Flying to Brussels anytime soon? Don't get stuck with high roaming charges when traveling to Belgium. Stay connected with a Belgium prepaid sim card or is an e-sim card for Belgium an even better idea?
This is a complete guide for buying a sim card at Brussels Airport. Find out everything about e-sim cards for Belgium, a comparison with the Belgium tourist sim cards, up to date prices as of August 2023, where to buy a sim card, my recommendation, a vlog about my experiences and arrival at Brussels Airport, info about EU roaming, international sim cards and more.
Being a full time nomad and travel blogger who is on a mission to travel to every country in the world I get to a new country regularly. The first thing I do is looking for the best ways to get connected. That is how on Traveltomtom you can find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Europe, Asia, USA, Canada, Germany, UK, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Cairo, Nairobi, Cameroon, Tel Aviv, New York, Thailand and many more.
In case you missed the opportunity to buy a sim card at Brussels Airport or you simply want to go into the city first to find much better prepaid sim card deals for Belgium you should check out my article about buying a sim card in Belgium in 2023 with the latest deals, information about where to buy a sim card, the best 4G/5G network in Belgium and more.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for traveling in Belgium. Getting an e-sim card is much cheaper than buying a prepaid sim card on arrival at Brussels Airport. Belgium e-sim card plans start from $4.5 USD.
The best buy prepaid sim card at Brussels Airport is a Lycamobile sim card at the luggage belt sim card shop. For €30 EUR you get 10 GB data for 1 month. In comparison for $30 USD you can buy a data-only e-sim card for Belgium with 20 GB data.
Therefore Traveltomtom does not recommend buying a local prepaid sim card at Brussels Airport. Online you will find much better e-sim card and prepaid sim card deals for Belgium. Keep reading.
We also advice to look into travel sim cards. Check out our comparison of the best international sim cards for traveling in 2023. Some of them are excellent for traveling in Europe. Another option is an e-sim card for Belgium.
Best e-sim cards for Belgium
The easiest and fastest way to get connected when traveling to Brussels in 2023 is an e-sim card. No more swapping physical sim cards and visiting a sim card store, you arrange it all online. You order an e-sim card, process the payment, receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and you are instantly connected. All in just a couple minutes.
Check out the following Belgium e-sim card deals:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.50 USD
- 2 GB data for 7 days = $7 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $9 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $12.5 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $30 USD
Click here to order an e-sim card for Belgium directly online.
The above data-only e-sim cards for Belgium are from Belganet and data is only valid in Belgium. Belganet operates on both, the Base 5G and the Proximus 5G networks. Yes, these e-sim cards for Belgium are 5G ready.
Belgium e-sim cards that cover all of Europe? Make phone calls with your e-sim card? Then check out the following international e-sim cards that are valid in up to 70 countries:
- 10 GB data + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 8 GB + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
- 20 GB + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to order an international e-sim card for traveling in Belgium.
Very important is to make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card for Belgium or traveling in Europe.
Is your phone not e-sim compatible then look into ordering a physical prepaid sim card for Belgium on the internet. 10 GB data will cost you $24.90 USD or 20 GB data $49.90 USD. These international prepaid sim cards will be delivered to your home address before your trip. Click here to order an international sim card for traveling in Belgium or see all the other offers.
Arrival at Brussels Airport
Brussels Airport is only ranked as 23rd biggest airport in Europe. So don't worry, you will not get lost and it is not that big and busy. Brussels Airport is easy to navigate. When you get out of the plane you are redirected to the passport control area. Brussels Airport has e-gates, so it mostly is a smooth pass and no big lines.
You then get to the baggage claim area where you pick up your bags. Here you can find ATM's, public transportation info as well as a sim card shop. After you walk through the customs baggage check you walk out into a small arrival hall. There is only one exit. You will find a coffee shop right in front of you, the car rental companies are on your right hand side and on your left hand side there is a WH Smith store, a fast food restaurant and a fairly big supermarket.
Where to buy a sim card at Brussels Airport?
There are 2 places to buy your prepaid sim card for Belgium when you land at Brussels International Airport. The first opportunity is offered straight away at the luggage belts and near luggage belt 3 you will find a Sim Local shop and they sell prepaid sim cards for Belgium for tourists.
