Belgium is served by 3 major airports including Brussels Airport (BRU). Budget airlines: Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet. Peak season: June to August. Best deals: April–May and September–October.
Belgium has two main passenger airports serving very different markets. Brussels Airport (BRU) is the primary international hub, home to Brussels Airlines and a SkyTeam partner hub with connections to Africa, North America, and Asia. It sits northeast of the capital and connects to the city by train in 17 minutes. Brussels South Charleroi (CRL), despite its name, is about 60km from Brussels and serves primarily as a Ryanair hub with routes across Europe at budget fares.
Belgium's central location in Western Europe means it's also highly accessible by rail or road from France, the Netherlands, and Germany. Many travelers combine Belgium with neighboring countries on road trips. Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, and the Ardennes region are all easily reachable within 1–2 hours of either Brussels airport. Despite its small size, Belgium punches above its weight for food, beer, and medieval architecture tourism.
Brussels Airport (BRU) is Belgium's flag carrier hub, with Brussels Airlines offering an extensive African network inherited from the former Sabena airline. United Airlines operates a direct Newark–Brussels route, and several Gulf carriers connect Brussels to Asia and Australia. The airport has two connected terminals — Pier A for Schengen flights and Pier B for non-Schengen — linked by a central connector building. The Diabolo rail tunnel provides a direct 17-minute train connection to Brussels-Central, Brussels-North, and Brussels-Midi (the Eurostar station), making onward connections to London, Paris, and Amsterdam seamless.
Charleroi Airport has become one of Ryanair's largest European bases, handling over 8 million passengers annually despite its distance from Brussels. The shuttle bus to Brussels-Midi station takes 55–60 minutes and costs about €15. While the transfer adds time and cost, the fare savings can be dramatic — Charleroi routes are often €30–80 cheaper than equivalent Brussels Airport flights. For travelers heading to Wallonia, the Ardennes, or Namur, Charleroi is actually more conveniently located than BRU. The airport is also within reasonable distance of Mons, Charleroi city, and the WWI battlefields around Ypres (90 minutes by car).
Liège Airport primarily handles cargo (it's one of Europe's top cargo hubs) but also has limited passenger service from Wizz Air and TUI fly. It serves as an alternative entry point for eastern Belgium and the German-speaking community. However, passenger facilities are basic, and most travelers will find Brussels or Charleroi more practical. For road trips into the Belgian Ardennes, Luxembourg, or the German Eifel region, Liège's location on the E40/E25 motorway interchange makes it a convenient starting point when flights are available.
Belgium rewards multi-city exploration, and its excellent rail network makes this easy without a car. SNCB/NMBS trains connect Brussels to Bruges in 60 minutes, Ghent in 30 minutes, Antwerp in 45 minutes, and Liège in 60 minutes. A weekend pass or rail pass offers good value for hopping between cities. For road trips, Belgium's motorways are famously well-lit at night (visible from space!) and toll-free. The country's compact size — just 280km from coast to border — means you can base yourself in Brussels or Ghent and day-trip to virtually anywhere in the country.
Belgium sits at the crossroads of Western Europe, making it one of the most accessible countries on the continent by air. With two main airports serving distinctly different markets, a dense rail network connecting you onward, and budget carriers competing fiercely for passengers, getting to Belgium cheaply is entirely achievable if you know which airport to target and when to book. Whether you're headed for Brussels' Grand Place, Bruges' canals, or the forested Ardennes, this guide covers every angle of flying to Belgium smartly.
Belgium punches far above its weight for a country smaller than Maryland. Brussels is home to the EU institutions, NATO headquarters, and some of Europe's best Art Nouveau architecture. Bruges and Ghent are two of the most photographed medieval cities on the continent. Antwerp is a global diamond and fashion capital. The Ardennes offer hiking, kayaking, and WWII history. And the food — from frites and waffles to Michelin-starred restaurants in villages — is world-class.
