About Ostend Bruges Intl. Airport
Considered as one of the oldest airports in the world, Ostend Bruges International Airport first flight to England took place in 1923. The airport was built in the city of Ostend in Belgium and also serves the city of Bruges. The airport provided important services to the British Royal Air Force during the Second World War. After the war the it was restructured as an international airport and started operating civilian flights. In 1976, a new terminal building and runway were built at the airport. The airport is located in an important region in the European geography and is considered the center for private flights and freight transportation. The annual passenger statistics of Ostend Bruges International Airport is over 250 thousand people.
Getting to the City Center from Ostend Bruges Intl. Airport
Ostend is a Flanders settlement in Belgium. It comprises the boroughs of Zandvoorde, Vuurtörenwijk, Stene and Mariakerke. A seaside city with a port on the banks of the English Channel, Ostend is Belgium’s closest point to England. There is a fast and direct ferry service between England and Ostend. Transportation is quite easy in Ostend, which usually opens its doors to tourists in summer. Trams, buses and taxis are the main elements of urban transportation in Ostend. The proximity of the airport and railway station to the city center of Ostend makes it very easy to access the city from other Belgian cities and from major European countries such as England. Trains are the easiest means of transportation from other countries and cities to Ostend Airport and Ostend city center. Because it is both cheap and fast, it is possible to reach many points of Ostend area by using trains. The train station is just 5 minute walking distance from Ostend Airport. The central point of Ostend is considered to be the major railway station that opened in 1910-1913. There is a tram line, taxi stands and bus stops nearby train station, which is also very close to Ostend Bruges Airport. The catamaran terminal is located near the station and it is easy to get to the Dover canal from here. There are lockers in many places in the city where you can lock your baggage or your belongings by using coins. This helps you to visit many places of the city without having to carry your belongings. There are bus services between Ostend Airport and Raversijde that last 18 minutes. These buses, number 6, are located at the exit of the airport terminal. Single ticket costs 3 euros currently. Bus ride between Ostend Airport and Ostend city center lasts 10 minutes. Ostend tram, which is also known as Kusttram (coastal tram), takes its name from its route, passing through the coastal strip. Trams are the easiest means of public transportation in Ostend which is known as a port city. Kusttram is exactly for you if you want to take a nice tour of the city and also want to get anywhere you want cheaply. Single ticket costs 2 euros whereas 10 tickets pass costs 9 euros as of 2015. There are also daily tickets for trams. If you are planning to stay longer than one day in Ostend, 10 tickets pass would be the best option for you. To reach the city center by tram from the airport, you only need to walk to the railway station, which is 5 minutes away from the airport. You will see the stop of the trams going to the city very close to the train station. Normally trams depart every 20 minutes, but the frequency increases during summer, when tourists are busy. If you use the tram line passing through the train station, you can reach the Flemish coast in a very short time. Taxi prices in Ostend are a bit expensive, so using public transport in the city is more economical. From Oostende Airport you can go to the city center for about 10-15 euros by taxi. To take advantage of taxi services, you can visit www.mijintaxi.be or www.taxi-oostende.be. If a taxi driver at the airport asks more than 15-20 euros to take you to the city center, you should definitely go in the direction of the train station and check with the taxi drivers who are very close to the station. It is possible to find car rental companies in Ostend Bruges Airport terminal and get information. If the offices of these companies at the airport are closed, you can also rent your car from any company in the city. Ostend has a developed urban transportation, as well as modern motorways and highways. Because the traffic in the city is not very intense and it is close to big European cities, most of the tourists prefer the option of car rental. Bruges, which is very close to Brussels and located 33 kilometers east of Ostend Bruges Airport, is a small but charming and romantic city, which is famous for its houses, channels, phaetons, and a thousand varieties of Belgian chocolates. As a medieval city, Bruges was chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2002 and has been able to carry its dazzling architecture to daylight. There are trains from Brussels to Bruges that depart every 20 minutes and last about 1 hour. This creates an opportunity for tourists visiting Brussels Airport to visit the city of Bruges. Just like in Ostend, Bruges’ central point is the train station. There are trains to this station from neighboring countries or from other cities in Belgium. The easiest way to get to the city of Bruges from Ostend Airport is taking a train. You can also take advantage of bus number 6, taxi and car rental services to get there as soon as possible. Taking a train is the easiest way to get to Bruges from Ostend Bruges Airport without a doubt. The train station, which is the most important point in Bruges, is a 5-minute walk from the city center. There are direct trains from Ostend train station, which is very short distance from the airport, to Bruges train station. Trains depart every one and half hours and last 15 minutes. The ticket for the bus from the airport to Bruges city center can also be used for travelling within Bruges. You can buy these tickets as single-use (1.30 euros), daily, weekly or 10-use (9 euros). The most important clue is that one ticket can be used by more than one person. It takes 23 minutes to go to the city center of Bruges from Ostend Bruges Airport by taxi. You would pay an average of 70-85 euros for this journey. If you bargain with the drivers, you can reduce this price. Taxi stands are located 5 minutes away from the airport terminal exit. Or after landing, you can get detailed information by calling, Rony's Taxis bvba (+32 50 34 43 44), Taxi Georges (+32 475 57 60 15) or Taxi Abby Albert (+32 50 36 36 45). There are two car rental companies at the Ostend Bruges Airport terminal: Avis and Easy Terra Car Rental. You can choose one of these two companies, rent your car and arrive in Bruges city center in 20-30 minutes.Transportation to Ostend from the airport
Bus
Tram
Taxi
Car Rental
Transportation to Bruges from the airport
Train
Bus
Taxi
Car Rental
Getting to Ostend Bruges Intl. Airport from the City Center
It is very easy to get to Ostend Bruges Airport by bus, tram, taxi or rental car wherever you are in the city. Due to the fact that it is not a very big city with regards to its surface area, the vast majority of public transport vehicles have stops passing through the city center.
