Often referred to as the ‘Venice of the North’, this Unesco World Heritage City is truly picturesque. With its cobbled streets, winding canals, medieval architecture, and local breweries, Bruges is set to capture your heart. The city is served by two airports, one of which is Charleroi Airport (CRL). It’s located around 120km south of Bruges and welcomes millions of passengers each year. There are two transfer options to get from Brussels Charleroi Airport to Bruges: a taxi or a combination of one bus and two trains. Opting for a Charleroi airport taxi would be the quickest option, with a journey time of around 1 hour and 50 minutes and a cost of approximately €173. The bus and train combination would be the cheaper alternative at €21.70, with a journey time of around 2 hours and 30 minutes.

1 options to go from Brussels Airport to city center

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How to get from Charleroi Airport to Bruges by taxi

The quickest way to get from Charleroi Airport (CRL) to Bruges is to take a Charleroi airport taxi. However, this option is also the most expensive. You can hop in one of the local taxis outside the airport terminal, or you can book online, through an app, or over the phone. The cost will be around €173, depending on your destination, and your journey will take approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes.

How much will a taxi cost from Charleroi Airport to Bruges?

Many of the Charleroi Airport (CRL) taxi drivers charge using a taximeter, so the fee will be calculated by distance. The cost should be around €173, depending on your final destination. To get a flat-rate fee, we’d suggest booking a Welcome Pickups transfer in advance. This way, you’ll know exactly what you’re going to pay.

Cost
€173
Trip Duration
1h 50min
Convenience
Safety
Value for money

Charleroi airport taxis are available 24/7 and can be booked in advance or from one of the taxi ranks outside the airport.

Where do I get it from?

Once you leave the arrivals hall and exit the airport, you should see the official taxi rank located outside. You can hop in one of the taxis here or you can book one online, through an app or over the phone.

Convenience

Holidays give you the chance to take a break and relax. By opting for a private taxi, you can do exactly that. Travelling by car means you can swap the hustle and bustle of public transport for a hassle-free door-to-door service. However, this does come at a higher cost.

Useful Tips

The city centre of Bruges is largely car-free, so your driver may need to drop you somewhere nearby if they’re unable to drive directly to your destination.
Some taxi drivers may not speak particularly good English, so it might be useful to have the name of your hotel written down on your phone to show to your driver.

How to get from Charleroi Airport to Bruges by bus and train

The cheapest option to get from Charleroi Airport (CRL) to Bruges is to take a combination of the bus and the train. There’s no direct train from Charleroi Airport to Bruges, so you can catch the TEC A bus to the nearby Charleroi Sud train station, which takes around 20-30 minutes. From there, you can jump on the IC train to Bruges, with one change at Bruxelles-Midi. The train journey will take around 2 hours.

How much will the bus and train cost from Charleroi Airport to Bruges?

The combined Charleroi Airport Ticket, which is valid for both the TEC A bus and the IC train, costs €21.70 one-way. This ticket can be purchased from machines next to the TEC bus stop outside the airport. Alternatively, if you buy each ticket separately, the cost for the TEC A bus ticket from Charleroi Airport to Charleroi Sud would be €6 and the cost for the IC train ticket from Charleroi Sud to Bruges would be €23.50.

Cost
€21.70
Trip Duration
2h 30min
Convenience
Safety
Value for money

The TEC A bus is available every 30 minutes on weekdays and weekends between 05:00am and 23:30pm. The IC trains are available every 30 minutes between 04:27am and 22:25pm on weekdays and between 05:05am and 22:09pm on weekends.

Where do I get the bus and train from?

The TEC A bus stop is called Gosselies Airport and is located in front of the terminal exit. The TEC A bus will take you to Charleroi Sud train station, so you can hop on an IC train from there, which runs every 30 minutes between 04:27am and 22:25pm on weekdays and 05:05am and 22:09pm on weekends.

Convenience

With shared space and multiple changes, travelling by bus and train would not be as comfortable or reliable as a taxi. The journey time is also longer. However, this is a considerably cheaper option, perfect for those on a budget.

Timetables

TEC Bus A

Charleroi Airport to Charleroi Sud Station

IC Trains

Charleroi Sud to Bruges

Useful Tips

Pickpockets are known to operate at some of the busy train stations, particularly Bruxelles-Midi, so make sure you keep an eye on your personal belongings.
To get from the train station to your hotel, you can opt for a GreenRides Bicycle Taxi. The bikes are electric and are able to operate in the car-free areas of the city centre.
You can buy a single bus ticket from the bus driver. However, if you want to buy the combined Charleroi Airport Ticket for the bus and the train, you’ll need to purchase this from the ticket machines.

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Frequently asked questions

How far is Charleroi Airport from Bruges?

Charleroi Airport is located around 120km south of Bruges. The journey by car would take approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, while the bus and train would take around 2 hours and 30 minutes.

How much is a taxi from Charleroi Airport to Bruges?

Is there a direct train from Charleroi Airport to Bruges?

How much is the train from Charleroi Airport to Bruges?

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