We are planning to take a day trip from Brussels to Bruges (correct spelling ?) and would like to take a train that leaves Bruges between 8:30 and 9:30 pm for the return trip. Is that too late? Will it be safe that late in Bruges and also when we get off at Brussels? My husband and I will be staying in a central location in Brussels. Please advice ..... am I worried about nothing?

I've always found Bruges very safe. I've never had any problems walking around most parts of the city at night.
Brussels is *generally* safe to walk around in, but you need to be a little more aware. If you are getting back at about 10:30 pm, I would get off at the Gare du Midi and take a cab from there...it's better lit and has more guards around (primarily because there used to be so many pickpockets and other skeevy types lurking around...a big fuss was raised and it has much better security now). The central station is a little dodgier late at night, IMHO, not because the area is bad (it isn't) but because of the long corridors and its older, darker design.
Really, though, you should be ok, especially as there are two of you.
Re mass transit, the one Brussel *metro* station (not train station) I would definitely avoid at night is the Hotel des Monnaie/Munthof station. It's very deep, doesn't connect with any other mass transit (bus, trams) and can be pretty creepy at night.

Bruges is safe, definitely!
I don't feel safe in the Brussels train and metro stations, though. Probably because I'm not a frequent train/metro traveller.

Agree with you all about Bruges. You don't say where your hotel is centrally located, lifetravel, but for me, the best bet is to get off at Gare Centrale and walk to your hotel in the centre behind a bunch of people heading to the Grand Place if you wish to avoid the cab at Midi. I have often wound up at centrale at midnight from the last train from Knokke and have found it completely safe.

thanks so much for the responses. I have not picked a hotel yet but it will be someplace within walking distance of grand place. I want to make a day trip to Bruges but don't want to come back too early

As all others have posted, Bruges is comfortable and safe at any hour of the day or night.

Our experience in Brussels was not the same. Brussels is the only major city in Europe where we experienced all police officers carrrying sidearms in the streets, and this was prior to the "age of terrorism".

I believe the other posters, in their own way, are letting you know that Brussels is not a "certainty" late at night when it comes to a feeling of complete safety, particularly around the train stations or metro stops.

Have you considered taking a small rollaboard, and staying overrnight in Bruges? The extra euros spent for a modest hotel or B&B for one night may give you the extra time you want to spend in Bruges, plus ease your concerns about returning to Brussels too late in the evening.

A very good suggestion about staying overnight at Bruges. I just wanted to avoid dragging the luggage - Ok there will not be too much of it but we will have at least one suitcase each (the size of the carry-on allowed on airplanes) and one backpack. Here's the iti ....

Sept 7th - Arrive in AMS
Sept 10 - Leave AMS for Brussels (early morning train). We will be in Brussels before noon. Spend the afternoon and night in Brussels.
Sept 11 - Leave for Bruges early next morning (too many early mornings??? yes - I know this is supposed to be a vacation but I am going back to Europe after three years. I may have one more Europe trip next May - to Italy - before trying to conceive a baby -- which means at least a temporary drop in international trips). Arrive in Bruges by 9 am. Stay until 8 or so and then back to Brussels.
Sept 12 - Head to Paris
Sept 14 - Take a flight out of Paris back home (US)

We've been to Paris before but could not resist the temptation to go back. Added an open jaw to let us go to Paris without having to go back to AMS.

SO would you recommend spending one night in Brussels and then the next night in Bruges. Then leave for Paris from Bruges ?

Help .. Help ... I have not yet bought our train tickets.

Lifetravel,

Given the itinerary you just posted (and your reasons), I would still say------Spend your one afternoon and one night in Brussels, take your luggage and head on out the next morning to Bruges.

Brussels is not one of my favorite places in Belgium, but Bruges is!!

Once you have seen the Grand Place(magnificent), the Mannequin Pis(bizarre as to why everyone takes a picture of him), eaten some chocolates, and enjoyed at least one wonderful meal (Brussels does have great food), you have experienced the best of the city.

Yes --Brussels has museums to enjoy, but I wouldn't trade seeing them for the oppurtunity of overnighting in Bruges!!

If you take the 9:31 am train on Sunday
(9/12) from Bruges (that connects with the Thalys train in Brussels), you will be in Paris Nord at 12:05 pm.

It still gives you one and one-half days to "revisit" Paris!

I agree with Georgine! Do spend the night in Brugge.

I agree with Georgine--you can create a several hour layover on trains between the IC from Bruges to Brussels and the eurostar to Paris and see the grand place and galeries and thats enough Brussels. Take the extra time to see the nooks and crannies of Bruges, which can be rewarding and walk along the canals at dusk when they are beautiful and cool. I spent 3 nights in bruges last summer and then 2 in Brussels, and if I had it to do over, I would've stayed in Bruges the entire time. Staying in Bruges also negates any possible concerns about nightime at Gare du Midi or Centrale in Brussels (which, aside from the grand place, is not as clean and safe as most of the rest of Belgium)

Hi life,

I also recommend more time n Bruges and less in Brussels.

We have chosen 3 days in Bruges next month plus 5 hours in Brussles enroute by train to Berlin from Bruges. Our itinerary has been considerably influenced by others who have posted before on the Subject. We have a couple of bicycle hire companies and hope to be riding bicycles late in the afternoon and evening. From what we have been told, Bruges appears to be among the safest and most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

Hi Steve,
Be prepared for cobblestones in Brugge ... not very comfortable riding! But fun anyway.