More time in Belgium or Germany?
 

Hi! Traveling across Europe for the first time here and we've hit a snag in our plans. We leave in 2 weeks and can't make a decision!
We have gotten our airbnbs booked for most of the trip but there are 3 days in the middle we don't have a desitination. Our original plan was Berlin but my traveling partners don't want to take an 7 hour train from Amsterdam.
itinerary as of now
Dec. 6-8 Paris
9-10 Brussels
11-13 Amsterdam
14-16 ????
17-19 Paris

We'd like to keep travel time under 3 hours. So I've been looking and I've narrowed it down to Ghent or Antwerp, Belgium or Dusseldorf Germany. Should we just extend our time in the Netherlands? More time in Paris? What do you think? Or is there somewhere I haven't thought of that is worth considering. Looking for more artsy, cool areas with kindof an underground scene/night life. We love museums/art/markets/second hand stores.

Also, if there's something cool happening for the Holidays in any of these places, I'd love to know!

Add the time to Amsterdam and do a trip from there.

Or add 2 nights in Antwerp. There's lots to do in December, large Christmas market. There are some good club (or so I'm told). Interesting museums, architecture, Antiques (Kloosterstraat), a beautiful Art Deco area.

Or do Rotterdam - Menachem, one of the posters here - can give you more info. Cool modern city.

Consider involving Bruges as part of or in addition to Brussels.

I spent a very nice day in Ghent on one visit, and I know others here enjoy other cities in Belgium.

Yes I agree with Tulips - stay the time in Amsterdam and if tired of the city itself take day trips to nearby gems like dozens of regional towns - Delft, Haarlem, Leiden or larger but still cool cities like Utrecht or Rotterdam.

Anyway book your Thalys train tickets ASAP if not booked - www.thalys.com - check www.seat61.com for sage advice on booking your own online - for general info on trains and where to go with them www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

'artsy, cool areas with kindof an underground scene/night life'
As lovely as Brugge is, it is not famous for it's underground scene..

This from Lonely Planet, top cities to visit in 2018:
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel/cities#6

Add the day to Brussels and Amsterdam and then take side trips from these cities.

'artsy, cool areas with kind of an underground scene/night life'>

That's Amsterdam for sure!

Rondatracy, in Amsterdam go the 'De School'. According to my kids.
And this is a good site to check out what is happening;
http://www.yourlittleblackbook.me/cityguide/amsterdam/

I recently visited Paris, Brussels, Ghent & Amsterdam on the same trip. I'd suggest extending your stay in Amsterdam by a day and spending a night (2 days) in Ghent. Ghent, like Brugge is a lovely medieval town (in its centre), with fewer tourists and more locals.

https://translate.google.com/transla...nt&prev=search

Amsterdam Events.