How to Get to Bruges from Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a well-connected tourist destination, with many alternatives and transfer options for travellers from all over the world, which is why 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'll give you all the information you need to choose the most convenient transport alternative for 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 organised tour that will take you from the centre of Amsterdam to the famous city in Belgium in a distance of approximately 250 km.

Can you see Bruges in one day? The answer is yes, definitely. Although it is a beautiful and charming city, it is also small, so a well-organised day trip is enough to see all the highlights and highlights.

What to expect on a tour to Bruges from Amsterdam

Booking a tour to Bruges from Amsterdam gives you 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:

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

You'll get discounts in shops, shops, restaurants and a tasty chocolate tasting before your chartered transport takes you back to the Dutch capital. Sounds good, doesn't it?

Useful information

• Price: From €56.
• Travel time: 12 hours including return transfer.
• 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 the two destinations and the frequency of travel. You can easily find transport between the two main cities of 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 which train 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 of day you choose your ticket.

The train takes you 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 3.5 hours.
• Recommended yes... if you can communicate easily in any of the languages common in this part of Europe, such as Dutch and English.

Another excellent transport alternative that will allow you to travel between the two destinations is to take a bus with a direct Amsterdam-Bruges route. This alternative provides for a slightly slower journey but with the advantage of offering direct, non-stop, non-stop transport. The entire route is through the beautiful scenery of the Dutch and Belgian countryside with stunning visuals that will accompany you all the way.

However, it is a travel alternative that requires some planning and organisation. Especially when it comes to the time of return to Amsterdam; to make the long journey worthwhile you will need to spend the night in Bruges and return to Amsterdam the following evening. Not recommended if you are only in Amsterdam for a few days.

Routes and companies offering this service

FlixBus is the company within the Netherlands with the largest number of routes and timetables and the best alternative for bus travel from Amsterdam to Bruges. It departs from Amsterdam Sloterdijk station to the main station in Bruges.

There are usually two buses each day, the first leaving Amsterdam in the morning at 09.20am, 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

• Fare: 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, so you can take two days to visit or three days to visit the two most important cities in Belgium: Bruges and Brussels.

Travelling by car to Bruges from the city of Amsterdam or the surrounding towns is a journey that the Dutch commonly make 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 or else 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 according to the type and size of vehicle you choose. 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 fuel and parking costs.
• 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 from Amsterdam to Bruges is a possibility, it's not an option I recommend to any of my travelling friends. The reason is simple: it's a bit expensive (unless you find discount tickets) and the transfers between airports make it just as, if not more time-consuming than the other options discussed earlier in this article.

In addition, Bruges does not have an airport nearby, so the route below involves flying to the Belgian capital, then flying to Brussels and then flying 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 get from Amsterdam city centre to the airport and vice versa, you can opt for a private transfer from Amsterdam airport or take Intercity 3549.

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

If you land at Charleroi airport, however, 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 public transport transfer from the airport, which can cost around €10-15.
• Journeytime: minimum 6 hours itinerary, including waiting time at the airport.
• Recommended if... you can get a very cheap flight ticket. However, be aware that most low cost flights land at Charleroi airport in Brussels. Located an hour outside the city, this is the most remote airport and you won't find direct transport options to the city of Bruges.