beaune to brugge for one night and two days then back to paris
 

Is this a crazy idea?
I am travelling with my husband from australia, first stop is london for 4 days then to paris for 3 days then the burgundy region for 3 days then two spare nights before flying home. This is the first week in January 2014.
Brugge looks gorgeous which is why i am considering this in such a short time, somebody also suggested Strasburg as another option?? please help??

I have been to Brugge so can't comment on that, but i just wanted to remind you that the days will be very short at that time of the year and that alone may make it a waste of your time.

You could easily add the extra time to Paris, which unless you've been there previously, is being seriously short changed. Extra time in London would be good too, you'll be a bit jetlagged on arrival.

The first sentence should have said I 'haven't' been to Brugge.

I agree with cathies. 3 FULL (?) days isn't much for Paris. A day trip from Paris to Brugge is possible. The journey time is 2 1/2 hrs OW, feasible if you sleep very close to Paris Nord railway station, otherwise you will stay 7 hrs or so in trains and metro.

You will loose less time if you leave London in late afternoon (17.04 or so) by train to Brugge (3 1/2 hrs journey), sleep there, visit th town and move to Paris after that (2 1/2 hrs journey, trains every hr until 8pm).

Beaune to Brugge is a very long trip. The easiest way is 7 hours by train. The shorter travel time (5.5 hours) has 5 changes.

If you do decide to include Brugge then travel London to Brugge to Burgundy to Paris and fly home from Paris.

Brugge is lovely but you'll be there in January. It's a town that's best when you can easily walk around, have lunch outside alongside a canal, take a canal boat ride, and enjoy good weather.

I would stick to London, Burgundy, and Paris for this short trip. Or drop Beaune and stay in Brugge, visiting Gent or Antwerp from there.

I think you are seriously short-changing both London and Paris. I would visit Brugge on my way to Paris and skip Beaune or Strasbourg or anything else. You have too little time on this trip. Your days will be short, the weather iffy and traveling from one place to another will take up more of your time than you think.

Hi AT,

> first stop is london for 4 days then to paris for 3 days

Not enough time in either city.

((I))

Whilst I agree with the others I will say that things don't shut down just because it is dark early. There is no reason to think you have to stop seeing things by 4pm.

If you want to stick to your original plan then go to. Strasbourg instead.
I'm not a fan of Brugge, it's true, but it doesn't make sense to squeeze it in to your current itinerary. Either add the time to Paris, or as I said go to Strasbourg.

Do the number of days you're mentioning include the time to travel between points?

What did you want to see/do in Beaune/Burgundy? Is three full days there enough? We just spent 5 days in Beaune and wish it had been a week.

Is three days in Paris enough?

Firstly thank you so much for all of your replies, this is my first posting and i was so pleasantly surprised with '8' responses, they have all been very helpful.

we have spent time in london before on other trips so happy to have only 4 days.
We have realised brugge isnt such a good idea, thanks to your comments.
mamcalice we have booked our train tickets from london to paris so unfortunately cannot change things around.
Jean we are going to a wedding in burgundy and a birthday celebration in beaune.
think it might be best to go back to paris for the last couple of days.
hetismij2 is it easy to get to strasbourg from beaune and the back to paris?
We do realise this is a very short and rushed trip but coming from australia and only have 2 weeks including travel. i really wanted to see as much as possible, (originally wanted to add in a ski in chamonix and a visit venice). But the closer it gets i realise it will be a nighmare to cram in any more.
once again thanks so much
:-)

Beaune to Strasbourg is between 3 and 4 hours, transferring at Dijon and Mulhouse. Part of the trip is via TGV so you'll need a reservation. Best to reserve 90 days before departure to get the best prices.

Strasbourg to Paris is 2.5 hours with no changes on the TGV. There are frequent trains.

If it were me, I'd cut out Burgandy entirely. Start in London, go to Brugge (its worth 2 days and 1 night) and end in Paris. Brugge is quite small but charming; the lace shops are stunning as the ladies are making items all day long. we ordered a table runner while there and it arrived within 2 weeks. Of course, the chocolate, frites, seafood, cathedral, canals, museum and access to western front battlefields via tour are quite impressive. If you can't change things around, then add the extra days in Paris (you could go from there to Brugges quite easily via train vs trying to do it from Burgandy). Or, head to Normandy/Bayeux for a change of pace...easily reached by train and enough to keep you quite occupied for 2 or 3 days.

After having visited the most famous places of Burgundy, like Dijon, Vezelay, Cluny, Tournus, Salines Royales d'Auxerre, it might be easier to go to Lyon (incl Fourviere), Vienne, Perouges etc. instead of Strasbourg.
But everything is possible; it's up to you!

Strasbourg is a finer city than Brugge, almost as many canals, better architecture.

Beaunne is not in Strsbourg's league and while it has Burgundian wine, Strasbourg has Alsation wine. However Burgundy has a range of beautiful cities and towns, Alsace has a fair number as well but given your other plans I'd focus on Burgundy.

thank you again everybody for your time and travelling tips, alot to consider. Wherever we end up it will no doubt be beautiful
:-)