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Brussels only has two airports that serve people within and around the Belgian capital city namely; the Brussels Airport (BRU) and Brussels South Charleroi Airport or Charleroi Airport (CRL). Brussels airport is the largest and main international airport in Belgium, it is home of Brussels Airlines and TUI fly Belgium. The airport is also known as Zaventem Airport by many Belgians. Charleroi Airport, on the other hand, is an international airport and home to some low-cost airlines such as Ryanair and more. The airport is also known as Brussels South Charleroi Airport because of its nearness to the capital city, it has 3 flying schools and a busy general aviation airfield. Both airports operate domestic and intentional flights in and out of the country.
Our main aim is to give you a summary of all the information you need, while planning for a trip to Brussels, Belgium.
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Brussels Airport (BRU) |
Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) |
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| Airport Maps | Brussels Airport (BRU) Map | Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) Map | |
Getting To The Airports From The City Centre |
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| Distance from City Centre | 7.5 miles(12.0 kilometres) | 4.6 miles (7.4 kilometres) from Charleroi and 29 miles (46 kilometres) from Brussels. | |
| Public Transport Operating Hours | 24-hours daily. | Round the clock service. | |
| Train |
Brussels Airport is linked to the city centre by its own train station located on level-1 just below the terminal. A train runs six times an hour from the airport-Zaventem railway station to other stations in the city such as the Brussel-Noord, Brussel-Centraal, and Brussel-Zuid, from 5am to midnight daily. The railway is managed by the Belgian Rail, it takes 17 minutes from BRU airport to the city centre, and tickets cost $8.80 (2nd class: single trip); $15.20 (weekend return); and $10.70 (1st class). A total number of 4 children of up to 11 years get to travel for free on the train while ages 12 or over get to pay. |
Charleroi Airport does not have its own rail station but there are buses that connect the airport and the nearest train stations. There is a Rail & Fly ticket available for CRL which can be used by travellers to get on a train to and from the airport. You only have to pay a fixed price which includes the bus A. It takes an average of an hour to get to Gare de Bruxelles-Central from Charleroi-Sud. Bus A takes travellers from the airport to the main railway station south of Charleroi city centre at Charleroi-Sud. It runs twice every hour to and from Bruxelles-Midi (South), Bruxelles-Central and Bruxelles-Nord. Train tickets to Brussels city centre are $15.90 and it includes TEC bus journey. |
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| Bus Services |
here are buses available at the airport for travellers to make their way from the airport to the city centre. There are two buses that operate at the airport, the Line 12 and Line 21. Line 12 operates until 8:00 pm Mondays to Fridays and it only goes directly to main stations with Schuman (EU Headquarters) as its only metro stop, while its last stop is the Luxemburg station. Even after 8:00 pm, you can still get a bus travelling to the city centre, the Line 21 runs from 8:00 pm both on weekdays and weekends. This bus line has many stops, Schuman and Trone are the metro stops and ends at Hertog/Ducale. The last stop happens to be close to the city centre just outside the Royal Palace, which takes 10 minutes to walk from there to Central Brussels. These airport buses can be found at level 0, platform C of the airport terminal and run between BRU and Brussels-Luxemburg Station. To get to the city centre, you have to get off the bus at Schuman Station to transfer to the metro (M1 and M5) buses. Buses run every 10 to 20 minutes and it takes 30 minutes from Brussels Airport to Brussels-Schuman Station for both bus lines (12 and 21). Bus tickets |
One of the most used and comfortable means of transportation from CRL Airport to Brussels city centre is the Shuttle Bus. It is a direct, fast and frequent method of travelling from the airport to the city centre. The shuttle bus is situated by exit 4 at Charleroi airport, it terminates its journey at the Brussels-Midi station. This is a direct journey and does not involve changes at any stop. The trip from the airport to Brussels city centre takes about one hour. Schedule: Charleroi Airport to Brussels Midi (south city station): Fares: |
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| Taxi |
