I have been researching the trains and it appears almost everything runs from Bruges to Brussels and then on to the smaller towns. Are there local trains or even buses that run regularly for short trips from Burges? We are staying a week and we want to take some side trips - any recommendations? Thanks, Jan
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9224 posts
If you are in Bruge, take the train up to Ostende. From here, you can take buses and trams up and down the coastline. The sea here is lovely, with big wide beaches, and sand dunes with old German gun emplacements.
The train only costs something like 3.50 euro and takes about 15 min. As long as you are there, you might as well see the North Sea.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
The train system in Belgium mostly operates to connect cities and larger towns, with some commuter lines in between as well. Most small towns do not have direct rail service, save for a few that sit along commuter lines. The bus system operates like a series of spokes from the larger rail stations to connect the smaller towns. Depending on where you want to go, buses leave as often as every few minutes to only once an hour. The national rail website will usually tell you what rail-bus combination you need to take (http://www.b-rail.be/main/N/). Or, just look at the bus map at the train station.
Realize also that Belgium has two separate bus systems, De Lijn for the Dutch-speaking areas and TEC for the Francophones, although there is some overlap between the two systems.
PS- Not all trains in Belgium go to Brussels or Brugge... as a matter of fact, most don't.