Keep in mind that once you picked up your bag and went through customs baggage check you can not return into the baggage claim hall for buying a sim card.
The second place to buy a Belgium sim card is at the WH Smith store in the arrival hall. It is hard to miss on your left hand side when you walk into the arrival hall.
The WH Smith is a convenient store and the staff has not much knowledge about the sim cards for Belgium they sell. At the Sim Local store shop the luggage belt they have excellent service as they are catered to sell prepaid sim cards for tourists. However, are the sim card deals worth it?
Traveling around Belgium? Don't forget the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bruges! Here is your complete Bruges Travel Guide and why you should visit this medieval city and fantastic place to visit in Belgium.
Prices prepaid sim cards Brussels Airport in 2023
Prices and info below are updated in August 2023. Prices are in Euros: $1 USD = €0.91 EUR and €1 EUR = $1.10 USD.
WH Smith store
They only sell a prepaid Orange sim card for Belgium and Europe and this is the deal:
- 20 GB data + unlimited calls/text in Europe for 14 days = €45 EUR
This is the same sim card deal as you can find online. Check out my comparison of the best sim cards for traveling in Europe in 2023.
Sim Local store at Luggage Belt 3
These are the available Belgium prepaid sim cards for tourists at the Sim Local shop. The friendly lady explained to me in all detail what the packages exactly included. And that the activation fee is NOT optional, but always has to be paid. The total price is the big displayed price.
Orange
- 5 GB data + 50 minutes + 4,000 sms = €25
Lycamobile has 3 different prepaid sim card deals for Belgium:
- 10 GB data + unlimited minutes/sms = €30
- 30 GB data + unlimited minutes/sms = €40
- 50 GB data + unlimited minutes/sms = €50
Proximus:
- 3 GB data + 500 sms + €10 credit = €20
- 6 GB data + 500 sms + €10 credit = €25
Best sim card at Brussels Airport in 2023
After comparing all the Belgium prepaid sim card deals at Brussels Airport and the online available international sim cards and e-sim cards for Belgium Traveltomtom comes to the conclusion that e-sim cards for Belgium are the cheapest way to stay connected when traveling to Belgium.
You can already get an e-sim card with 5 GB data for 30 days for just $12 USD.
However, we understand that not everyone is able to use e-sim cards and when looking at the best buy at Brussels Airport Traveltomtom recommends buying a Lycamobile sim card for €30 EUR with 10 GB data. Keep in mind that the same sim card can be ordered online for $24.90, see below for more info.
If you are really looking for the cheapest sim card available at Brussels Airport then you have to buy a Proximus sim card for €20 EUR but you also only get 3 GB data.
Buying a sim card at Brussels Airport is simply more expensive than in Brussels city center. If you have the patience to wait until you get to the city you can walk in to any of the mobile internet operator stores and buy a sim card in Brussels center. The prepaid sim card deals here are much better than at Brussels Airport.
For more detailed information check out my article about the best tourist sim cards for Belgium in 2023.
Buy a sim card for Belgium online
If buying a sim card at Brussels Airport sounds like too much hassle and effort or you simply want a better sim card deal then check out the following international sim cards for traveling in Belgium. Also if you travel onwards in Europe these sim cards are great as they are valid in all of Europe:
Three Data Pack 10 GB - $24.90
- 10 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe and UK
- Valid 30 days
Orange Holiday ZEN - $29.90
- 8 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe and UK
- Valid 14 days
Orange Holiday Europe - $49.90
- 20 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- Unlimited calls/sms in Europe and UK
- 120 minutes worldwide
- 1,000 sms worldwide
- Valid 14 days
Three PAYG MBB 12 GB - $59.90
- 12 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- Valid for 1 year
Three PAYG MBB 24 GB - $79.90
- 24 GB data in all of Europe and UK
- Valid for 2 years
Click here to order an international sim card for Belgium directly online or find more info.
Also a last reminder that if your phone is e-sim compatible you should look into e-sim cards for Belgium. Order simply on the internet or click on the following links for more information about international e-sim cards or buying an e-sim card for Europe.
I hope the above tips for buying a sim card at Brussels Airport were helpful for your upcoming trip. In case you have any additional questions don't hesitate to leave me a message below and I am more than happy to help you out.
Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of August 2023 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Brussels!
Some links in this article about the best Brussels sim card are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don’t worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you!