Zeebrugge to Bruges DIY

[Ecuador]

Can anyone give info on how to get from port of Zeebrugge to Bruges independently?

[Scriv]

Some cruise lines like P&O run shuttles into Blankenberge from where you can get a train into Bruges - apparently very cheap and quite frequent, depending of course on the day and the season.

 

Or some people get a taxi there and back, arranged in advance.

 

I am sure people will be on here with details of the above options soon, but this is just to say it is very do-able. :)

Edited August 22, 2015 by Scriv

[Ecuador]

Thanks Scriv

 

Just wondering how close to the train station the shuttle drop off point is.

[wally_bushy]

Some cruise lines like P&O run shuttles into Blankenberge from where you can get a train into Bruges - apparently very cheap and quite frequent, depending of course on the day and the season.

 

Or some people get a taxi there and back, arranged in advance.

 

I am sure people will be on here with details of the above options soon, but this is just to say it is very do-able. :)

 

We were with Oceania and had a shuttle bus right to the train station.

I am unable to recall how long the train trip was (maybe 15 minutes) and then a 10-15 minute walk to the city centre.

Easy to do:)

[Scriv]

Like wally bushy says, drop off point is right across road from the station. :)

[John Bull]

A taxi from the pier to Bruges costs 50 euros for the 20 minute ride, but some taxis carry up to 6 people, so not too expensive if you share. You can pre-book, same price, to be sure of a taxi. Ask the driver to drop you at the Grote Markt, right in the centre. And arrange for the driver to collect you for the return to the ship.

 

Or:

Blankenberge station is about 3 miles from the port, ships' (payable) shuttles drop at the station.

Return fare on the train is only about 6 euros for the 15-minute ride. But it's only an hourly service (was 11 minutes past the hour, may have changed) and since you're taking a shuttle to the station it's difficult to plan to arrive at a convenient time, so if you miss a train you've got up to an hour to wait.

(If you've just missed a train at Blankenberge, consider a taxi from the stand at the station - probably no more expensive than from the port because drivers won't have had to pay a port fee.)

Bruges station is a simple level 10 - 15 minute walk from the centre.

Trains back to Blankenberge used to be at about 25 minutes to the hour, though that's worth double-checking.

Beware - when that return train arrives at Bruges, it splits into two halves. Be sure to get on the correct end of the train for Blankenberge.

 

Or:

Ship's "Bruges on your own" is poor value, & takes you from the ship to the coach park in Bruges, not far from the rail station. From there it's a level 15 minute walk or a one-euro little local bus to the centre - coaches are not allowed in the narrow cobbled streets of the centre.

 

Or:

The Kusttram (coastal tram) from outside the port to Blankenberge station, though there have been mixed reports about whether you're permitted to walk out of the port. But the tram is in any case less convenient than ship's shuttle to get to the station, though a hop-on ticket to visit coastal towns like Ostend, Nieuport & even as far as near the French border at De Panne is a good alternative for those who don't want to visit Bruges.

 

JB :)

[Ecuador]

Thanks to everyone for the info.

[Scriv]

When are you going, Equador?

[Ecuador]

Scriv

 

We are going in October.

[Northern Aurora]

Ecuador: At the risk of stating the obvious, have you checked your roll call for your particular cruise? When we had a port call at Zeebruge we joined a group organized on our roll call for a shared taxi to Brugges and then the return. There were a number of pre-arranged shared taxi groups and it was a fast, efficient transit.

[hancogran]

When we disembarked Brilliance this past May, we took the shuttle from the port to Blankenberge train station. Think it was 6 Euros each. As previously mentioned, you're dropped off very close to the station. Go in and buy tickets to Brugge then board the train. I think we were only on the train around 20 minutes or so before we arrived at Brugge. It's pretty easy to do on your own. Our hotel was right next to the train station so we didn't need to worry about taxis .. You can walk into town from the train station if that's what you want to do. We were staying in Brugge for three days and our hotel was right next to the train station.

Edited August 29, 2015 by hancogran