Tips for Bruges please

Tarry

Is it possible to get there without a car and no flying?

Edit: I'm from the SE so easy within of ports and eurostar

sheilanick

Yes it's really easy. You can get the Eurostar to Brussels or Lille and then take a train in to Bruges. The station is about 10-15 minute walk from the centre of Bruges.

Visit the Eorostar site for details and ideas, you may find a train package better value

Go for it !

Tarry

I was thinking about doing it for the Christmas markets (I know forward thinking) as I think it would be nice Failing that in April on my birthday

BernadetteN

secretspender wrote: »

whats the nearest airport to Bruges? :-)

Antwerpen or Brussels National

sheilanick

The christmas markets would be lovely and I think that they have an outside skating rink by the station as well.


When we next go I'm thinking of staying here

http://www.bedandbreakfastbruges.be/





Even better, why not go twice, it's such a little gem.:j

BernadetteN

sheilanick wrote: »

Yes it's really easy. You can get the Eurostar to Brussels or Lille and then take a train in to Bruges. The station is about 10-15 minute walk from the centre of Bruges.

Visit the Eorostar site for details and ideas, you may find a train package better value

Go for it !

Don't forget that onward and return travel to/from any Belgian station (not inculding border staion) is included in a Eurostar ticket, so long as travel is within 24 hours of arrival in Brussels. It's written on the ticket too if you get a lousy ticket inspector.

If you do your own hotel picking, try and get one inside the ring road.

cedrickerry

We've been a few times, the last being in March 2008. Got a cheap Eurostar deal with Cresta Holidays (free upgrade on eurostar so with the food and champers etc.... mmm yummy). It was easy to change trains in Brussels and Bruge station is very central. We stayed in a budget hotel (Hotel de Markies) which was excellent and on tZand square. There's a big fair there in March

Town is quite small and if you run out of things to see and due then I'd recommend jumping on a train for a day trip to Ostend. I think it was about 7Euros and the coastal town of Ostend is worth a look too

torontoboy45

kb36 wrote: »

Heading off to Bruges at the end of the month and was hoping some of you may be able to give me a few pointers. Had a look at some old threads but was wondering if any of you could point me in the right direction for what to see and do, places to eat, shopping etc.
Thanks in advance

you didn't mention anything about a budget, kb.

with the collapse in the value of the £ most of europe is v.expensive and bruges is no exception.

I know bruges quite well, having returned often over the past 25 yrs and the advice re eat/drink on the grote markt (main square) is good. avoid.

the old advice 'go with the locals' holds good. one bar I rate is on hoogstraat. continue walking from the square along this road for 10 mins and you'll come to a corner bar on the left. don't be put off by the outside appearance. the place is friendly and the beer is good and usually varied.

to eat (assuming you're not veggie): the chick inn (sint-amandsstraat 31) serves roti chicken and ribs. fairly priced, if slow. a short stroll from the square.

a handkaart (map) is essential, as bruges oud stat is compact with many streets and lanes.

finally: if you're taking a camera and can be bothered to get up early you may well get shots of the grachten (inner canals) in morning mist. worth having.

a pleasant trip.

kb36

torontoboy45 wrote: »

you didn't mention anything about a budget, kb.

with the collapse in the value of the £ most of europe is v.expensive and bruges is no exception.

Accommodation sorted already and just snapped up a frequent traveller bundle of ferry tickets for european crossings this year.... We are in a fortunate position of having a euro bank account (la poste) and we tend to think in Euros rather than the how many euros to the pound.

Thanks for the useful info and I may even try and get up early for the misty canals which sound beautiful.

Is Bruges truly bilingual or will English be more useful than French?
Only asking as once caught the ferry from Ostende and no one in town understood le français...

BernadetteN

Do not even think about speaking French in Brugge unless you start with a polite request as to which language someone speaks. French is understood to a greater or lesser extent by all who have gone through the Vlaams education system but there is a huge reluctance by the majority on both sides of the Belgian language divide to speak the others' language, Dutch (Vlaams) or French. English is more likely to be spoken without a political connotation to it in Vlaanderen where Brugge is situated. Just learn a bit of Vlaams first like ....

Spreekt U Frans of Engels? Do you speak French or English?

This is far politer than just launching into English and if you speak French without asking, I reckon 99% in Brugge that you will get a really impolite reply.

I've only been doing Vlaams lessons a few months but have been able to do my shopping in Vlaams/Dutch and order in a restaurant in Vlaams without a work of English or French. Vlaams/Dutch is really easy once you have mastered their vowels and the "ggghhhh" for a "g".

Right I'm off to school now and shall cross the road briefly and go into Vlaanderen, mutter a few words of Vlaams, then go back across the road into Brussels where French is king!!!! Choosing the right language is big big big here. So yes Belgium is a bilingual country but for most you are either a French speaker or a Vlaams speaker.


http://www.infohub.com/Destinations/Europe-&-Russia/Belgium/Brussels/84411.htm