1 Week Itinerary to Amsterdam and Brussels
This itinerary is for you if you want to see two Countries in Europe on one trip. We recommend going to Amsterdam and Brussels in this one-week itinerary. If you have more time, then add a stop to Paris! Below is our 1-week itinerary to Amsterdam and Brussels.
Overview:
Monday- Day 1: Arrive in Amsterdam + Bike Tour
Tuesday- Day 2: Amsterdam- Canal Tour and Museum Day
Wednesday- Day 3: Day Trip in the Netherlands to Keukenhof Gardens
Thursday- Day 4: Art Gallery in Amsterdam with an afternoon train to Brussels
Friday- Day 5: Brussels Beer Tour and The Grand Palace
Saturday- Day 6: Day Trip to Bruges and Ghent in Belgium
Sunday- Day 7: Fly Home
Potential Extension: Day 7-9 in Paris
Sunday- Day 7: Option 2- Train from Brussels to Paris + Eiffel Tower
Monday- Day 8: Louvre Museum and Sacre Coeur in Paris
Tuesday- Day 9: Fly Home
The first place on this itinerary is Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, is known for its beautiful canals, bridges, architecture, and bike riding! There are over 165 canals in Amsterdam.
Tips for Visiting Amsterdam:
- Tulips Bloom in Amsterdam during April and May, so do not go to the Keukenhof Gardens if you are not there during those two months.
- Carry an umbrella and bring a raincoat because Amsterdam receives 200 days of rain each year!
- You do not need to tip in Amsterdam at Bars or Cafes.
Transportation:
Book your flight on Hopper to guarantee the best prices and train tickets at Eurail.com!
Places to Stay in Amsterdam:
We recommend staying in the heart of Amsterdam so you can truly experience what Amsterdam is like during your trip. If you are looking for a luxury vacation, we recommend searching through hotels on booking.com; however, if you want a more budget-friendly trip, stay at a hostel! Search for hostels in Amsterdam on Hostelworld.com. We will list a few places to stay below. Always look at reviews before booking your accommodation.
- Luxury: Conservatorium Hotel, Amsterdam
- Budget-Friendly Hotel: INK Hotel Amsterdam – MGallery
- Budget-Friendly Hostel: Search Hostels in Amsterdam
Day 1: Arrive in Amsterdam + Bike Tour
Relax, settle in, and unwind on your first day in Amsterdam. I recommend going on a bike tour if you have an earlier flight. If you have a later flight, add the bike tour for the following morning. You will bike through Vondelkirk, which is similar to the central park of New York. You will also pass by historic landmarks, including the Anne Frank House!
Day 2: Amsterdam- Canal Tour and Museum Day
Stop #1: Canal Tour- Start your day on a magical canal cruise. It will be the time of your life when you feel the breeze hit your face, enjoy an open bar, and see some of the best sites of Amsterdam all on a boat.
Stop #2: Museum– Following the canal tour, we recommend going to one of the many museums in Amsterdam. Below are a few options for where to spend the rest of your day.
- Rijksmuseum- Rijksmuseum is a national museum that has Dutch arts and history. It tells the story of the Netherlands from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
- Anne Frank’s House- Visit the Anne Frank House for the most up-to-date information on Anne Frank and her life back during World War 2. She was a writer who told her story of what happened to the Jews of Amsterdam.
- Van Gogh Museum- This museum features Van Gogh’s art collection of paintings and drawings. Purchase your tickets online here!
- Royal Palace of Amsterdam– The Royal Palace, located in the center of Amsterdam at Dam Square, has a beautiful garden and is open for scheduled visits.
Day 3: Day Trip in the Netherlands to Keukenhof Gardens
If you are going to complete this trip in the spring, day three would be perfect for a trip to the Keukenhof Gardens. This Tulip and Windmill Tour will take you to experience Dutch nature and culture. You will stop at a cheese farm to try Gouda cheese, explore historic windmills, and visit Keukenhof’s Tulip Gardens. Entrance fees are all included in the tour fee.
