Getting Around

The center of Bruges is compact and filled with pedestrian-only streets, which makes walking the best way to get around. Wear good walking shoes, though, because those charming cobblestones can be hard going. And watch out for bikes.

By Transportation

Bruges has no subway or trams. Most city buses depart from the bus station beside the rail station, or from a secondary station at 't Zand, and many buses stop in the center at the Markt. Schedules are prominently posted. A day pass giving unlimited travel on all city buses is 2.90€ ($3.70) and can be bought on the bus, or at the booths at the bus stations; you only have to take three buses to do better than if you purchase single-journey tickets at 1€ ($1.25) each. For information on the city and regional bus service operated by the De Lijn company, call tel. 070/22-02-00.

By Bicycle

You can rent a pedal bike from the rail station (tel. 050/30-23-29) for 9€ ($11) per day, plus a 13€ ($16) deposit; you get a discount on rentals of 3 days or more. In addition, many hotels rent bicycles to guests, and there are also at least a dozen bike-rental stores around town. Biking is a terrific way to get around Bruges or to get out of town to the nearby village of Damme by way of beautiful canalside roads. Recent traffic-control measures have made pedal-bikers privileged road users -- in more than 50 of the narrow, one-way streets in the city center, bikers can travel in both directions. But some streets are one-way only and you can be fined if you're caught riding against the traffic flow. In addition, you should always be careful because the streets are filled with pedestrians, many of whom have no experience of bicycles en masse, and are liable to step in front of you without looking.

By Car

Don't drive: Leave your car at your hotel parking lot (if it has one), at one of six big, prominently labeled underground parking garages in the city center (these get expensive for long stays), at one of four cheap park-and-ride lots beside the rail station, or at a free parking zone outside the city center. It's a short walk into the heart of the old city from any of the parking lots. Driving the narrow streets, many of them one-way, can be confusing. The parking rules are firmly enforced, and unlawfully parked cars will be ticketed, wheel-clamped, or towed.

By Taxi

There are taxi stands at the Markt (tel. 050/33-44-44) and outside the rail station on Stationsplein (tel. 050/38-46-60).