Help! Only Have 4 Days In Europe!
 

My husband and I are traveling to London for a wedding in early March. We plan to stay in London Sunday, Monday and Tuesday following the wedding. That leaves us only 4 full days to travel Netherlands and return to US on Sunday. There's so much to see, we need some help! We're thinking about taking Eurostar to Brussels on Wednesday then transferring to Bruges and spending Wednesday and Thursday in Bruges. Then taking Eurostar back to Brussels for Friday, Saturday and flying out of Brussels Sunday morning. Does that sound like a reasonable itinerary? We want to have a relaxed trip and not be rushed.

Do you recommend 2 days in Bruges and 2 days in Brussels? I've heard both are beautiful! Keeping in mind it will be pretty cold in early March. Is it worth trying to see Paris instead of Bruges or Brussels? Any advice you can give is greatly appreciated!!

Personally, I'd take Paris over both Brussels and Bruges. Four days would make a nice introduction.

I am not sure I understand the Netherlands part-will you be starting in the Netherlands and then going to London?

In any case, with that short of time I would only choose one or two stops. I would personally choose either only Paris, which is well worth the whole time you would have, or Brugges and Paris. I think 3 places is at least one too many.

Brugges is lovely and small, so you can see it overnight fairly easily if that is all you have. But the train connections might be tricky. If I had to choose one it would be Paris, because if it is cold and rainy there will at least be lots to do-museums etc. But I really think the key is just not trying to see it all, any of those 3 places could be fun for that short of a time.

Paris!

OK - are you under the impression Bruges and Brussels are in the Netherlands? Otherwise where does the Netherlands factor in?

Since it also appears you are flying out of Brussels - either spend your time in Brussels/Bruges . . . or take the Eurostar to Paris and spend 3 days, then take the train to Brussels for one day, then fly home.

Sorry, didnt proof my post- meant Belgium, not Netherlands! We considered Amsterdam, thats where I got the Netherlands. Would London, Belgium and Munich be too much in one week? Seems like a stretch.

Paris paris paris.
And now you say a week? Which is it.

We fly into London on Friday for the Saturday wedding in North Cadbury, Somerset. We'll return to London on Sunday. That leaves us one week to travel. We'd like to spend time in London, so we allotted 3 days there. Leaving us 4 days to see Europe.

Sorry I wasn't very clear. I'm obviously not experienced in planning a trip overseas.

Why would you pick Brussels over Paris? Seriously - Paris is Paris.

Brussels is the capital of the EU (yawn) and the repository of Belgian history (yawn) without much to say about Belgium's dark past (three words: King Leopold's Ghosts - go google it). It's probably a perfectly fine place to stay for two nights but you have FOUR days available to see Paris, which is the far superior destination.

Or think of it this way: the Eurostar goes to Brussels and Paris from London. After you return home, you will tell yourself and your friends that from London you went to (1) Paris, or (2) Brussels. Now which would leave fewer regrets?

If you have never been to Paris, I would suggest Paris over Belgium, only because, indeed, Paris is Paris. I enjoyed Brussels and Brugges; they are also worth seeing, in some general sense. Is there a reason they are calling to you? I mean, all of Europe is compelling in various ways, but again, unless you have a specific reason for favoring Belgium, a week divided between London and Paris, with time out for a wedding, sounds pretty perfect to me.

Ha, both good points. My husband and I have both been to Paris, but we were young teenagers on a school trip. I know it would be a completely different experience now. Thank you for your help!

My husband isn't crazy about Paris and he wants to see Belgium. But like I said, we were young when we visited Paris and I know it would be completely different now, experiencing it together.

Ummm, yes, I think SO!!
Can you make your return an open jaw from Paris? But returning to London isn't so bad.
If you are indeed going to do Paris, you could save London for your last trip days, just before you leave. Go from England to Paris and then back to London. I think it will consolidate a day that you would have to spend in London before departing for the US.

Well, if he wants to see Belgium, then fine--I wouldn't denigrate it, myself. Brugges is utterly charming, and won't be crowded in March; Brussels has amazing chocolate :-) It would take a lifetime to see all of what Europe has to offer, and you have 4 days, so any choice is going to leave out a lot. Do the trip that excites you!

What's wrong with spending all your week in London? That would be my preference, rather than spending so much of your limited time getting from one place to the next.
I'm all for thoroughly exploring one place, rather than ticking off names from some imaginary list! Di

I tend to agree. Three days is <i>nothing</i> for London. If it was me -- I'd either spend the whole time in London (you can't imagine how much there is to see/do) . . . OR . . . 4 days in London and 3 in Paris. Fly into London and home from Paris.

But please clarify: Have you already purchased your flights? If so, by >><i> . . . and flying out of Brussels Sunday morning. </i><< do you mean flying back to London to fly home or are you flying in to London and home from Brussels???

Outside the box....1 1/2 flight to Prague from London!

Great place to chill for 3 nights!

Seriously people, nowhere in the poster's question is Paris. She wants to go to Belgium. Not Paris.

I think your original plan is very sound.