How many days? Amsterdam, Brussels, Brugge, Cologne
 

Hi,
I'm looking for recommendations for amount of time to spend in each of the cities listed above. I've come up with a draft itineray listed below. Feedback would be most appreciated. Thanks!
Day 1- Arrive Amsterdam
Day 2- Amsterdam
Day 3- Visit Harlem (overnight Amsterdam)
Day 4- Cologne
Day 5 Cologne
Day 6- Cologne
Day 7- Brussels
Day 8- Day trip to Brugge
Day 9 Brussels
Day 10- Paris (been here before, in 2001)
Day 11- Paris (daytrip to Chartres)
DAy 12- Paris
Day 13-Paris
Day 14- Fly home

I'd add one day to Amsterdam and remove one from Cologne. Otherwise, pretty good spread.

Thanks Travelnut!

I'd also switch days 8 & 9. Spend day 9 in Bruges and that night, then go to Paris. Bruges takes on such a different atmosphere at night when the day crowd leaves that I really think it's worth it to spend the night. And it doesn't add much to your schedule.

I have to agree with Travelnut and dfr4848.

I would drop a night from Cologne and add it to Amsterdam. There is so much to see in the city, and your first day in country you will be dealing with jet lag, so you might not have a full day of sightseeing.

I'd also spend two nights in Brugge and one in Brussels (the Grand Place at night is a sight to be seen). And Brugge is so lovely, I think you would be sorry if you didn't spend at least one or two nights there.

Have a great time on your journey.

Robyn :)>-

This is good feedback, thanks so much!

I would agree with the others about increasing the time spent in Brugge. I'd probably swap a day in Cologne for Brugge... although more time in Amsterdam might be nice also. Haven't spent any time in Brussels so no idea there.

Agree with Artstuff

One day in Cologne is more than enough though you could stop in Aachen on way to Brussels (small, beautiful and location of Charlemagne grave cathedral).
Agree with notion that staying in Bruges after dark is a great idea
enjoy

I would spend less time in Cologne and definitely consider Aachen as brusselschap suggests. Or, in Belgium, Ghent is another beautiful city to visit.
In Brussels, the art museum is a great stop especially for anyone interested in the Flemish old masters. That and the Grand Place would be my "must sees" for the city

Cologne is certainly worth three full days:

- The cathedral is spectacular - with the golden shrine of the three Magi and the rich treasury.

- There are 12 (!) romanesque churches in the city.

- The Roman-Germanic museum is spectacular. See stunning artifacts (including the best glassware the Romans made), an almost perfectly conserved tomb, two mosaic floors and many other things.

- There are the ruins of the Roman Governor's palace in the celler of the Gothic City Hall. There is also a walkable sewer from Roman times.

- Cologne has two world-class art museums, one for medieval art, the other one for modern art.

- There is the Chocalate Museum.

- Side trips from Cologne include Düsseldorf, a vibrant city with Germany's most elegant shopping street (Königsallee), baroque churches (where Schumann and Mendelssohn-Bartholdy played), excellent contemporary art museums, galleries and a beautiful riverwalk.

- Another side trip would be the Neanderthal with a new, state-of-the art museum of the history of mankind, surrounded by beautiful landscape and corrals where prehistoric animals graze.

Otherwise, I strongly second the recommendation to stop in Aachen. The Aachen cathedral - the place where Charlemagne was crowned in the year 800 - was Germany's first UNESCO World Heritage site and is spectacular. Aachen has a charming old town & spa.

A chocolate museum is reason enough to allow extra time! Thanks for all the comments and suggestions!

Yes, I'll chime in for more time in Brugge. Make Brussels the daytrip (or just a couple hours stopover).

Here is the link to the chocolate museum:

http://www.schokoladenmuseum.de/index_e.html

And here is a link which may be useful after your visit:

http://www.weightwatchers.com

Too funny, Traveller1959!!

I would spend less time in Paris if you have already been there and add a day to Amsterdam. Otherwise looks good!

I'm researching our upcoming trip to Brugge and want to let you know Friday/Saturday hotel rates are quite a bit more and many require 2 nights stay min. during high season, I'm finding (we're just overnight between Amsterdam and CDG).

I'd add a day in Amsterdam and a bit more time in Brugges.

In my opinion, Bgrugges is the most beautiful small city anywhere.

We spent 2 days there and that was fine.

On our second ay we rented bike and drove on the cobblestones to the outskirts of the city and then drove the rim stopping at the windmills and going half way around the city.

A much smaller and more beutiful city than Amsterdam.

Picture bridges, flowerboxes, canals and swans.

Amsterdam requires more time because of the museums and size.

You can see photos of our trip at:
www.travelwalks.com

Loved St Bavo Cathedral in Haarlem one of the most beautiful i have seen - it has a lovely feel to it. Loved oude kerk in Delft gorgeous stained windows. Go to antwerp loved it a lot.

If I were to add time, it would be in Paris. Like most big cities, you won't run out of things to do. Plan your museum visits for Paris and save time by skipping the lesser museums elsewhere.

Suffice to say I'm not an A'dam fan. I think see it and move on is the best plan so wouldn't add extra time there and would spend the night in Haarlem or go on to Cologne.

Cologne has a lot of good stuff. You could add day trips to nearby castles/parks, Bonn or some little towns on the Rhine (Bacharach and St. Goar area are as nice as any).

You may have too much time for Brussels and Brugges. Maybe one day each is enough.