Yes, once a day, around 6am as I recall.

Most people just catch the half hourly InterCity Bruges to Brussels Midi and change there onto the Thalys high-speed train to Paris.

It's soooo easy. Just book at www.b-Europe.com with self-print tickets.

Yes, there are lockers and a staffed left luggage at Brussels Midi, around €4 per item, open 24 hours.

We dd just as Man_in_seat_61 said. Very easy.

How far is it to walk to the main square in Brussels from the train station?

It's about a 25 minute walk. Check Google Earth to see the relative locations.

Thank you all for the input. Is it worth taking the time to go to the main square in Brussels?

The Grsnd Palace is next to many restaurants and a covered shopping area- pretty to see once.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiaZw3ltvjI

Sorry- the Grand Place
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yJDprksqp4

First of all there are 3 train stations in Brussels.

The Grand Place is about a 5-10 minute walk from the Central Station.
However, most of the trains to Paris, leave from the Midi/Zuid Station.A walk to the Grand Place is doable from Midi. but you're almost better off going to Central, Putting your stuff into a Locker- just don't loose the ticket- and go doodle around the Grand Place. On your way out, grab your bags, take the train to Midi- all of 5 minutes and transfer to your train to Paris.

How long are you in Brussels? A few Hours or More?

Yes, the Grand' Place is worth seeing. Like Beergirl says - catch a train to Central, or else take the metro (a local underground train, also from Midi) to Bourse. It's just a short walk from there.

http://www.gtf.be/metro_bruxelles.html

To find the metro:

http://www.b-europe.com/~/media/Files/Praktisch/Plattegronden/MAP_Brussel_En.ashx

Lavandula

Do you book from Bruges to Brussels separately from Brussels to Paris?

Additional questiion re train from Bruges to Brussels: When I look at the options, it appears you have about 15 minutes to get from the Intercity train to the Thalys one. Is that doable?

Yes, you book separately, and yes 15 minutes is totally doable. You just look at the clearly designated signs at the station that tell you which track your next train leaves from. If confused, ask a conductor.

I really liked the Grand Place (I don't understand that spelling of it, though, it should be grande in French, what's the history of that), and think it is worth it. There are a couple museums right on it, also.

BUt you don't have to walk (which is probably closer to 30 minute from Gare du Midi, which is where Thalys trains go from Paris, I think). YOu can easily take tram lines 3 or 4 from that train station to the Bourse stop which is right near the Grand Place. It's only 2-3 stops away. YOu can buy tickets in the machines there, there is a daily ticket and individual. This is the tram map http://www.stib.be/irj/go/km/docs/horaires/4/schema/20110901/4_1.gif

Thank you again to everyone for the helpful information!

A routing not involving Thalys trains, which if you do not book months in advance can be very costly, and taking about exactly the same time goes Bruges to Lille-Flandres then TGV to Paris - and the cost can be a lot cheaper than the Thalys route - especially if you have not booked really far ahead.

And Lille could also be a great place for a few-hour stop en route to Paris - baggage storage in the train station, which is right in the heart of town.

Folks with railpasses will want to use this route as you only pay a 3 euro seat reservation fee on the Lille F-Paris TGV (and is always available to passholders IME) and not the absurd surcharge - the highest in Europe TMK for pass holders on Thalys - a surcharge that indeed can cost more than the cheapest deep discounted Brussels to Paris ticket.

For lots of great info on trains in France and Belgium check out these superb IMO sites - www.seat61.com (Man in Seat 61 who posts above, his excellent commercial site and www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

Lille Flandres is also a bit more easily manageable station that the hectic Brussels-Midi (a k a South or Zuid) station that is mobbed in part because Chunnel trains from London arrive here.

Note however that direct Bruges to Lille Flandres trains go only about every two hours but with a simple change of trains at Kortrik - from one platform to another you can go Bruges to Lille F every hour or so. That ticket you just buy in Bruges - a flat fare ticket with no seat reservations possible.

I've usually seen the Belgian spelling as Gran' Place, not Grand Place, so I assume it's a contraction of Grande.

I thought it were "Grand' Place?

I've usually seen the Belgian spelling as Gran' Place, not Grand Place, so I assume it's a contraction of Grande.>

I can fin no spelling of Gran' Place anywhere on Belgian web sites - yes there is Grand'Place but no Gran' Place - where did you come up with Gran' Place - I cannot find that spelling anywhere as a Belgian spelling - any references?

I do see Grand-Place on Brussels maps but no Gran' Place - are you sure you are not thinking of the Gran' Canale in Venice?

Folks wanting to take a few-hour stop in Brussels say when going between Paris and Bruges via Brussels or Amsterdam can take from Burssels Midi Station, where Thalys trains put you down, a shuttle train to Brussels Central station - central only in name as it is a minor station but right in the heart of Brussels and just a short stroll from the Grand'Place and the town's most famous sight - the pissing boy statue - the Mannequin Pis, now the symbol of Brussels!

The Man in Seat 61 suggests www.b-Europe.com as opposed to www.tgv-europe.com for train travel from Bruges to Paris. I am unfamiliar with the former site and have had tickets mailed to me in Canada from the latter site. Is there a reason the former site is recommended (for example, can't it be done from the latter)? Which site should be used for travel from Paris to Bruges?

? Which site should be used for travel from Paris to Bruges?>

what ever site is the cheapest - but Paris-Lille-Bruges largely involves a French TGV to Lille-Flandres and this may be best booked on the French rail sites -www.voyages-sncf.com or www.tgv-europe.com - or will the Belgiansite also offer the so-called PREM fares or discounts the French sites do?