Book Flights to Brussels, Belgium
Brussels is one of Europe's most underrated capitals — the de facto capital of the European Union, with arguably Europe's finest main square (Grand Place, UNESCO listed), the world's greatest chocolate tradition (Neuhaus invented the praline here in 1912), extraordinary Belgian beer culture (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage), and a position as the ideal gateway to Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp by train.
Brussels Airport (BRU) is one of the best-connected European capitals for US travelers — Delta and United both operate nonstop service, with the Airport Express train reaching the city centre in just 22 minutes. FareOptic compares all fares and routing options to find the cheapest flights to Brussels.
Cheap Flight Deals to Brussels
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Why Visit Brussels, Belgium?
Brussels is the capital of chocolate, beer, and the European Union — a city that consistently surprises visitors who expect bureaucracy and delivers extraordinary cuisine, UNESCO history, and the best day trips in Europe.
Grand Place (Grote Markt)
UNESCO World Heritage Site — Europe's Finest SquareBrussels' Grand Place — unanimously described by Victor Hugo as 'the most beautiful square in the world' — is one of Europe's most stunning historic ensembles: a perfectly proportioned Gothic and Baroque square surrounded by the 15th-century Gothic Town Hall, the King's House, and 37 elaborately decorated guildhalls, their gold-gilded facades dating from the 17th century rebuild after French bombardment in 1695. The Grand Place is most spectacular during the biennial Flower Carpet (August even years) — a 1,800 m² mosaic of living begonias.
Best Experience
Visit the Grand Place at night — the gilded guildhalls illuminated against the Gothic Town Hall spire is one of Europe's most spectacular urban nightscapes
Belgian Chocolate and Waffles
The World's Finest Chocolate TraditionBelgium is the world's preeminent chocolate nation — with Brussels home to legendary chocolatiers including Pierre Marcolini, Mary Chocolatier, Godiva, Neuhaus (the original inventors of the praline in 1912), and Côte d'Or. Belgian chocolate tradition emphasizes high cocoa content, fresh cream ganaches, and pralines (chocolate shells filled with cream or ganache) that are the finest expression of chocolate as a craft. Belgian waffles — both the Brussels waffle (rectangular, with deep pockets, served plain) and the Liège waffle (oval, caramelized sugar, served warm) — are equally unmissable.
Best Chocolate
Buy handmade pralines directly from Pierre Marcolini or Mary Chocolatier on Rue Royale — avoid the large tourist shops on Grand Place for the finest quality
Manneken Pis and Comic Strip Culture
Brussels' Cheeky IconsManneken Pis — the famous 61 cm bronze statue of a small boy urinating into a fountain, created by Jerome Duquesnoy in 1619 — is Brussels' most beloved and irreverent symbol. The statue is dressed in elaborate costumes on national holidays (over 1,000 costumes exist, housed in the City Museum). Brussels is also the world capital of comic strip art — Tintin (Hergé), The Smurfs (Peyo), and Lucky Luke are all Belgian, and the Belgian Comic Strip Centre on Rue des Sables is world-class.
Comic Strip Walk
Walk the Brussels Comic Strip Route — 50+ large-scale comic strip murals painted on building walls across the city centre, with a free map from the tourist office
Atomium
Cold War Exhibition Hall — Brussels' Space Age IconThe Atomium — built for the 1958 Brussels World Exposition — is Belgium's most distinctive monument: a 102-metre stainless steel structure representing an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times. The nine spheres house exhibition spaces, a restaurant, and a panoramic viewing sphere with 360° views over Brussels. The adjacent Mini-Europe theme park features 1:25 scale models of 350 European monuments.