Taxis are just available on level 2, outside the Brussels Airport arrivals hall. They operate 24/7, the journey from BRU airport to Brussels city centre takes approximately 30 minutes and costs about $45. You can book taxis online to get discounts and your driver meets with you inside the airport, all rates are included. Licensed taxis are metered and can be identified by their yellow-blue marks, it is advisable to use only licensed taxis to avoid scams. If you require a taxi that is wheelchair accessible, then the Taxi Hendricks is your best option because they have cars for wheelchair users. Other taxi companies that operate at the airport include Unitax, Taxi Walter Zaventem, and Autolux. Some companies charge for waiting during flight delays, so make sure you confirm the actual charge with the driver before you enter the car. Find your taxi |
Charleroi Airport also has a number of taxi companies operating from the airport to Charleroi and Brussels city centres. The journey from the airport to Charleroi is lower compared to the journey to Brussels. It takes 15 minutes to Charleroi at a cost of $25, while it takes up to an hour to get to Brussels at a cost of $100. You can book for a taxi online to avoid any stress and your driver will meet you on arrival inside the airport. All rates are included. Some of the taxis companies operating from this airport include Sympatax, Rapidtax, Idealtax, Taxis Carolo, and Taxi Europe. Brussels South Charleroi Airport Taxis Find your taxi |
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| Uber in Brussels |
Uber is available only on demand. Uber X - $27-36 |
Uber is not available at Charleroi Airport. |
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Which Airport Is Most Suitable For Me? |
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| How Close to Brussels City Centre |
Brussels Airport is located 12.0 km northeast of Brussels' city centre, the capital of Belgium. The airport is connected by efficient and reliable public transport services that operate 24 hours daily. It is the closest among the two airports to Brussels and its top attractions. The journey from BRU to the city centre takes approximately 30 minutes by bus, which could take longer due to unpredictable traffic in the city; and 17 minutes by rail. |
Brussels South Charleroi Airport is located 4.6 miles (7.4 kilometres) from Charleroi's city centre and 29 miles (46 kilometres) from Brussels city centre. This airport is closer to Charleroi and farther from Brussels city centre. It is also connected by good road networks and railway lines to other parts of Europe and outside of Belguim. Public transport services run 24/7 and it takes 15 minutes to get to Charleroi and up to 1-hour to Brussels. It is closer to top attractions in Charleroi city centre and farther from the ones at Brussels. When going to Brussels, it is best to keep in mind the possibility of high traffic on the road. |
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| Cost Factor |
Brussels Airport serves more than 24 million passengers annually and it is one of the busiest airport serving the city. The airport handles both domestic and international flights with higher flight fares compared to Charleroi Airport. Public transportation and car hire are cheaper at BRU than CRL. But hotels are more expensive at BRU than at CRL due to its closeness to the city centre. But there are options for cheaper accommodation available as well. This is a better option when planning your next trip to Brussels and if you get a good flight deal. |
Over 7,303,720 passengers use this airport annually. Charleroi Airport also handles international and domestic flights as well, it is the second airport that serves Charleroi and the Belgian capital Brussels. Most low-budget airlines operate from CRL so it is less busy compared to BRU. Although flight fares are cheaper than at BRU, transportation fare from the airport to Brussels are high. It also takes time to get to Brussels because it is 46 km away from the city. Car hire rates are far higher than at BRU. |
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| Airport Delays |
BRU is the busiest airport in Brussels, this results to a high number of travellers which might cause flight and security delays. Avg Security & Immigration Delays: Low Avg Flight Arrival Delays: 10-15 minutes. |
Avg Security & Immigration Delays: Average Avg Flight Arrival Delays: 10 minutes |
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Flight Fares From November 2018 (Searched On 09-10-2018).. |
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| Flight Fares | From $67 to London, $183 to New York, $375 to Dubai, $57 to Barcelona, $147 to Paris, $669 to Rome, $42 to Madrid,$287 to Canada, $130 to Hamburg, and $726 to Hong Kong. | From $66 to Algiers, $36 to Alicante, $51 to Istanbul, $11 to Barcelona, $26 to Budapest, $16 to Rome, $43 to Faro,$12 to Manchester, $11 to Bordeaux, and $14 to Madrid. | |
Hotel Prices Per Day From (01-11-2018 to 02-11-2018) Searched on 09-10-2018 |
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| Hotel |
Sheraton Brussels Airport Hotel(4-star)at $129 per night Novotel Brussels Airport(3-star) Crowne Plaza Brussels Airport (4-star) at $108 per night.