Belgium also works brilliantly as a gateway. You're two hours from Amsterdam, three from Paris, 2.5 from Cologne, and one hour from Luxembourg by train. Flying into Belgium and exploring multiple countries by rail or rental car is one of the smartest travel hacks in Europe.
Belgium's main international airport is located in Zaventem, 12 km northeast of Brussels city centre. BRU handles around 26 million passengers annually and serves as the hub for Brussels Airlines. This is where you'll find the widest selection of airlines, the most direct routes, and the best connectivity to Belgium's rail network.
Airlines operating from BRU:
Pros of BRU: Direct train to Brussels city centre (17 minutes), widest flight selection, better for connecting flights, more premium airline options.
Cons of BRU: Higher airport taxes and fees than Charleroi, rental cars cost 20-30% more due to airport surcharges, the terminal can feel congested during peak hours.
Despite the name, Charleroi Airport is 46 km south of Brussels — a completely different city. CRL is Belgium's budget airline hub and handles around 8 million passengers per year, almost entirely on low-cost carriers. If you're looking for the cheapest possible flight to Belgium, Charleroi is usually where you'll find it.
Airlines operating from CRL:
Pros of CRL: Significantly cheaper flights (often 30-50% less than BRU), smaller airport means faster check-in and security, lower airport charges reflected in ticket prices, better starting point if you're heading to the Ardennes or Wallonia.
Cons of CRL: Limited airline selection, the Brussels connection requires a 55-minute shuttle bus (not a train), fewer facilities, not ideal if your final destination is Flanders.
The decision is straightforward in most cases:
Antwerp has a small airport with limited service — primarily TUI fly leisure routes and some business aviation. It's not a realistic option for most travellers. For Flanders, BRU is always the better choice. Belgium is small enough that even CRL works for reaching any part of the country within 2-3 hours.
Ryanair is the single biggest reason CRL exists as a major airport. They operate routes to over 100 destinations from Charleroi, including:
The cheapest Ryanair fares from CRL are typically found on Tuesday/Wednesday departures, booked 6-10 weeks in advance. Prices spike dramatically for Friday evening and Sunday afternoon flights.
Wizz Air serves CRL with routes primarily to Eastern Europe and increasingly to Western Mediterranean destinations. Key routes include Budapest, Warsaw, Bucharest, Tirana, Skopje, and several Romanian secondary cities. Fares are competitive with Ryanair, often slightly cheaper on overlapping routes.
Belgium's flag carrier offers competitive pricing on European routes when booked early. Their "Light" fare (hand luggage only) can compete with budget carriers on popular routes to Barcelona, Rome, Lisbon, and Vienna. Watch for their periodic sales — they run promotions several times per year with European fares starting around EUR 79 return.
For flights to Belgium, the optimal booking windows are:
The annual pricing cycle for flights to Belgium follows a predictable pattern:
Day-of-week tip: Tuesday and Wednesday departures are consistently the cheapest for Belgium-bound flights. Friday afternoon and Sunday evening are the most expensive, driven by weekend city-break demand for Brussels and Bruges.
The airport's official name — "Brussels South Charleroi" — is marketing, not geography. It's 46 km from Brussels, and the transfer takes nearly an hour by shuttle. If you're attending a meeting in central Brussels at 9 AM and land at CRL at 7 AM, you'll be cutting it very close. Factor in the real distance when comparing flight prices.
The Flibco shuttle buses can and do fill up, especially on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons when budget flights cluster. Book your shuttle ticket when you book your flight. The online price is also EUR 3-5 cheaper than buying at the airport.
Many travellers heading to Bruges or Ghent book a flight to BRU and then try to arrange a separate transfer. The Belgian rail network is excellent — just walk to the underground train station at BRU and buy a ticket. Brussels to Bruges takes one hour with one change at Brussels-Midi. There's no need for a car, shuttle, or taxi.
If you're flying Ryanair to CRL, remember that the basic fare includes only one small personal bag (40x20x25 cm). A cabin bag costs EUR 8-25 extra per flight. Checked luggage is EUR 20-40 per 20 kg bag. For a weekend trip to Belgium, challenge yourself to fit everything in the underseat bag — the cost savings add up fast, especially for return trips.
