PalenQ

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?

PalenQ

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!

tomandjudy

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?

PalenQ

? 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?

PalenQ

The Man in Seat 61 suggests www.b-Europe.com as opposed to www.tgv-europe.com for train travel from Bruges to Paris.>

For Thalys trains however also try www.thalys.com - official seb site for Thalys trains.

Sue4

Bookmarking for future trip

PalenQ

Note - a 3-yr-old thread where some train logistics may have changed but generally the basic info is still good.