BRU — Brussels — Taxi Fare Guide
Licensed taxis wait at the official rank outside the arrivals hall of Brussels Airport in Zaventem. Only use these clearly marked cabs and ignore anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering a ride. The airport does not set a single flat fare, so metered taxis run the meter for the roughly 12-14 km trip into town.
The regulated meter starts at about EUR 2.40 and charges roughly EUR 1.80 per kilometre by day and about EUR 2.20 per kilometre at night. A ride to central Brussels typically totals EUR 45-55 depending on your exact address and traffic. Some drivers may quote a fixed price at the rank - it is fine to agree one, but confirm the amount before you get in.
The journey usually takes 20-30 minutes, longer in rush hour. Pre-booked private transfers and ride-hailing offer guaranteed prices: fixed sedan transfers to the centre commonly start around EUR 25-35, and Uber/Bolt operate at BRU. The Airport Express train to Brussels-Central is far cheaper if you are travelling light.
| Destination | Approx. fare | Time |
| Brussels centre / Grand-Place | EUR 45-55 | 20-30 min |
| EU Quarter / Schuman | EUR 40-50 | 20-25 min |
| Brussels-Midi (Gare du Midi) | EUR 50-60 | 25-35 min |
| Fixed pre-booked transfer to centre | EUR 25-35 | 20-30 min |
Practical tips: Use only the official rank outside arrivals and check the taxi has a meter and licence sticker. Metered fares to the centre are usually EUR 45-55, so a pre-booked fixed price can save money. Cards are widely accepted but confirm before boarding, and expect higher night-time rates.
Other ways to the city
Brussels Airport has a railway station on level -1 of the terminal, plus a good bus network.
- Brussels Airport Express train - up to four trains an hour to Brussels North, Central and Midi/Zuid stations, taking 17-25 minutes. Tickets cost around EUR 12-14 one way and include the compulsory airport supplement (Diabolo fee).
- Direct intercity trains - services also run to Ghent, Bruges, Antwerp, Leuven, Liège and Nivelles, so many travellers avoid Brussels entirely.
- Bus 12 and 21 (De Lijn) - to Brussels Schuman and Luxembourg in the EU quarter, roughly 30-45 minutes and about EUR 6 if bought before boarding. Bus 12 is the faster express, running on weekdays until early evening.
- Airport Line 272/471 - regional buses toward the northern suburbs and Mechelen.
- Night options - trains stop around midnight, so between roughly 00:30 and 05:00 a taxi or pre-booked transfer is the only realistic way into town.
Brussels — Highlights in photos
Fares are researched from official and public sources and are approximate — always confirm the meter or fixed fare before you travel.