From Paris, Amsterdam, London, or Cologne, the train is often faster door-to-door than flying once you factor in airport time. Eurostar from London to Brussels takes 2 hours. Thalys from Paris is 1h22. From Amsterdam, the train is under 2 hours. Check train prices before booking a flight from these cities — they're frequently competitive, especially when booked in advance.
Amsterdam Schiphol has more long-haul routes and sometimes cheaper European flights than BRU. Thalys high-speed trains run from Schiphol directly to Brussels-Midi in approximately 1 hour 50 minutes (EUR 29-59). If you're finding BRU expensive, check Schiphol prices plus a train ticket — the combination can be cheaper, especially for transatlantic routes.
Eindhoven Airport in the southern Netherlands is a major Ryanair and Wizz Air base. It's 130 km from Brussels, reachable by train in about 2.5 hours (change at Rotterdam or direct Flixbus). If Charleroi doesn't serve your origin city, Eindhoven might. Antwerp is only 90 km from Eindhoven — a viable alternative if that's your destination.
For eastern Belgium (Liège, Eupen, the Ardennes), flying into Düsseldorf or Cologne/Bonn can make sense. Both are within 2 hours of Liège by train or car. German airports often have competitive fares, and ICE trains connect efficiently to Liège-Guillemins station.
Luxembourg Airport is only 2 hours from the Belgian Ardennes by car. It's served by Luxair and several low-cost carriers. If you're planning a road trip through the Ardennes and Luxembourg, this routing avoids Brussels entirely and puts you right where you want to be.
Paris CDG is one of Europe's biggest hubs with the most competitive long-haul pricing. A Thalys train from Paris-Nord to Brussels-Midi takes 1h22 and costs EUR 29-79 depending on when you book. For travellers coming from outside Europe, flying into CDG and training to Brussels is frequently the cheapest total option. The TGV station is inside the CDG terminal — no city transfer needed.
Bottom line: Belgium is one of the easiest European countries to reach cheaply, thanks to two airports competing for your business and a rail network that connects seamlessly to neighbouring hubs. Book Charleroi if price is king, Zaventem if convenience matters, and always check the train before booking a short-haul flight from nearby cities.
Secret fare tricks and best booking windows for flights to Belgium — free in your inbox.
Average round-trip airfares to Belgium vary significantly by season. Book during low-demand months to save up to 50%.
| Months | Avg Price | Demand |
|---|---|---|
| June–August | $400–650 | High |
| April–May | $300–500 | Medium |
| September–October | $320–520 | Medium |
| November–February | $250–420 | Low |
| March | $280–450 | Low |
| Christmas/New Year | $450–700 | High |
| Code | Airport | City |
|---|---|---|
| BRU | Brussels Airport | Brussels |
| CRL | Brussels South Charleroi Airport | Charleroi |
| LGG | Liège Airport | Liège |
Transit tips: Brussels Airlines operates a connecting hub for African and European routes. Minimum connection time is 40 minutes (Schengen) or 55 minutes (non-Schengen). SkyTeam partners have lounge access in Pier A. Transfer desk available in the Connector.
Getting to the city: Train to Brussels-Central in 17 minutes (€12.70 includes Diabolo supplement). Trains run every 10–15 minutes to Brussels-Central, North, and Midi. Taxis cost €45–50 to city center. Bus 12 runs to Brussels-Luxembourg station (30 minutes).
Transit tips: No connecting flight infrastructure whatsoever. Charleroi is purely point-to-point. If self-connecting between two Ryanair flights, you must exit, collect bags, re-check in, and clear security again — allow at least 4 hours.
Getting to the city: Flibco shuttle bus to Brussels-Midi in 55 minutes (€15). Charleroi city center is 10 minutes by bus (TEC line A). Taxis to Brussels cost €80–100 and aren't recommended. Pre-booked shared shuttles to Bruges or Ghent are available.