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Hotel South Charleroi Airport(2-star)at $89 per night Best Western Plus Aero 44(3-star)at $67 per night Park Hotel Airport (3-star) at $85 per night. |
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Car Hire Prices From 01-10-2018 to 07-10-2018 (searched on 20-09-2018). |
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| Car Hire |
Budget Cars (Peugeot 107, VW Up, Toyota Aygo, Smart Forfour, Renault Twingo, Citroen C1, and Fiat 500): = $100.94 - $168.34. Intermediate Cars (Renault Scenic, Opel Mokka, BMW 2 Series, Skoda Octavia, Mercedes B Class, Toyota Avensis, Audi Q2, and Citroen C4): = $182.92 - $399.51. Luxury Cars (Argus BMW 7 Series): = $356.97. |
Budget Cars (Peugeot 107, VW Up, Ford Ka, and Smart Forfour): = $107.99- $257.22. Intermediate Cars (Opel Mokka, Nissan Qashqai, Renault Scenic, Bmw 2 Series, Citroen C4, Opel Mokka X, and Skoda Octavia): = $179.98 - $213.87. Luxury Cars (Mercedes E Class, Jaguar Xf, and BMW 7 Series): = $316.98 - $454.92. |
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| Car Hire Companies |
Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Budget, Sixt and Enterprise. |
Budget, Avis, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt. |
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| Online car hire |  |
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Airport Facilities |
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| Shopping and Dining | Relay Book Store, Express Shop, The Luxury Hall, Rapid Duty Free, River Woods, Rolling Luggage, Crystal Media, Welcome Shop / Last Minute Shop, Hugo Boss, Sarah Pacini, Tumi - Longchamp, Antwerp Diamonds & Jewels, JDsports, Precious Time, Fashion Studio, Epicure, Luxury Travel Retail, Louis Delhaize Supermarket, Connections, The Gift Box, Massimo Dutti, Sports Bar, Starbucks, Bistrot, Coffee & More, EXKi, Grabandfly, Kimbo Pop-up Bar, Snooshi, Taittinger champagne bar, Welcome Bar, Hi! Brussels, Java Coffee Bar, Quick, Sapore, Best of Belgium Beer & Bites, AMO, Panos, Beers & Cheers, Belle & Belge, Belgorama, Blend in Brussels, Helixir Smoothies Bar, Leffe Bar, Black Pearls, Rouge and more. |
Jupiler Bar, Paul bakery and patisserie, Méli-Mélo, Oui Shop, Chariot Paul, Bar Leffe, Guapa, Express Snack & Drink, International Duty-Free (IDF), Club, Leonidas, and Louis Delhaize. |
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| Lounges | Diamond Lounge, The Loft, The Suite, Sunrise Lounge, and Galleries Lounge. | The Lounge. | |
| Wi-Fi Services | Unlimited Free Wi-Fi Available | Unlimited Free Wi-Fi Available | |
How To Transfer Between Airport Terminals? |
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| Transfer in and Around The Airport |
Brussels Airport has only one terminal with two concourses A & B piers. This means all the facilities are under one roof. The terminal building has different levels such as Level -1: for its Railway Station, Level 0: for Buses and Taxis, Level 2: for Arrivals and Level 3: for Departures. Travellers can move around the airport on foot. |
Charleroi Airport has 2 Terminals: T1 and T2. T2 is only opened to ease the pressure on T1 during peak times. | |
| Currency Exchange & ATM cash Points | Travelex has currency exchange offices in the following locations at the airport; the departures hall, arrivals hall, baggage reclaim area, Pier A and Pier B. Also, ATMs are situated in the above locations as well. | Travelex currency exchange points and travel money services are available at the airport. They are located in Terminal 1 at the Arrivals hall and Departures hall as well. | |
