ISHA Annual Scientific Meeting 2026
Getting to Bruges
Bruges is centrally located in the heart of Europe, with connectivity to over 300 cities worldwide, principally via Belgium’s capital city of Brussels.
Discounted Airfares
ISHA has selected Lufthansa Group Airlines as its Preferred Airline Partners for the ISHA 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting. Details of booking discounts for delegates will be available soon.
By Plane
Belgium’s national airport Brussels Airport-Zaventem serves more than 200 destinations in 66 countries. It is located 105km from
Bruges.
Delegates arriving at Brussels Airport-Zaventem can travel
directly to Bruges from the airport train station, which is located beneath the terminal building. The journey takes around 1h25 and will cost approximately €20-25. Tickets can be purchased in advance by visiting belgiantrain.be.
Alternatively, Brussels South Train Station is reachable in
just 11 minutes by train from the airport for onward travel to Bruges as outlined below.
A taxi direct from Brussels Airport-Zaventem to Bruges will take
around 1h30 and can be pre-arranged at a flat-rate cost of €200.00. A list of taxi firms can be found here.
Brussels South Charleroi Airport
Brussels South Charleroi Airport offers low-cost flight connections with over 100 European destinations. It is located 150km from Bruges.
The easiest way to reach Bruges from Brussels South Charleroi Airport is via direct bus, which takes around 2h and will cost
approximately €20-25. Tickets can be purchased in advance by visiting flibco.com.
Alternatively, Charleroi Central Station is reachable in 20
minutes by bus line A1 for onward train travel to Bruges. Route and ticket options can be found at belgiantrain.be.
A taxi direct from Brussels South Charleroi Airport to Bruges will take around 2h and can be pre-arranged at a flat-rate cost of €250.00. A list of taxi firms can be found here.
By Train
Bruges is accessible in around 1h from Brussels South Train
Station (also known as Bruxelles-Midi and Brussel-Zuid). The journey will cost approximately €10-25 and tickets can be purchased in advance by visiting belgiantrain.be.
Delegates travelling to ISHA 2026 from within Europe will be
able to reach Bruges from cities such as Paris (Eurostar and TGV), Lille (Eurostar and TGV), London (Eurostar), Amsterdam (NS InterCity and Eurostar) and Cologne (Eurostar and ICE). Frequent sleeper trains also run from Vienna (ÖBB Nightjet) and Berlin (European Sleeper). The route planner available at belgiantrain.be can be used to find international connections.
There are several taxi stops around Bruges Train Station. Details of taxi providers and rates can be found here.
By Bus
Several bus companies, including flibco.com, BlaBlaCar and FLiXBUS, offer connections to Bruges from key transport hubs in Europe. The international coach services terminal is at the rear of Bruges Train Station.
By Car
Bruges is close to European route E40 and reachable within 1h from Brussels and 1h30 from Antwerp. The exit for Bruges is Exit 8 (marked “Brugge”).
The BMCC has a paid underground car park, for which costs begin at €4.40 for 1h and the maximum height is 2.4m. The closest public car parks are Interparking Centrum – ‘t Zand and Centrum – Station. Further information on parking options can be found here.
Delegates from the United Kingdom and Ireland wishing to travel to Bruges via ferry may do so via the ports of Zeebrugge (ca. 30 minutes’ drive), Ostend (ca. 35 minutes’ drive), Calais (France; 1h25) or Dunkirk (France; 1h).
Delegates considering travelling by car are advised to be aware that Bruges is a historic city, with many narrow, one-way roads and some streets not accessible to cars during certain times. Visitors should be aware of Belgian driving rules, which include driving on the right, mandatory seatbelts and a ban on handheld mobile phones. Bruges is part of the Belgian low emission zone network. Special stickers are not required, but foreign vehicles must be registered.
Image courtesy of Visit Bruges | © Jan D'Hondt
Getting around Bruges
On foot
Bruges is a compact city that is easy to navigate on foot. The Train Station is around 15 minutes’ walk from the venue for ISHA 2026 and around 20 minutes’ walk from the city centre.
By bike
Bruges holds cycling in high regard and is taking steps to become a cycling capital, with infrastructure in place for safe travel by bike and a 9km circular route around the city walls.
