Charleroi Airport

Charleroi Airport is situated 34 miles (55 kilometers) south of Brussels, in Charleroi. It's also known as Brussels South Charleroi Airport and is where most low-cost airlines operate their services from.

Charleroi Airport has the advantages and disadvantages of all small airports. It's small with very few shops, so there is little to do. However, it's difficult to get lost, doesn’t take much time to get to the gate and airport security is quick. 

This airport is flourishing thanks to popular airline companies like Ryanair. Every year the airport welcomes 8 million visitors.

Getting to Brussels from Charleroi Airport  

There are several ways of getting to Brussels from Charleroi. These are the best options:

Airport transfer service

If you book a private airport transfer service, the chauffeur will be waiting for you at the arrival terminal and will take you directly to your accommodation. This is the fastest and most comfortable way of getting to your hotel, especially if you don’t speak French or Dutch. You can book a four-passenger car for just € 95 (US$ 102.20) or an eight-seater for € 115 (US$ 123.70). Both options are cheaper than getting a taxi.

Shuttle bus

The company Flibco has a shuttle bus service that connects Charleroi Airport and Brussels, leaving the airport every 30 minutes. The journey takes one hour and the bus stops at Bruxelles-Midi (Brussels-South railway station, in rue de France).

A one-way journey will cost € 17 (US$ 18.30) and a return ticket costs € 34 (US$ 36.50). You can purchase the ticket at the airport terminal or on the bus. If you buy the ticket online, this is as low as € 14.20 (US$ 15.30) per journey.

Once you get to Bruxelles-Midi you can take the metro, the tram, or a train to the other stations in the city.

If you take the shuttle bus back to Charleroi Airport, we suggest arriving at least 15 minutes before the departure of the bus as there is normally a queue and buses fill quickly.

Bus and train (useful if you're staying in another city in Belgium)

If you're not staying in Brussels, but in another Belgian city you might prefer to take the bus (line A) to Charleroi train station and from there take a train to your destination.

A one-way journey costs € 3 (US$ 3.20) and it takes 20 minutes to get to the railway station. Another option is to buy a “bulk” ticket that includes Bus Line A and the train ticket to your destination.

This bus runs from 5:35 am to 10:35 pm and leaves every 30 minutes from the airport.

Taxi

You'll find that most taxi companies advertise that a taxi from Charleroi Airport to Brussels city center costs approximately € 90 (US$ 96.80) - € 100 (US$ 107.60). However, it'll normally cost you over € 100 (US$ 107.60), especially on your way from Brussels to Charleroi.