We plan to spend a week in Amsterdam in late April.

Is it possible to take a day trip to Brugge?
By train, how long would the trip take? I assume first to Brussels then local train to Brugge.

We would leave early one morning and return in the evening to Amsterdam.

Thanks.

Anthony

www.nmbs.be for Belgian railways, www.ns.nl for Dutch. I have not done this, but am almost certain you will have to change trains in Antwerpen-Berchem.
I personally would not do it from Amsterdam on a day trip; too much time travelling, but check the schedules and decide then.

Could be too much for you. It's 2 and a half hours from Amsterdam to Bruxelles, and then almost an hour to Bruges. You'll spend 6 hours traveling. And Bruges is so lovely, it's worth an overnight visit.

Thank you. I may retain our hotel room in Amsterdam and spend the overnight in Bruge.

Can anyone recommend a good B&C or hotel in Bruge, about 130 euros a night?

I appreciate personal experience not websites.

Anthony

In Brugge try Absolut Verhulst, Romantik Pandhotel, Bed and Breakfast Lut Setola (try trip advisor for reviews), Hotel Egmund is also nice but farther from the main square. Enjoy!

On another thread is a recommendation about a B&B called "Number 11" I just made a reservation with this place and will stay there in late March. You can find it on any Google or Yahoo search. The owners replied to emails promptly (hey, there's a concept!) They have a nice room w/bkfst for 110e which sounds right.

If you go to the top of the page and click on "Belgium", then search, you'll see a thread titled "Bruge/Bruge advice" with personnal recommendations about hotels/B&Bs, including Number 11. Sounds nice. Sorry, I know you said no websites, here it is anyway:
http://users.pandora.be/number11/pic.htm

Powell

There is a very regular service from Amsterdam Central to Brugge (changing at Antwerp Bercham Station). There is no need to go via Brussels.

The site at www.ns.nl (International Travel section) gives the information.

Our journey time was 3 hours 25 mins on that service last year. At Antwerp Bercham you only change platforms and have 15 minutes to do it!

There is a train out of Amsterdam at 06:23 getting to Brugge at 09:57

Joe

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I second the recomendation to spend a night in Bruges. During the day, the city is heaving with day-trippers from Britain and other places. It has a completely different, wonderful feeling at night.

We stayed at Hotel Cordoeanier, a nice central family run place. www.cordoeanier.be