I am flying into Amsterdam and would like to visit Bruges, Ghent, and then go to Vianden Castle. What is the easiest train route from Amsterdam to the castle. My daughter and I are then going to travel to Paris. We would love to have input from fellow travelers that have made this trip.
Travel to Vianden Castle
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There are lots of trains from Amsterdam to Maastricht and a few I believe continue on into Luxembourg, stopping either in Vianden or close by - the Grand Duchy has a dense bus system so it is easily reaced by public transporation but will take several hours all told from Amsterdam. For this type of wide-ranging train travel investigate the Benelux Railpass, valid in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg - hop on any train anytime except Thalys trains which you will not need to take.
Great sources of rail info in the Lowlands - www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com.
Well I assumed the Vianden castle in Luxembourg but perhaps there is another one somewhere else?
I guess I needed to word my question a little differently . We will be staying in Brussels, can we make a side to Vianden Castle for a day trip, and then proceed to Paris, arriving before dark?
Thank you for the info you provided it was most helpful.
Well yes I believe that would be possible but of course a long day. Train to Luxembourg City, hop a bus to Vianden (no train service it seems) then have booked a late afternoon TGV train from Luxembourg City to Paris. 'before dark' in summer means very late - 9-10pm sunset in these northern climes but in winter about 4 or 5pm - when are you going? Do you have exact dates - if so look at www.voyages-sncf.com for deep discounted Luxembourg to Paris-Est TGV tickets - cheapest fares not refundable nor exchangeable I believe so be sure of dates. If traveling much by train in Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg and France look into the France-Benelux Railpass (on sites listed above).
Ok according to www.bahn.de it takes e hours by hourly IC train from Brussels to Luxembourg City then about 40 minutes by local Luxembourg train to Ettlebruck, which seems to be the nearest rail station to nearby Vianden - no doubt frequent buses or not a bad taxi ride - trains to Ettlebruck go constantly - neither train from Brussels not ones to Ettlebruck require reservations or even take them to my knowledge - buy a ticket and hop on any train on those routes.
So say about 5 hours tops Brussels to Vianden, castle is in the town - an hour or so back to Luxembourg City for TGV to Paris - takes about only two hours I believe with the new TGV-Est high-speed rail line used most of the way (reservations required and come with your ticket).