ferdun

I have looked up the journey on the Belgian train site and it seems simple. Walk to the train station at the airport I understand. It's the rest for which I need a little explanation. Do I take train direct to the Gare Nord and then switch to a second train or is there an intermediate trip on bus or tram before the train to Brugge.
Thanks to the knowledgeable.
PS: wife has knee transplant so we do not want a complicated journey.

ninasdream

I took a train straight from Brugge to Paris, but not to the airport, can't help there.
Just a language proviso - there was no English on the signs or scrolling messages, and no French until you get close to Paris. You may want to make sure you know the names of the stations, and a few phrases in Flemish or Dutch.

beanweb24

Yes - the train station is in the airport (bottom level)...just follow the signs. We've tried the automated machines but find it's much easier to buy tickets from the staffed kiosk...and that they often save us money.

We change trains at Brussels Gare du Midi (though I think Nord also works). This is the only time you have to change trains. No intermediate trips on a bus or tram!

Taxis are plentiful at the Brugge station. Just follow the signs to the taxi. You may find it helpful to have your destination written (or typed) for the taxi driver.

BTilke

With impaired mobility, I think you should get off at Midi instead of Brussels Nord. It's a newer station, in better condition and you'll come in on a track close to the track you'll need for the train to Bruges. Take the escalator down to the main level at Midi and then take the escalator up to the train going to Bruges.
Generally, the trains to Bruges will be heading to Knokke/Blankenberge or Ostende (the destinations that will be listed on the big departure board). From Midi, Bruges is the second stop (Ghent is first). Takes about 50 minutes.
Note: Midi is the third of the major train stations in Brussels (you'll go past Nord and Centrale first).

steamer

If you have alot of luggage the trains with transfers can be a problem. Also Sunday trains vary.

Myer

We did that last year.

Our plane arrived from Budapest at 9:40. I never expected to make the 10:05 train.

We got our luggage, went thru customes and followed the signs. The ticket counters were closed and I didn't want to waste the time figuring out the machine.

We got of the escalator and the conductor was standing beside the train. I asked if this train would get us to Brussels and then to brugge. He told us to get on.

It turned out he was the one who not only sold us the tickets to Brussels but also on to Brugge.

Unfortunately the sceen didn't have the Brugge train listed when we got to Brussels. There was a bit of down and up with luggage. Then the Brugge train appeared and we went up to the track.

I never thought we'd make a 10:05 arriving on a 9:40 plane but we did.

Got to Brugge at about midnight and there were no taxis at the train station. We waited a good 15-20 minutes until a woman driving a taxi drove up. We shared the taxi with someone going to a different hotel.

wlbox

this is easy we just did it last friday. arrived at the Brussels airport went to the lower level and took the train to the midi station, changed to another train to Bruges. the Bruges station is in the midst of construction, when you exit the building the bus station is to your left. buy a ticket and off you go.

Katiemay

We will be arriving in Brussels on
9/11 about 7:40am. and are going to
go straight to Brugge. I must be really lame because I just can't get
the info from the website about train
times much less the cost. Sometimes
it says the stations don't match or
we are too far out on dates.
We usually drive, so this all new to
me. Help!!!

Cowboy1968

No worries ferdun...

You can take any train from Brussels Airport to downtown Brussels (Midi station).
From there you have 2 trains per hour which go to Brugges. (final destinations alter between Oostende and Knokke).
So the worst that can happen to you (if you don't find the right track at BRU midi, for example) is that you have to wait some 25min for the next time.
Total price (BRU airport- BRU midi- Brugge , without any discounts) is EUR 13.20 one-way for an adult.
You get the tickets at the underground railway station at BRU airport. They sometimes have people lining up there, but I never waited longer than 10min or so in line.
You cannot get the tickets for November via Belgian Rail's website that far in advance. I think one month or two is the limit.

btw.. Belgium is bi-lingual (well, actually tri-lingual, but I don't want to make it more complicated than necessary ;-)

Flemish -- French:
Brugge = Bruges
Brussels = Bruxelles
And airport translates to aeroport (french) and luchthaven (flemish).

So for further inquieries on Belgian Rail's website go to www.sncb.be
- change language to English (EN)
- type "bruxelles aeroport" in the "from" field of the timetable box
- "bruges" in the "to" field
- set your travel dates (format DAY MONTH YEAR!)
- hit "calculate"
- on next screen (system highlights in pink "Bruges (Station/Stop) ) confirm that pre-selection by hitting "search connections"
- on next screen, select one or more connections by ticking "details"
- on next screen, you get price information by clicking on the €uro icon (on top of each Date column)