Brussels and Bruges are the two most visited cities in Belgium and each offers a completely different style. But if you have the opportunity, it is best to take some time to discover both and compare. Do you want to know how to get to Bruges from Brussels ?
Below we are going to tell you about all the options to get to this small medieval city , which conquers so many traveling hearts. For us, it is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Belgium and one of the best day trips from Brussels .
By the way, if you haven't already, check out all the things to see in Bruges . And once in Bruges, you might be interested in this free tour to discover the most important spots.
Now, let's see all the ways you have to get to Bruges from Brussels :
By train
This is probably the best way to get to Bruges from Brussels. There are frequent trains (several every hour) from several stations in the capital, such as Bruxelles-Midi (the main one), Bruxelles-Central (located in the heart of the city ), and Bruxelles-Nord (this one less used). They are fast, the journey takes about an hour and they are not too expensive (round trip costs about €25). You can buy your train tickets and check timetables and routes on the website www.belgianrail.be
Tip : If you travel on the weekend, tickets are 50% cheaper ! The good thing is that you save a bit of money, the bad thing is that, as you can imagine, Bruges is a very popular destination and there are more people on the weekends.
There's even better news for those under 26 : travelling by train is now very cheap! With the so-called Go Pass 1 , you only have to pay €7.50 per journey, no matter how far it is within Belgium. Not bad, huh? Find out more .
By bus
It is the cheapest option, as with the company Flixbus you can easily find offers for around €20 round trip or even less. However, it is also the slowest option: allow an hour and a half/two hours to get there. In short, we only recommend it to backpackers who want to travel as cheaply as possible and if they find a good offer.
Buses from Brussels to Bruges generally depart from Bruxelles-Nord bus station , and from Gare du Midi , both of which are close to the corresponding train stations, facilitating multimodal connections for passengers arriving by train and wishing to continue their journey by bus.
By car
If you have a rental car, it's not too difficult: Bruges is less than 100 km from the Belgian capital , so in an hour and a quarter you'll be in the heart of the Middle Ages. However, finding free parking in Bruges can be a bit complicated, especially if it's a weekend. And private parking is expensive.
If you still want to go by car, we'll leave you a couple of free parking lots in Bruges (get up early because they usually fill up quickly):
- Parking Magdalenastraat , located at Magdalenastraat 35, has parking spaces 2 km from the historic centre of Bruges and very close to the train stations.
- Randparking Bevrijdingslaan Brugge , has parking spaces along Bevrijdingslaan street, about 2 km from the historic center of Bruges.
Unless you are doing a road trip through Belgium, we would rule out the car option.
On tour
Don't be afraid: you won't have to pay a fortune, in fact it's super cheap ! There is a guided tour in Spanish, with transfers between Brussels and Bruges for less than €50. If you want to see Bruges with a local guide, don't hesitate: we think it's an excellent option. The only downside is that, as it's a guided tour, you won't be free to do whatever you want at any time, so it essentially depends on the type of trips you prefer.
Do you know how to get to Bruges from Brussels ? Now all you have to do is explore these two interesting cities. Which is your favourite option? If you have any further questions, we are here for you.
