We are visiting Europe for the first time in April and need some planning advice. We start out in Paris for about 6 nights and then want to go somewhere for about 2 more days before we are off to London. Our preliminary itinerary is:

April 5-11: Paris
April 11: Travel to Bruegg and stay one night (EASTER SUNDAY?)
April 12: Travel to Amsterdam and stay one night
April 13-15: London
April 16: Head home from London

* What are some good in between travel destinations from Paris? We were thinking stopping at Bruegg for a night then to Amsterdam for another night then off to London. Does that seem feasible?
* How long would it take from Amsterdam to London and does this even make sense?
* What is the best way/deals to travel between these cities by train? Can we prebuy an 'unlimited' Eurorail package?
* Is Amsterdam worthy of seeing in April? I heard varying opinions.
*Is this good amount of time in each of the cities?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Amsterdam is GREAT in April.... Tulips! Personally, I think Amsterdam is enjoyable any season but you're not there long enough to see everything. Be sure to take a Canal tour. You won't have time for the fabulous Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh, AND the Anne Frank house. Plus all the restaurants that are must visits when I am in town.

You can often get good deals on cheap flights from AMS to London, easyjet.com

Hi dory,
is there a special reason why you plan on staying so long in Paris?
You may want to think about taking one night off the France part of your trip and adding that night to your Amsterdam experience.

Just my personal advice after this year's travelling which included weekend trips to all the cities you mentioned...

Hi dory,

Visiting London and Paris is an excellent first trip.

I have the opposite view from Kascha. Why are you going to Brugge and Amsterdam on your trip to Paris and London?

May I suggest that you take the train from Paris to London, and let Amsterdam and Brugge be part of your trip to Northern Europe?

There is no "unlimited" Eurail package. You can by Eurail and Britrail passes, but before you do go to www.railsaver.com to see if a pass will save you money. Usually, it doesn't.

personally I would never stay only 1 night in any location. What is the point? You will be ran ragged and you wont enjoy Amsterdam or Brugge. Save them for another trip.

Ira sure is right in the perspective that keeping to two places and not having to unpack and pack several times can give you more of a relaxed vacation. And Paris and London alone will already give you an impression of Europe. (Even though I find the smalI-town character of Bruges and Amsterdam, a true city-on-the-water, to be a good addition)

I guess, in the end it's a matter of personality. How you like to travel. How much moving around is ok for you. Whether you'll be able to come back to Europe in a year or two. Etc.

I personally would be fine with 3 to 4 locations in your time span but that might just be me (and DH).
-> How about skipping Bruges and staying for 2 nights in Amsterdam? Trains from Paris to Amsterdam take 4:15 to 4:45 hours.

One more thing:
If you're travelling by train to Bruges you'll end up going via Brussels. Travelling time Paris-Bruges will be something like 2:30 hours. (that includes 50 minutes from Brussels to Bruges.) If having to change trains sounds like a hassle to you, you could overnight in Brussels instead of Brugge/Bruges.
Don't get me wrong, Brugge really is extremely pretty, very well preserved, with a bit of a dollhouse-feeling to it ? but Brussels actually is a beautiful and interesting city as well (besides the Grand Place and Manneken Pis there's Art Nouveau architecture and the comic-style murals and delicious chocolate).

Brugge to Amsterdam takes about 3:30 hours changing trains in Antwerpen, The direct train from Brussels to Amsterdam takes 2:50.


By the way, trains from Amsterdam to London take 6 hours going via Brussels where you board the Eurostar.
Has anybody come across other information?

Sounds like a great trip although I have to agree 1 night stays in any city are exausting. Lot covered by everyone else but I'll add my two cents anyway:

If there is any way to get to the Normandy Beaches, etc. do it! Wetn last spring with our daughter and loved it. Every American should go and reflect. If not, there's plenty to do in and around Paris for 6 days.

Why not get a car? That's really the best way to see the countryside and really not that much more expensive than train fares for two. Going to Amsterdam next week for a week. Will post more about that later.

Need to run but have a great trip.

Brian