Myer

We (my wife and I) will be arriving in Brussels Airport (BRU) on a Wednesday morning around 10:00AM and leaving the area of Centraal around 5PM on a Saturday for the airport (BRU).
This will take place in late April.
I don't mind paying 10 or 15E extra for the comfort of a car and not carrying luggage on and off trains, etc.
My concern is mostly the possibility of getting stuck in traffic or any other issues.

What can I expect on that route at those times?
Thanks.

menachem

10 AM is after the morning rush hour, so probably fine. But 5 PM will give you lots of traffic at that hour. Brussels is quite infamous in that respect.

Myer

The 5PM is on a Saturday. Still bad traffic?

Cowboy1968

I wouldn't worry much about traffic even though Brussels always has quite some traffic.
But I think you need to caluculate €35-40 per trip by taxi. Compared to two tickets for the train, each €9 one way.

Myer

Cowboy
Uber estimates 24 - 30E for the ride
If that's accurate door-to-door and no carrying of luggage is worth it.

menachem

Might. I drove back from Liege via Brussels to Rotterdam a couple of times and had bad traffic around Brussels at that hour even on a sunday.

Tulips

5 pm on a Saturday should be OK, but to be sure check the traffic on an app such as Waze, and leave earlier if necessary.

Myer

We're staying very. very close to Central Station. We stayed in the same square (different hotel) years ago but it appears the station has been rebuilt/renovated/enlarged or whatever as there was no entrance into the square before. We walked to the station on cobble-stoned sidewalks then.

Does anybody know how long a walk it is from the station entrance in Carrefour de L'Europe to the trains?

Cowboy1968

Sorry, I thought you meant the regular licensed taxis. But obviously Uber should be less pricey.
If they are still legal in Brussels, which I have no clue of.

I've been using that exit through Gallery Horta (small deserted mall) directly to Carrefour de l'Europe or back to the station many times.
The walk was 5 minutes from tracks to Carrefour de l'Europe (or maybe even less).
But it's been a few years since last time. Not sure if the exit or the gallery are still open.
So you better wait for some more recent local expertise.

Alexrude

5 pm on a monday should be nice, but to be sure check the traffic on an app such as Waze, and leave earlier if necessary.

menachem

5 minutes. Check your train's platform on the big board, immediately to your left over the ticket windows as you enter the big main entrance. Would advise against Galerie Horta, as it has been under renovation now for some time, and the gallery is randomly closed off as work progresses. The big, main entrance exits on Carrefour de l'Europe.


That's the main entrance. There are numerous ways in and out of Central Station, but stick to the main entrance and you'll be fine.

Myer

Thanks.
Our hotel is just on the opposite side of the square. So if the tracks are 5 minutes from there that should be very smooth.

Cowboy1968

Good grief, my brain must have been running in neutral.. Carrefour de l'Europe is directly at the main exit/entrance of Central (just as menachem pointed out).
What I had in mind was the beginning of Grasmarkt where the Novotel, NH or Ibis are located. Sorry for the confusion.

menachem

For Grasmarkt, Galerie Horta is excellent.