| Important phone numbers | BRU Airport: 0900 700 00 , Police: +32 2 709 66 66, European Emergency Number: 112, Federal Airport Health Authority: +32 (0)2 720 06 78, +32 (0)475 44 00 53. | CRL Airport: 0902 02 490, International 00 32 78 15 27 22. | |
| Major Operating Airlines | Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Aer Lingus, Aeroflot, Air Algerie, Air Arabia, airBaltic, Air Canada, Air Europa, Air France, Air Malta, Air Moldova, Air Serbia, Air Transat, Alitalia, All Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines, Blue Air, BMI regional, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Bulgaria Air, Cathay Pacific, Cobalt Air, Corendon Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Croatia Airlines, Delta Air Lines, EasyJet, Egyptair, El Al Israel Airlines, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, Finnair, FlyEgypt, Freebird, Georgian Airways, Hainan Airlines, HOP!, Iberia, Icelandair, KLM, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Middle East Airlines, Qatar Airways, Qeshm Air, Royal Air Maroc, Rwandair, Ryanair, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, SunExpress, Swiss International Air Lines, Tailwind, TAP Portugal, Tarom, THAI, TUI fly, Tunisair, THY Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International, United, Vueling and WOW air. | Ryanair, Pegasus Airlines, Wizzair, TUI Fly, and Belavia. | |
| Major Connecting Destinations | London-Heathrow, London-Stansted, London-Gatwick, Dublin, Amsterdam, Dubai-International, Bristol, Madrid, Spain-Barcelona, Portugal Lisbon, Italy-Rome, Italy-Milan, Germany-Berlin, Switzerland-Geneva, Germany-Frankfurt, Spain-Malaga, United States-New York City, Israel-Tel Aviv, United States-Washington D.C., United Arab Emirates-Dubai, Canada-Montréal, United Arab Emirates-Abu Dhabi, Qatar-Doha, Morocco-Casablanca, United States-Chicago, China-Beijing, Belfast-International, Tenerife-South, London-City, Alicante, Birmingham, Palma de Mallorca, London-Luton, Málaga, Southampton, Belfast-City, Berlin-Schonefeld, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Lanzarote, Zanzibar and more. | Barcelona, Málaga, Alicante, Tenerife-South, Faro, Palma de Mallorca, Lanzarote, Hungary-Budapest Airport, Italy-Bergamo Airport, Romania-Bucharest Airport, Gran Canaria, Murcia, Ibiza, Pisa, Rome-Ciampino, Fuerteventura, Reus, Spain-Madrid Airport, Denmark-Copenhagen Airport and more. | |
Tourist Information Centre |
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| Tourist Info Centres | Office de Promotion du Tourisme has a tourist information desk, situated in the Arrivals Hall of the Brussels Airport. They operate from 8 am to 9 pm weekly. | ||
| Official website | www.brusselsairport.be | www.charleroi-airport.com | |
Brussels Airport Transfers : Brussels to Airport BRU in Luxury Van
Brussels Private Transfer from Brussels city centre to Brussels Airport (BRU)
Brussels Airport Departure Transfer (Brussels Hotels to Brussels Airport)
Brussels Public Transport Travel Card
There are two airports that serve Brussels; Brussels Airport (BRU) and Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL). The closest airport to the city centre is Brussels airport just 7.5 miles away and using the fast Belgian Rail (Airport-Zaventem railway station), will get you into central Brussels in 17 minutes. Brussels South Charleroi Airport is the secondary airport serving Brussels, and the second busiest airport in Belgium based on passenger and aircraft movements. The airport is the furthest at 29 milesfrom central Brussels, and is served by airport shuttle buses that transfer passengers the nearest train station from the airport. The fastest journey time is about 38minutes.
