One night in Amsterdam?
 

Hi Fodor's. My family and I are taking an 11 day trip to Paris (not including travel days) in August. We've already decided on taking a day trip to Versailles, but we're thinking about taking an overnight trip to Amsterdam. Ideally, we'd leave early in the morning and get to Amsterdam after a 3 hour train ride (so probably around 10-11 a.m.) and then leave to go back to Paris the next day around noon. Is this a good idea? I already have 10 days in Paris plus 1 day in Versailles. I might even take another day or two for the Loire chateux or Normandy. That means that if I took as many day trips as I could, I would still have a solid week in Paris. Most likely, I'd have more. I understand there's lots to see in Amsterdam, but I'd have a whole day and night to see stuff. Is it a good idea? If so, what should I see and do?

You need to answer the second question first: "what should I see and do?" before deciding whether it's a good idea. What appeals to you? Museums? Scenery? Personally Amsterdam wasn't my favorite city, but some people do love it. Me? I wouldn't bother taking such a long trip there and back for night day. I'd do something else closer (e.g. Bruges - still a long way to go from Paris for just a night or a day, but it is small enough vs. Amsterdam that you'd get a great feel for it in a day. But I have no idea if you are even interested in Bruges.).

It's a shame you couldn't have booked an open jaw to fly home out of Amsterdam instead of Paris - sounds like you've already booked the airfare? That would save you a travel day, and it may have cost you the same or even less as a round trip into/out of Paris.

I would go ahead and do it. In fact I would make it 2 nights - since Amsterdam has so much to see and do - rather than a day trip to the Loire (which IMHO needs more time that that to really get a feel for that).

Amsterdam has some great museums (which I love), historic houses to tour (ditto) as well as the canals and a lovely very walkable city. I can spend a full day between van gogh and the Rijksmuseum without any trouble.

But - it does depend on your interests.

You would profit now and many times in the future by knowing how to look at this kind question in a way relevant to you and not someone else with vastly different interests and constraints.

If you pose this question to aficionados of each city, you would get different recommendations. Would recommendations give you any more clarity in helping you decide?

If you take one night away from Paris and do Amsterdam, what is the opportunity cost on the Paris side if you had stay put in Paris? Then fast forward 10 years. Comparing two different scenarios, which one would have rather taken? If you cannot articulate one way or other, it really does not matter which way. Other people cannot really help you with this.

Most guide books have a few pages listing which are top attractions in each city. Rick Steves and Fodors guide have such sections. While no two people agree on which are the tops, it can be a starting point if you don't know anything about Amsterdam.

Has anyone in your family read the book "The Diary of a Young Girl" and left an impression? Then a visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam might be high on the list of places to visit. No one but your family can make this kind of value judgment.

I just returned from 3 nights in Amsterdam followed by 7 in Paris (see my "Amsterdam & Paris in Peak Season" trip report). Amsterdam deserves more than an overnight. If you're going in summer then all the popular attractions (Ann Frank, Rijks, van Gogh) will be very busy and involve a 1- or 2-hour wait in line unless you can make appointments in advance. I did my bookings 3 months in advance and found slim pickings for appointment times but I did get them.

In your position I would either skip Amsterdam or rearrange your trip to give it at least 2 nights.

I live 2 hours from Amsterdam and went just like that : an overnight.
Arrived in Amsterdam around midday, left the next day around 5. We didn't see any museum, just strolled leisurely around the city.
We loved it. But yes, we only scratched the surface.