From the city center you can get directly to the airport by taking one of the bus or tram lines.
Bus
It is possible to encounter luxury buses with many different routes in Ostend city center. In fact, the single fare for Ostend buses, which is the cheapest public transport, is 3 euros. Among these buses serving many points of the city, you can reach the airport directly with the bus number 6. It is also possible to reach the airport by taking the bus going to the railway station and taking a 5 minute walk after getting off.
Tram
The Ostend tram, which is very popular with its speed and cheapness, has a total length of 66 km and 70 stops. Ostend trams, which are also known as kusttram, have stops in almost every corner of the city. Tickets are available on a single, daily, weekly and 10-day basis. From the city you can go directly to the airport by tram.
Taxi
Taxis are, of course, more expensive than other public transport, but if you are traveling with a few people you might profit by dividing the fare among the passengers. It costs about 10-15 euros to reach Ostend Bruges Airport from the city center. Make sure that the driver is opening the taximeter and that you bargain.
Car Rental
Car rental services are a preferred option for passengers who do not want to use public transport. Although there are not many car rental companies in Ostend Airport, there are a number of companies in the city where you can compare prices.
Within the Ostend Bruges Airport terminal there is also the famous car rental company Avis Ostend ([email protected]). This company is open from 8 am to 6 pm on weekdays, and from 9 am to noon on Saturdays. You can easily reach Ostend Bruges Airport by entering the E40 highway from any part of Ostend.
After entering the E40 highway, reach the S'Luchthave Oostende / Gistel' exit and follow the Torhout SesteenWeg sign. You will come to the airport after you taking left at the turn you will encounter.
Transportation to the airport from Bruges
Transportation from Bruges, where within city transportation alternatives are limited, to Ostend Bruges Airport is very cheap and easy. Apart from taxis, you can get direct and cheap access to the city by bus or train.
Train
Direct trains to both Brussels and Ostend depart from the Bruges train station, which is only a short walk away from the city center. It is possible to get to the Ostend train station, which is very close to Ostend Bruges Airport, in 15-20 minutes by taking the Ostend train. There are also miniature trains that allow you to see most parts of the city from Bruges' Reeheldenplein.
Bus
In fact, since Bruges is a small city, most of the public transportation is provided by bus. Buses in the city, where tram, subway etc. does not exist, reach almost every point in Bruges. Buses number 35 and 54 go to Ostend from Bruges city center.
Bus number 35 travels on the route Bruges-Houtave-Ostend and the journey takes approximately 40-50 minutes. Bus number 54 travels on the route Bruges -Oudenburg-Oostende and the journey takes approximately 50 minutes. The single ticket fare for both buses is 3 euros as of 2016.
There are direct buses to the Market Square, the heart of Bruges, from Bruges Railway Station that last 5 minutes. On weekdays, these buses depart every 10 minutes. It writes CENTRUM on these buses that go directly to Market Square.
There are three stops between the train station and the Market Square. STATION writes on the bus that travels on the opposite direction, from Market Square to the train station. The route of Centrum (center) buses is St. Paul's Square, Centrum, Casino, Marie-Joseplein and Kappelestraat. They depart every 15 minutes. There is a bus information office in the very vicinity of the Bruges train station. You can get information about bus routes, schedules, updated bus tickets, as well as city maps from this office.
Taxi
The use of taxis in the city of Bruges is not very popular, because it is possible to take a nice city tour in Bruges even on foot. But if you want to take a taxi from Bruges city center to Ostend Bruges Airport, you need to consider paying about 75-80 euros. If you book in advance from YATTAXI, this fare can be reduced up to 65 euros.
Car Rental
Since Bruges is a small city, there is actually not much need for car rental services. Tourists and locals usually use bicycles, taxi and bus services to commute. You may find a few car rental companies in town. If you have a long vacation plan, it may be more economical to rent a car and go to other places close to Bruges.
If you rent a car from Avis in Bruges, you can deliver your car at Avis office in Ostend Bruges Airport. It takes 20-25 minutes to travel 30-35 kilometers, except during the rush hours of traffic.
Airport Information
Located 6 km southwest of Ostend city center and east of Bruges, Ostend Bruges Airport takes its name from these two cities because it is the common airport of both. The airport is well-known for its many destinations in the Mediterranean Canary Islands and is located in the heart of Europe in terms of its geographical location. Ostend Bruges Airport also has direct flights from Antalya, Bodrum and Izmir.
This airport, which served 253.044 passengers in 2014, is easily accessible from other cities. Ostend Airport is a very busy airport, although it is very small compared to the airports in other European countries, because the trains with which you can reach many cities of Belgium depart from the train station, which is 5 minutes away from the airport. It is located very close to the two most famous cities of Belgium, Ostend and Bruges.
There is free internet access in the airport, information offices, smoking area, dining areas, car rental companies, information tables for public transportation, ticket sales points and souvenir shops at the airport. Belair and Charles Lindbergh are the most famous restaurants in the airport.
There is a 260-car short-term parking area serving on a 24/7 basis and a long parking area with a capacity of 500 cars, right in front of the passenger terminal. Prices are 2 euros for 60 minutes, 8.5 euros for 1 day, 17 euros for 2 days and 25.5 euros for 3 days. There are also 4 different hotels within walking distance of the airport.
