Getting from Brussels to Bruges is easy! Take it from me – I’m a local.
In this article I will explain to you how you can travel from Brussels to Bruges – one of the most beautiful cities in Belgium.
Getting from Brussels to Bruges with public transportation
Belgium is very compact and has excellent public transportation. The cities of Brussels and Bruges are very well connected and there are multiple trains or buses departing every hour.
Do keep in mind that buses and trains in Belgium are limited to daytime hours. After around 23:00 (11:00 pm) – public transportation stops connecting different cities with each other. If you are searching for transportation between Brussels and Bruges after this time, you’ll need to drive yourself or book an expensive taxi ride.
As I explain further in the article: it might be a better idea to book a day trip to Bruges from Brussels if you are here as a tourist. They are cheap, comfortably paced, usually combine Bruges and Ghent (two of the prettiest cities in Belgium!) and come with a guide.
Brussels to Bruges with train
The train network in Belgium is very good. Pretty much all villages and cities are connected with each other, so of course it’s an option to travel between Brussels and Bruges by train! Let me tell you all you need to know about this way of transportation:
Brussels to Bruges with train
From Brussels to Bruges, there are currently 65 trains per day – so even if you miss one, you will still have plenty of other options to pick from!
Keep in mind that there are three train stations in the city of Brussels:
- Bruxelles-Midi or Brussel-Zuid
- Bruxelles-Centrale or Brussel-Centraal
- Bruxelles-Nord or Brussel-Noord
It doesn’t matter where you start from or end at – the price will always be the same.
For most tourists, Bruxelles-Centrale of Brussel-Centraal will probably be the station where you start from – as it is found in the historical center (very close to Grand Place / Grote Markt).
I suggest to not travel from Bruxelles-Nord or Brussel-Noord – as it is located in a bit of a sketchy area.
Bruxelles-Midi or Brussel-Zuid is the busiest of the three – and often there are pickpockets – just like in every big train station in Europe.
Brussels Airport to Bruges with train
Just landed? Welcome in Belgium!
From Brussels Airport, you have immediate access to the Belgian railways. Take the elevator or escalators to level -1 and scan your ticket or QR code (or buy one at the ticket dispensers) at the gates. The doors will open automatically.
There are screens above every platform telling you which train arrives when and where it will go to. Are you not sure which one to take? Ask one of the hosts or hostesses (there are usually a few standing around) to find the best train for you.
Another option is to download the SNCB / NMBS app on your smartphone (don’t forget to buy a European eSim with mobile data in advance!) or to head to Belgiantrain.be.
Every hour, there are several direct trains from Brussels airport to Bruges – so you shouldn’t need to look long.
What does it cost?
- Traveling from the center of Brussels to Bruges in second class will set you back around €16 – €18 for a one way ticket, depending on where you buy the tickets. For a return ticket, you pay double.
- Traveling from the center of Brussels to Bruges in first class will set you back around €24,70 – €27,70 for a one way ticket, depending on where you buy the tickets. For a return ticket, you pay double.
- Traveling from Brussels airport to Bruges in second class will cost you €23,80 – €30 for a one way ticket, depending on where you buy the tickets. For a return ticket, you pay double.
- Traveling from Brussels airport to Bruges in first class will cost you €33,30 – €41,75 for a one way ticket, depending on where you buy the tickets. For a return ticket, you pay double.
If you go to Bruges as a tourist, I highly recommend booking a day trip from Brussels to Bruges instead. They are cheap (from €45 pp compared to +/- €35 pp with train) – but more importantly: these day trips visit both Bruges and Ghent, include all transportation AND have certified, local guides to show you around both cities.
Brussels to Bruges train schedule
There are currently 65 trains per day that drive from Brussels to Bruges. However, the NMBS (national Belgian railways) doesn’t offer a complete list on their website. So, I suggest to look at Omio where you can select the time of departure or just loadd later trains. You can also easily see if you need to change trains (usually not) along the way, what the price is ánd other options, such as bus routes.
Good to know
- Take whatever train you please: your train ticket is available on all trains that bring you from Brussels to Bruges on the specific date you have chosen. So no need to be at the train station at the specific time that your ticket says.
- On weekends a return ticket will costs the same as a one way ticket.
- The website or app of the NMBS (national Belgian railways) can be quite a hassle to buy a ticket from (you have to give all your info, it doesn’t accept all cards) – and often it just doesn’t work. Don’t get frustrated – just buy your ticket at one of the counters or automatic ticket dispensers at the train station. Or buy it in advance on Omio in just a few clicks.
