Private car transfer
from Bruges to Brussels

However, it's not just Brussels you should look forward to but also your car trip from Bruges to Brussels. If you travel with a car service like Daytrip, you can stop and visit many of the spectacular cultural and historical attractions and landmarks along the way.

Since there are so many, we recommend first stopping in the border town of Kortrijk and visiting the car-free city center. It is one of the largest on the European continent and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a visit to Kortrijk, you can stop in Oudenaarde and witness the magnificent medieval architecture and its giant worlds of art found in the city's town hall. If you're feeling a tad hungry after exploring, you can stop in Ghent and enjoy a delicious pastry at one of the riverside cafes the city is famed for.

Of course, you also can't forget to visit the Hospital Notre Dame de la Rose Museum, with more than 700 years of medical history, or Waterloo, a historically significant battlefield where Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated in 1815.

Either way, no matter what stops you make while driving from Bruges to Brussels, Daytrip will help you with everything from planning and navigating this journey to embarking on it. So get ready for us to fetch you and handle your luggage before sharing some local insights until we drop you off in Brussels, readier than ever for your new adventure.

Brussels was a vital trading stop for all those needing to cross to other European powerhouses at the time. Interestingly, many would take a break at the town square in Brussels and trade goods at the main square, which still exists today. Yet besides the Middle Ages, there were two development periods in Brussel's cultural history.

Firstly, there was the late medieval development under the Burgundians. Most of Brussels's beautiful Gothic churches were built under their rule during this period. Secondly, the late 19th to early 20th century saw incredible expansion, with Brussels becoming the center of literature, innovation, architecture, theater, and painting. If you visit today, you'll be swept away by works by surrealist painters René Magritte Paul Delvaux and buildings featuring organic motifs, flowering lines, and intricate designs by Art Nouveau architects Victor Horta and Henry van de Velde.

According to historians, the landlocked nature of Brussels played an important role in shaping the area's culture, which is unsurprising considering Belgium shares its borders with four countries. Germany is in the east, the Netherlands in the north, Luxemburg in the south, and France in the west. Each of these country's traditions rubbed off on Brussels.

Today, Brussels has become a federal state, and in Belgium, there are three communities demonstrating other countries' influence on Brussels's development. There is Flanders in the north, Wallonia in the south, and the Brussels-Capital Region more or less in the middle. Then, in Belgium, the three existing communities are French, Flemish, and German. This is important to know because if you're traveling from Bruges to Brussels, you might come across these different communities with varying customs and traditions.

Don't travel anywhere without an umbrella or raincoat

Although Brussels sees its fair share of sunny weather, a storm cloud is always hiding on the horizon. If you ask any Brussels local, they will tell you never to go anywhere without an umbrella or raincoat, and this practice is worth adopting during your travel from Bruges to Brussels.

After all, the last thing you want to experience is rainy weather without the means to combat it, so you can continue hopping out and sightseeing at the many towns, attractions, and landmarks along your way to Brussels.

If you travel with Daytrip, our driver won't mind you carrying an umbrella or a raincoat because they know how fickle the weather can be. In fact, they'll be able to (with some accuracy) determine if it's a mere trickle or a heavy downpour on the horizon as they know the region's weather.

Learn all you can from your Daytrip driver

The journey from Bruges to Brussels will take 1.5-2 hours if you travel by car since the distance between these cities is 63 miles (101 km). Although not too long, it's enough time for you to learn more about the city you will be visiting to enhance your overall travel experience. When you ride with Daytrip's door-to-door service, you'll be able to chat with your friendly driver and get key insights about the city. Not to mention, they'll know much about many of the other cities and towns you might want to stop at along the way to sightsee attractions and landmarks or simply grab a bite to eat.

So don't be afraid to ask for a history lesson about the region or for recommendations to some of the best cafes, bars, and attractions to visit – or avoid!

Bruges to Brussels by bus

Often, the least expensive but most uncomfortable and slowest way to travel from Bruges to Brussels is by bus. To travel by bus, you'll need to go to the Bruges main transit station from your hotel. Depending on where your accommodation is located, you might be able to walk to the station, or you'll need to catch a taxi. Once at the bus station, you must buy a ticket to Bruxelles, Gare du Nord station. Although buying a ticket on the day of is easy, buying one online in advance might be best to ensure you secure a seat for yourself and anyone traveling with you.

Unlike the trains, the buses don't leave as early. The earliest train leaves at 8:05 AM, with the last bus leaving at 4:30 PM. These buses are operated by Flixbus and only three travel to Brussels from Bruges daily.

Typically, these buses take up to two hours to get to Brussels, but there could be delays if the bus stops in other towns or cities along the route to pick up travelers. You should expect a Flixbus ticket to cost about 11 euros.

Bruges to Brussels by private car

If you're looking for speed, convenience, and a way to stop and sightsee along the route from Bruges to Brussels, hire a private car. A private car service like Daytrip can easily pick you up from your hotel in Bruges and drop you off at your accommodation in Brussels.

When fetching you, your driver will take care of your luggage while you get into the car and prepare to be wowed by the Belgian scenery. You can add numerous sightseeing stops along the way beforehand to further enrich your time in Belgium.

In addition, your Daytrip driver will share travel tips and ensure you see the best there is to offer between Bruges and Brussels regarding attractions, landmarks, and shops. You'll also be able to set the pickup time that's most convenient for you, and prices start at only 30 euros per seat.

Find yourself lost at the Atomium

We never recommend getting lost usually, but if there is one place you wouldn't mind being lost, it's at the Atomium. The Atomium is home to near-endless exhibitions covering everything from the artworks of the infamous Rene Magritte to the history of air travel; there's something for everyone to see.

There's even an iron crystal that's been magnified 165 billion times! You'll not see that anywhere else on Earth. In addition, if you're feeling brave enough, climb to the top of the Atomium to look over Brussels from 355 feet in the sky.

Travel Europe in an afternoon

If you don't have the budget to spare for a comprehensive trip around Europe, you can enjoy the next best thing at Mini-Europe, a theme park that lets you see Europe on foot in just one afternoon!

You'll find small-scale recreations of everything from Buckingham Palace and the Eiffel Tower to the Colosseum, one of the world's seven wonders. Each mini-attraction is modeled after the real thing, so it will almost feel like you're there!

Relax in Cinquantenaire Park

You might be surprised, but sightseeing in Brussels can be incredibly tiring. If you ever feel like your energy is flagging and want to stop and refuel with something tasty, you must consider Cinquantenaire Park.

Cinquantenaire Park is the best spot to take a sightseeing break and relax while enjoying a bite to eat. This park is bigger than the eye can see, measuring in at a whopping 74 acres. It's also near the European Quarter, making it conveniently located.

When visiting, you'll pass under the majestic Triumphal Arch before you can go further into the field to find the perfect spot to sit back and relax.

If you're visiting in the summer, expect to see many locals, as many love to use the park for picnics, coffee dates, and naps during their breaks. Even during the winter, you can visit this park. Just remember to dress warmly, as it's not uncommon to see the park turned into a winter wonderland concealed under a blanket of fluffy snow.