Page 176 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - Brussels Bruges Ghent & Antwerp

174  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Brussels is well suited to both casual and The Eurostar and Thalys high-speed trains
business travellers, with excellent link the city with London, Paris, Amsterdam
connections by air, rail and road. The and Germany, and compare favourably with
increasing political significance of Brussels flying in terms of time. Visitors travelling from
in its role as the heart of Europe has led to Britain can use the Channel Tunnel or a range
greater competition between airlines, with of cross-Channel ferry services if they want to
many operators offering discounted fares. bring their car with them.

An SNCB/NMBS (see p178)
train runs from Charleroi to
Gare du Midi. The journey
takes about 45 minutes to/
from the station. Ryanair also
operates a shuttle bus
between Brussels South-
Charleroi Airport and Gare du
Midi, with a journey time of
approximately 1 hour.
An aeroplane from Belgian carrier Brussels Airlines’ fleet
Arriving by Air miles) from the centre of Arriving by Rail
Situated 14 km (9 miles) Brussels and can be reached Brussels is at the heart of
northeast of the city centre, by train or coach. Europe’s high-speed train
Brussels National Airport is networks, connected to
in the Flemish commune of London by the Eurostar service
Zaventem (the name by which Getting into Town and to Paris, Amsterdam and
it is known to most citizens, The cheapest way of getting Cologne by the Thalys network.
including taxi drivers). A centre from Zaventem to the city These trains have a top speed
for Belgian carrier Brussels centre is the express train from of 300 kph (186 mph) and
Airlines, the airport is also the airport to Gare du Nord, have slashed journey times
served by major carriers such Gare Centrale or Gare du Midi. between northern Europe’s
as British Airways, KLM, Air Tickets (about €8) are on sale major cities significantly.
Canada, Delta and Lufthansa in the airport complex or can Eurostar passengers should
and low-cost operators like be purchased online. Three book their tickets early to take
easyJet and Ryanair. A typical trains run each hour between advantage of reduced fares;
journey from London takes 5am and midnight; the journey they should also arrive
around 45 minutes. Thanks to to Gare Centrale takes 20 at the terminal a minimum
the high volume of business minutes. There is also an of 30–40 minutes before
travel, a scheduled return flight airport bus, Line 12, which runs departure to go through
from the UK can be as much as hourly between 6am and the check-in and customs
£270, so keep an eye out for 11pm. It stops at only the main procedures before boarding.
deals from the budget carriers, train stations and Schuman It is possible that you may be
especially if you can be flexible metro stop, terminating at refused access to the train if
with travel dates. Place Luxembourg, near the you arrive after this time,
Reaching Brussels from the European Parliament. although you can often be
US can also be more expensive There is a taxi rank outside transferred to the next service
than reaching other European the arrivals hall. A one-way fare at no extra charge.
cities. Flights average US$1000 from the airport to
for a charter return from New the centre of Brussels
York. Prices from Canada will cost €40–45 and
are comparable. should take around
Brussels South Charleroi 20 minutes (though
Airport has become a second this may be longer
hub since Ryanair began at rush hour). If you
operating scheduled flights plan to return by
from various European taxi, ask the driver
destinations (including about deals, as
Glasgow Prestwick and some companies
Edinburgh in the UK). The offer discounts on
airport is located 55 km (34 return fares. Eurostar train at the Gare du Midi, Brussels

174-175_EW_Brussels.indd 174 10/01/17 10:55 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm