Best way to get from Bruges to Cinque Terre

Off hand I would check for flights from Brussels to Pisa or Genoa, then take a train from there.
Edit, I don't see any nonstops, but KLM has connections via Amsterdam Schipol. You could also take a train to Amsterdam Schipol and look at Easyjet direct flight to Genoa.

These two cities are not well-connected. Because Brussels is well-connected to Bruges and Paris, you have an itinerary problem. You are also facing increasing train prices for close-in purchase. If your luggage size makes a bargain airline affordable, that's reasonable, but you then have airport transfer times and security lines to contend with. Some bargain airlines use remote secondary airports (Like Charleroi instead of BRU) that are tedious to get to. If you provide a list of all the cities you hope to sleep in, you may get better advice.

If I were in Bruges in July, I might schedule (noisy, party-time type, alas) beach time in Osteende, the next train stop. But it's not a historic village like those in the CT, which is fabulously crowded in July. (Although it is a historic Imperial beach resort, with a lovely wide beach.) If you don't already have rooms in CT, you may have a tough time staying there.

Jen, Sam's recommendations are what I'd go with as well for Bruges>Cinque Terre. No, unfortunately they're not especially well connected.

If you don't already have rooms in CT, you may have a tough time
staying there.

Tim makes an important point: if you haven't made reservations, you need to do that ASAP. Accommodations book up quickly and months in advance of high season. The CT will be crazy busy in July, and I'm hoping you've got more than just the CT on your Italy itinerary? It would be a long way to go JUST for a few days in one of the villages. Where are you going from there?

FYI, if you were to try to get from Bruges to Monterosso in a single day by train, it takes at least 14 hours and 4 train connections and can easily cost over $200 per person in 2nd class, even for purchase this far ahead.

It might make sense to consider Florence as well, as there are direct flights from Brussels to Florence on Brussels Airlines.

I was thinking Florence as well. The train ride to Monterosso is 90 minutes from Florence, but Id vote for a direct flight...

Thanks, everyone! Florence sounds like the way to go, via plane. 🙂 As far as lodging, there seem to be quite a few air b&b places available. I’ve got to nail down my itinerary ASAP, though. How many days in Monterosso wold you recommend?