Visitor Tip
Book Atomium tickets online — queues can be long in peak summer. The evening light show and night views from the top sphere are spectacular
Belgian Beer Culture
UNESCO Intangible Cultural HeritageBelgian beer — designated UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016 — is the world's most diverse and sophisticated beer tradition: with 1,500+ unique beers from Trappist monasteries (Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle), lambic/gueuze producers (Cantillon), saison farmhouse ales, and strong abbey ales. Brussels' Delirium Café holds the world record for most beers on a menu (3,000+). The Cantillon Lambic brewery in Brussels is the world's most historically preserved gueuze brewery.
Beer Experience
Tour Cantillon Brewery (Brussels' last operating gueuze lambic brewery since 1900) for the world's most authentic Belgian beer experience — traditional spontaneous fermentation in the original copper vats
European Quarter and Bruges Day Trip
EU Capital and Medieval Flemish MasterpieceBrussels is the de facto capital of the European Union — the European Parliament, European Commission, and Council of the EU are all based here. The European Quarter around the Berlaymont Building is architecturally significant. Bruges — just 55 minutes by train — is Belgium's most beautiful medieval city: perfectly preserved Gothic Flemish architecture, canal network, historic breweries, and one of the world's finest chocolate and lace traditions.
Day Trip
Take the direct IC train Brussels-Bruges (55 minutes, approximately €15) — one of Europe's finest day trips from a major capital city
How to Find Cheap Flights to Brussels
Book Direct US Flights on Delta or United for Best Value
Delta (from JFK and ATL) and United (from EWR and ORD) both offer nonstop Brussels (BRU) service — making Brussels one of the most directly accessible continental European capitals from the US. Book these nonstops 6–10 weeks ahead for the best fares. Brussels Airlines (Star Alliance) also codeshares on US routes.
Confirm BRU vs CRL — Brussels Has Two Airports
Brussels Airport (BRU/Zaventem) is the main international airport, 14 km from city centre. Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL) is 60 km south of Brussels — used by Ryanair — requiring a bus transfer. Always check which Brussels airport your airline is using — they are not interchangeable.
Consider Bruges and Ghent as Day Trips from Brussels
Brussels is an ideal base for day trips to Belgium's finest medieval cities: Bruges (55 min by train, most beautiful), Ghent (30 min, excellent food scene and castle), and Antwerp (45 min, diamond capital and Rubens paintings). All three are easily done as day trips on Belgium's efficient IC train network.
Book in Spring or Fall for Best Weather and Prices
Brussels' best visiting weather is May–September (15–22°C). Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) are ideal — good weather, lower crowds than peak summer, and more hotel availability. December's Christmas market in Grand Place is spectacular but very busy.
Airlines Flying to Brussels (BRU)
Delta Air Lines
Nonstop from New York & AtlantaDelta operates nonstop transatlantic flights to Brussels (BRU) from New York JFK and Atlanta ATL — making Brussels one of the more directly accessible European capitals from the eastern US. Delta's SkyTeam partnerships also provide connections through Amsterdam (KLM) and Paris (Air France).
Key Routes
New York JFK nonstop to BRU; Atlanta ATL nonstop to BRU; connecting service via Amsterdam AMS and Paris CDG
United Airlines
Nonstop from New York Newark & ChicagoUnited Airlines operates nonstop Brussels (BRU) service from New York Newark (EWR) and connects via Chicago ORD — one of the most reliable US–Brussels airline options for travelers from the US Midwest.
Key Routes
New York Newark EWR nonstop to BRU; Chicago ORD to BRU via connection; connecting service via US hubs
Brussels Airlines
Belgian National Carrier — Star AllianceBrussels Airlines — the Belgian national carrier and Lufthansa Group member — operates its hub from Brussels Zaventem (BRU), connecting to African capitals (particularly West and Central Africa) and European cities. Brussels Airlines codeshares with Lufthansa and United Airlines on transatlantic routes.
Key Routes
New York JFK, Washington Dulles, and transatlantic codeshares; extensive African network; European connections from BRU
Air France & KLM
SkyTeam Partners via Paris and AmsterdamAir France and KLM — Brussels' closest major European hubs — provide the most extensive global connectivity via Paris CDG and Amsterdam AMS. Both airports offer smooth same-terminal connections to Brussels (approximately 1-hour flights).
