Trains to Bruges

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.

Trains to Bruges; not what you were looking for?

Here are some pages that might be more in line with the information you need:

• More specific journeys by train from London to Bruges.
• City guide for Bruges.
• Planning multiple trips by train outside of the UK? Maybe an Interrail Pass is what you need.

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.

How to Get to Bruges

Eurostar to Bruges

Though Eurostar does not go directly to Bruges, there is a connection available from Brussels that takes just an hour into Bruges. Trains leave London St Pancras to Brussels Midi/Zuid 8 times a day and take around 3 hours, making the entire journey around 4 hours. Eurostar offers an 'Any Belgian Station' ticket which costs an extra £5.50 one-way or £11 return on top of a standard class ticket to Brussels. The 'Any Belgian Station' tickets are available from any European city that is served by Eurostar trains. Similar to flying, passengers need to leave enough time to check in (30 minutes is recommended) and go though security checks.

Bruges

Bruges is widely regarded as a fairytale city stuck in time, and merely wandering aimlessly around its cobbled streets and picturesque canals is enticing enough for many visitors. Perhaps the most famous attraction in the Belgian city is its historic centre, Markt. The area is surrounded by medieval buildings, open-air restaurants and horse-drawn carriages. Other highlights include tours along the canal and the Choco Story Museum.