How Much is a Day Trip to Bruges from Brussels
Are you planning your trip to Bruges and don't know what budget you'll need? I'll tell you all about it below - take note!
One of the beautiful corners of Bruges | Libby Penner
If you are organizing a trip to Brussels, a stop in Bruges is a must. Just over an hour's drive away, Bruges is the perfect place to escape for a day and lose yourself in its narrow streets, canals and charming bridges.
But what budget do you need to make this getaway,how much does it cost to join an organized tour, and what would be the price if you decide to visit it on your own? I solve these and some other doubts below so you can decide which is the best way to organize your pocket during the trip.
How much does an excursion to Bruges from Brussels cost?
For those who opt for the most comfortable and economical option, the excursions to Bruges from Brussels cost about 45€ in Hellotickets. The journey between cities is made by private bus, you will be accompanied by an expert guide and a stop is made in the neighboring city of Ghent to complete the tour with a view of the best of Belgium.
If you do not like organized groups and prefer to travel in a more intimate way, there are similar tours that offer a more exclusive experience traveling in small groups: the price rises up to 90€, but this type of tour will allow you to better connect with the guide and the city, better expose your doubts, ask for recommendations...
Whichever option you choose, during the day you will have free time to explore the city at your leisure, which makes it a very authentic experience.
To the budget of the excursion, add about 20 or 25 € per person for food and drink (although there are much lower cost options, this is the average price of what it will cost you).
average price of what it will cost you to eat in Bruges).
How much does an excursion to Bruges and Ghent from Brussels cost?
You are in luck, because most of the organized tours that go to Bruges, also stop in Ghent for the same price, about 45 €.
This will allow you to visit both cities in one day (ideal if you do not have much time) and save on travel: you will not have to be aware of the schedules of public buses or trains, but you will have at your disposal the private bus of the tour with which you will move from one city to another.
How much does it cost to go to Bruges from Brussels by train?
If you are not convinced by the option of taking an organized tour and prefer to do the visit on your own, there are trains that take you from one city to another for about 16 € each way and about 30 € round trip.
Throughout the day there can be up to three trains per hour, so frequency will not be a problem. The train station is located in the center of the city and the journey time is just over an hour, so it is a very comfortable trip.
Speaking of budget, just to get there and back you will have already spent almost 30€ and this does not include the stop in Ghent, which would require buying a separate ticket. If you also want to hire the services of a guide for a tour in Bruges, add about 10€ extra per person.
You can check train schedules, fares and availability on the Trainline website.
How much does it cost to go from Brussels to Bruges and Ghent by train?
If in addition to visiting Bruges you want to go through Ghent during the day, you will have to make three train journeys and therefore buy three tickets: Brussels-Bruges-Ghent-Brussels, in total, calculate between 35 and 40 €. Below is the price breakdown:
- Brussels - Bruges: 16€.
- Bruges - Ghent: 8,70€.
- Ghent-Brussels: 12€.
The distance between Bruges and Ghent is less than an hour, so you will not add many kilometers to your journey, but undoubtedly, the logistics start to get complicated if you want to visit both cities in one day on your own. You will have to keep an eye on the timetables and take into account the waiting times at each station.
Again, I recommend using Trainline to buy your tickets online so you don't have to fight or wait in line at the machines at the train station.
How much does it cost to go from Brussels to Bruges by rental car?
Renting a car can be a good idea if you plan to move around the country a lot, so you can move around on your own without depending on public transportation schedules.
However, it is not a cheap option and keep in mind that you will not be able to access by car to the center of the main cities, so you will have to pay for parking during your visit to Bruges.
Doing a quick calculation, we see that if you rent a car can cost us about 50 € per day (to which should be added the proportional part that cost us insurance), about 20 € in gasoline round trip and about 15 € the parking of the car the whole day in a parking lot, the budget soars to 85 € only in displacements.
If you do not plan to visit more cities, I do not recommend this option.
How much does it cost to get from Brussels to Bruges by bus?
Going by public bus from Brussels to Bruges is the cheapest option of all, it can cost you between 15 and 20€ the round trip ticket. Buses usually depart from Brussels Central Station and take about an hour and a half to reach Bruges.
There are quite frequent buses running during the day, you can check schedules, prices and buy tickets on BusBud.