How to reach Bruges
By plane
A large number of carriers offer direct flights to Brussels. Belgium's main airport has its own railway station. Bruges can easily be reached through the airports of Brussels, Charleroi (Brussels South) and Lille, so getting to Bruges by train is by far the easiest way. Direct trains from Brussels Airport every hour. From Charleroi Airport : expressbus to Bruges station.
By train
Traveling to Bruges on Belgium's excellent rail system is a natural choice. Trains to and from Brussels leave every 30 minutes during the day. The journey from Brussel-Zuid (a.k.a. Bruxelles-Midi if you prefer French to Dutch) to Bruges takes about 50 minutes. Brugge is not the terminus, look for trains going to Oostende or Blankenberge. If you are traveling on the Eurostar that same day, you can get a cheap add-on ticket to "Any Belgian Station". Otherwise, buy a ticket when you get to the station. Luggage lockers are available from 6AM to 9:30PM. For more information on schedules, prices, and services visit the website of the NMBS/SNCB. Be aware that trains are often full to and from Bruges, especially during rush hours, so if you or your colleagues have any problems with mobility you could be standing the whole trip or at best sitting in the entry area of the carriage. There isn't really any solution to this during the tourist season when Bruges is wall to wall people.
By car
If you are planning a bus-tour: be aware buses and camping vehicles are not allowed intra muros (within the walls of the city). There is a perfect parking place for them on the south side of the city with a newly designed gangway bringing you directly into the heart of the town. It is in general a bad idea to venture inside with a car, as parking is limited and finding your way difficult. There are multistory car parks a five minute walk from the city centre. Nice city mini-buses cruise the town with high frequency, and in any case, the historical centre must be traversed on foot, by bicycle, by horse-drawn carriage or by boat to enjoy it.
By ferry
- P&O Ferries operate a daily sailing every evening from Hull to Zeebrugge, taking 12½ hours for the crossing. The fares do not include the bus from the ferry terminal to Bruges railway station.
- DFDS operates ferries from Dover to Dunkirk every 2 hours. From Dunkirk, Bruges is only 90 km / 1 hour drive away. DFDS do not take foot passengers on this or their Dover to Calais route. DFDS also operate overnight ferries from Newcastle to IJmuiden (near Amsterdam) daily. From IJmuiden, you can reach Bruges in less than 3 hours by car.
Get around
The historical center is not so big and thus quite walkable. For getting into the city, there are buses, car taxis and, as of 2016, bicycle taxis. GreenRides gives a very unique first impression of the city, and the prices are similar to buses. Buses are operated by the Flemish public transport company De Lijn. Taxis on the market place and station cost about €10. Bicycles are easy to rent and make getting around the city very speedy. Cycling in Bruges is the perfect way to discover the historical centre. Bruges citizens make fanatical use of their bikes. Up to 60% of all incoming traffic in the city centre are cyclists. Bruges can be described as a city where cycling is familiarized and where the local government puts a lot of effort to improve cycling in this city. According to Bruges Major cycling is the main point of attention in all parts of infrastructure, city plans, permits etc. In 2012 Bruges received a nomination for ¨Belgium cycle city of the year¨. Also, for 15 years Bruges has been the starting point for the Tour of Flanders. When you’re planning to visit Bruges you can easily hop on a bike and start to discover the city. There are various bike rental companies spread over the city and some of them also offer the opportunity to do a guided bike tour. A local guide will take you across Bruges highlights within a few hours. Two good bike tour companies are Baja Bikes and Quasimundo.
