Flying from Brussels Airport
Brussels has two airports: Brussels Airport (Zaventem) for scheduled and long-haul flights, and Brussels South Charleroi for low-cost. For travellers from the southern Netherlands, Brussels is often as close as Schiphol, and sometimes cheaper.
Plan your trip to Brussels: flight, hotel and total price in one go
Quick answer: Brussels has two airports: Zaventem (Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, KLM, long-haul) with a train station under the terminal, and Charleroi about 60 km to the south (Ryanair and Wizz Air, low cost). From the Netherlands, Zaventem is easiest, or drive to Charleroi for the cheapest flights to Barcelona, Porto, Krakow or Marrakesh. Book at least 6 weeks in advance and stick strictly to the hand luggage rules of Ryanair and Wizz Air.
Two airports: Zaventem and Charleroi
Brussels Airport (Zaventem) is the large airport with Brussels Airlines, the Lufthansa group and lots of long-haul; Brussels South Charleroi lies about an hour further south and is the domain of Ryanair and Wizz Air. Choose Zaventem for comfort and direct long-haul, Charleroi for the sharpest low-cost prices.
Direct destinations from Brussels
From Zaventem you fly direct to European capitals like Vienna, Rome, Madrid and Lisbon, plus long-haul to Africa, North America and Asia. Charleroi focuses on city breaks and sun: Barcelona, Porto, Krakow, Budapest and Moroccan cities.
Cheapest destinations from Brussels
The lowest prices are on the Ryanair and Wizz routes from Charleroi, comparable to Eindhoven. Zaventem is more comfortable but rarely the very cheapest. If you live in the southern Netherlands, compare Brussels with Eindhoven and Schiphol in the trip planner with Brussels (BRU) as departure point.
When to book for the best price
Just like from the Netherlands: city breaks 6 to 12 weeks ahead, sun holidays 3 to 4 months, long-haul 4 to 6 months. More tips in our guide on when to book flights.
Parking and access
Both airports have car parks that you'd best reserve in advance. Zaventem has its own train station under the terminal with direct connections, including towards the Netherlands. Charleroi is reached by shuttle bus from Brussels-South. From the Netherlands, factor in the travel time to the airport in your overall planning.
How early should you arrive?
For European flights 2 hours, for long-haul from Zaventem 3 hours. Charleroi is compact but can get busy at security in peak times; allow 2 hours there too.
Hand luggage per airline
Ryanair and Wizz Air (Charleroi) are strict on hand luggage and charge for a trolley; Brussels Airlines (Zaventem) is usually more generous. Check your fare in advance to avoid surprises at the gate. Details in our hand luggage guide.
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Popular destinations from Brussels Charleroi
Charleroi is Ryanair's Belgium base and a focus city for Wizz Air. In summer 2026 there were more than 130 direct destinations, with Ryanair operating over 80 percent of flights.
| Destination | Flight time | Airline | Return from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid | approx. 2h30 | Ryanair | approx. €50 |
| Barcelona | approx. 2h | Ryanair | approx. €50 |
| Malaga | approx. 2h30 | Ryanair | approx. €60 |
| Palma de Mallorca | approx. 2h | Ryanair | approx. €55 |
| Rome (Ciampino) | approx. 2h | Ryanair | approx. €50 |
| Marrakech | approx. 2h30 | Ryanair | approx. €70 |
| Tenerife | approx. 4h | Ryanair | approx. €100 |
| Gran Canaria | approx. 4h | Ryanair | approx. €100 |
| Krakow | approx. 2h | Ryanair | approx. €40 |
| Budapest | approx. 2h | Wizz Air | approx. €50 |
Important for winter 2026/2027: Ryanair is cutting approximately 13 routes from Charleroi due to a Belgian passenger departure tax increase in January 2027 (from €2 to €7 per passenger). Affected routes include Barcelona, Lisbon, Rome-Ciampino, Krakow and Mallorca in the winter season. Always verify whether your route is still available before booking.
Popular destinations from Brussels Airport Zaventem
Zaventem offers direct flights to 180 destinations with 70 airlines in summer 2026. It is a full hub airport with full-service carriers such as Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, KLM and Air France alongside low-cost carriers.
| Destination | Airline | Return from |
|---|---|---|
| Vienna | Brussels Airlines, Vueling | approx. €60 |
| Lisbon | Brussels Airlines, TAP | approx. €80 |
| Madrid | Iberia, Vueling | approx. €70 |
| Rome | Brussels Airlines, Vueling | approx. €60 |
| Dublin | Ryanair | approx. €45 |
| Milan | Brussels Airlines, easyJet | approx. €50 |
| Reykjavik | Brussels Airlines | approx. €200 |
| New York (JFK) | Delta (daily) | approx. €450+ |
Travel time from the Netherlands to Brussels
For travellers from North Brabant and Limburg, both Brussels airports are closer than you might think.
| Departure point | To Charleroi (CRL) | To Zaventem (BRU) |
|---|---|---|
| Eindhoven | approx. 2h by car (201 km) | approx. 1h30-1h45 by car (150 km) |
| Tilburg | approx. 1h50 by car (165-180 km) | approx. 1h20-1h35 by car (130 km) |
| Den Bosch | approx. 1h55 by car (185 km) | approx. 1h25-1h40 by car (140 km) |
| Eindhoven by train | approx. 3h (with transfer) | approx. 2h-2h30 (transfer Brussels) |
By bus: Flibco runs direct services from Breda and Tilburg to both Charleroi and Zaventem (11 departures per day). FlixBus runs from Rotterdam and Amsterdam to Charleroi Airport from around €8. This makes Charleroi also reachable by bus at low cost.
Train to Zaventem: Brussels Airport has its own train station below the terminal with direct connections. From Brussels Central/Midi it is an additional 15 minutes. There is no toll on motorways between the Netherlands and Brussels.
Parking costs: Charleroi vs. Zaventem
Drivers notice an immediate difference in parking costs between the two airports.
| Airport | Cheapest option | Standard parking |
|---|---|---|
| Charleroi (CRL) | from approx. €30 (off-airport with shuttle) | approx. €57-65 (P3/P4) |
| Zaventem (BRU) | from approx. €74 (P Discount, free shuttle) | approx. €126-143 (P3/P2 Economy) |
Parking at Charleroi is considerably cheaper than at Zaventem. For a week-long holiday this can mean a difference of 50 to 100 euros. Always book online in advance, as dynamic pricing rises significantly during school holidays.
Updated: 9 October 2026
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Which airports does Brussels have?
Brussels Airport (Zaventem) for scheduled and long-haul flights, and Brussels South Charleroi for low-cost with Ryanair and Wizz Air. Charleroi lies about an hour south of the city.
Is Brussels cheaper than Schiphol?
From Charleroi often yes for low-cost routes, comparable to Eindhoven. For long-haul and comfort, Zaventem is a good alternative. Always compare including travel time to the airport.
How early should I be at Brussels?
Allow 2 hours for European flights and 3 hours for long-haul from Zaventem. Charleroi is compact but plan 2 hours there too in peak season.
How do I get to Brussels from the Netherlands?
Zaventem has a train station under the terminal with direct connections, including from the Netherlands. Charleroi is reached by shuttle bus from Brussels-South or by car.