Getting Around Bruges: An Overview
Bruges is a compact, canal-based city whose historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For visitors, that compactness is the key fact: the historical centre is not so big and is quite walkable, and in any case the historic heart must be traversed on foot, by bicycle, by horse-drawn carriage or by boat to be enjoyed. Public transport within the city is limited to buses, and the city is also well connected to the rest of Belgium by rail.
Walking in the Historic Centre
Walking is the natural way to explore Bruges. The historic centre is small enough to cover on foot, and the railway station is close enough that all hotels are easily reachable on foot — even with a backpack.
- Wear comfortable shoes: the city's cobblestones are hard on the feet.
- If you are travelling with a suitcase, consider taking a taxi from the station instead of walking, because the cobbled streets make wheeled suitcases and carry-on bags very difficult to manage.
- The historic centre is essentially car-free in practice: buses and camping vehicles are not allowed within the city centre, and it is generally a bad idea to venture inside with a car.
Trains and the Rail Network
Belgium's rail system is excellent, and travelling to Bruges by train is a natural choice. Bruges has its own station, and trains to and from Brussels run frequently during the day. The journey from Brussels takes about an hour, and you can also board at Brussels-Central or Brussels-North on the same line.
- Trains heading to Bruges travel in the direction of the coastal stations — any train to Ostend/Oostende, Knokke or Blankenberge is fine, except trains to De Panne.
- If you arrive on the Eurostar, you now need to buy a separate ticket from Brussels Midi to Bruges.
- Luggage lockers at the station are available from 06:00 to 22:00.
- There are first and second class seats; to identify them, look for a number next to a "no smoking" sign somewhere in the wagon.
- For groups of travellers under 25, a 10-ride card may be the cheapest option, offering ten pre-paid rides between any Belgian train stations.
- Trains are often full to and from Bruges, especially during rush hours, so travellers with mobility problems may end up standing or sitting in the carriage entry area. There isn't really a solution to this during the tourist season, when Bruges is wall to wall with people.
- From Lille (France), there are hourly trains to Bruges, but these require a change at Kortrijk/Courtrai. One leg is operated by French railways (SNCF) and the other by Belgian railways, which makes the journey difficult to book; this route will not show up on many planners but is possible.
For schedules, prices and services, consult the website of the NMBS/SNCB.
Buses and Other Public Transport
The only mode of public transport inside the city is the bus, operated by the Flemish public transport company De Lijn. Buses serve nearly all major points of interest as well as the train station.
- A cheap shuttle bus runs from the railway station to the city centre: the Centrumshuttlebus, at €3 per trip (free for residents and some groups).
- Small city mini-buses also cruise the town with high frequency.
Note that Bruges has no metro or tram network of its own; the city's internal public transport is bus-based.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are available on the Market Place and at the station, and a trip between them costs about €10. They are also the sensible choice if you are arriving by train with a wheeled suitcase, given the cobblestones.
Bicycles
Bicycles are easy to rent and make getting around the city very speedy, although the cobblestoned paths can make rides a little bumpy and uncomfortable. Cycling is one of the accepted ways to experience the historic centre.
Arriving by Car
Driving into the centre is best avoided: parking is limited and finding your way is difficult. Buses and camping vehicles are not allowed within the city centre, but there is a good parking place for them on the south side of the city, with a gangway bringing you directly into the heart of town.
- Multi-storey car parks sit about a five-minute walk from the city centre.
- Free car parks are available immediately north (Lodewijk Coiseaukaai, 8000 Brugge) and west (Bevrijdingslaan, 8000 Brugge) of the central city; these are roughly a 15-minute walk into the centre.
Getting In from the Airport
Bruges shares its airport with Ostend: Ostend-Bruges International Airport (OST) has a long runway and a seaside location giving a picturesque approach, but its passenger traffic is pretty much limited to seasonal flights to holiday destinations. It is also a major hub for cargo airlines, so plane-spotters may find it of interest.
More viable as a point of entry is Brussels National Airport (BRU), Belgium's largest, along with Charleroi (CRL, Brussels South) and Lille (LIL). From any of these, getting to Bruges by train is by far the easiest way: only one change at one of the three main stations is needed, and the entire connection takes about 1½ hours.
Arriving by Ferry or Cruise Ship
- DFDS Seaways operates ferries from Dover to Dunkirk every two hours; from Dunkirk, Bruges is 75 km away. This can only be done by driving, as the ferry does not take foot passengers.
- A DFDS ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam sails daily; from its port in IJmuiden you can reach Bruges in less than three hours by car.
- Stena Line operates twice a day from Harwich to Hoek van Holland near Rotterdam; foot passengers can reach Central Rotterdam on metro line B, changing at Beurs for the main railway station on lines D and E for Rotterdam CS. Depending on the train connection you will need to change at least once, and possibly up to three times.
- The ferry from Kingston upon Hull to Zeebrugge was axed in 2021.
- Cruise ships virtually all dock at the major harbour of Zeebrugge. In addition to ship's tours, most offer shuttles to Blankenberge, a nearby town with an economical, hourly train service to Bruges, about 20 minutes away.