Travel and transport agencies Zwevegem

This parking lot with 1,382 spaces is accessible via the ring road tunnel. Coming from the highway from the south, after passing under the railway, you will come to a large traffic circle: take the boulevard to the left for 300 m.

Coming from the coast from the west, you will inevitably come to the ring road; take it to the right, until you reach the tunnel entrance. This is undoubtedly the most central and easily accessible, but it is more expensive than the parking lots on the outskirts of the center. Convenient if you need to unload your luggage as it is free for 1 hour.

Located near the central station, it offers 1,600 spaces and its low price includes a return bus ticket for 4 people. It is better to aim for and reserve this parking lot if you come in the middle or high season, when the city is saturated. Because the small parking lots are quickly full and you get tired of looking for a place. The historical center is then accessible on foot in 15 minutes or by bus from the station. Remember to find your parking place when you park, so that you don't have to look for your car for hours, given its size, it is easy to get lost!

Regular connections to Ghent (25-30 minutes, 2 trains per hour weekdays and weekends, €9.90), Ypres (35 minutes, 1 train per hour weekdays and weekends, €8.10), Bruges (45 minutes, 2 trains per hour weekdays and weekends, €10.80), Tournai (direct: weekdays, 30 minutes, 1 train per hour; trains with change in Mouscron: 1 hour, 1 train per hour weekdays and weekends; €8.10), Brussels (1 hour 10, 4 trains per hour weekdays, 3 trains per hour weekends, €16.50), Ostend (60 to 75 minutes, 2 trains per hour weekdays and weekends, €14.30) and Antwerp (direct: 1 hour 25, 1 train per hour weekdays and weekends; trains with change in Ghent: 1 hour 40, 1 train per hour weekdays and weekends; €19.50). Also trains to Lille (40 minutes, 1 train per hour weekdays and weekends, €6.70).

Heritage at risk. Thanks to its ideal location close to the French border, the town of Kortrijk was an important rail hub that was bombed in 1944, after the Normandy landings. The station and 1,800 buildings were destroyed during the war. In 1951, the station was rebuilt to plans by architect Pierre Albert Pauwels. Since 2015, the SNCB has been threatening to demolish the building to make way for a new station. In a bid to preserve this contemporary architecture and spur action, the station has been included on the 2023 List of Europe's Seven Most Endangered Heritage Sites, a program managed by Europa Nostra.

Bruges train station is about 1.5 km from the city center, in the T'Zand district. It offers numerous connections to other Belgian cities. If you're not too busy, you can walk to the center in just a few minutes, an ideal introduction to the city. If you have suitcases, take any bus marked "Centrum" and stop at the Markt. Alternatively, you can take a cab as close as possible to your hotel, as arriving at the Grand-Place doesn't necessarily get you any closer. The center is vast!

This 250 space parking lot is easy to find and well located (near the Beguinage). Ideal for those who don't want to take their car into the center. Via the ring road from the station, at the crossroads with the Kortrijk road (N50), turn left across the ring road into the city center, and drive into Katelijnestraat. Coming from the north, you will see the old Gentpoort city gate on the right and, continuing to the next bridge, you turn right, with Kortrijk on the left.

Pay parking close that you can enjoy free bicycles.

TuiFly is part of the long-established German TUI group, considered one of the world's leading tour operators. TuiFly has a strong presence in Cape Verde, particularly on the islands of Sal and Boa Vista, where it carries thousands of passengers in search of radiant winter sunshine. 2 to 3 flights a week from Brussels to Boa Vista, several flights a week to Sal. What's more, the flights are direct, at prices that are often unbeatable, and would justify French passengers making a slight detour to the flat country, if need be.

Bicycle rental.

One of the most convenient addresses, especially as the company is present throughout Flanders and has locker terminals in all stations. After a train journey, Blue-bike lets you rent bicycles at low cost. You just have to swipe your card in advance. All you have to do is follow the signs to the bike point at the station. You can use the key dispenser (24 hours a day) or go to the branch during opening hours. A single Blue-bike card allows you to rent two bikes at a time.

This is the Flemish public transport company. Tickets can be purchased at the De Lijn store at the station. Bus lines 1, 3, 4, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 23 take you to the center of Bruges. A free tourist minibus, clearly visible from the station forecourt and the Grand Place, runs between these two points, about every 10 minutes.

Tip: buy your tickets online, either directly or via the mobile app, and scan the QR code on the way up. It's much cheaper and much more convenient (and covid compatible).

There are no VTC services in the city, but there are licensed companies, including Taxi Snel, which should be booked in advance if you need a cab, day or night, as it is one of the few to provide service from 10 pm to 6 am. Cab ranks can be found at Bruges train station, the Markt, Spoorwegstraat, Bargeweg, Boeveriestraat, Kuipersstraat (next to the library), Vlamingstraat (opposite the Stadsschouwburg), and in Zeebruges on the Rederskaai and at Baron de Maerelaan (Station-strand).

Flibco is a shuttle bus service that connects Charleroi (and Brussels) airports with Bruges and Ghent, which can be very useful when you arrive on a low-cost flight (Ryanair, for example) and don't want to have to go to Charleroi, then Brussels, then Bruges with your suitcases! This bus stops in Ghent on the way and stops in front of the train stations. There's also a link to Mons from Charleroi and a shared door-to-door shuttle service, cheaper than a cab, between Brussels airport and the city.