Include Venice or Amsterdam or neither?
 

My husband and I will be enjoying 3 weeks in Europe next April/May, and are trying to decide on where to go between our Berlin and Paris stays.

Here is our rough itinerary:

London- 3 nights (visiting friends)

Dublin- 4 nights (visiting friends)

Berlin- 3 nights (visiting friends)

?- 3 nights

Paris- 9 nights(to relax and enjoy)

Option 1: I would like to fly to Venice for the 3 nights then on to Paris, and the other option is to go to Cologne and hire a car(so DH can drive the Nurburgring)then drive ourselves to Amsterdam then through Belgium to Paris.

Just wondering, would you squeeze in Venice or Amsterdam/Belgium, or would you have the additional time in Paris to do day trips?

Any views greatly appreciated.
Thanks

I would pick Venice because it's one of my favorite places, but that's just me.

I have been to all 3, i.e. Venice, Amsterdam and Belgium. IMO, Venice.

The architecture, San Marco basilica and the square, alleys, colourful houses in Burano (you can take boat from Venice to Burano, very near) just amazed me.

For Amesterdam, it may be tulips season around that time (around April) and also you can cycle around sub-urb like cheese town.

Another vote for Venice.

I liked Amsterdam, but they call one the "Venice of the North" (not the "Amsterdam of the South") for a reason, I think.

Maybe for a short time, Venice would be a better option than Amsterdam.

3 days in Venice might be too long, as you backread, you will find people who can finish Venice in a day or in a aweek.

For me, 3 days in Venice is just about perfect.

Hi K,

Definitely Venice.

You can fly www.myair.com from Venice VCE to Paris ORY.

((I))

My choice would also be Venice for the 3 nights. Our first trip to Venice 4 years ago we only stayed 2 nights and not enough time to visit Murano, Burano, etc. On our 2nd visit we planned 4 nights and it was a much more relaxed pace. Three nights should be perfect! Have fun!

For purely geographical reasons, I would choose Amsterdam. Of course, Berlin doesn't really fit in either, does it ?

I would also select Amsterdam, if only because I really enjoy European train travel, and you can take the train between Berlin and Amsterdam, and then on to Paris.

Plus, Amsterdam has the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum, and Anne Frank's and Rembrandt's homes, and canals that are nearly as charming as those in Venice, and great Indonesian food, and the red light district, and an hour from the Hague (which has three amazing Vermeers), and herring, and coffee shops, and the Heineken tour....

I pick Venice, not for any logical reason but I like it alot more than A'dam. Purely personal preference.

Actually I would probably split those three days over the other places you are already visiting, add one day each to three of the cities.

You can't go wrong with either, but I'd take Venice.

Amsterdam is an interesting city with great art and history and interesting architecture here and there. And there are many other cities in the world with great art and history.

Venice is a unique world treasure--there is no other place like it in the world. And it also has great art and history and fascinating architecture.

Thankyou to all who replied.

I've always wanted to visit Venice but thought it was a bit of a detour.
I know Berlin is out of the way, but my husband's godparents live there and he's never met them.

It seems Venice has the majority vote, and with flights so cheap these days, I think I'd regret not going when I had the chance.

Thanks ira for the myair suggestion.

Finally the flights are booked.
I was starting to think this day would never come.
We'll fly into London, and out of Paris 20 days later.
At this stage we are planning

London 3 nights

Dublin 3 nights

Venice 3 nights

Berlin 3 nights

Paris 8 nights

Now the fun begins.