Tips on how to get to Bruges

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Bruges is the epitome of the old saying, “All roads lead to Rome”. With its convenient location roughly in the middle of the London, Paris and Amsterdam triangle, you will find many ways to get to Bruges.

Different ways to get to Bruges

• How to get to Bruges by air?
• How to get to Bruges by train?
• How to get to Bruges by bus?
• How to get to Bruges by ferry?

How to get to Bruges: by air

• Brussels International Airport is about 1 hr and 30 mins to get to Bruges by train. Check the timetable for the Airport City Express on the Belgian Railways (SNCB/NMBS) website, entering Zaventem Airport as the departure or destination station in the online form. If you prefer to rent a car to get to Bruges, there are many car rental companies at the airport. Make sure you get a road map as Belgian roads can be tricky at times.

• The modern Antwerp (Deurne) Airport is ideal for international scheduled flights and general aviation. You will find frequent regular connections with London, Rotterdam, Manchester, Jersey and Milan. If you are in the UK you can compare flights to Bruges Belgium with CheapFlights.co.uk or for more information check the Antwerp Airport.

• Brussels South Charleroi Airport is about 2 hours from Bruges by train. Ryanair is one of the biggest carriers there. Other carriers later joined Ryanair in Charleroi, such as Wizz Air and Fly On Air.

• Liège Airport is the 3th biggest for passenger next to Brussels and Charleroi. Next to that is Liège airport the biggest cargo airport in Belgium.

How to get to Bruges: by train

Getting to Bruges by train is by far the best way to reach the city and to see the beautiful Belgian countryside. For Eurail Pass holders, it is also quite inexpensive. There are several connections to hub cities on your way to get to Bruges.

• Eurostar breaks – directline-citybreaks combines Eurostar & cheap flights with hand-picked hotels in more than 50 cities to offer cheap city breaks, short breaks & unforgettable weekend breaks.

• The Belgian Railways (NMBS) will bring you from Bruges to Brussels in less then 1 hr, from Bruges to Antwerp in 1 hr and 20 mins, from Bruges to Ghent in 30 min., from Bruges to Ostend in 15 mins.

• The Thalys links Brussels and Amsterdam in 2 hrs and 35 min. Trains depart and arrive at the south station (Gare du Midi) in Brussels. For more information www.thalys.com.

• The Eurostar links London and Brussels, with the trip taking 1 hrs and 51 mins. Trains depart and arrive at the south station (Gare du Midi) in Brussels and depart and arrive at the London St Pancras International Station or Ebbsfleet International. Connections are outstanding, with six underground lines and seven rail companies operating from St Pancras International, King’s Cross and nearby Euston. For additional information about the Eurostar train, call 2 555 25 25 or www.eurostar.com

• The Thalys line links Paris and Brussels with a 1 hr and 25 min trip. Trains depart and arrive at the south station (Gare du Midi) in Brussels and depart and arrive at the North Station (Gare du Nord) in Paris or at the Charles de Gaulle airport. There are 18 to 19 trains a day. For more information visit www.thalys.com

• The best way to find out train schedules is to contact Rail Europe at www.raileurope.com or contact them by phone. From the US dial 1-877-257-2887, from Canada dial 1-800-361-RAIL. For more information on the Eurostar, Thalys, Benelux pass, rail passes in Europe and point-to-point tickets visit: Rail Europe.

How to get to Bruges: by bus

• Belgium is a densely populated country due to this we have extensive public bus routes, which are used often by locals. Get to Bruges by bus is very simple and easy. Check beforehand bus routes to avoid confusion, bus drivers are usually quite helpful as are other passengers so do not be afraid to ask someone for some help.

• Prices vary depending on where you are going. Children younger than 6 get to Bruges free. You pay up to 50% less if you buy your ticket ahead of time at de lijnshops. A new way to pay for your ticket is with a single SMS (for now still only for proximus users). If you are traveling with a minimum of 5 people, you can buy a group ticket. Check out this site types and fares.

How to get to Bruges: by ferry

To and From England and Belgium by Ferry:

• Get to Bruges by car from the UK is really easy. If you live in the south of Britain you can choose Eurotunnel from Folkestone or P&O ferries or SeaFrance from Dover. They all go to Calais and from there it’s just an hour or so to Bruges. NorfolkLine sails from Dover direct to Ostend, which is only about 45 minutes to Bruges. From the north why not take the P&O Ferries overnight sailing from Hull to Zeebrugge, only 30 minutes from Bruges? Or there’s the option of the overnight Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry service operated by DFDS, and it’s only three hours by road to Bruges.

• Get to Bruges from Hull, England and Zeebrugge, Belgium: One departure a day by ferry, which carries both cars and passengers. The crossing time is 14 hrs. For more information, visit P&O North Sea Ferries.

Other info about Bruges

Once you have figured out how to get to Bruges, perhaps you can learn already something more about this beautiful medieval city:
• Things to do in Bruges • Things to see in Bruges • Events in Bruges • Museums in Bruges • Restaurants in Bruges • Nightlife in Bruges • Christmas in Bruges