- There are no big differences between first class and second class – therefore I would suggest to just buy the second class tickets. In the rare occasion that second class seats are not vacant anymore, it is allowed to sit in first class without needing to pay extra.
Brussels to Bruges with bus
Another option to visit beautiful Bruges or ‘Brugge’ as we locals call it, is to take the bus. You’ll reach your end destination in about one and a half hour.
There are ever changing options – so I suggest to directly check time tables and book through Omio, a website that shows all bus (and train!) options to get from point A to B. Their website is easy to navigate through and you can buy tickets in just a few clicks. It’s also my go-to to check bus or train schedules.
What does it cost?
Good news – buses are super cheap in Belgium. For about €8 pp you are driven from Brussels to Bruges with the bus.
Good to know
- There is also local public transportation available (De Lijn for Flanders, TEC for Wallonia) – but it would take you forever to get to Bruges and you would need to take a lot of different buses. Since every bus ticket is only valid for 60 minutes maximum, you would probably even end up paying more anyway… Up for the adventure? Google Maps will tell you the best way to travel.
Day trip to Bruges from Brussels
Do you want to see Flanders most famous city with a guide – or do you not want to lose any time by looking for the best things to do in Bruges? A day trip to Bruges from Brussels is your safest bet.
There are several options but usually you get two for the price of one: day trips usually combine the two prettiest cities of Flanders (in my opinion) in one go; Bruges and Gent.
As always, I suggest to check the different options for day tours from Brussels to Bruges on GetYourGuide. With this company, you can (usually) cancel up to 24 hours in advance, read reviews and check pictures of the tour.
What does it cost?
A full day trip (10+ hours) costs less than €50 per person and includes all transportation and certified guides that will show you the best places in both Bruges and Gent. Compared to buying train or bus tickets to both cities seperately (see above) – it’s cheaper or similar in cost, but you get much more in return.
Check out these highly reviewed tours at GetYourGuide:
Good to know
- Food is not (always) included.
- If you want to include activities such as a boat ride (highly recommended!) – you’ll have to pay extra (+/- €12 pp) on the day of the tour.
- Tipping is not mandatory in Belgium, but appreciated. €5 is considered a very big tip, €1 to €2 is standard.
Driving a (rental) car from Brussels to Bruges
Yet another option is to drive a car from Brussels to Bruges. You can hire one directly at the airport or in the city center of Bruges (most car rental agencies in the city can be found around the train station of Bruxelles-Midi / Brussel-Zuid).
It will always be more expensive to rent a car on the spot – so I recommend to do this (far) in advance. A reputable agency to do this in Belgium is Sunny Cars. They are a bit more expensive, but they only rent out fully insured cars – including damage to tyres, glass, roof or the bottom of the vehicle. I’ve rented many cars with them and even when I had a little (or big…) scratch – I didn’t to pay a single penny!
With Sunny Cars you can also cancel your car for free up to just a few hours before pick-up.
Willing to take a risk? Belgian drivers aren’t too crazy, so… Discover Cars or Easy Terra are two other options I recommend. They are (very) cheap, have lots of pick-up points and you can cancel up to 48 hours in advance for free.
What does it cost?
A full day trip (10+ hours) costs less than €50 per person and includes all transportation and certified guides that will show you the best places in both Bruges and Gent. Compared to buying train or bus tickets to both cities seperately (see above) – it’s cheaper or similar in cost, but you get much more in return.
Check out these highly reviewed tours at GetYourGuide:
Good to know
- In Belgium we drive at the right side of the road.
- In Belgium we use the metric system, so we use kilometers.
- You can drive 120 km’s/h on the highway. In the city center it changes between 30 to 50 km’s/h. Usually it is well marked.
- It can be very difficult to park your car in Bruges – so you’ll probably need to leave it at a (costly) car parking.
- The center of Bruges is largely car free – so expect to walk quite a bit. There are a lot of cobblestones, so don’t forget to pack good shoes!
Car pooling from Brussels to Bruges
Last but not least, you can also car pool from Brussels to Bruges. The options are very limited though, and it really depends from day to day. It would take you about 40 minutes to one hour and your best bet is to check the options om Omio.
What does it cost?
Expect to pay between €7 and €10 per person.
Good to know
- Car pooling is not a very popular means of transportation in Belgium. Therefore the possibilities are usually very limited.
I hope this informative post helped you with planning your (day) trip from Brussels to Bruges Is there any info missing? Ask what you need to know in the comments below and I’ll have a detailed answer ready for you in no time!