Day 4: Art Gallery in Amsterdam with an afternoon train to Brussels
Coffee Shop– Start your morning by enjoying coffee at a coffee shop in Amsterdam. The best coffee shops are Original Dampkring, Bulldog the First, and Coffeeshop Solo.
Art Gallery – Some of the best art galleries to visit are Galerie De Appel, Galerie Delaive, Herman Brood Gallery, and Galerie Paul Andriesse.
After you go to a coffee shop and an art gallery, take the $28.00 two-hour and 48-minute train ride from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Brussels, Belgium. Eurail.com is the best place to book train tickets.
About Brussels: Brussels is the capital of Belgium and is known for its chocolate and beer. You have to bring home chocolate to your loved ones from the airport if you are ever in Brussels, in that it tastes super delicious. BEST CHOCOLATE EVER.
Tips for Visiting Brussels:
- BRING HOME CHOCOLATE
- EAT WAFFLES- Belgian waffles are thicker and have deep pockets. The best waffle vendors include the House of Waffles and Wafelhuis van Hecke.
Places to Stay in Brussels:
Hotels: Booking.com: Hotels in Brussels. Book your hotel now!
Hostels: Hostels In Brussels from US$19 – Top Rated Hostels 2023 (hostelworld.com)
Day 5: Brussels Beer Tour and The Grand Palace
Stop 1: Beer Tour- Belgium is famous for its beer. Brussels is home to 300 breweries. Belgian beers have a higher alcohol percentage. Delirium Cafe has 2000 local and international beers to try out. The Cantillon Brewery is another great place to visit in Brussels! A beer-tasting tour would be an excellent idea. Book Your Tour: Belgium Beer Tour
Stop 2: Grand Palace- After going on a beer tour, head to the Grand Palace. The Grand Palace is located in the central square of the city and is known for its decorative aesthetic.
Day 6: Day Trip to Bruges and Ghent in Belgium
A day trip to Bruges and Ghent is a great idea for how to spend your last day in Belgium. This day trip is an hour away from Brussels and is the capital of West Flanders in Northwest Belgium. The city is beautiful as it has canals, cobble-stoned streets, and medieval buildings. Ghent is an hour away from Brussels. It is also a great day trip that you can go on for a nice getaway from Brussels.
2023 Bruges and Ghent Day Trip from Brussels (tripadvisor.com)
Day 7: Flight Home
On your last day, pack and head to the airport for a flight home.
Potential Extension: Day 7-9 Paris
Day 7: Option 2- Train from Brussels to Paris
If you have more time, then ADD Paris to your trip. You can get from Brussels to Paris on a one-hour and twenty-minute train ride.
If you add Paris to this itinerary, we recommend going to the incredible Eiffel Tower. If you decide to have a picnic in front of the tower during the day or see it sparkle at night is totally up to you, but you have to ADD the iconic Eiffel Tower to your Paris bucket list.
Day 8: Paris
On day two in Paris, we recommend visiting the Louvre Museum to see the infamous Mona Lisa painting, getting brunch in the Montmartre neighborhood, and then heading to Sacre Coeur, a beautiful church near Montmartre.
Day 9: Travel Home
Pack up and head home!! Don’t forget to print out photos of your trip to remember the incredible time!
We listed a 1-week itinerary to Amsterdam and Brussels. Have you ever been to Amsterdam, Brussels, or Paris? I went to Paris and loved every second, from seeing the Eiffel Tower glitter at night to walking through the Louvre Museum. I am using this exact 1-week itinerary for my trip to Amsterdam and Brussels in the future!! My sister worked abroad in Belgium and brought home chocolate. I must say, it is the BEST chocolate I have ever had in my life. The one thing that I am missing in this itinerary is the best restaurants, so I will update this post once I travel to Amsterdam and Brussels. Please comment below about your experience.
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