Advice on Bus travel from Amsterdam airport to Brugge Center

Hi Gayle. When you say the walking is over a mile, do you mean from the train station in Ghent to the city center? If so, there's a tram that takes you from Ghent train station to the city center so you don't have to walk. https://visit.gent.be/en/see-do/gent-sint-pieters-station-hub-ghent

I’m not sure I completely understand your question. First ask about a bus from Amsterdam to Bruges and then you talk about a train that arrives in Ghent?
I’m more than happy to help, it’s just not clear to me what it is you’re asking.

Dutch_traveler, I believe she is saying that if she takes a train to Bruges it would go through Ghent and so she considers spending time in Ghent. That's the way I read it.

Yes, but why would that overwhelm you enough to want to take a bus instead? I feel like I’m missing something here, so instead of guessing I hope that Gayle comes back to give some additional info.

I wouldn't assume that the Brugge bus station is right at the center of the old town. Your hotel may not be close to that old town center, either. Have you ever bought a European train ticket in advance? Have you ever traveled by train in Europe?

I'm sure there is a market for busses to Brugge, but it would favor students and other low-budget travelers. You may be much more comfortable on a train. Are you afraid of missing your transfer stop? Do you have heavy bags? What is the issue we can help you with?

Whether your train takes you to any of the three stations in downtown Brussels (or Thalys to Antwerp), the trains to Brugge from there are unreserved, at least six an hour, and stop at all three stations in Brussels. It's not that hard, unless it's your first time ever on a train.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/netherlands/amsterdam-to-brussels-to-brugge-back-to-amsterdam-by-train

Amsterdam is more of a travel hub, but I presume you're spending some time there, rather than flying to Brussels for a visit to Brugge. I recommend preparing for daytrips (easy by unreserved local RAIL) because Brugge does not have enough attractions for a week.

I have always self driven solo

Are you still contemplating a car during this trip? It's more of a hindrance for both locations, Amsterdam and Brugge. Have a look at our host's free travel tips, top left menu:

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips

AS far as I know, the Brugge bus station is at the train station, which is outside of Brugge center. It can be quite a walk to a hotel from there depending on where the hotel is (been there, done that).

Also the buses to Brugge, like Flixbus, depart from outside of Amsterdam's center.
https://www.flixbus.com/bus-routes/bus-amsterdam-bruges

You could take a train from Amsterdam's central train station to Brussels, a train from there to Brugge, and a cab to your hotel. We've taken the Thalys the other direction - from Paris to Amsterdam - and it stops in Brussels. You could also take a train to Antwerp and catch another train to Brugge.

I'll cheerfully disagree with Tim that Brugge doesn't have enough to do for week. It depends on how interested one is in what it has to offer, how quickly one gets around on foot, and how slowly one prefers to browse some of the attractions. Sometimes it's just nice to sit and watch the world go by! :O). One can also day-trip to Ghent from there.

The Brugge bus station is at the train station, which is outside of Brugge center. It can be quite a walk to a hotel from there depending on where the hotel is (been there, done that).

No need to walk. There's a bus from the train station to the city center https://www.visitbruges.be/en/public-transport

Yes, I'd suggested that :

You could take a train from Amsterdam's central train station to
Brussels, a train from there to Brugge, and a cab to your hotel.