How to Get to Bruges from Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a very well connected tourist destination, with many alternatives and transfer options for travelers from all over the world and that is why taking a trip to Bruges is one of the most popular plans, especially if you have a stay of several days in the Dutch capital. In this guide I provide you with all the information you need to choose the most convenient transport alternative according to your particular needs. Let's get started!

Considered one of the most beautiful cities in all of Europe due to its beautifully preserved medieval buildings, the city of Bruges is a frequent travel destination from Amsterdam. From the city of tulips you can take an organized tour that will take you from the center of Amsterdam to the famous city in Belgium in a distance of approximately 250 km.

Can you visit Bruges in one day? and the answer is yes, definitely. Although it is a beautiful city full of charm, it is also small, so a well-organized day tour is enough to see all the highlights and highlights.

What to expect on a tour to Bruges from Amsterdam

If you book a tour to Bruges from Amsterdam you will have the opportunity to get to know "The Venice of the North" in a comfortable and carefree way, as a professional guide will accompany you throughout the day to explain the most interesting aspects of one of the best preserved medieval cities in the world.

During the excursion you will pass by emblematic places such as:

• The Hospital of St. John.
• The bell tower of Belfort.
• The Burg square.
• The Church of Our Lady.
• The Rosary Pier.
• Minnewater Park.
• Its spectacular network of canals.

You will have discounts in stores, stores, restaurants and, in addition, you will be able to taste a tasty chocolate tasting before the hired transport takes you back to the Dutch capital. Sounds good, doesn't it?

Useful information

• Price: From 56 €.
• Duration of the trip: 12 hours including transfer to and from the airport.
• Recommended if... your goal is to have a relaxing and carefree day while getting to know the most interesting aspects of Bruges.

The train is one of the fastest and most effective ways to travel between the Netherlands and Belgium due to the proximity of both destinations and the frequency of travel. You will easily find transportation between its two main cities: Amsterdam and Brussels. However, it is always best to book your tickets in advance especially if you are looking for ways to save money during your trip.

Routes and companies offering this service

There is no direct train connection between both Amsterdam and Bruges, so you will have to change trains in Brussels or Antwerp, depending on the railway company you choose. Omio or NS International are some of them. The latter, by the way, has very affordable prices depending on the season, the day of the week and the time you choose your ticket.

The train is taken from Amsterdam Central Station to Bruges Saint-Pierre, the only train station in the Belgian city.

Useful information

• Price: From 65 € one way and flight.
• Travel time: About 3 hours and a half.
• Recommended yes... if you can communicate easily in any of the common languages in this part of Europe, such as Dutch and English.

Another excellent transportation alternative that will allow you to travel between the two destinations is to take a bus with a direct Amsterdam-Bruges route. This alternative contemplates a slightly slower trip but with the advantage of offering a direct transport, without stops and without stopover. The entire route is through the beautiful landscapes of the Dutch and Belgian countryside for the incredible visuals that will accompany you throughout the journey.

However it is a travel alternative that requires some planning and organization. Especially when it comes to the time of return to Amsterdam; to make the long journey worthwhile you will have to spend the night in Bruges and return to Amsterdam the afternoon of the next day. Not recommended if you will be in Amsterdam for only a few days.

Routes and companies offering this service

FlixBus is the company within the Netherlands that offers the largest number of routes and schedules; also the best alternative to travel by bus from Amsterdam to Bruges. It departs from Amsterdam Sloterdijk station to the main station in Bruges.

They usually have two buses each day, the first buses leave Amsterdam in the morning at 09.20 hours, although on weekends they can leave up to two hours earlier. The last buses leave Bruges for Amsterdam at 16.30 and 17.30 hours.

Useful information

• Price: from 15€ each way.
• Travel time: minimum 4.5 hours in total.
• Recommended if... you have plenty of time and will be in Amsterdam for more than a week; this way you can take two days to visit or three days and visit the two most important cities in Belgium: Bruges and Brussels.

Traveling by car to Bruges from the city of Amsterdam or the surrounding towns is a route that the Dutch commonly do and that you could also carry out without major complications.

If your goal is to undertake a trip of several days with friends or family and cover the most interesting cities and destinations in this area of Europe, say Rotterdam, Brussels and Bruges, this option may be the smartest of the list, because in the great Amsterdam you will find many companies dedicated to car rental. The only thing to remember is that the vehicle must be returned to the drop-off point in Amsterdam, otherwise the fees you will have to pay to the company to pick it up in another city or country could be very high.

Routes and companies offering this service

Several companies in Amsterdam offer car rental services, with prices varying depending on the type of vehicle you choose and the size. Below is a list of the most popular ones with the address of their offices.

• Europcar Offices located at Overtoom 197, 1054 HT.
• Sixt Offices located at De Ruijterkade 44b, 1012.
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car Offices located at Harry Banninkstraat 129 Oosterdokeiland, 1011.
• Diks Autoverhuur Located at Willem de Zwijgerlaan 336D, 1055.

Useful information

• Price: from 28€ and 40€ per day plus the cost of fuel and parking.
• Travel time: about 2.5 hours.
• Recommended if... you don't want to travel with other people and you find the adventure of planning all the details of your trip very interesting.

Although flying by plane from Amsterdam to Bruges is a possibility, it's not an option I recommend to any of my traveling friends. The reason is simple: it's a bit expensive (unless you find discount tickets) and the transfers between airports make it equally or more time-consuming than other options reviewed earlier in this article.

In addition, Bruges does not have an airport nearby, so the route proposed below contemplates the transfer by plane to the capital of Belgium, once in Brussels to undertake to the city of Bruges.

Routes and companies offering this service

One of the traditional companies offering direct flights between the Netherlands and Belgium is KLM Cityhopper.

To move from the center of Amsterdam to the airport and vice versa you can opt for a private transfer from Amsterdam airport or take the Intercity 3549 urban transport.

Then, to get to Bruges from Zaventem airport take the Belgium Train NMBS/SNCB on route IC2842.

If you land at Charleroi airport, you must first take the Flibco bus to Brussels and from there take the Belgium Train IC 1543 to Bruges.

Useful information

• Price: from 70€ plus transfer by public transport from the airport, which can cost about 10-15€.
• Travel time: minimum 6 hours itinerary, including waiting time at the airport.
• Recommended if... you manage to get a very cheap air ticket. However, keep in mind that most low cost flights land at Charleroi airport in Brussels. Located one hour from the city, this is the most remote airport and you will not find direct transport options to the city of Bruges.