How to Get to Bruges from Amsterdam

Visiting the beautiful city of Bruges from Amsterdam is much easier than you think. Do you have time in your travel itinerary to visit this charming destination? Here’s everything you need to know to make it happen.

Postcards from Amsterdam | ©Flora Westbrook

If you are planning a holiday trip to Amsterdam you will soon realise that, among the many things to see and do in Amsterdam, excursions to towns near Amsterdam and trips to nearby cities stand out. The reason? Amsterdam is a well-connected tourist destination with many alternatives and transfer options for travellers from all over the world.

One of the most popular destinations outside the Netherlands is of course the magical and charming city of Bruges, named by many as "the Venice of Northern Europe". The aim of this guide will be to provide you with all the information you need to choose the most convenient transport alternative according to your particular needs. Let’s get started!

The best way to reach Bruges: an organised tour from Amsterdam

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 Amsterdam, daily excursions organised by various companies take tourists and locals from the centre of Amsterdam to the famous Belgian city over a distance of approximately 250 km.

But you may be wondering, can you see Bruges in one day? The answer is definitely yes. Although Bruges 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.

Routes and companies offering this service

Bruges is a favourite getaway for both the Dutch and the thousands of tourists who visit Amsterdam and plan a five or seven-day holiday in the city. As a result, you will find a number of companies offering this travel experience from the centre of Amsterdam. Tours to Bruges from Amsterdam can be found in two main formats, similar in many respects and different in specific features.

**Group tours
**Group tours to Bruges involve a bus transfer from the centre of Amsterdam to take the tour group through the Dutch and Belgian countryside. During the tour you can admire beautiful scenery and upon arrival in Bruges you can enjoy a tour of the city for at least an hour with a guide in your own language, the rest of the time you can wander the streets of the city on your own until it’s time to return to the city. The price you pay may well include admission to a museum or attraction of special interest.

**Private tours
**Private tours of Bruges include pick-up and drop-off from the centre of Amsterdam in a small vehicle for up to four people. This is an ideal alternative if you are travelling to Amsterdam with friends or family, as the total price you pay can offset the cost of the group tour. Although most of these tours are in English, you can find companies with private English-speaking guides, but bookings should be made in advance.

Useful information about Bruges

• Price: For group bus tours the minimum price to pay is approximately €60 and upwards. Excursions by private vehicle have a base price of €335 on average.
• Duration of the trip: Due to the distance between the two destinations all excursions, private and group, will have an average duration of 11 to 12 hours; including of course the transfer to and from the city and the excursion into the city.
• Recommended if. Your aim is to have a relaxed, carefree holiday and get to know the most interesting aspects of the beautiful city of Bruges. When paying for the tour you just have to be at the meeting point at the indicated time and enjoy yourself, as the company will take care of all the necessary logistical arrangements.

The quickest option: Take a train from Amsterdam

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, but it’s always best to book your tickets in advance, especially if you’re looking for ways to save money during your trip.

Routes and companies offering this service

When travelling by train from Amsterdam to Bruges you should be aware that we do not have a direct train connection between the two cities. However, here is the easiest way to connect the two destinations with the least amount of stops and changes in the process.

Take the high speed train.

The high-speed train is one of the fastest and easiest ways to travel between European cities. Between the Netherlands and Belgium you will find two options for comfort, quality of service and efficiency: Thalys and Eurostar. You can take either of these two options from Amsterdam Central Station to Belgium.
For an easy, hassle-free route, take the train to Antwerp, alighting at Antwerp Central Station; from there take the Belgian City Train to Ghent and Bruges.

Tips for changing trains in Antwerp

When changing trains at Antwerp station you will find two travel routes: the first and most common route involves changing trains in Ghent, the second (which usually takes a little longer) will take you straight to Bruges with no need to change trains. Opt for the second option, which will give you between 40 minutes and an hour to explore Antwerp Central Station. Completed in the early 20th century, it is considered one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world.

Useful information

• Price: Tickets for the high-speed train cost between €60 and €110 per person; transport within Belgium will cost between €10 and €16 per ticket.
• Journey time: The entire journey from Amsterdam, including waiting time at the station, will take approximately 4 hours.
• Recommended if. You want a comfortable and relatively quick journey; also if you can communicate easily in any of the common languages in this part of Europe such as Dutch and English.

The cheapest option: Travel by bus from Amsterdam

Another excellent transport alternative that will allow you to travel between the two destinations is to take a bus with a direct Amsterdam-Brujas route; this alternative contemplates a slightly slower journey but with the advantage of offering direct transport, without stops or stopovers. The entire route is through the beautiful scenery of the Dutch and Belgian countryside with stunning visuals along the way.

However, it is a travel alternative that requires some planning and organisation. Especially when it comes to the time of your return to Amsterdam; to make the long journey worthwhile, you’ll 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

• Price: The price of a ticket is between €15 and €19 each way, with one ticket to Bruges and one ticket back to Amsterdam.
• Journey time: The travel route alone, excluding waiting times at the station, can take a minimum of 4.5 hours in total, due to the stops.
• 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.

The most customisable option: Renting a car in Amsterdam

Travelling by car to Bruges from the city of Amsterdam or the surrounding towns is a common route for the Dutch and one that you too could do without much hassle.

If your goal is to take a trip of several days with friends or family and cover the most interesting cities and destinations in this part of Europe, namely 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

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

Offices located at Overtoom 197, 1054 HT. Offices located at De Ruijterkade 44b, 1012. Offices located at Harry Banninkstraat 129 Oosterdokeiland, 1011. Located at Willem de Zwijgerlaan 336D, 1055.

Useful information

• Price: Depending on the type of car you choose, car hire can cost between €28 and €40 per day, plus the cost of fuel, which varies according to the hours on the road, and the cost of parking the car in the cities.
• Travel time: A non-stop trip from Amsterdam to Bruges by car will take you only about 2.5 hours, making it one of the fastest alternatives.
• 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; to avoid any inconvenience you need to be able to communicate effectively in English or Dutch.

The least convenient option: Flying by plane from Amsterdam

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.

Routes and companies offering this service

One of the traditional carriers offering direct flights between the Netherlands and Belgium is KLM Cityhopper. The main drawback is that 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.

Transfer to Amsterdam Airport: To get from Amsterdam city centre to the airport and vice versa, you can opt for a private transfer from Amsterdam Airport or take the Intercity 3549.

Transfer from Brussels airport to Bruges: Brussels has two airports. To get to Bruges from Zaventem airport, take the Belgian NMBS/SNCB train on route IC2842; the journey time to Bruges is approximately 1.5 hours including stops.
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. The journey takes at least 2 hours.