Rough Itinerary: Amsterdam, Brugges, Brussels, Paris
 

This is my husband's first trip to Europe and my first trip to these places. He knows it will be a whirlwind place and only cares about Amsterdam and the coffee shops :-) I added Paris because I just want to get a taste of the city to see whether to book a longer trip in the future (I did this with London in the past).

Here is itinerary (this will be occurring in early September to save a bit on airfare):

Leave US on a Wednesday PM
Arrive in Amsterdam Thursday AM; full day of sightseeing, early to bed
Amsterdam Friday - possible side trip to The Hague/Rotterdam/Delfft - one of those
Amsterdam Saturday - leave in early evening to catch train to Brussels or Brugges (whichever makes more sense)
Brussels/Brugges Sunday - leave early evening to catch train to Brussels/Brugges
Brussels/Brugges Monday - catch early evening train to Paris
Paris Tuesday
Paris Wednesday
Paris Thursday
Paris Friday
Saturday - fly home mid-morning from CDG

I'm up in the air about Brussels/Brugges. I want to do something in Belgium and hear good things about both cities, and geographically it makes sense to do it while I'm in the Netherlands.

I could add an extra day in Belgium and chop a day off of Amsterdam. I see Belgium as a great mid way stop to relax, eat chocolate and waffles....whereas Amsterdam and Paris will be "go go go" with museums and sights.

I would greatly appreciate your input and expertise!

I would stay in Amsterdam and forgo the side trip. There are lots of sites, great museums, and, yes, the coffee shops. You have the Van Gogh, the Rijks, the Van Loon, the Kattenkabinet, and now the Hermatage, for starters. Train from Amsterdam to Brussels is not more then 4 hours as I recall. Brussels is a large, industrial city with a small medieval central square that was mostly destroyed and rebuilt after WW II. Bruges is less then an hour's train ride from Brussels and a much nicer original medieval city, with canals also. Check out the Church of the Holy Blood, real relic, and the Memling Museum, old nun's hospital from the 1300's. Three days in Amsterdam and a day and a half in Bruges is short for both places, but enjoy, I have been to both and will return again someday soon. While in Paris check out the Jaque Andre, 1800's house filled with wonderful art, walking distance to Museum of Perfum.

I agree with isusie... stay in Amsterdam. The museums are great and it's such a fun, picturesque city. I love the flower market and the Rijks museum. And you can't miss the Van Gogh museum. Especially the top floor. I've had some amazing meals there (Klos for killer ribs...yes, ribs). And then there's the coffee shops...
Train wise, Brussels is more convenient. But Bruges/brugge is a much nicer place to visit. I'd do that. It takes you out of the way a bit, but it'll be worth it.

I don't think you have enough time in Amsterdam. Day one you will be jet lagged and worn out by mid afternoon. Day two you do not have time for any side trips and on day three you are already heading to Belgium early for what is a two hour journey on the Thalys, or just under 3 hours on the Intercity.

You barely have time for a coffeshop let alone all the other things to see in Amsterdam.

Oh and you need to be aware that the IBC conference takes place from 9-14 September. During that time hotel rooms are very very hard to find in Amsterdam.

Thank you all!

Het: We'll be out of Amsterdam before the IBC conference starts (we arrive 9/2).

So, what if I add the extra day to Amsterdam and take away a Paris day? Or would it be better to cut out Brussels or Brugges? I really want to stop in Belgium. I wanted to do it last time I was in London, but didn't have time for the trip.

So we could do:

Thursday: Arrive Amsterdam in AM; lounge around, explore the city without being crazy (due to jet lag)
Friday: Amsterdam; museum day for me and coffee shop day for DH
Saturday: Amsterdam;
Sunday: Amsterdam; transfer to Belgium in afternoon
Monday: Belgium
Tuesday: Transfer to Paris in AM, or transfer to Paris on Monday.
Wednesday: Paris
Thursday: Paris
Friday: Paris
Saturday: Return home.

That now gives us a solid 3.5 days in Amsterdam and 3.5 days in Paris, with one day in Belgium (Brussels or Brugges).

I could do a little side trip out of Amsterdam then (maybe).

I wonder if maybe I could add one more day to my vacation at the beginning and then be able to do Brussels and Brugges. I really don't think I'll want more than a full day in each city.

However you cut it, you are trying to see a lot in a very few days. In Paris you could spend weeks at the Louvre and still not see it all. One full day in Bruges will give you a good overview, it's an easily walkable city, and in one day you could see at least one or two of the medieval churches and one or two of the museums and still enjoy a chocolate or two or three in the many small shops all over town.

Hi twiggers, if it helps I did almost the same itinerary minus Amsterdam in November. I flew via amsterdam to Brussels. After a couple of days in Brussels to get over the jetlag, I went to Brugge and Antwerp. Then, I took a Thalys train from Brussels to Paris, which takes a bit over an hour, and spent 3 days in Paris. I know the purists and perfectionists on this board will say it is not enough for all these cities, but for people with jobs and limited resources it was a perfect way to get a glimpse of these parts of the world. I would love to go back to Paris and Belgium.

Thanks Rainy!!!!

Yes, we have limited time and I want to get a glimpse/taste of different cities. If I'm flying that far and taking off all that time I don't want to be limited to just one city. I don't want to experience everything on one trip....I'd rather get a taste of multiple places and then decide to return in the future.

When I visit museums I don't walk through every square inch. I head directly to the area I am interested in (impressionist and expressionist) and that is what I see. I don't waste my time on art that I have zero appreciation for.

I LOVE visiting religious houses...and, thankfully, they don't take hours to visit!

ISU: I'm not trying to "see it all". I am there to get a taste of each city and decide whether I want to visit that region again.

Twiggers, your second plan sounds better. Gives you time to get a taste of places and feel you have had a holiday too :).

Thanks hetis!

Now to decide whether Brussels or Brugges it the better stop!

Brugge is the better stop, even though I don't much care for it.

hetis: Do you say Brugge in terms of travel logistics? That is, is it easier to get to Brugge from Amsterdam, and easier to get to Paris from Brugge?

Just as some background....we're not drinkers (so anything to do with beer doesn't appeal to us), and we'd be looking for a city that is easy to get around, good food, and some great architecture.

Brussels might be a bit easier to get to from Amsterdam and it is more on the way to Paris. Brugge is a bit to the West. I think one day is not going to do Brussels justice. You may not like the city just because you will not have the time to truly see it and appreciate its beauty and its character. Brugge is doable in one day. It is very walkable and you do not have to drink beer to like it. It is a "Venice of the North" and a city of canals. YOu might already have enough of canals from being in Amsterdam, but Brugge is magical, especially if you stay late into the evening or overnight.

Thanks for the info Rainy! Now it's making me want to see both LOL
I almost did a day trip once from London to Brussels, but my flight got in too late and I went to Oxford instead.....so I have had Brussels on my radar for awhile. I remember a lot of people saying that it was one of those cities you could do in a day or 1.5 days. I'll probably have closer to 1.5 days there.

Brugge is a bit more difficult train-wise than Brussels, but it's worth a visit.
Even easier would be to stop in Antwerp for a day or two, and then on to Paris. Antwerp would give you a good taste of Belgium, it's more compact (and I think friendlier) than Brussels, and more a 'real city' than Brugge (which is pretty but feels like a museum).

Thanks Tulips! I didn't even consider Antwerp! Definitely need to do some Belgium research and make a final decision.