Quick answer. Belgium is heavily card-and-Bancontact-driven, so for most visitors the honest answer at Brussels Airport (BRU, Zaventem) is that you need very little cash; a contactless card pays for nearly everything including the airport train. If you do want a euro float, use a BNP Paribas Fortis ATM or a shared neutral Bancontact (Batopin) cash point in arrivals (Belgian bank ATMs add no operator surcharge of their own), and avoid the Travelex counters and the orange Euronet machines, which add a fee and push DCC. Belgium has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, so a BoA card pays its own 3% fee here; a no-FX-fee card (Wise, Schwab) is cleaner. Always decline DCC and choose euros (EUR). To the city (about 12 km northeast): the airport train from the station under the terminal reaches Bruxelles-Central / Nord / Midi in ~17–25 min (the fare includes a small 'Diabolo' airport supplement), or take the airport bus; both take contactless cards.
Where to get Euros at BRU
The key Brussels Airport fact is that you may need very little cash; a contactless card pays for the airport train and nearly everything else. If you do want euros, use a BNP Paribas Fortis ATM or a shared Bancontact (Batopin) cash point and avoid the Travelex counters and the orange Euronet units. The cost math below assumes you withdraw or exchange the equivalent of $100.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| BNP Paribas Fortis / Bancontact ATM (BRU arrivals, no surcharge) | Arrivals hall | Interbank rate, no operator fee | ~$100 + home-bank fee only |
| Just use a contactless card (no cash needed) | Everywhere, incl. the airport train | Interbank rate on a no-FX-fee card | ~$100 |
| Travelex exchange counter (BRU) | Arrivals | A high spread plus fees | ~$88-93 |
| Euronet ATM (orange, BRU) | Arrivals | Operator fee + DCC pitch | ~$88-93 |
| Accepting DCC at any machine | Anywhere | +4-12% if you choose 'charge in USD' | ~$88-96 |
Where to find the BNP Paribas Fortis and Bancontact ATMs at Brussels Airport (BRU)
Brussels Airport (BRU), in Zaventem about 12 km northeast of the city centre, is Belgium's main gateway, with a single terminal split into Pier A (Schengen) and Pier B (non-Schengen). The most useful thing to know is cultural: Belgium is strongly card-driven, with the domestic Bancontact scheme and contactless cards covering nearly everything, so most visitors need very little cash. The first question at BRU is therefore less 'which ATM' than 'do I need euros at all', and for many travelers the answer is barely. If you do want a euro float, look for a BNP Paribas Fortis ATM or one of the shared, neutrally-branded Bancontact (Batopin) cash points; Belgian bank ATMs dispense euros at the interbank rate and add no operator surcharge of their own, so you pay only your home-bank fees. The machines to avoid are the Travelex exchange counters and the orange Euronet ATMs, which add fees and push dynamic currency conversion. Belgium has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, so a BoA card pays its standard 3% non-network fee at any Belgian ATM. Whatever you use, decline DCC and choose euros.
Main Terminal (Pier A Schengen, Pier B non-Schengen)
Brussels Airlines (the home carrier and Lufthansa Group member), plus Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, British Airways, TAP, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and the United transatlantic services. Brussels Airport is a single integrated terminal with a Schengen pier (A) and a non-Schengen pier (B)
In the arrivals hall, look for a BNP Paribas Fortis ATM or a shared, neutrally-branded Bancontact (Batopin) cash point rather than the Travelex counters or the orange Euronet machines; the bank and Bancontact ATMs add no operator surcharge on foreign cards. Withdraw only a small euro float if any, decline DCC, choose euros, then head down to the railway station beneath the terminal for the airport train into the city.
Do you actually need cash at Brussels Airport (BRU)?
No, for almost everyone. The airport train, the airport bus, taxis, and Uber all take cards, and Belgium is strongly card-and-Bancontact-driven. Here is what works on a card, and the narrow cases where a little cash still helps:
Airport train (to Bruxelles-Central / Nord / Midi) (~EUR 11-13 one way (incl. Diabolo supplement)): From the station under the terminal to the central Brussels stations in ~17-25 min. The fare includes a small fixed airport supplement. Buy with a contactless card at the machine.
