London, Bruges, Brussels and Amsterdam
 

We want to go to London, Brugges, Brussels and Amsterdam for 10 days. How much time should we spend in Brugges and Brussels? Also would it be too much travelling to see Paris or nearby French towns also.

In 10 days, you are already planning for four destinations. Don't add more. You can take a day trip from Brussels to Brugges, which would make just three places you are staying which is better, but you still don't have much time in any place. Personally, I'd cut it to two cities and take day trips.

That sounds reasonable, How many days should we allot for London, Brussel/Brugge and Amsterdam?

Would it make more sense to go to Paris, Brussels,Brugge and Amsterdam instead of London?

Stay in Brugge and do a day trip to Brussels instead! It is a much lovelier town than the city of Brussels.

Other than pulling city names out of a hat, can you quantify what you want to see and do? Advising someone whose interests are undisclosed is far more difficult than advising someone who provides relevant information.

For instance, why Brussels - it's an administrative center for the EU, NATO and the compendium of disparate tribes that comprise Belgium. Its most iconic features are the statue of a small man relieving himself and a steel construction designed to replicate an iron crystal. And it still celebrates King Leopold II, who Belgians remember as the Builder King and much of central Africa remembers as one of the most brutal dictators in its history.

London and Paris in 10 days is tight if you've been to neither. You could go to either for the full amount and not be bored.

We want to maximize our time since we only have 10-11 days. We like museums, history, an culture. what makes more sense going to to London, Brugge, and Amsterdam or going to London and Paris.

>>We want to maximize our time since we only have 10-11 days. <<

If you only have 10 or 11 days - my guess is that is total, including travel time - right?

If so, you will only have 7.5 or 8.5 days free for seeing/doing. You will use an entire day/night just flying to Europe. Then another half day is spent on arrival just w/ airport formalities, transfer to the city center and checking into your hotel. Then you lose half a day when you move between these cities (yes, 1/2 a day even though they are petty near each other). Then another entire day flying home.

So w/ about 7 days to play with -- EITHER do London + Paris - or - London + Amsterdam - or - Paris + Amsterdam. And if you choose London/Paris (which would be my choice -- even that would be pretty rushed.

Meant to add -- rushing around doesn't 'maximize' your time -- it mostly means spending more $$/££/€€ on transport and seeing a lot of train stations/airports.

I think I'm getting this, we should limit this to two cities. Which offers more to do, and is easier to get to? London and Amsterdam or London and Paris?

London and Paris. Also, travel time between them is really short by eurostar and it's city to city, no airports involved.

I'd say London and Amsterdam could be done and hit Bruges along the way or London-Paris only - Amsterdam is not nearly so overwhelming in terms of size or sights as are Paris or London.

by train: London to Brussels - throw you bags in a station locker and do a two-hour look at the few main sights for most tourists - the Grand' Place and the Mannequin Pis a small boy pissing that has become the iconic symbol of Brussels - then go on by train to Bruges

2- Bruges

3- Amsterdam

4-, 5 Amsterdam

Spend the other five days in Paris or London

or just do Paris or London.

Of couse fly into one airport and out of the end town.

>>Which offers more to do, and is easier to get to? London and Amsterdam or London and Paris?<<

You need a guide book or two. Those three cities are not interchangeable and are TOTALLY different -- except for canals or rivers running through. Each one could fill your week.

I go to London at least twice every year, Paris about once every 3 or 4 years and Amsterdam maybe once every 10 years . . . And I still haven't seen/done everything. They are all easy to get to. The easiest city pair would be London/Paris. Fly into London, train to Paris, fly home from Paris. They are all beautiful. London is by far the largest.

Read up a bit and decide which two 'speak to you' more . . .