Distance to Central Brussels:
Brussels Airport: 7.5 miles / 12.0 km
Brussels South Charleroi Airport:29 miles / 46 km
Brussels Airport to Central Brussels Journey Times:
By Train: 17 minutes
By Bus: 30 minutes
By Taxi: 15 minutes
Brussels South Charleroi Airport to Central Brussels Journey Times:
By Train (+Shuttle Bus line 68 to Train): 1h 30 minutes
By Bus: 1h 35 minutes and Brussels City Shuttle: 55 minutes
By Taxi: 38 minutes
Brussels Airport is the best choice for people who are travelling for either business or pleasure, to Brussels in Belgium. BRU is closer to central Brussels and its attractions. In 17 minutes, passengers can be in the city centre where all the city's top attractions like Musical Instruments Museum,Royal Place,the European Parliament (Parlamentarium),The National Basilica of the Sacred Heart,Bois de la Cambre, and many moreare located. Public transportation from this airport is fast, cheap and convenient for passengers travelling with children or a lot of luggage's from the airport to the city centre. BRU is a single terminal airport, so passengers can move around on foot. As the main airport in Brussels, it means more crowd, and more immigration & security queues. The airport serves as the main hub for Brussels Airlines and TUIfly Belgium, which offer long and short haul flights to many destinations across the globe.
CRL (Brussels South Charleroi Airport) is the furthest away from the city centre in Brussels. Given the fact that the airport is located in Gosselies, in the southern part of Charleroi city in Wallonia, CRL is closer to Charleroi at 4.6 miles and Brussels at 29 miles. As a travellers, it will take you 38 minutes by taxi on a very good day. The airport is served by low-cost airlines Ryanair, Pegasus Airlines, Wizzair, TUI Fly, and Belavia. It is the worst airport in terms of public transport to the city centre. a bus ride is needed from Charleroi airport connecting passengers to the Charleroi-Sud railway station, which takes 60-70 minutes. It is a perfect choice generally for travellers with less money and more time like students and people with backpacks, it is very inconvenient for business trips. Considering this airport means, taking note of the high rate of public transport fares, and the distance to be covered.
Brussels Airport is better than Charleroi Airport due to the fact it is closer to the city centre and all the top attractions, meaning less transfer time.It is the main airport serving Brussels with many destinations and fast public transport services, this means more people, immigration and security delays. It is a better choice for passengers when given the choice because, it is closer to the city centre with fast, cheap and comfortable public transport service.
It will take you 17 minutes by train and 15 minutes by Uber to get to the Royal Place from Brussels airport.Brussels Airport is just 12.0 km by road and it is the closest to the city centres top attractions. Uberis the fastest mode of transportation to thePlace Royale from the airport and it is available on demand from $19-$27. Also, you can use the cheaper options like bus or train which takes longeraround 30 minuteswhen traffic condition is good on the roads.
From Brussels Airport by:
Train: Belgian Railways (NMBS/SNCB) IC - $14 -$16 return http://www.belgianrail.be/en/stations-and-train/airport-connections.aspx Trains run every 6 times per hour between 5am to midnight daily.
Bus (STIB12&21): $4.50 single - https://www.stib-mivb.be/GO_easy.html?l=en Buses run every 20 minutes 8:00 - midnight.
Taxi: $27-$33 - http://www.brusselstaxis.be/ Available 24/7.
Uber: $19-$27- https://www.uber.com/en/gb/ Available on demand.
But Private taxes are cheaper than Airport taxis, here to Book at
From Charleroi Airport by:
Train:Belgian Rail (+ TEC line A shuttle bus)$15.90 http://www.belgianrail.be/en/travel-tickets/tickets/charleroi-airport.aspxTrains run twice every hour from 05:20 - 23:08.
