My wife and I are planning a fall trip to Holland, Belgium and Normandy. I intend to spend a week in Holland & Belgium and another week touring Normandy. I have been told that trains are the way to go in Holland and Belgium but rent a car for Normandy. I have a logistics question or two. Can I get a train from Brugges to Normandy? Where will the train drop us? I would like to tour Normandy from east to west and then drive to PAris to drop off the car and fly home. Would I have to go to Brussels to catch a train to Normand? I prefer smaller towns whenever I have gone to Europe and would prefer to avoid Brussels if at all possible.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
It's difficult to travel from Belgium to Normandy without crossing Paris: there are very few genuinely inter-regional trains in France due to the country's tradition of strong focus on the capital. You can travel by train directly from Brugge to Lille avoiding Brussels if you want to: there are several trains per day although some of them require a change at Kortrijk. You then have a couple of options: Travel from Lille to Paris and then from Paris to a base in Normandy by train. You can get cheap tickets from around 90 days in advance at www.tgv-europe.com. Be aware that you need to cross between stations in Paris from gare du Nord to gare Saint-Lazare, by metro or taxi. Leave at least an hour. Travel to Paris by train and hire a car there. Hire a car in Lille and drive from there to Normandy. I don't hire cars much, so maybe someone with more experience of using cars in France will be able to suggest which option would be best for price/time/convenience. I do gather that driving all the way from Brugge probably wouldn't be a good idea due to difficulties taking rental cars across borders.
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
I'd look at renting a car in Lille, though the best answer might depend on your itinerary. You can take the train all the way to Bayeux but you have to change in Paris.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
As Philip said, you can avoid Brussels by taking regional trains from Brugge to Lille. There is open seating on these trains and no reservations are possible. As Adam said, pick up your rental car in Lille. There is no need to go via Paris.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
For detailed train timetables go to the German Rail site.
Posted by
OP
Groveland, MA, USA
101 posts
Thank you guys. It looks as though I will take a regional train from Brugge to Lille and then rent a car in Lille. That will allow me to tour Normandy at my pace, stay in a few towns along the way and then drive into Paris to return the car at the airport.
What do I need to know about these regionall trains? CAn you make reservations? Where do I get information on these trains? How long does it take to get to Lille?
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33209 posts
What do I need to know about these regionall trains? Not a lot, they're fine. What do you think you need to know? CAn you make reservations? No, they are regional trains Where do I get information on these trains? What sort of information do you want? Depending, either here or The Man in Seat 61, or other places. How long does it take to get to Lille?
1:18, easily, or sometimes 1:54
Posted by
Texas
518 posts
If you are not interested in Paris, you can drive to Rennes to drop your car. You can take the fast train --TGV -- directly to the airport.
Posted by
Texas
518 posts
If you are not interested in Paris, you can drive to Rennes to drop your car. You can take the fast train --TGV -- directly to the airport.