussels-Central is excellent value. By comparison:
- A taxi costs 8-10x more for the same journey
- An Uber costs 6-8x more
- The bus takes twice as long and saves almost nothing
Cost-saving tip: If you're continuing by train to Antwerp, Ghent, or Bruges, buy a through-ticket from the airport. It's cheaper than buying separate tickets.
| Through-ticket from airport | Price | |---|---| | Brussels Airport → Brussels-Central | €5.40 | | Brussels Airport → Antwerp-Central | €12-16 | | Brussels Airport → Ghent-Sint-Pieters | €15-19 | | Brussels Airport → Bruges | €18-22 | | Brussels Airport → Leuven | €8-10 |
Taxi fare breakdown
Brussels taxis are metered. The airport zone has its own tariff:
- Starting fare: €2.40
- Per km: €1.80 (airport zone), then standard rate in Brussels
- Minimum fare: €8
- Night rate (10 PM - 6 AM): ~20% higher
| Destination | Daytime | Nighttime | |---|---|---| | Grand Place | €45-50 | €50-60 | | EU Quarter (Schuman) | €40-48 | €45-55 | | Gare du Midi (Eurostar) | €50-60 | €55-68 | | Ixelles / Louise | €48-55 | €52-62 | | Leuven | €55-70 | €60-80 |
Uber vs taxi
Uber is usually 30-40% cheaper than a taxi from BRU (€30-45 vs. €45-55). It's a significant saving. However:
- Brussels taxi drivers have protested Uber repeatedly — the service has been legally challenged
- Uber availability can vary
- Pick-up logistics are slightly less convenient than the taxi rank
Cost to other Belgian cities
| City | Train | Taxi | Transfer | |---|---|---|---| | Antwerp | €12-16 (35 min) | €100-130 | €90-120 | | Ghent | €15-19 (60 min) | €140-180 | €120-160 | | Bruges | €18-22 (90 min) | €180-230 | €150-200 | | Leuven | €8-10 (15 min) | €55-75 | €50-70 | | Mechelen | €7-9 (12 min) | €45-60 | €45-60 |
Our recommendation
Take the train. At €5.40 for a 17-minute ride, it beats every other option by a huge margin. The only exceptions:
- Late night (after midnight) — taxi or transfer
- Lots of heavy luggage — taxi or transfer
- Going to a specific address far from a train station — taxi or transfer
- Group of 4+ — a transfer becomes cost-competitive per person