16 Days in Europe Amsterdam to Zurich in (February)

Skip Brussels or just pass through it on the way to Paris as a good day trip. The train station you will pass through in Brussels there has lockers for your luggage.
You have not listed any place where you are based for some days in your ambition where a car is needed.

Hi Jazz+Travels

Thank you, that is great to know. Then we could possibly just spend the day in Brussels and then go to Paris directly.
We will need a car in Paris, to do some road trips in the countryside. I was thinking Normandy or Loire Valley? Or Champagne. 4 to 5 days is so not enough... too many options :)

You are going to be wiped out for the first few days after your long flight. It always takes my brother 7-10 days to get his sleep pattern on track when he returns to the UK from Perth. You only have 1 day in Amsterdam, albeit you have been before. You maybe too tired to see anything.

I would scrap Brussels completely and add the time to Paris, which you are significantly short changing. Brussels is the dullest capital in Europe IMO!

If you want to see some French countryside, take the train rather than hiring a car, as it will take you ages to get out of Paris by road. There is more than enough to keep you occupied in Paris for a full week plus the weather will be cold and wet in February plus you may get snow.

At that time of year in Europe, if you aren’t skiing, I would stick to the cities. There is little colour in the gardens and daylight hours are short.

Dear Jennifer
Thank you so much for your kind advice. I should really take the weather and flight time in account.

We will arrive at about 7am in Amsterdam which shoud give us 2 days, but as you said we will probably be tired. I regularly fly to South Africa and the first day is pretty much a write off although I always find it worse coming back. I guess this made me think flying there won't be as bad. Not that I know how much the time zones differ.

If I then go from Bruges to Paris on the 11th I should have an extra say in Paris or a day extra for a day trip. I would love to spend 7 days in Paris and just see art and architecture but I have to compromise a bit to do country trips. Given the weather Normandy would be silly as no one wants to spend winter on the beach. I have read Bordoux is great for winter but seems a bit far. Then from Bordoux to Lucerne also includes several ways of transport which may be fly from Bordoux to Zurand train from Zurich to Lucerne.

Which other countryside trips would be recommended on my way to Lucerne?
Many thanks

Anguree