Night flight at Brussels Airport: getting there and back by taxi

A flight at 11 pm, landing at 1 am: as soon as your schedule falls outside normal hours, public transport stops keeping up. The last train has gone, the metro has shut down, and you are stuck with your suitcases.

The good news is that one option adapts to every one of those situations: the taxi. In this guide, we go through the timing, the transport schedules, what changes at Zaventem airport at night, and how to organise your journey with peace of mind.

Why a taxi is the best option for an evening or night flight

From 10 pm onwards, your transport options to and from Brussels Airport shrink dramatically. A taxi does not depend on any timetable.

• Available after midnight. Once the last Airport Line has left and the last Noctis has made its final run, a taxi is the only remaining link between Brussels and Zaventem. TaxisVerts drives 24/7, without interruption.
• No timetable dependency. Your outbound flight is running two hours late? Change your pick-up time in the app in seconds. Your inbound flight lands later than planned? Adjust your return booking at no extra cost.
• Door-to-door pick-up. The driver rings your doorbell and loads your luggage. No walking to a bus stop on a poorly lit street.
• Drop-off at the terminal. The driver stops right outside the departures door, a few metres from the check-in desks. No shuttle, no car park to cross.
• Guaranteed fixed price. The night surcharge is €2 (between 10 pm and 6 am). The price shown when you book is the price you pay, even if the ride takes longer because of a detour or overnight roadworks.

Want to know how to book an airport taxi step by step? Read our detailed guide : how to book a taxi to the airport.

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Flying out late from Zaventem: what time should you book your taxi?

The last departures from Brussels Airport generally take off between 10 pm and 12:30 am. They are often flights to Turkey, North Africa or the Middle East. Here is how to plan your departure:

L’avantage d’un vol le soir, c’est que la circulation a généralement diminué : le trajet depuis le centre de Bruxelles prend rarement plus de 25 à 30 minutes en taxi après 20 h.

Ce qui change la nuit à l’aéroport de Bruxelles

L’aéroport de Bruxelles ne ferme pas totalement la nuit, mais il fonctionne au ralenti. Voici ce à quoi vous attendre :

• Sécurité plus rapide. Bonne nouvelle : les files au contrôle de sécurité sont quasi inexistantes après 21h. Vous passerez en quelques minutes.
• Comptoirs d’enregistrement fermés. La plupart des compagnies ferment leurs comptoirs 2 à 3 heures avant le dernier vol. Faites impérativement votre check-in en ligne avant de partir.
• Restaurants et boutiques fermés. Après 22h, la grande majorité des commerces côté piste ont baissé le rideau. Prévoyez un en-cas.
• Ambiance plus calme. Moins de monde, moins de bruit, moins de stress. Si vous voyagez avec des enfants, c’est parfois plus facile qu’en pleine journée.

Vous arrivez tard à l’aéroport de Bruxelles : votre vol atterrit en soirée ou en pleine nuit

L’atterrissage tardif est un scénario courant. Un long-courrier qui se pose à 23h, un vol qui atterrit à 1 h du matin, un charter vacances qui se pose après minuit : vous récupérez vos bagages, vous sortez du terminal, et la question tombe : comment rentrer chez vous ?

• Le dernier Airport Line quitte l’aéroport aux alentours de minuit. Si votre vol atterrit après 23h30 et que vous avez des bagages à récupérer, vous ne l’aurez probablement pas.
• Le bus ne dessert plus l’aéroport après minuit. Les Noctis (bus de nuit STIB) ne passent pas par Zaventem.

Avec TaxisVerts, deux options :

• Réservez votre taxi retour à l’avance. Programmez un taxi pour 30 à 45 minutes après l’heure d’atterrissage prévue. Ajustez l’heure via l’app si nécessaire en un clic, sans frais ni appel. Le chauffeur sera là quand vous sortirez, pas quand vous étiez censé sortir.
• Commandez sur place. Dès que vous sortez du terminal, ouvrez l’application TaxisVerts et commandez un taxi. Même à 2 h du matin, un chauffeur sera là en quelques minutes.

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You are at home, ready to leave, and a notification comes in: your flight has been pushed back by two hours. With a train ticket, that is a problem (you have to change slot, and the last train is getting close). With a TaxisVerts taxi, it is a 30-second adjustment: open the app, move the pick-up time, done.

What changes at Brussels Airport at night

Brussels Airport does not close completely at night, but it runs at a slower pace. Here is what to expect:

• Faster security. Good news: queues at security are close to non-existent after 9 pm. You will be through in a few minutes.
• Check-in desks closed. Most airlines close their desks two to three hours before the last flight. Make sure you complete your online check-in before you leave.
• Restaurants and shops closed. After 10 pm, the vast majority of airside outlets have pulled down the shutters. Bring a snack.
• Quieter atmosphere. Fewer people, less noise, less stress. If you are travelling with children, it can actually be easier than during the day.

Landing late at Brussels Airport: your flight arrives in the evening or in the middle of the night

Landing late is a common scenario. A long-haul flight touching down at 11 pm, a flight that lands at 1 am, a holiday charter arriving after midnight: you collect your bags, you walk out of the terminal, and the question hits you: how do you get home?

• The last Airport Line leaves the airport at around midnight. If your flight lands after 11:30 pm and you have checked luggage to collect, you will most likely miss it.
• Buses no longer serve the airport after midnight. The Noctis night buses (STIB) do not stop at Zaventem.

With TaxisVerts, you have two options:

• Book your return taxi in advance. Schedule a taxi for 30 to 45 minutes after your expected landing time. Move the time in the app if needed in one tap, with no fee and no phone call. Your driver will be there when you actually walk out, not when you were supposed to.
• Order on the spot. As soon as you leave the terminal, open the TaxisVerts app and book a taxi. Even at 2 am, a driver will be with you within minutes.

The alternatives to a taxi in the evening

The train (Airport Line)

The Brussels Airport Line connects the airport to Brussels-Central in 17 minutes. During the day, it is unbeatable. In the evening, frequency drops to one train every 30 minutes after 9 pm, and the last departure is at around midnight. If you miss that last train, there is nothing until 5 am.

Bus (STIB / De Lijn)

The Noctis night buses operate on Friday and Saturday nights, but they do not serve the airport. In short: there is no reliable public transport link to the airport after midnight.

Your own car

P1 (covered parking) starts at €29 a day. For a week, budget more than €150. And if you are coming back from a long flight at 2 am after ten hours on a plane, getting behind the wheel is not the safest call.

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Checklist for a night flight

Before you leave

• Check in online: desks close early in the evening..
• Turn on your airline notifications. Check your flight status before leaving.
• Bring a snack: airside shops and restaurants close after 10 pm.
• Charge your phone: boarding pass, taxi tracking. Everything goes through it.
• Confirm your taxi booking in the TaxisVerts app.

On the way back

• Book your return taxi in advance, leaving 30 to 45 minutes after your landing time..
• Or order one as you walk out of the terminal. Even at 2 am, a TaxisVerts driver will be there within minutes.

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Flying tonight, overnight?
Book your TaxisVerts taxi for the outbound trip, the return, or both.
Guaranteed fixed price, punctual driver. Book online, in the app, or call 02 349 49 49, 24/7.

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