Key Routes
Paris CDG and Amsterdam AMS to BRU — connecting from 15+ US cities on Air France and KLM transatlantic service
Ryanair & easyJet
Budget European Connections to BRURyanair and easyJet operate budget European routes from Brussels to UK, Irish, and southern European cities. Note: Ryanair uses Brussels South Charleroi (CRL, 60 km south of Brussels) — confirm which Brussels airport your route uses before booking.
Key Routes
London Stansted, Dublin, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, and 20+ European cities from BRU/CRL
Things to Do in Brussels, Belgium
Important Information Before You Fly to Brussels
Currency
Euro (€) — Belgium is part of the Eurozone
Language
French, Dutch (Flemish), German — English widely spoken
Time Zone
CET (UTC+1) / CEST (UTC+2) in summer
Country Code
+32 (Belgium)
Airport Code
BRU — Brussels Zaventem Airport (14 km from centre)
US Visa Required
No — 90-day Schengen visa-free entry for US passport holders
Power Plugs
Type C/E — 230V / 50Hz
Emergency Number
112 (EU standard)
Most Popular Airlines
Best Airlines for Domestic & International Routes
Frequently Asked Questions on Travel to Brussels
Everything you need to know about booking cheap flights to Brussels, Belgium
What airlines fly nonstop to Brussels from the US?
Delta Air Lines (from New York JFK and Atlanta ATL), United Airlines (from New York Newark and Chicago ORD), and Brussels Airlines (from New York JFK and Washington Dulles, via codeshares with Lufthansa/United) are the primary nonstop US–Brussels carriers. Compare all on FareOptic for the best fares.
Which Brussels airport should I use — BRU or CRL?
Brussels Airport (BRU/Zaventem, 14 km from city) is the main international airport with all transatlantic and most European routes — a direct train to Brussels city centre takes 22 minutes (€10). Brussels South Charleroi (CRL, 60 km south) is used by Ryanair only and requires a 1-hour bus to Brussels (€17). Always check which airport your airline uses.
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Belgium?
No. US citizens can visit Belgium (and all Schengen Area countries) for up to 90 days without a visa. A valid US passport is required. The EU ETIAS online authorization system is planned — check current ETIAS requirements before travel.
What is Brussels famous for?
Brussels is famous for Belgian chocolate (Neuhaus invented the praline here in 1912), Belgian beer (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage), Belgian waffles, the Grand Place (UNESCO World Heritage), Manneken Pis, the Atomium, and as the de facto capital of the European Union.
Is Bruges worth visiting from Brussels?
Absolutely — Bruges is one of Europe's most beautiful medieval cities and is just 55 minutes by direct IC train from Brussels (approximately €15). It is usually done as a full day trip. Bruges' canal network, Gothic Guild Houses, and outstanding chocolate and beer scene make it one of Europe's finest day trip destinations.
How do I get from Brussels Airport (BRU) to the city centre?
Direct Airport Express trains run every 15 minutes from BRU Airport to Brussels Central, Brussels Midi, and Brussels Nord stations (22 minutes to Central, €10). Taxis cost approximately €45–60. The train is by far the most efficient option.
What currency is used in Brussels?
Euro (€). Belgium is part of the Eurozone. Cards are widely accepted in Brussels. ATMs are plentiful throughout the city.
What is the best Belgian beer to try in Brussels?
Trappist beers — brewed by monks in Belgian monasteries — are the pinnacle of Belgian beer tradition. Try Chimay Blue, Orval, Rochefort 10, and Westmalle Tripel. For something uniquely Brussels, try a gueuze or kriek (cherry lambic) at Cantillon Brewery — the world's last remaining traditional gueuze brewery in active production.
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