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Antwerp (ANR): bus to Berchem, train to Centraal

Three bus routes leave the roundabout in front of the terminal every quarter of an hour and reach Antwerp-Berchem station in ten minutes. From there it is five minutes by train to Antwerpen-Centraal.

  • Buses 51, 52 and 53 all go to Antwerp-Berchem station and take about 10 minutes.
  • They stop at the roundabout in front of the airport, the stop called Deurne luchthavenlei.
  • They run every 15 minutes.
  • From Berchem, trains to Antwerpen-Centraal take 5 minutes and run frequently. This is the fastest way into the city.
  • Berchem is also the national rail interchange. Direct trains from there reach Brussels, Ghent and Bruges without going into Centraal first.
  • Most international trains leave from Antwerpen-Centraal, not Berchem, so check which station your onward ticket names.
  • Alternatively, from Berchem take bus 21 or 32 or tram 9 or 11 to Rooseveltplaats, near Centraal.
  • Bus 33 towards Ekeren stops at Luchthavenlei, under 100 m in front of the airport.
  • A De Lijn single ticket is 3 euro and lasts 60 minutes, enough to cover the bus leg with a transfer.
  • Buy in the De Lijn app, contactlessly on board, or from a machine. Buying from the driver is possible but is the expensive option.

The bus

  • Three routes serve the airport: 51, 52 and 53. All three run to Antwerp-Berchem railway station and take about 10 minutes.
  • The stop is the roundabout directly in front of the terminal, signed Deurne luchthavenlei.
  • Frequency is every 15 minutes.
  • Bus 33 towards Ekeren also stops at Luchthavenlei, less than 100 m in front of the airport, if you are heading north rather than into town.

Getting to the centre

  • Berchem to Antwerpen-Centraal is 5 minutes by train, and trains between them are frequent. The airport's own page calls this the fastest route.
  • Or stay on the road. From Berchem station, buses 21 and 32 and trams 9 and 11 run to Rooseveltplaats, which is next to Centraal and is the hub for buses to smaller towns around Antwerp.
  • Berchem is worth knowing about in its own right. It is a full national rail station with direct services to Brussels, Ghent and Bruges, so if you are not staying in Antwerp you may never need Centraal.
  • International trains, though, generally leave from Antwerpen-Centraal.

Tickets

  • De Lijn runs the buses. A single ticket is 3.00 euro and is valid for 60 minutes, which comfortably covers the airport to Berchem leg plus a transfer.
  • Buy in the De Lijn app or website, contactlessly on the vehicle, at a Lijnwinkel or a ticket machine. Texting DL to 4884 also works and adds a 0.25 euro operator charge.
  • Children under six travel free when accompanied by a paying passenger aged at least 12.
  • Train tickets are separate, from the office or machines at the entrance to Berchem station.

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Sources (2)

What this guide was checked against. Rules and prices change — follow the official link before you rely on a detail.