Getting to Bruges
Located less than an hour from Brussels, Bruges is a city with plenty of transport options. For citizens of EU countries that are situated close to Belgium, driving is a reasonable means of reaching the city, while for visitors from England, a combination of car ferry or Eurotunnel to France, followed by a drive, is also well within reasonable means. Travelling by air is of course the quickest and most popular way to get to Bruges, although without its own airport, passengers must fly to Brussels then make a connection via ground transportation.
By car
From Folkestone in England, you can get to Calais with your car via the Eurotunnel then by taking the E40 motorway to Bruges via Ostend. From Lille in France, the E403 motorway leads to Bruges.
By rail
Rail services operated by Belgian National Railways connect Bruges with major Belgian cities including Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent. There are also connections with cross-Channel ferry services at Ostend and Zeebrugge. From Paris, the Thalys high-speed train service goes direct from Brussels to Bruges, while a similar service from Amsterdam via Brussels is also available.
By bus
The Eurolines bus company provides connections with Bruges from all over Europe, with daily services from London's Victoria Coach Station travelling via the Channel Tunnel. For more information visit their website at: www.eurolines.com/. Alternatively, the Dover to Calais ferry service offers frequent connections.
By air
To get to Bruges via air, visitors must fly to Brussels International Airport then transfer by ground transportation. Bruges is located 110kms from Brussels and the journey can be made in around about an hour. Ground transportation options out of Brussels Airport include trains, buses, hire cars and taxis. Unless you intend to drive, rail is the best option for getting to Bruges from Brussels.
By ferry
From Dover or Ramsgate in England, its possible to take a high-speed ferry to Ostend (Oostende) in Belgium, from where you can drive to Bruges in about half an hour or alternatively, take a train and arrive in a speedy 13 minutes.
Brussels International Airport
Situated 12kms northeast of Belgiums capital city, Brussels International Airport is the countrys most significant international gateway, providing connections with major European cities as well as a host of international destinations.
A single terminal with two concourses is well equipped with passenger facilities including essentials such as a bank and post office plus bureau de change counters and ATMs. Several restaurants, cafs and bars among which youll find Pizza Express and Gourmet Burger, provide options for dining and refreshments, while for shopping, there is a good selection of outlets including big names such as Herms and Tie Rack. A communication centre offers internet-connected PCs, while Wifi and land connections are available for laptop owners wishing to connect to the World Wide Web.
Brussels Airport transportation
A rail service called the Airport City Express connects the airport with the three main train stations (Gare Centrale, Gare du Nord and Gare du Midi) in Brussels as well as to Ghent, De Panne and Quievrain/Quevy.
Buses operated by De Lijn travel to the centre of Brussels, while MIVB/STIB express buses provide connections to the European Commission, NATO headquarters and the city. Coach companies operate scheduled services to Antwerp, Brussels and Eindhoven.
Taxis operating on a metered fare system are available for hire outside of the Arrivals area of the airport. Most taxi drivers speak competent English.
Alternatively, you can hire a car from one of the companies on hand at the airport and make your own way to Bruges via an easy drive along the E40 motorway.