Local Tip
Most shops and restaurants refuse €200 and €500 notes, Visit Brussels says, so ask for smaller ones. Four registered bureaux have addresses in the centre: Boulevard Adolphe Max, Rue du Marché aux Herbes, Rue de la Bourse and Rue du Midi.
Where to change money in Brussels
Visit Brussels says shops and restaurants normally accept only euros, so change other currencies before you spend. Every business below appears on the register of bureaux de change published by the FSMA, Belgium's financial regulator.
- DME Change Registered at Boulevard Adolphe Max 11; its website lists a second office at Rue du Marché aux Herbes 23 and says both open seven days a week.
- Eurogold Registered at Rue de la Bourse 30-32. Its website says it deals in more than 60 currencies, exchanged on the spot or reserved by phone.
- Gold & Forex International (GFI) Registered at Rue du Midi 101, where currency is exchanged at its ground-floor office, open Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 16:30 according to its website.
- Western Union, Rue du Marché aux Herbes 88 One of several Western Union stores in Brussels, open Monday to Saturday. The company says its stores handle four currencies against the euro: the pound and the US, Canadian and Australian dollar.
Changing money at the airport
Ria runs the exchange offices at Brussels Airport. The arrival-hall office, beyond customs, opens 6am to 10pm; others, with shorter hours, are in the departure hall, in baggage reclaim and at gates A, B and T. Cash machines stand opposite check-in row 7 near the escalators that lead down to the station, by the information desk facing Java Coffee Bar, in baggage reclaim behind carousels 2 and 3, and near gates A40-A42 and B04. At Brussels South Charleroi Airport, the CASH network lists a machine open from 06:00 to midnight.
ATMs and cards in Brussels
ING, Belfius, KBC and BNP Paribas Fortis share the CASH network of cash machines, run by Batopin, a partnership of the four banks. CASH takes no fee for a withdrawal, but your bank may still charge. At any Brussels cash machine, have the withdrawal charged in euros and let your own card provider turn it into pounds; MoneySavingExpert notes that rates applied by a machine or retailer are often poorer. Many shops and restaurants take credit cards, but Visit Brussels says not all do, so ask before ordering or carry enough cash.
Paying for transport in Brussels
STIB's metro, trams and buses take contactless bank cards, phones and smartwatches; tap in at the metro gates or on board. A journey cost €2.40 in September 2026, changes within 60 minutes of your first tap are free, and spending is capped at €8.50 a day. Each traveller needs their own card. Rail tickets between the city and Brussels Airport usually include a supplement, which the airport gives as €6.90.
Good to know
- Service is always included, Visit Brussels says, but tipping in restaurants and bars is customary; 5 to 10% is acceptable and never obligatory.
- Belgium's economy ministry says a business may never refuse payment in cash.
Key Areas in Brussels
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Exchange bureaux, banks and cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap. The map loads only when you ask for it.
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Brussels travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Brussels?
Compare the euros that two or three registered bureaux in the centre would give you, for example DME Change on Boulevard Adolphe Max, Eurogold on Rue de la Bourse and GFI on Rue du Midi. Card holders will find a CASH machine quicker.
Which Brussels Airport exchange counter is open after customs?
Ria's arrival-hall office, open from 6am to 10pm, is the one to use once you are through customs. If you would rather withdraw euros, there is a cash machine in baggage reclaim, behind carousels 2 and 3.
Can I use a contactless card on the Brussels metro?
Yes. Tap a bank card, phone or watch at the gates or on board: STIB charged €2.40 a journey, capped at €8.50 a day, in September 2026. Everyone in your group needs a separate card.
Checked September 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: FSMA · Visit Brussels · Brussels Airport · STIB-MIVB · CASH (Batopin) · DME Change
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