Airport bus (Brussels Airport Line / De Lijn / STIB) (~EUR 3-7 one way): Bus services to the city and the EU quarter; cheaper than the train but slower. Pay by card at the machine or on board where supported.
Taxi (~EUR 35-50 to the centre): Licensed taxis from the official rank outside arrivals; cards accepted. Confirm the fare or that the meter is running.
Uber / Bolt (~EUR 30-45 to the centre): Uber and Bolt operate in Brussels and are often cheaper than a taxi; pay in-app by card.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Brussels Airport (BRU) to Brussels?
No. Airport train (to Bruxelles-Central / Nord / Midi) accepts contactless. Most taxis accept cards. Uber and other apps are card-only.
Can I order Euros before flying?
Yes. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical Euros to your US address in 2-5 days at rates well below airport counters. Order 50-100 Euros for taxis and tips on day one.
Do I actually need cash in Belgium?
For most visitors, not much. Belgium is strongly card-driven: contactless cards and the domestic Bancontact scheme pay for the airport train, city transit, restaurants, museums, and most shops, and many places are effectively cashless. You will need far less cash than the euro amount you might instinctively withdraw. The cash holdouts are the frituren (fry stands), the Place du Jeu de Balle flea market, some neighborhood cafes, and the odd parking meter. If you want a small euro float for those, withdraw a modest amount from a BNP Paribas Fortis ATM or a shared Bancontact cash point, but there is no need to load up on cash on arrival.
Which ATM at Brussels Airport is best, and which should I avoid?
Use a Belgian bank ATM, a BNP Paribas Fortis machine or one of the shared, neutrally-branded Bancontact (Batopin) cash points, and avoid the Travelex exchange counters and the orange Euronet machines. Belgian bank ATMs dispense euros at the real Visa or Mastercard interbank rate and add no operator surcharge of their own, so you pay only your home-bank fees. The Travelex counters and Euronet units add fees and push DCC (the 'charge in your home currency' offer), which can cost several percent. At any machine, decline DCC and choose euros. Because a card covers the airport train and most spending, you may not need an airport withdrawal at all.
What are the shared Bancontact (Batopin) cash points?
As part of a banking-sector consolidation called Batopin, Belgium's four big banks (BNP Paribas Fortis, KBC, ING Belgium, and Belfius) moved most of their ATMs out of individual branch lobbies and into shared, neutrally-branded cash-point clusters labeled 'Bancontact' or 'CASH', with no single bank logo. For a foreign card they behave just like a bank ATM: euros at the interbank rate, no operator surcharge of their own. So in Belgium you will often see these neutral Bancontact machines rather than bank-branded ones; they are the good option, and the orange Euronet units are the ones to avoid.
Is there a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner in Belgium?
No. None of the Belgian banks (BNP Paribas Fortis, KBC, ING Belgium, Belfius) belong to the Bank of America Global ATM Alliance, so a BoA debit card pays BoA's standard 3% non-network fee at any Belgian ATM, on top of nothing extra from the Belgian bank itself (the bank ATMs add no operator surcharge). Note that BNP Paribas in France is a BoA Alliance partner, but its Belgian arm BNP Paribas Fortis is not, so there is no fee-free option for BoA cards in Belgium. A no-foreign-transaction-fee card such as Wise or Charles Schwab is cleaner.
How do I get from Brussels Airport to the city centre?
The easiest option is the airport train from the station directly beneath the terminal, which reaches Bruxelles-Central, Nord, and Midi in about 17–25 minutes; the ticket includes a small fixed 'Diabolo' airport supplement on top of the normal fare. Trains run frequently. The airport bus (the Brussels Airport Line and De Lijn/STIB services) also runs to the city, including the EU quarter. A taxi or Uber to the centre runs roughly EUR 35–50. All take contactless cards, so you need no cash to leave the airport; buy the train ticket with a card at the machine or tap where supported.