Powell

We are planning a first visit to Amsterdam.

We will have 8/9 days. I want to scope out the timing once we arrive in Amsterdam:

-Delft I assume this is a day trip.
-Amsterdam to Brugge by train is 3 hours accurate?
-Brugge to Paris 1 1/2 hours?
-We plan to spend 3 days in Amsterdam, 2 in Brugge and 3/4 in Paris (we have been here many times).

We like cultural things-want to see the Van Gogh Museum; Rijksmuseum (sp?) We have heard the "FIAT" hotel in Amssterdam is nice. Our budget (for October) is $150/night.

Thanks.

Anthony

yk

I'll be in Amsterdam next week, and will head to Delft also. But I'm doing Delft AND The Hague on the same day. If you like museums, don't miss Mauritshuis in The Hague. I will be visiting the Escher museum as well as the Gemeentemuseum also (both are in The Hague).

Keep your eyes open for my trip report when I return at end of May.

PalQ

all right except Brugge-Paris is much longer than 1.5 hrs - from Brussels it's about 1.5 hrs to Paris but Brugge-Paris is about three hours - most direct route via Lille then TGV to Paris.
A'dam to Brugge - change in Antwerp, will take a bit longer than 3 hrs.

BTilke

PalQ, that is not correct. Going from Brugge to Lille and then on to Paris (at least 1 train change, often more) is not the most direct route from Brugge to Paris. You can catch a Thalys from Brugge directly to Paris (stopping in Ghent and Brussels, but no train changes). The trains leave Brugge at 6:33, 17:10 and 18:34 (depending on the day of departure). This is the most direct route and the only route that doesn't require a train change. The trip will take just under 2.5 hours, not 3.
FWIW, Powell, if you only want to change trains once, you would do better to go to Brussels (50 minutes) and then pick up a Thalys there. Trains leave Brugge for Brussels twice an hour with only one stop (Ghent) between Brugge and the Gare du Midi. The Thalys from Brussels to Paris makes no stops en route.

DAX

I'd like to second yk's suggestion for Den Haag/The Hague which has a nice/comfortable atmosphere besides the museums yk mentioned. Delft is small enough that you can visit in half a day.

ira

Hi P,

>....3/4 in Paris (we have been here many times).<

May I suggest increasing Amsterdam to a week and skippping Paris this trip?

You can also visit Edam, Gouda, Haarlem and Brussels. Take a tour of the dykes, and just enjoy the very pleasant Hollanders.

Powell

Thank you all! Fodor's is a great service.

Anthony