Home / Brussels /Brussels Airport / De Lijn bus 91 to Leuven vs IC train to Gent-Sint-Pieters

BRU → Brussels · head to head

De Lijn bus 91 to LeuvenorIC train to Gent-Sint-Pieters?

The short answer

For one traveler the De Lijn bus 91 to Leuven is cheaper by €17. That does not change up to 8 travelers.

The IC train to Gent-Sint-Pieters is quicker: 55 min against 1 h 09. The De Lijn bus 91 to Leuven varies between 59 and 85 minutes.

De Lijn bus 91 to Leuven: 05:16–21:17. IC train to Gent-Sint-Pieters: 05:24–23:24.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares
What each costs for the whole party, in EUR. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
TravelersDe Lijn bus 91 to LeuvenIC train to Gent-Sint-PietersDifference
1€3€20€17
2€6€40€34
3€9€60€51
4€12€80€68
5€15€100€85
6€18€120€102
7€21€140€119
8€22€160€138

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
91 · De LijnDe Lijn bus 91 to Leuven
From
Platform B of the De Lijn bus station — since 7 May 2026 a temporary one, about 100 m from the terminal on level 0, under a covered walkway
To
Leuven Station, platform 1, via Kortenberg and Everberg
Luggage
An ordinary regional bus with no racks; a big case sits with you.
Runs
05:16–21:17
Journey
59–85 min

EUR 3.00 against EUR 11.90 on the train, and the only direct way to Leuven at weekends, when the base rail timetable has no Leuven train.

It takes about an hour against the train's 13 minutes, and up to 85 in the morning peak.

The ticket is valid 60 minutes and the ride can take longer; De Lijn lets you finish the ride you are on, so a single bus is fine. Do not plan a change on the same ticket.

The last weekday bus is 21:17, well before the last train; on Saturday it is 22:18 and on Sunday 22:21.

Eight or more of you should buy one EUR 22 ten-ride card and scan it once per person.

The guides still name buses 651 and 652: De Lijn closed both on 6 January 2024. Line 91 from platform B is the bus.

De Lijn bus 91 to Leuven: price for every party size

See De Lijn ticket prices
IC · NMBS/SNCBIC train to Gent-Sint-Pieters
From
The station under the terminal, below the departures and arrivals hall
To
Gent-Sint-Pieters, via Bruxelles-Nord, Central and Midi
Luggage
Intercity carriages with racks and space by the doors.
Runs
05:24–23:24
Journey
54–86 min

EUR 20.00 on a weekday and EUR 16.10 at the weekend, the EUR 6.90 supplement inside both — the same ticket is valid on the fast train and the slow one.

Take the train at 24 past on a weekday. The one at 57 past also goes to Ghent, direct, and takes 83 minutes instead of 55.

At weekends only the 83-minute train runs, hourly, and the last one leaves at 22:57.

Gent-Sint-Pieters is south of the old town: De Lijn trams 1 and 3 from the station forecourt reach Kouter on an ordinary EUR 3.00 ticket.

Children under 12 travel free with you and pay no supplement.

IC train to Gent-Sint-Pieters: price for every party size

Buy the ticket from NMBS

This compares two of 14 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

The other comparisons at Brussels Airport