Blue Bikes are available for rental from Bruges Train Station. Bicycles can also be rented from various cycle shops throughout the city centre. Details can be found here.
Public transport
Bus lines 1 and 2 operate frequently between Bruges Train Station and the city centre, running until approximately 11pm on weekday evenings and 2am on Friday and Saturday evenings. Tickets cost €3.00, with changes permitted within 60 minutes, and can be purchased on the bus (contactless only), at the ticket shop Lijnwinkel (Stationsplein) or at a vending machine (Stationsplein, bus stop 't Zand Square).
The closest bus stop to the venue for ISHA 2026 will be ‘t Zand Square. A bus route map can be found here and a journey planner can be accessed at delijn.be.
Planning Information
Time Zone
We suggest that international delegates allow at least a day to adjust to the time difference before ISHA 2026 commences. Bruges will be following the Central European Summer Time (CEST) time zone during the ISHA 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting, which corresponds to UTC/GMT +2 hours.
Insurance
It is strongly recommended that delegates take out adequate travel and health insurance prior to commencement of travel. Further information can be obtained from your travel agent. Delegate registration fees do not provide any such insurance coverage. The Organising Committee and the ISHA Conference Office accept no responsibility for any loss in this regard.
Safety
Bruges is considered to be a very safe city. However, as in any city, delegates are advised to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings.
Emergency telephone number: 112
Delegates may wish to download the 112 Where Are U app, which helps the emergency services identify your location. For non-urgent situations requiring police assistance or to make an appointment to report a crime, please complete the online form.
Climate
ISHA 2026 will be taking place during the autumn/fall. Delegates can expect cool, damp and often windy weather conditions, with an average daytime high temperature of 13-16°C (55-61°F) and overnight low temperature of 10-11°C (50-52°F).
Opening Times
Shops in Bruges are usually open from 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday; many shops close on Sundays. Banks tend to open 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and often close for around an hour for lunch. Most restaurants will open around noon for lunch and close around 10pm for dinner. Please note that while tourist-focused restaurants in the city centre will be open seven days a week, local restaurants may close on Mondays or Tuesdays. Museums usually open from 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday; most museums are closed on Mondays.
Value Added Tax
The standard VAT rate in Belgium is 21% and is normally included in prices shown. Non-EU residents meeting a minimum spend of €125.00 are eligible to get VAT back on purchases. Remember to ask for a tax-free form at the store and keep your receipt(s). Information on how to claim your VAT refund can be found here.
Vaccinations
Generally speaking, no specific vaccinations are required for travel to Belgium. For recommended vaccinations and health precautions, please consult your country’s national health advice service.
Language
The main language spoken in Bruges is Flemish, a dialect of Dutch. While Dutch is the official language of the Flanders region, many residents also speak English, especially in tourist areas, and French is understood by many.
Banking, Cards and Currency
The currency of Belgium is the Euro (symbolised as EUR or €). Other currencies are normally not accepted.
Many shops and restaurants in Bruges accept card payment, but not all, so it is advisable to check before ordering. Most shops and restaurants do not accept €200 or €500 notes.
Electricity
Bruges operates on 230V voltage and a 50Hz frequency, with the most common plug type being Type E (two round pins and a hole for the socket's male earthing pin).
Tipping
At restaurants in Bruges, service is always included. Tipping at around 5-10% is customary in bars and restaurants, but not mandatory.
Entry Information and Travel Documents
Visas
Belgium falls within the Schengen Area, which offers visa-free travel for up to 90 days for nationals of some countries. Those not eligible for visa-free travel should apply for a visa at the Belgian embassy or consulate in your country of residence. It is recommended that visa applications are submitted at least 4 weeks prior to travel. Further guidance can be obtained from FPS Home Affairs.
Invitation Letters
ISHA 2026 will provide invitation letters to persons who have registered and paid the complete registration fee. The letter will provide proof of registration and proof of payment. It should be understood that an invitation is intended to help potential participants obtain a visa. It is not a commitment on the part of the ISHA 2026 to provide any financial support or to assume any liability for the visa being granted. You may request such a letter from the ISHA 2026 Registration Office at registration@ishaconference.com.
ISHA 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting
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Email: info@ishaconference.com
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