Trains to Bruges

Bruges Station is served by both intercity and local trains that are run by the Belgian national railway company, NMBS/SNCB. Visitors to the city can catch intercity trains to Bruges from Belgian cities like Antwerp, Liege or Brussels that are connected to international train networks. Eurostar services run from London to Brussels, and it is then a short train journey to Bruges, while Thalys runs services to Brussels-Sud from Amsterdam and Paris. There are also TGV trains to Bruges from Lyon and ICE trains from German cities like Frankfurt or Cologne. When you arrive, the station is located a few kilometres to the south of the historic city centre. To get into town, buses leave every 10 minutes or so. Be sure to catch a bus marked “centrum” – and expect one to arrive soon after your train gets in. Shuttle buses are also available from Bruges Station to Charleroi, providing access to one of Belgium’s premier airports.

Arriving in Bruges

The city of Bruges is famous for its beautifully preserved medieval city centre. The walls remain intact, and the centre is dotted with extraordinary buildings. A good way to get a feel for where things are is by taking a canal tour, which provides the best views of local sights like the Belfort tower, the Stadhuis and the Brugse Vrije palace. On dry land, the city marketplace hosts regular craft fairs and is a good place to find a bite to eat. Bruges is well known for its cuisine, and travellers can tuck into mussels and chips, Flemish stew, or locally made chocolates. In fact, there are even museums dedicated to chocolate and fried potatoes – a sign of how fanatical people are about their cuisine. To round it off, be sure to sample the brews of Bruges. Breweries like De Halve Maan will be happy to share their latest creations.