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Local time Bruges

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Travel to Bruges

Flying to Bruges

The closest airport to Bruges is Brussels Airport which is located northeast of the Belgian capital, approximately 110km (68 miles) to the east of Bruges. Airlines offering direct flights to Brussels from the UK include British Airways, Brussels Airlines and easyJet. From the USA to Brussels, there are direct flights with Brussels Airlines, Delta, Jet Airways and United.

Flight times

To Brussels: From London - 1 hour 10 minutes; New York - 7 hours 20 minutes; Los Angeles - 13 hours (including stopover); Toronto - 7 hours 20 minutes; Sydney - 24 hours (including stopover).

Travel by road

Traffic drives on the right and the minimum driving age is 18 years. Speed limits in Bruges are 120kph (75mph) on motorways and dual carriageways, 90kph (56mph) on single carriageways outside built-up areas and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. A valid national driving licence is required. Although not compulsory for travellers within the EU, it can be a good idea to obtain a Green Card if you're taking your own car into Belgium.

Emergency breakdown services

Touring Club de Belgique (tel: 070 344 777, in Belgium only).

Routes

Bruges lies a short distance from the main E40 motorway connecting Brussels with Ostend and Calais, and the E403 from Lille and Kortrijk to Zeebrugge. It is 100km (60 miles) west of the capital. The access roads from the motorway into the city centre can become extremely busy at times. Visitors arriving in the city by car are best advised to park in the multi-storey car park at the main railway station, which is a 15-minute walk from the centre. A free shuttle bus runs to the city centre; you can obtain tickets from the De Lijn office outside the railway station on production of the car park ticket.

Coaches

De Lijn (tel: +32 70 220 200; www.delijn.be) operates regional bus services to and from Bruges - scheduled direct routes connect the city with Ostend, Zeebrugge, Ghent and other destinations, while regular daily connections between Bruges station and Brussels South Station take around two hours.

Time to city

From London - 4 hours 30 minutes; Brussels - 1 hour 30 minutes; Paris - 3 hours 30 minutes; Amsterdam - 2 hours 50 minutes; Cologne - 3 hours 10 minutes.

Travel by Rail

Services

The central station in Bruges is a short walk from the town centre and stands on the main Ostend-Brussels Intercity line, which connects to the major international Thalys services (www.thalys.com) for Paris and Amsterdam and Eurostar services (www.eurostar.com) for London at the Gare du Midi station in Brussels. Trains to and from Bruges also connect with cross-channel ferry services at Ostend and Zeebrugge, both a short distance from the city.

Operators

Belgian National Railways - SNCB/NMBS (tel: 70 797 979; www.belgianrail.be) operates rail services to and from Bruges.

Eurostar (tel: 3432 186 186; www.eurostar.com) runs from London to Brussels Midi in 2 hours. If you select 'Any Belgian station' when you book, your Eurostar ticket allows a connection to anywhere in Belgium as long as you make the journey within 24 hours. Trains from Brussels to Bruges take around 1 hour.

Journey times

From London - 3 hours 20 minutes (including connection); Brussels - 1 hour; Paris - 2 hours 50 minutes (including connection); Amsterdam - 3 hours (including connection); Cologne - 3 hours (including connection).

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Featured Hotels

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Hotel Navarra

A grand hotel in a compact city, the Navarra is housed in a gorgeous, listed building in the heart of Bruges. There are 94 comfortable rooms in total, not to mention a fabulous swimming pool and sauna, which is the perfect tonic after a day of sightseeing. If you’ve brought your wheels to the city, the hotel’s on-site parking will ease the burden.

Hotel Fevery

Small, friendly and family-run, the Fevery is in a quiet spot just 10 minutes from the central market square. Rooms are simply furnished, but homely and good value. The fact there are only 10 of them keeps the service personal, ensuring the vibe stays like that of a suburban bed and breakfast, rather than a slick city hotel.

The Pand Hotel

Quite possibly the best place to stay in Bruges, The Pand is a small, luxurious hotel in the heart of the Old Town. Sumptuous but not showy, this former 18th-century carriage house has a friendly, laid-back ambiance and one of the best champagne breakfasts in the city. Festooned with the owner’s personal collection of antiques, there are 26 individually designed rooms to choose from.

Passage

Another wallet-friendly option, the Passage is a youth hostel, budget hotel, and restaurant split between two Old Town buildings. Scruffy and old fashioned but charming nonetheless, the Passage offers dorm beds, cheap doubles, and reasonably priced food. The staff are helpful and Bruges’ main attractions are just a short stroll away.

Hotel de Orangerie

Opulence abounds in the 20 large and lavish rooms of this lovely boutique hotel, housed in a former 15th-century monastery. Those facing the picturesque canal have some of the best views in town. If you can tear yourself away, the lounge bar has a warming open fire in winter, or you can enjoy afternoon tea in the elegant winter garden.

NH Brugge

This hotel has an interesting history, as it was a monastery from the 17th century, but is now a classified building. With a buffet breakfast, a restaurant, bar, free Wi-Fi, and room service, guests will be delighted with their stay and wish for more. Located in the “Venice of the North”, a UNESCO World Heritage site, NH Brugge is a convenient and enjoyable place to stay.