Brussels

Belgium

Brussels when the group arrives through different airports

Brussels is a small city for being the de facto capital of the European Union, which works in a group's favour: the Grand Place and the surrounding area are entirely walkable, and the rest of the centre isn't much further.

It has two airports with very different profiles: Brussels-Zaventem (BRU), the big one, connected to the central station by direct train in just over twenty minutes; and Brussels South Charleroi (CRL), a good hour away from the centre by bus, which despite its name is used almost exclusively by low-cost carriers.

Beyond the chocolate, beer and waffles — which really do live up to the hype — Brussels is a good base for a day trip to Bruges or Ghent, two of Belgium's best-preserved historic cities, reached by direct train in under an hour and a half.

It's also home to the main EU institutions, so the European quarter has a very different feel from the historic centre: more offices and less tourism, though with a museum or two worth a look for anyone after something different.

Why Brussels works for a spread-out group

With two airports and good rail links to the rest of Belgium, Brussels is a flexible destination: if arrivals end up far apart because of flights into Zaventem and Charleroi, the wait can always be turned into a short trip to Bruges or Ghent instead of lost time at the airport.

Joivia compares every traveller's flights at once and scores each combination on two things: the group's total price and how grouped the arrivals are, so nobody burns hours waiting alone at the terminal.

Search flights to Brussels with your group

How to plan the trip when the group flies from several cities →

How much it costs to fly to Brussels from each city

Of the months we currently have data for, the cheapest to fly to Brussels is September 2026.

Per-person, one-way prices for the cheapest flight we've seen on each route; data updated on 30/08/2026. These are indicative and change constantly: always confirm the final price on the provider's website.

Is there a direct flight to Brussels?

Of the 1188 flights to Brussels we've seen in the last 10 days, around 25% are direct.

Which airlines fly to Brussels

Which cities have a direct flight, and how long it takes

When there's a layover, where is it usually?

The most common layover we've seen is Zurich.

What time flights land in Brussels

Based on the direct flights we've seen on each route, here's roughly how arrival times spread out depending on where each person flies from:

Window between the earliest and latest of every ten flights, based on direct flights seen recently: not a fixed schedule, just what usually happens.

Where to meet after landing at the Brussels airport

Brussels Central Station is the most practical meeting point: the train from Zaventem arrives directly, and the bus from Charleroi also connects to the centre, though on a noticeably longer journey worth planning for in advance.

Which Brussels airport suits each traveller

Brussels has several airports and Joivia searches them as a single city, so there's no need to pick one in advance:

Nearby there are also other airports Joivia searches too, which are sometimes noticeably cheaper, though they require a ground transfer:

Which countries have a direct flight to Brussels

Brussels has very good connections with Spain, Germany, France, Italy and the UK, with daily flights from several cities in each country. Low-cost routes into Charleroi also extend coverage from Central and Eastern Europe.

Before you go to Brussels

Frequently asked questions about going to Brussels as a group

Which Brussels airport is better, Zaventem or Charleroi?

Zaventem has a direct train just over twenty minutes to the centre; Charleroi tends to have cheaper low-cost flights but the bus journey runs around an hour.

Can you visit Bruges or Ghent on the same trip?

Yes, both are under an hour and a half away by direct train from Brussels, and they're among the most popular day trips from the city.

When is a good time to visit Brussels?

The weather is changeable and fairly rainy much of the year; spring and summer offer somewhat more stability, though it's always worth packing something waterproof.

How long is the flight from Milan Malpensa to Brussels?

The direct flights we've seen average about 1 h 30 min.

Which airlines fly to Brussels?

Among the flights we've seen, Lufthansa, Ryanair, Vueling, SAS and Iberia operate the most.

Is there a direct flight to Brussels?

Not many: around 25% of the flights we see are direct.

Other destinations for a group trip

← See all destinations