Strasbourg, France to Bruges, Belgium

According to the German rail website, bahn.de (the best site to start train schedule searches,) there are 2 trains/day from Strasbourg to Brussels, where you change to the local train to Bruges. One leaves about 8 in the morning, the other around 5:30 pm, going thru Luxembourg. Each takes about 6 1/2 hours to make the trip....longer than going back to Paris and out by high-speed TGV or Thalys.

Because there are European Union agencies headquartered in Strasourg and in Brussels, when we made the same journey years ago, we found a low cost flight between the cities. Sorry, but I can't remember the airline. However, I know that the flight was a little over an hour instead of back to Paris and a lot cheaper.

Norm has the details of the trains correct. The trip from Strasbourg to Brussels is relatively slow compared to the TGV, but I did it this summer and there is some nice scenery as you go through the Ardennes. It also has the advantage that the train from Strasbourg calls at Brussels Central, which is I think easier to change trains at than Midi (fewer platforms).

Philip, I'm sorry I disagree about Brussels Centraal. As far as I have found its the nearest thing Europe has to a New York subway station. The place is full of pillars. I find it difficult to understand the monitor screens there, too. For me, give me Zuid - Midi anytime. It seems its "different strokes for different folks..."

Hi, Eileen ;-) (I've seen more 'Eileens' in the last week on the Helpline than I have in the last 5 years...AND spelled 'correctly', too LOL!) The route through Paris will be ths fastest route - the TGV from Strasbourg to Paris is much faster than just a few years ago, and the Thalys between Paris and Brussels is very quick, too. There are several trains per day b/n Strasbourg and Bruges - I'd strongly suggest one that includes Thalys; it'll be faster. It looks like it's longer to go through Paris, but it's definitely the most efficient...

Thanks everyone - I appreciate everyone's input.