Okay, after reading all the reviews I am convinced that during my 3 day weekend in Brussels, I must take a day trip to Brugge via train. BUT, once I get there, will I be able to see most of Brugge w/o taxi service? How far from the train station are the "sights" and how do I get around. Is it small enough to see by foot? Thanks for the info.

We found it convenient to take a taxi from the station to our hotel near the main square. Probably not absolutely necessary, but .... The main square and surroundings are very walkable (don't just stay around the square). A canal ride, though crowded, is a pleasant way to tour the area.

Candy, We arrived in Brugge via train without their currency (an oversight)and walked to the center of town with our luggage. I do not remember it being cumbersome, but that with our luggage, a cab would have been nice.There is a cobblestone pathway around a park that you can follow right into the town square.The sights are all within walking distance.

As a day trip, I guess you would not take the luggage with you, and yes, I think, it is absolutely doable, it you like strolling around a quite romantic city plenty of hideaways. Specially nice are the surroundings of Our Lady Church, cobblestone streets, small bridges and quietness. The market square and its surroundings are a must see but much more packed with tourists. I would do definitely that trip from Brussels.

I don't intend to stay overnight in Brugge, so hauling luggage is not necessary. I just wanted to know if I could "sightsee" without a taxi or tour. Is there a metro or a bus service in Brugge?<BR>

Candy,<BR>The historic (and tourist) area of Bruge is relatively small and easily walkable. Bruges has no metro; it's too concentrated to need one. There is bus service from the train station that will take you to the bell tower square in the heart of the town. The tourist information office is located just off that square.

tAKE THE TRAIN FROM THE RAIL STATION OPPOSITE THE mERIDIAN hOTEL, ABOUT AN HOUR RIDE, WE ALSO GOT A CHEAP SENIOR RT RATE AS WELL. aBUS AT BRUGGES TAKES YOU INTO THE CENTER. PLENTY OF SHOPS TO PERUSE AND WALK THROUGH AND THE CAFES ARE GREAT FOR NIBBLES. DON'T MISS THE LADY OF BLOOD CHURCH AND MICHAELANGELO'Statue AND BEAUTIFUL FLEMMISH PAINTINGS, A GREAT DAY TRIP.

I think there's a little tour bus that goes around too (a much smaller version of the Paris/Rome type buses -- the mini-van-bus cross).<BR><BR>Walking shouldn't be a problem.

We will be in Paris for eight days in spring 2002. Is a day trip to Brugge feasible? How long a train trip from Paris?

Linda--<BR><BR>You'd have to take a train to Brussels (the Thalys or TGV) and then a local train to Brugge. It's a little under 2 hrs to Brussels and then 30 min to Brugges (I'm not really sure about that though, could be 45min -- I can't remember).<BR><BR>Check out sncf.com for the train times to Brussels from Paris to see if they're convenient for a day trip. It's a lot of train time, but one advantage is that once you're on the train you can sleep.<BR><BR>And purchasing the ticket to Brugge isn't a problem at the station in Brussels (though lines can be long), but you may have to ask which track (it wasn't clear to me). <BR><BR>If it's your first trip to Europe, I think it's worth the time -- it's a pretty little city and it's really different from Paris. Do visit the lace making center -- their museum is small, but I was really impressed. And their prices aren't really too bad either. <BR><BR>Take an umbrella -- Belgium is known for its rain!

The trains from Brussels' Gare du Midi (where the Thalys stops) to Brugge run twice an hour, usually about 12 and 37 minutes after the hour and tend to leave from track 13-15. (The Thalys comes in on tracks 4-6). You can buy a round trip ticket to Brugge at the station in the "service interieur" section (near track 16). Round trip train fare can be as little as $10 second class; I prefer first class, especially on week-ends as the trains to Brugge can be very crowded. The trains will be labeled Blankenberge/Knokke or Ostende as their final destination (and sometimes DePanne). They will stop in Ghent before Brugge. The ride to Brugge takes 50 minutes. In Brugge, the trains going back to Brussels tend to leave at 29 and 59 minutes after the hour, usually from track 10. <BR>If coming from Paris, don't take the Thalys all the way to Brugge, as the schedule is quite limited. You're better off taking it from Paris to Brussels Gare du Midi and switching to a regular train to Brugge. Tip: if the lines to buy tickets are long and the train to Brugge is about to arrive, skip the lines. Go straight up to the track and when the train comes in, tell the conductors/ticket takers you didn't have time to buy a ticket. Do this BEFORE you board the train. They will sell you a ticket on board with just a small supplemental charge (about $1); if you don't tell them ahead of time, you'll have to pay a hefty fine. I've done this several times for last minute trips.<BR>Central Brugge is very compact. It only takes me about 20 minutes to walk from the station to the heart of town and on a nice day, the walk is very pretty and there's lots to see on the way. We prefer to come out of the station, follow the crowds and cross at the light, then turn right and walk along the small canal, then turn left toward the lake and Beginhof. <BR>BTilke

I walked from Bruges' train station to the town center. Even with luggage, it was only about 15-20 minutes and was a very pretty, easy walk. The best way to see Bruges is on foot, although I also took a canal boat tour (takes less than an hour) and a minivan tour (they leave from the Markt square) and enjoyed both of those. Bruges is very compact. You can even walk to some windmills that are just outside the main center.