Well why not Barcelona? Roman, gothic and Gaudí architecture, tapas and paella, Picasso and Miró, mountains and coast, warmer weather, Spanish/catalan culture and a brilliant small city. Based in barcelona, vueling fly between the 3 cities, you should also check out way2stay.com for apartments, so you get to "live in" the cities and shop for wine.

Barcelona is fantastic but it "deserves " a lot more time than a few days.

I was in Amsterdam and Paris this year on 2 separate trips each place for 4 days and 3 nights. I also like art theater etc. as does my daughter who came along to Paris. Honestly, I wasn't nearly ready to leave either place. The art alone is just so incredible and you do need some time to walk and absorb what you've seen and do some spontaneous things.

You have chosen 2 wonderful cities -

Can't recommend hotels in your price range but I loved staying in the 6th in Paris. Walked to everything. In Amsterdam, as a woman alone, I preferred the Jordaan area. Charming and no need to walk through the red light district (which is rather large geographically) at night. I didn't stay there but wished I had.

Paris - loved the Rodin, the Louvre exceeded my expectations, same with D'Orsay. Have hot chocolate at Laduree in the 6th upstairs at tea time. Walk under the Eiffel tower at night...also exceeded my expectations.

In Amsterdam - Rijksmuseum has a wonderful audio that brings the place alive - beautiful art, Van Gogh of course, go to Keukenhof, Begijnhof (if there on Sunday there are 2 services protestant and catholic in the chapels), Anne Frank Huis is really overwhelmingly sad but a remembrance I would not miss, I liked the Van Loon better than Rembrandt Huis... but depends on your interests.

Wish I were going...

g.

I would suggest adding Berlin to your itinerary for four days. I think it would satisfy both of your interests. You can find reasonable flights from Amsterdam to Berlin. Berlin has a buzz and vibrancy that is unique.

mbagal, adding another destination depends on your travel style: one is a day or two less time in two cities, the other just adding those days to a third. Neither is right nor wrong, and you're not going to see additional weeks' worth of sights in those couple of days.

If you want a third destination, go for it. (I'd suggest Venice). If you don't, enjoy Paris and Amsterdam.

I've done it both ways and enjoyed both trips.

bookmarking ;)

We did 2 weeks in Paris and Amsterdam
this past summer and it still wasn't enough time even though we had been to both before.

I wouldn't add in anywhere else...

Rob