De Lijn bus R26orNMBS/SNCB train?

R26 · De LijnDe Lijn bus R26

From

The Zaventem Brussels Airport bus station — since 7 May 2026 a temporary one, about 100 m from the terminal on level 0, under a covered walkway

To

Brussel-Noord / Bruxelles-Nord, a main-line station and tram hub

Luggage

An ordinary city bus. There are no racks, so a big case sits with you.

Runs

05:26–22:56

Journey

43–60 min

It is the cheapest way into Brussels by a wide margin and the slowest by an equally wide one: 43 to 60 minutes against the train's 16 to 23.

It leaves you at Brussel-Noord, one of the three main stations, on the northern edge of the center. For Grand-Place or the lower town add a metro or tram hop, or ride the train two stops on.

Check the ticket clock. De Lijn tickets run 60 minutes, and this journey can take 60. A ticket bought on a card lets you finish the ride you are on; De Lijn's own table lists the app and website version as 60 minutes without that wording.

Traveling together, buy one 10-rittenkaart at EUR 22 rather than singles once there are eight of you, and scan it once per person.

It stops at 22:56, earlier than everything else at this airport.

De Lijn bus R26: price for every party size

train · NMBS/SNCBNMBS/SNCB train

From

The station under the terminal, below the departures and arrivals hall

To

Bruxelles-Central, via Bruxelles-Nord; some trains also serve Schuman and Luxembourg

Luggage

Intercity carriages with racks and space by the doors.

Runs

04:42–23:57

Journey

16–23 min

EUR 11.60 weekday, EUR 10.20 weekend or public holiday, airport to Bruxelles-Central, supplement included. There is no separate airport fare: buy a ticket to whichever Brussels station you want.

It is much the fastest way in — about 17 minutes to Bruxelles-Central against 54 on the cheap bus.

The supplement survives every discount you might expect to shake it off, including the 30% weekend fare and Train+.

Children under 12 accompanying you travel free, need no ticket at all, and pay no supplement — they walk through the gates with you. It is the one thing here that genuinely changes the cost of a family.

Four or more travelling off-peak, at weekends or on public holidays should ask for the Minigroup ticket: 40% off for 4 to 14 people on one ticket. It is not priced here because it is unclear if the supplement is discounted too; likely not, which would put it at about EUR 9.70 a head to Bruxelles-Central.

Going to the European quarter, check whether your train serves Schuman — 33 do on a weekday, between 05:47 and 21:47.

NMBS/SNCB train: price for every party size