Why fly from Brussels?
Brussels has two airports with very different personalities. Brussels Airport Zaventem (BRU) is the main hub — Brussels Airlines, Ryanair's new base, and most legacy carriers. Brussels South Charleroi (CRL) is Ryanair's original Belgian base, 60km south of the city — cheap flights, longer commute.Zaventem is 12km from the centre. A train reaches Brussels-Midi in 20 minutes (€12.70). Charleroi requires a shuttle bus (60 min, €17) — always factor that into any "cheap" Charleroi fare. Since Ryanair now operates from both airports, compare total door-to-door cost carefully.
Belgium's position — sandwiched between France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK — means short flight times everywhere. London is 50 minutes. Paris is closer by Thalys train but flights to other French cities (Nice, Toulouse, Marseille) are competitive. Eastern European routes via Ryanair and Wizz Air are where the real bargains live.
Best weekend routes from Brussels
London (50 min), Amsterdam (45 min), Paris (1h) — but check if the train is cheaper first
Barcelona, Rome, Lisbon from Zaventem. Kraków, Budapest, Milan from Charleroi — compare both
Warsaw, Budapest, Bucharest, Kraków — Ryanair and Wizz Air from €15 one-way
Barcelona, Malaga, Nice, Split — TUI fly and Ryanair compete on Belgian holiday routes
When to fly from Brussels
Summer (Jun–Aug): Belgian school holidays (July–August) inflate Mediterranean routes. Book early for Spain and Greece. UK and Dutch routes stay cheap — everyone's going the other direction.
Autumn (Sep–Nov): Excellent deals. Post-summer, airlines need to fill seats. Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon weekends from €30 return on Ryanair.
Winter (Dec–Feb): City breaks at their cheapest. London, Berlin, Prague weekends from €20 return. Canary Islands are popular Belgian winter escapes.
Spring (Mar–May): Gradually climbing. Easter bumps things briefly. Late April is ideal — warm in southern Europe, prices haven't peaked.
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Airport insider tip
Before booking a Charleroi flight, calculate total cost: flight + €34 shuttle bus return + 2 hours of travel time. Often a slightly pricier Zaventem flight is cheaper and faster door-to-door. Ryanair now flies from both airports — always compare.
Frequently asked questions
What's the cheapest destination from Brussels?
It changes weekly. Use Weekendstop to see live prices from BRU — compare across all airlines and dates to find the best deal.
How do I get to Brussels airport?
Check the details above for transport options to BRU. Public transport is usually the best value.
When are flights cheapest from Brussels?
Generally September–November and January–February. Avoid school holidays and public holiday weekends. Tuesday and Wednesday departures are typically cheapest.
Does Weekendstop search all airlines from Brussels?
Yes — we search every airline flying from BRU, including budget carriers and full-service airlines. Toggle 'Direct only' to filter, or leave it off to see connecting flights too.