Europe > Belgium > Ostend-Bruges (OST)
The Car or no Car advice for Ostend-Bruges can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Ostend-Bruges ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Ostend-Bruges ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Ostend-Bruges?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
✈️ A Leisure-Focused Airport, Not a Main Gateway
Ostend–Bruges Airport today functions almost entirely as a leisure departure airport, with scheduled passenger services operated by TUI fly Belgium. The focus is overwhelmingly on outbound holiday flights for Belgian travellers rather than inbound tourism. As a result, Ostend–Bruges plays a very minor role for international visitors arriving in Belgium, and flight choice, frequency, and onward connectivity are all limited compared with larger hubs.
🚆 Brussels as the Real Arrival Point
In practice, most visitors heading to Bruges or Ostend will travel by train entirely or will arrive via Brussels Airport (Zaventem), which offers far broader international connections. From Brussels, fast and frequent train services provide seamless onward travel to both cities, making rail the default choice for reaching the Flemish coast. This means that even if you never set foot in Ostend–Bruges Airport, Bruges and Ostend remain among the easiest Belgian destinations to reach without renting a car at all. 🚆🇧🇪
📍 Getting Around Ostend and Bruges — the Reality
Both cities are compact and visitor-friendly.
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Bruges has a tightly packed medieval centre
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Ostend is flat, coastal, and easy to navigate
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Traffic restrictions apply in central Bruges
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Parking in historic areas is limited and regulated
Within either city, a car is more burden than benefit.
🚆 Rail Is the Key Advantage
Rail connections are the biggest strength of this region.
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Frequent trains link Ostend and Bruges directly
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Bruges has fast rail connections to Brussels and beyond
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Trains are frequent, reliable, and inexpensive
Many visitors arrive at Ostend Airport and continue entirely by train.
🚶♂️ Walking and Local Transport
Once you arrive, getting around is straightforward without driving.
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Bruges is best explored on foot
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Ostend’s seafront and centre are walkable
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Local buses and trams fill short gaps
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Taxis are easy to find if needed
For sightseeing, walking beats driving almost every time.
🚗 When Renting a Car Makes Sense
A rental car only becomes useful if your plans go beyond the cities.
Consider renting if:
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Exploring rural West Flanders
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Visiting small villages or WWI heritage sites
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Making multi-stop countryside itineraries
Even then, many destinations are still reachable by train or bus.
⚠️ Practical Considerations
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Driving into central Bruges is discouraged
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Parking costs add up quickly
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Trains are faster than cars for city-to-city travel
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Rental availability at the airport is limited
Many visitors skip car hire entirely.
Conclusion: should you rent a car at Ostend-Bruges?
No for Bruges and Ostend — maybe for the countryside.
The combination of walkable cities and excellent rail links makes this one of Belgium’s easiest regions to explore without a car.