Ok My Hubby & I have a 3 day stopover in Amsterdam on the way home from Africa. I have been to Europe a few times he has not. I had this idea of on one of the days getting on a train and going somewhere. I thought Paris simply because it is beautiful and there are things there you have known of your whole life so they are good to see eg Eiffel tower etc. So I would like some opinions on this. Is it worth taking the train trip from AMS to Paris for a few hours? Or can you think of somewhere else closer to AMS with things that are instantly reconizable?? I forgot to mention that we also have a day in AMS on the way to Africa to get some AMS time in.

Thanks for any opinions & suggestions.
J

Paris is not practical for a day-trip from Amsterdam. The ride is 4 hours each way. You could go on the morning train (8:55am arriving 1:00) and spend the night, however. You arrive at Gare du Nord - find a hotel that is on the Metro Line #4 and you will have easy access to/from the train station. You can buy metro tickets on the train (Thalys line) before entering Paris.

Hi jules,

I also suggest an overnight in Paris.

However, you could take the 06:56 to Paris and come back on the 21:55.

You can buy your tickets (Look for discounted fares) at
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/

I'd use the first day on the way to Africa to rest and get over the plane flight, jet lag, and adjust to the time change - not sure where you are arriving from but if you are like me that 1st day I am in no shape for heavy siteseeing. Then spend the 3 days on the way back touring the city of Amsterdam. Maybe a day trip to somewhere close by, Harleem is often mentioned for instance.

As far as seeing something <instantly recognizable> I don't think you really have enough time to do this in the itinerary you describe.

amsterdam has sites enough for 2-3 days - the anne frank museum, rijksmuseum, bike tours, canal cruise, etc. if you really want to add something on, I'd look at Brugge and/or Ypres. Depends on your interests.

One day on the way, with jet lag, does not do Amsterdam justice. You can also visit other towns in Holland on your way back: Delft, Haarlem, which are all a short train ride from Amsterdam. But Amsterdam might even have enough for your 3 day stopover.

Now what we actually have is 4 full days in AMS. As I said we were concidering heading to Paris for one of these days. Earliest train out of Ams and the latest one back from Paris. This would still give us 3 days in AMS. It will be mid Feb when we are thinking of doing this. My Hubby is keen to do this I am still trying to decide if I should try to talk him out of it?!!

Any more thoughts??

Thank you so much everyone for your time info and thoughts.

J

4.5 hrs each way but if you do be sure to buy the Smilys Thalys (hi-speed Amsterdam-Paris train) for $44 each way, round trip required so $88 p.p. requiring 14-day advance purchase and subject to availability. Call Raileurope in US or one of their agents (Budget Europe is the best i've dealt with - extremely knowledgable and helpful, 800-441-9413 or try www.thalys.com web site. Otherwise full walk up fare is about $100 each way!

I love both cities but personally, I think it would be better to:
Day 1 - Amsterdam
Day 2 - morning train to Paris
Day 3 - Paris, return to Amsterdam
on the 1:00 departure
Day 4 - Amsterdam
In other words, two days in Amsterdam and an afternoon, evening and quick morning in Paris.
Paris deserves far more than this, much less only a few hours of a day.

I don't know...

We spent 6 days in Amsterdam last Christmas (worst weather ever), with a 8 year old (which rules out 50% of AMS attractions) and we could have used a few more days to see all the sites.

We loved it. The food was great, the ballet was downright cheap compared to NYC, and; most importantly,, the people were fantastic.

Stay a few days, explore. have fun

Yes, you should immediately upon flying into Schiphol take the Thalys to paris, 4 hours, stay overnight or two overnights in one of the phalanx of hotels opposite Gare du Nord, where the Thalys train deposits you, and then return to Amsterdam until your flight. Day trip to me is OK because you will see the countryside en route, interesting if you've never been to this part of Europe, but stay at least one night in Paris will make so much an even better experience. there are several dozen hotels around Gare du Nord, just get off the train, walk to your hotel.

Jules, Truly only you (& hubby) can decide if a 9 hour train ride is worth a few hours of a day in Paris.

Personally there's no way I would be in any shape to do or enjoy this particularly tagged on to the end of a big trip (Africa).

It might be smarter to just take a day trip to somewhere closer. My recommendation is to go to Kukenhoff gardens, if it is open at the time you are going.