For a weekend in Bruges from Paris, take the Eurostar from Gare du Nord to Brussels-Midi (1 h 22), then a Belgian train to Bruges (about 1 hour): allow about 2 h 45 in all, with fares from roughly €36 to €45 one way if you book early (range seen in October 2026, check for your dates). Eurostar sells the full journey through to Bruges. Stay in the historic centre, around the Markt or the canals: everything is walkable. This page contains partner links: if you book, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Near the station, the béguinage and the Minnewater
€ to €€€
Handy when arriving by train
How to get there from Paris
By train: Eurostar from Paris-Nord to Brussels-Midi (1 h 22), then a Belgian InterCity train to Bruges (about 1 hour). Allow at least half an hour for the connection at Brussels-Midi. Cheaper and slower, the Ouigo "classic train" reaches Brussels in about 3 hours.
From Bruges station: about 20 minutes' walk to the Markt, or a few minutes by bus.
By car: about 300 km on the A1, over 3 hours. In Bruges, leave the car at the station car park: the centre is best on foot and hotels charge for parking.
The 2-day plan
Day 1: the heart of Bruges
Morning: the Markt and its belfry: 366 steps to the top and views over the rooftops. Arrive at opening time, the queue grows fast.
Late morning: the Burg square, the Gothic city hall and the Basilica of the Holy Blood.
Afternoon: a canal boat trip (about half an hour), then the Groeningemuseum and its Flemish Primitives.
Evening: dinner in the quieter Sint-Gillis area, and a stroll along the lit canals.
Day 2: béguinage, beer and Damme
Morning: the béguinage and the Minnewater (Lake of Love), peaceful before 10 am.
Lunch: De Halve Maan brewery in the centre, for a tour and a beer brewed on site.
Afternoon: cycle along the canal to Damme (about 7 km), or chocolate shops and shopping streets if you stay in town.
Back: train to Brussels-Midi in the late afternoon, then the Eurostar.
Two tours to book
The best-selling tour: this guided walk with a chocolate stop, with the boat ride and beer tasting as options, from about $28 per person (4.4 out of 5, about 4,600 reviews, seen in October 2026). Check what the option you pick includes.
In a small group: this small-group tour lasts about 2 h 30 with a local guide, a chocolate tasting and about 40 minutes on a boat, from about $49 (4.8 out of 5, about 5,000 reviews, seen in October 2026, check it).
Six hotels by budget
Hotel
Budget
Where
Best for
Hotel Central
Budget
On the Markt, facing the belfry
Location over comfort
Hotel Alegria
Budget
Sint-Jakobsstraat, 100 m from the Markt
Tight budgets, a warm welcome
ibis Styles Brugge Centrum
Mid-range
Katelijnestraat, towards the béguinage
Arriving by train, a safe bet
Hotel Aragon
Mid-range
Naaldenstraat, 100 m from the Markt
Couples, renovated rooms
Grand Hotel Casselbergh
Upscale
Hoogstraat, near the Burg
A spa in 16th-century cellars
Dukes' Palace
Luxury
Prinsenhof, a former ducal palace
A special occasion
Budget: Hotel Central has a terrace on the Markt, facing the belfry, but simple rooms; Hotel Alegria, a small 3-star hotel, is very well rated for its welcome and breakfast.
Mid-range: the ibis Styles Brugge Centrum is about 800 m from the Markt, on the way to the station; the renovated Hotel Aragon is 100 m from the square, with paid parking to book ahead.
Upscale: the Grand Hotel Casselbergh has a wellness area with a hammam and sauna in 16th-century cellars; Dukes' Palace, a 5-star hotel in a 15th-century palace, is the most prestigious address in Bruges.
About 2 h 45: Eurostar from Paris-Nord to Brussels-Midi (1 h 22), then a Belgian train to Bruges (about 1 hour).
Is there a direct train from Paris to Bruges?
No, you change at Brussels-Midi; Eurostar does sell the full journey including the connection.
Bruges as a day trip or a weekend?
A weekend: on a day trip, the 5 h 30 of return train travel leaves little time, and Bruges is at its best in the evening, once the day-trippers have gone.
Where to stay in Bruges?
In the historic centre, around the Markt or the Sint-Gillis canals; everything is walkable.
