Brussels raised its hotel tax to €5 per room, per night in 2026, and the airport train adds a supplement most people don't expect. Atomium and museum tickets, transit fares and card fees are what most visitors forget.
Starts with a sample trip. Change any number to match yours.
Compare hotels in central Brussels →The sample is 2 travelers for 4 nights. Your plan ($3,080) covers the main costs most people budget for, the ones you enter on the left. Costs people forget ($732, about 24% more for this trip) are the fees, taxes, tips and extras listed in the calculator. Prices were last checked on October 17, 2026.
Share of the $3,812 real cost. Nights and travelers multiply most of these costs, so changing either one moves the total the most.
5 of this trip's numbers link to a published price or rate. The rest are our estimates, and each one says what it is based on. You can also read how we calculate every trip.
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare per person | $850 per traveler | Our estimate for a typical round-trip economy fare to Brussels from a major US airport; fares swing widely by season and departure city. Our estimate |
| Hotel per night | $170 a night | Our estimate for a mid-range double room in central Brussels; weekday rates rise when EU institutions are busy. Our estimate |
| Food per person, per day | $70 per traveler, per day | Our estimate for cafe breakfasts, casual lunches and a sit-down dinner per person in Brussels. Our estimate |
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Checked bag fees Off by default | $90 per traveler | Most economy fares to Europe include one checked bag, so this is off by default. Basic economy fares charge extra. Source |
| Passports Off by default | $165 per traveler | A new adult passport costs about $165 and can take weeks. Our estimate |
| Airport transfers | $55 for the trip | Airport trains add a 6.90 euro supplement, so the ride is about 12 euros each; four rides for two come to about $55. Source |
| City tourist tax | $5.60 a night | From January 2026 Brussels charges 5 euros, about $5.60, per room, per night. Source |
| Metro, tram and bus fares | $29 per traveler | Our estimate based on a daily fare cap of about 8.50 euros, used on about three days of the trip. Our estimate |
| Atomium and museum tickets | $40 per traveler | Atomium adult tickets are 17 euros; our $40 adds one of the big art museums. Source |
| Belgian beer and chocolate | $15 per traveler, per night | Our estimate for a couple of cafe beers each evening plus some pralines to take home. Our estimate |
| Day trip to Bruges or Ghent Off by default | $50 per traveler | A round-trip train ticket and a few sights in a second city. Our estimate |
| Phone data | $30 per traveler | An international plan or eSIM. Our estimate |
| Card fees | 3% of your plan | Foreign transaction fees are usually around 3% of each purchase on cards that charge them. Source |
| Travel insurance | 6% of your plan | Squaremouth says a comprehensive plan averages about 6% of the trip cost, usually 4% to 10%. Source |
| Pre-trip shopping | $60 for the trip | Our estimate for travel-size toiletries, sunscreen and small things bought before a trip. Our estimate |
| Pet boarding or sitter | $50 a day, if you check Pets | Dogster puts regular kennel boarding at about $35 to $85 a night. Overnight sitters at home cost more. Source |
For 4 nights with flights, a hotel and food, plan on about $3,100. Once you add the costs most visitors forget, like the city tourist tax, the airport train, transit fares, Atomium and museum tickets and card fees, it's closer to $3,800. Use the calculator above to change any number to match your trip.
Since January 2026, Brussels charges €5 per room, per night at hotels. It's charged per room, not per person, so two people sharing a room pay €20 over 4 nights. Many hotels collect it at check-in or checkout on top of the rate you booked. Source
The train is the easiest option. It reaches Brussels-Central in about 18 minutes, and fares include a €6.90 airport supplement. Taxis start around €40. Source
An adult ticket is €17. Combo tickets with Mini-Europe cost €35, and with the Belgian Beer World Experience €37. Groups of 20 or more pay less per person. Source
No visa is needed for short tourist stays in the Schengen area. ETIAS has not launched yet and is now expected in 2027. Since April 2026, the EU Entry/Exit System scans your fingerprints and takes a photo at the border on your first entry.