Fly during shoulder season (April–May and September–October) to save 30-50% on airfare to Belgium compared to peak season prices.
Flying isn't always the best option for getting around Belgium. Here are the alternatives:
Belgium is too small for domestic flights — the longest possible journey (Ostend to Arlon) is under 3 hours by car. Trains connect all major cities in under 90 minutes. For road trips, Belgian motorways are toll-free and well-maintained. The only scenario where flying makes sense is if connecting through Brussels internationally.
Compare prices across all major airlines.
Data and regulations verified against official sources. Last checked 2026-04-27.
Fly into Charleroi (CRL) for fares 30 to 80 EUR cheaper than Brussels Airport on most European routes.
Ryanair's Charleroi hub handles over 8 million passengers annually with one-way fares from 15 EUR to dozens of European cities. The Flibco shuttle bus to Brussels-Midi station takes 55 minutes and costs 15 EUR. For trips to Wallonia, the Ardennes, or Namur, Charleroi is actually closer and more convenient than Brussels Airport, making the fare savings entirely worthwhile.
Use Brussels as a multi-country rail hub with Eurostar and Thalys connections.
Brussels-Midi station connects to London in 2 hours via Eurostar, Paris in 1 hour 20 minutes via Thalys, and Amsterdam in 2 hours via Thalys. Fly into Brussels on a budget fare, explore Belgium's medieval cities for a few days, then train onward to neighboring countries without another flight. The Brussels Airport train link reaches Brussels-Midi in just 20 minutes.
Book Brussels Christmas market flights by October to avoid the December fare surge.
Brussels, Bruges, and Ghent host popular Christmas markets from late November through early January, driving a 40 to 60 percent fare increase on December weekend flights from the UK. A London-to-Brussels return averages 70 GBP booked in September versus 130 GBP booked in November. Midweek December flights are 25 to 35 percent cheaper than Friday to Sunday departures.
Brussels Airport (BRU) is a full-service international hub 12km from central Brussels. Charleroi (CRL) is 60km away and almost exclusively a Ryanair low-cost airport. CRL fares are cheaper, but factor in the €15–20 bus transfer time of 60–90 minutes to Brussels.
Yes, a direct train runs from Brussels Airport to Brussels Central, Brussels North, and Brussels Midi stations in 17–25 minutes. Trains run every 15–30 minutes and tickets cost around €10.
United Airlines flies from Newark to Brussels. Brussels Airlines (Star Alliance) partners with Lufthansa for US connections. Delta connects via Amsterdam and other European hubs.
Absolutely. Brussels is one of Europe's best positioned cities for travel — Paris is 1h20m by Eurostar/Thalys, Amsterdam is 2 hours by train, and Cologne is 1h50m. It's an ideal base for a multi-country European road trip or rail trip.
November through February, excluding the Christmas and New Year holiday period, offers the lowest fares to Belgium. Round-trip tickets from the US average $250 to $420, and Ryanair one-way fares from European cities drop below 15 EUR. January is the absolute cheapest month. March is also good value before spring tourism picks up. Avoid late November through December when Christmas market demand pushes weekend fares up by 40 to 60 percent.
From the US, round-trip fares to Brussels average $250 to $420 in winter, $300 to $500 in spring and autumn, and $400 to $650 in peak summer. United Airlines flies direct from Newark to Brussels, while Brussels Airlines operates transatlantic routes as a Star Alliance member. From the UK, Ryanair serves Charleroi with one-way fares from 15 GBP, while easyJet and British Airways fly to Brussels Airport from 30 GBP one-way.
For summer travel in June through August, booking 6 to 8 weeks ahead is sufficient as Brussels has good capacity across both airports. Christmas market weekend trips in December should be booked by October, especially from the UK where demand is strongest. Shoulder season travel in April, May, or September can be secured 3 to 4 weeks in advance. Charleroi fares are cheapest when booked 6 to 10 weeks before departure on Ryanair.
Secret fare tricks, best booking windows, and airline comparison charts — free PDF download.
Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.