Taking a side trip to Brugge from Amsterdam...is it worth it?

Brugee is nice and deserves at least an overnight. Fast train to Brussels and then hourly trains Brussels,Brugge.

Look at this very recent post about this (Amsterdam to Brugge by train; it's a post from yesterday). Change trains at Antwerpen-Berchem, not Brussels.

Hi SHL,

Brugge is a very nice town for a daytrip.

Brugges is an easy day trip. I want to say 2 hours from Amsterdam...maybe less. The train drops you off on the outside part of town. You take a bus for about two-three minutes into the center of town. This is a beautiful walking city, with unbelievable Flemish food and a medieval feel. The shopping is top notch, which shocked me because I grew up in NYC and my father was in the fashion industry. It is the Newport, RI, Miami Beach, etc. of the Belgians...the rich definately go there in the summers, but it is a rather cheap city.

There is a MUST eat breakfast place...i would have to check my notes, but it is on the main drag heading towards the medival entrance gates to the city, on the right hand side. White buildng...cant miss it....big windows. I had the most ridiculous Belgian waffles with fresh fruit, whip cream, fresh juice, and a few espressos. I was nice and full.

Thank you!!!

SHL, Amsterdam to Brugge by train is 3 hrs 35 min. one-way! Almost double of what pmgoosed suggested.
Is it worth it? Not for one day. Definitely yes if you can spend the night.

You are right about the time....i just checked my journal. To suggest it is not worth it...well I suggest you havent been. I am not kidding, Brugges is one of the most magical towns you could ever go to. When people see my pics (I am about as novice as a photographer as you can be...like as in point and shoot) they always say "WOW...where the hell is that." My buddy has been to 36 countries in his short 34 years, all within the last 10 years, and he always, always takes a stop in Bruges. Perfect relaxation in Northern Europe.

To me, it would not be worth it for a day trip; 7 hours of travelling. And I have been to Brugge. Wether it's worth it to SHL is up to him/her. There are some very nice places within an hour of Amsterdam that are very pretty and worth visiting too.

Brugge (Bruges) does merit an overnight stay if you can possibly fit one in...it's even more beautiful when the day tripping hordes aren't around.

BUT...if you want to leave early in the morning and come back well into the evening, you could still have a very nice day there. I've done plenty of day trips to places in the Netherlands from Brussels and going the opposite way isn't really that different. IMHO, better to see Bruges on a day trip than not to see it at all.

I've been to Brugge a few times, and I agree with Tulips. Whether it's "worth it" is up to the individual, but I'd most daytrip to one of the many nice places near Amsterdam (Delft, for example) rather than spending 7 hours on the train. You may disagree.

BTW, before you suggest that Myriam hasn't been to Brugge, I'd suggest that you check out a bit about her. She's Belgian and, I think, lives in Antwerp.

Thank you so much for all of your inputs, we will definitely stay over night in Brugge if we decide to go. Thanks again!!!

I would like to just add my recommendation as well to make the visit to Brugge. My wife and I spent a week in Amsterdam in 2004, and decided to make a day trip to Brugge - it was a true highlight of the trip! We took a morning train, which got us to Brugge in time to enjoy lunch and then have plenty of time to walk around the city. We spent the night there, and caught a late morning train back to Amsterdam the next day. I loved Brugge - it was like stepping back in time - and we had some of the best chocolate there I have ever tasted!

Tulips,Others

We will be in Amsterdam for seven nights in late April.

We like cultural and historic things. My wife is interested in a visit to Delft, likes to shop. Her last visit there was in the 1950's. I have never been to the Netherlands.

Could you suggest a few day train trips, hour or so in duration, from Amsterdam that would be worthwhile?

We are staying at the Fita Hotel.

Thanks.

Anthony

Powell, though I'm Dutch, I must say that I often think American travellers know more about my country than I do. Do a search here on Den Haag (The Hague), Delft, Haarlem, which are all nice cities within easy reach of Amsterdam.