By Air

A large number of carriers offer direct flights to Brussels. Belgium's main airport has its own railway station. Bruges can easily be reached through the airports of Brussels, Charleroi (Brussels South) and Lille, so getting to Bruges by train is by far the easiest way. Only one change at one of the three main stations is needed and the entire connection takes about 1:20.

By Train

Traveling to Brugge on Belgium's excellent rail system is a natural choice. Trains to and from Brussels leave every 30 minutes during the day. The journey from Brussel-Zuid (a.k.a. Bruxelles-Midi if you prefer French to Flemish) to Bruges takes about an hour. If you are traveling on the Eurostar that same day, this cost may be included in your ticket if it shows "Any Belgian Station". Otherwise, buy a ticket when you get to the station. Luggage lockers are available from 6AM to 9:30PM. For more information on schedules, prices, and services visit the website of the NMBS/SNCB.Note that there are first and second class seats. To identify them, look for a number next to a "no smoking" sign somewhere in the wagon.

By Car

If you are planning a bus-tour: be aware buses and camping vehicles are not allowed intra muros. There is a perfect parking place for them on the south side of the city with a newly designed gangway bringing you directly into the heart of the town. It is in general a bad idea to venture inside with a car, as parking is limited and finding your way difficult. There are multistory car parks a five minute walk from the city centre. Nice city mini-buses cruise the town with high frequency, and in any case, the historical centre must be traversed on foot, by bicycle, by horse-drawn carriage or by boat to enjoy it.

By ferry

P&O Ferries operate a daily sailing every evening from Hull to Zeebrugge taking 12 hours for the crossing. The fares do not include the bus from the ferry terminal to Brugge railway station, which is currently £6.75 per person (each way).Norfolkline Ferries operates ferries from Dover to Dunkerque every 2 hours. From Dunkerque, Brugge is only 75 km away. This can only be done by driving as they does not take foot passengers.LD Lines sail daily from Ramsgate to Ostend. The journey takes 4 hours.

Groeninge Museum, Onze Lieve Vrouwkerk, Jerusalem church, Choco-Story Museum, Opera House, Ethnographic Museum, Burgas Regional Historical Museum, Basilica of the Holy Blood

Groeninge Museum

It houses a comprehensive survey of six centuries of Flemish and Belgian painting, from Jan van Eyck to Marcel Broodthaers.The museum's many highlights include its collection of "Flemish Primitive" art, works by a wide range of Renaissance and Baroque masters, as well as a selection of paintings from the 18th and 19th century neo-classical and realist periods, milestones of Belgian symbolism and modernism, masterpieces of Flemish expressionism and many items from the city's collection of post-war modern art.

Onze Lieve Vrouwkerk

A fascinating church with architecture from the Romanesque and Gothic periods. In the east end of the church are very fine tombs of Charles the Bold and his daughter Mary of Burgundy - in contrasting Gothic and Renaissance styles, despite their superficial similarity. The church also houses one of the few Michelangelo sculptures outside of Italy, the "Madonna with child". Free.

Jerusalem church

a highly unusual church with octagonal tower built by the Adornes brothers, merchants of Italian extraction. It includes a fine black tournai marble tomb, late Gothic stained glass, and a tiny and rather spooky chapel containing an effigy of the dead Christ. The entrance fee also covers the Lace Museum in the former Adornes mansion, where you can see local women and girls learning this traditional craft.

Basilica of the Holy Blood

A beautiful church on the Burg square. It houses a relic a vial of blood that is said to be that of Jesus and was built in the Gothic style. Try and get there early so you can view the chapel when it is quiet and not filled with tourists. And don't forget to visit the chapel underneath, in heavy Romanesque style a contrast to the lovely light Gothic above. Free.

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