Should we rent a car to get from Bruges to Brussels?..Uber?

Derek, Belgium has a fantastic train system (unlike say the United States). There is no reason to rent a car or take Uber unless you really want the flexibility to stop in between cities or something. The trains are convenient and affordable and will get you between Bruges, Ghent, and Brussels very easily, without the hassle/expense or renting a car or taking a private car.

https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Brussels.htm

In Ghent, you will probably want to take a tram from the train station to and from the center of town. You should be able to leave our bags in lockers at the station, but double check on that. (When I was last in Ghent, the station was under renovation.)

Thanks so much! That would have been my next question what we would do with our luggage. If there are lockers at the train station that luggage would fit inside of that sounds great!

Yep - google for "ghent luggage storage" (Gent and Ghent are the same place). Look for the most recent Trip Advisor threads.

Take the train it is a short ride easy to use with lots of service. You can rent a car but you still have to park it somewhere to get to the old town pedestrian only parts. Have you ever used Uber anywhere? If so doesn't it list where the service is available? I do not understand how it works but someone I know with smart phone had the AP and was able to see if there were any Uber drivers nearby when we were in a remote part of France

Using a car for three from Brussels to Ghent and further to Bruges makes no sense anyway in terms of time. Train Brussels - Bruges takes 1 comfy hour and Ghent is halfway, you can't beat that with a car, especially if you are not familiar with all the ins and outs of driving there. Train ticket to Bruges costs about €15, child about €8, return dubble. You can get out in Ghent for instance spending the whole day there and continue to Bruges later with the same ticket as long it is on the date the ticket is issued.

As all major railway stations in Belgium Ghent Sint-Pieters has coin operated lockers. If nothing has changed a big one around 1,8x0,6x0,6m costs €4/24h, other lockers are half or third in height and cheaper. “De Lijn” tickets for tram or bus are the same, from the machine and counter cheaper as from the driver. If you only go up and down with three with the tram in Ghent and one way with the bus in Bruges from the station to your sleeping place, buy a 10-ride ticket for €15 at the counter.

Edit: Ghent Sint-Pieters station: they renew the platforms there, but has as far as I know no effect on travelling, but you can ask in Brussels.

As others have suggested, we used the trains. Way easier than renting a car. It takes a while to get the car and then to have to navigate unfamiliar territory. I would think the trains would be much easier. And as I recall, they went very regularly between the two cities.

Wouldn't it be easier have Gent as a day-trip from Brugge? The cities are only 30 mins from each other with at least 4 trains per hour.

Thanks all! Definitely sounds like the trains are the way to go. Appreciate the feedback!

Another vote for the train. Easy to use.