Getting Around Breda
Breda is a compact, walkable city in North Brabant, and its public transport links make it easy to reach and explore without a car. The city has no commercial airport of its own, but it sits on a major railway hub and is served by buses, bikes and taxis, so a visitor can arrive from several airports and get around the centre on foot.
On Foot
The city centre and most of the sights are easy to discover on foot. For a visitor staying centrally, walking is often the simplest way to get between the main attractions, and it requires no tickets or planning.
By Bike
Biking is a good option for getting around Breda, and bikes can be rented at the train station bike parking. This makes the bicycle a practical choice for covering more ground than you would on foot while still moving at your own pace.
Trains and the Rail Network
Breda is a major railway hub. Two railway lines meet at Breda station: the north–south line from Rotterdam to the Belgian border, with further extensions to Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport and The Hague, and the east–west line branching out in Breda through Tilburg towards Eindhoven and 's-Hertogenbosch. The latter connects to branches going to Utrecht, Arnhem, Nijmegen and Zwolle.
A variety of trains, including frequently stopping Sprinters, traverse those lines, connecting Breda not only to those major cities but also to many smaller stations along the way, such as Delft. Pretty much all of the Netherlands can be reached from Breda by train with one change.
Premium Intercity Direct trains connect Breda to Amsterdam, Schiphol and Rotterdam without intermediate stops, running on the high-speed line. Breda also has direct international connections to Antwerp and Brussels. Train schedules and ticket prices can be found on the Nederlandse Spoorwegen website or NS International.
Note that Breda's public transport is rail- and bus-based: there is no metro or tram network in the city, so visitors should plan around trains and buses rather than urban rail.
Buses and Other Public Transport
The city bus is another option, circling through town. You can use 9292 to plan your trip, which is useful for working out connections between buses and trains.
You can pay for the bus fare by using contactless payment on your debit card. A typical bus trip inside the city costs around €2, which makes paying as you board straightforward for most visitors.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Visitors who prefer a door-to-door option should expect to arrange this locally, but no specific operators or booking details are covered here.
Getting There from the Airport
Breda does not have a commercial airport, but thanks to the excellent public transportation system of the Netherlands, it can be reached easily from numerous airports in the Netherlands and even in Belgium.
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS): the largest in the Netherlands and one of the most important global hubs, with an extensive flight network across many continents. From the airport's train station, directly underneath the terminal, NS Dutch Railways operates a frequent Intercity Direct high-speed rail service to Breda. The journey takes about an hour and costs €28.50 one-way, including a supplement for using the Intercity Direct.
- Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM): closer to Breda and served by a number of short-haul connections. From there, take RET's bus 33 to Rotterdam Centraal railway station and continue to Breda by the same Intercity Direct or a regular Intercity. The total journey takes about an hour as well and costs €12.40; the Intercity Direct supplement does not apply here, as it is only required for journeys including the stretch between Rotterdam and Schiphol.
- Eindhoven Airport (EIN): the country's second-largest airport by number of passengers, served mostly by low-fare traffic from all over Europe. Take a bus from the airport to Eindhoven's railway station and change to an Intercity train to Breda, with a total journey time of slightly above an hour and a cost of €14.22.
- Brussels Airport (BRU): another international and intercontinental hub close to Breda, with many flights to Africa in particular. It has an integrated train station as well, with regular direct trains to Breda. The journey takes a bit more than an hour and costs €23.40.
- Flibco shuttles: Flibco also offers direct shuttle bus connections from both Brussels Airport (BRU) and Charleroi Airport (CRL) to Breda, providing a convenient cross-border transfer option. Shuttles run multiple times daily, and tickets can be booked online in advance.
Practical Tips
- Use 9292 to plan bus and public transport trips within the city.
- Pay for city bus fares by contactless payment on your debit card; a typical trip inside the city costs around €2.
- Rent a bike at the train station bike parking if you want to explore beyond the walkable centre.
- Check the Nederlandse Spoorwegen or NS International websites for train schedules and ticket prices, including international services.
- Allow for the Intercity Direct supplement when budgeting journeys that include the stretch between Rotterdam and Schiphol.