Bus:(Brussels City Shuttle)$14-17 return -http://www.brussels-city-shuttle.com/en/# Buses run hourly from 08:00 - 24:00 daily.
Taxi: $110-$140 - https://www.brussels-Charleroi-airport.com/en/access/en-taxis/index.html Available 24/7.
Uber: - https://www.uber.com/en/gb/ Not Available.
Hotel prices can vary greatly depending on how far in advance you book, the demand for rooms, and which hotel you book but the prices below will give you a rough idea and you can do further research and hotel booking at https://www.tripindicator.com/hotel.html
Brussels Airport Hotels: From $69per night
Charleroi Airport Hotels: From $67per night
If you have a lot of luggage and don't want the expense of a taxi, you might prefer to rent a car to get to Brussels city centre or elsewhere in the city, particularly if you're flying into the far away Brussels South Charleroi airport. Both airports mentioned offer competitive prices and a range of cars to suit your needs. Prices are based on the type of car, driver age, length of hire, and demand but you can get a rough idea for each airport below.
Brussels Airport Car Rental:
Budget Cars (Ford KA, Fiat Panda etc) Prices start at $100.94 per week
Intermediate Cars (Toyota Avensis, Ford C Max, etc) Prices start at $182.92per week
Luxury Cars (BMW 5 Series, Mercedes Benz E Class etc):$356.97 per week
Compare prices here -
https://www.tripindicator.com/car-rental.html
Charleroi Airport Car Rental:
Budget Cars (Ford KA, Fiat Panda etc) Prices start at $107.99 per week
Intermediate Cars (Toyota Avensis, Ford C Max, etc) Prices start at $179.98per week
Luxury Cars (BMW 5 Series, Mercedes Benz E Class etc):$316.98 per week
Compare Prices here -
https://www.tripindicator.com/car-rental.html
Brussels Airport-Zaventem is the biggest operating airport in Brussels, serving over 24 million passengers yearly. But, it is not the only airport, the second airport is Brussels South Charleroi Airport which serves Brussels-Charleroi.
Brussels airport is the closest to the city centre at a distance of 12.0 kilometres. Charleroi airport, on the other hand, is the farthest from Brussels at 46 kilometres, but it is closer to Charleroi's city centre at just 7.4 kilometres.
Brussels Airport or Zaventem Airport is the best choice to fly to Brussels. It has its own railway station which makes transportation from the airport easier for travellers.
It takes 17 minutes from Brussels airport to the city centre (Gare de Bruxelles-Central) and a bus ride from Charleroi airport to the Charleroi-Sud main railway station where you get a train to Brussels. The journey takes approximately 60 minutes.
Taxis charge $45 from Brussels airport to the city centre, $25 from Charleroi airport to Charleroi and $100 to Brussels.
There are so many things to do and exciting places to be in Brussels some of which include admiring the Manneken Pis, Grand-Place, St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral, Musical Instruments Museum, Horta Museum, Parc du Cinquantenaire, Bois de la Cambre, Parc de Woluwe, The Church of Our Lady of Laeken, Notre Dame du Sablon, The National Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Palais du Justice, Royal Palace, Abbey de la Cambre, Royal Museum of Armed Forces and of Military History, the European Parliament (Parlamentarium), and free visits to many museums on ‘Free Museum Day Brussels'.
Uber is available at the Brussels airport on demand and costs around £27 - £59 for a ride to the city centre, but it is not available at Charleroi airport.
There are hotels located around each airport, ranging from affordable to luxury rooms from £67 to £129.
For Brussels Airport (BRU) Terminal Maps visit https://www.tripindicator.com/bru-brussels-airport-terminal-map.html
For Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) Terminal Maps visit https://www.tripindicator.com/crl-brussels-south-charleroi-airport-terminal-map.html
