Where to Begin If You're Ending in Amsterdam
 

So I've been to Europe a couple of times now, including about a month on a backpacking trip. This had been a dream of mine for, forever. That quelled my travel needs for a bit but, the travel bug has bitten again. And I'm in a relationship with someone who also can't exactly take off. But my 30th is at the end of the year and I've decided that I'm going away for it. The plan is to go Christmas(I know, a bit crazy but it's my 30th and I want it to be special)

I can probably take a week(maybe, hopefully) more off work(I work in media, so holidays are off aren't a thing), and give myself a nice nine day trip(seven if the S.O. can't get more days off). The plan is to end in Amsterdam.

But where should I begin? I'm guessing two countries is my limit(three days each), but I'm thinking a day/night in a small city, as a sort of "connection" city between my beginning and Amsterdam could be cool. An overnight day trip, basically.

I'm very big on train travel(I enjoyed my 10 hour trips!) so that's my preferred option of travel but if I need to make a sacrifice, for time's sake(and time is short) I'll do it.

Now my starting preferences are(in no order and completely open to suggestons):
-**Bruges**(Obviously easy train ride here, so maybe **Brussels** for the day . Or should I reverse that?)
-**Prague** (No real trains to Prague to Amsterdam, so I'd need that "connector day"
-**Copenhagen**(a train is feasible but long, so any connector days" here. Of course, there is a plane)
-**Budapest**(definitely need a connector)
-**Munich** or Colonge or Hamburg (another connector needed)
-**Zurich**(another connector needed)

Of course I love Italy but I guess it's best to pass an Italian city for this trip and just do an Italian adventure next time.

If anyone has any suggestions on starting cities(doesn't have to be the ones above) and any connectors, that would be great. Heck, if you think I should drop the connector and just take a plane, just break it to me gently. I'll just take it the next trip.

We always spend a week in one place over the holidays and love it.

Because of the holidays there are closures and limits to public transport so wherever you choose I would ensure things you want to see are open the days you are there and that the transport you need is operating.

Also remember the weather and quite short days limit your sightseeing in light. But there should be lovely Christmas lights everywhere in the evenings.

I would stick close to Amsterdam and not mess around with additional flights as airports will be busy and eat up lots of time. Amsterdam and Brussels/Bruges would be lovely.

I would do this:

go to www.skyscanner.com and find out where you can fly cheaply FROM to AMS

I love European rail travel but sometimes it makes more economic (that would be BOTH money AND time spent) sense to fly.

Italy for a few days and then to Amsterdam in a couple of hours? Piece of cake.

-**Bruges**(Obviously easy train ride here, so maybe **Brussels** for the day . Or should I reverse that?)
YES. Fits in, close, easy by train. Or sleep at Gent.

-**Prague** (No real trains to Prague to Amsterdam, so I'd need that "connector day") :
fly.
-**Copenhagen**(a train is feasible but long, so any connector days" here. Of course, there is a plane)
Fly
-**Budapest**(definitely need a connector)
Fly
-**Munich** or Cologne or Hamburg (another connector needed)
-**Zurich**(another connector needed)
Koeln, Muenchen are easy by train. Koeln is close. Or Aachen.

Paris is 3 hours from AMS by train.

Amsterdam is open over the holidays - the museums are normally open on both Christmas day and Boxing day (26th). Trains within the Netherlands run a Sunday schedule, international trains also run on an adapted schedule.
New years Eve in Amsterdam is party and fireworks.
Museums are open on New Years Day, but some open a bit later than normal to give the staff a lie in.

I am telling you this so you can decide which days you want to be in Amsterdam during your trip. It may work out better for instance to start in Amsterdam and end elsewhere.

<i> Where to Begin If You're Ending in Amsterdam
Posted by: JKline1229 on Feb 19, 17 at 2:17am</i>

For your short refresher consider D&uuml;sseldorf, Maastricht, and Antwerp. These are fair sized active cities where you'll find plenty to keep you going, alone or with S.O.

If too far for a train ride to Amsterdam, consider low cost flights:

http://www.flylc.com/directall-en.asp

sell, the easiest would obviously be London or Paris, but those aren't on your wish list.

You could easily do Berlin as the first city, also. It's 6.5 hrs from Amsterdam by train (no connections required). YOu don't have to have a connector day, I don't know if any natural between those points, but Bremen would be a possible on (I don't know if it is worth seeing or not).

Zurich to Amsterdam, you could stop over in Frankfurt, obviously but doubt if you want to do that, or Koln (Cologne). Belgium is an easy one to do, if you want, that's a good choice. I don't know if I'd start in Bruges, but I guess if you fly into Brussels, you could, and then stop over in Brussels on your way to Amsterdam for a day or two. I would not stay in Bruges for 3 days.

Thanks guys.

Yeah, I know London would be easiest but I'm trying for new cities this time around. Also why I didn't include Berlin. I love both cities but with just a week, I kind of want to experience "all new".

The plan is to definitely spend NYE in Amsterdam though the fact that museums are open during the holidays does make me think reversing wouldn't be a bad idea.

Zurich to Colonge to Amsterdam can be VERY cool, but with so few days, can I really do all three? Is Colonge doable in a day/night? I was thinking Colonge(two days) ==> Antwerpen(one day) ===> Amsterdam. But that's just been suggested.

From I've been reading, and from what Christina said above, it definitely sounds like Bruges is a two day place, at most. That I have to ask Christina, why not start there??

Also is four days(well 3.5, counting travel day) in Amsterdam too much?

There is an overnight train Amsterdam to Munich then a bus is quickest to Prague and I believe from Cologne/Hamburg to Zurich- check if they are still running as many overnight trains are being cancelled but if so save on the cost of a hotel and daytime travel time.

Anyway for lots of train info especially on discounted tickets if you book in stone months early to get them check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

You do not seem to be taking enough trains to consider any railpass.

Check all European train schedules at www.bahn.de/en - German Railways schedule site for all European trains - I find it the easiest of ones I've used to access schedules (and fares for trains involving Germany with discounted fares available often).

With the time you have, consider "just" Brugge, Brussels, and Amsterdam -- and maybe, just maybe, Ghent or another place in Benelux.

FWIW, I can't imagine that 3 days would be sufficient for Amsterdam and surrounds, but hey, it's your trip....

So how many nights would you have on the ground in Europe? You talk about 9 days, but I'm guessing that includes travel time from the US and return, yielding a maximum of 7.5 days to actually sightsee. In that time, I'd forget your connector city and choose two cities, or, better yet, choose one city and do a day trip or two.

Yup - Bruges as a base for Brussels, Gent, Antwerp, etc

then Amsterdam -with a week that is about the most.