22 and 26 sibling trip Amsterdam, cologne, & paris

I think I'd consider just Amsterdam or just Paris and fly into and out of the one you pick. Easily Amsterdam or Paris have a week's worth of good stuff to see and do. Both also have easy day trip options, so you can get out of the city if you really want to. Cologne seems an outlier, and the Brussels flight seems like a lot of logistics that could be avoided by sticking with one city, and or an open-jaws - into AMS out of CDG - if choosing more than one city.

I do enjoy a beer and bitterballen sitting outside at Brouwerij 't IJ!

We are flying into Amsterdam and out of brussels because those were the most affordable flights at the time we booked. We want to make the most out of our trip and see as much as possible in the time we have. We have a family friend from the Netherlands reccomend cologne. When we booked the flights we had no real idea where we were going. So cologne and paris were added after. We are go go go type of people so we don't have any problem packing our trip full of things to do. Thanks for the confirmation for Brouwerijhetji :)

In Amsterdam, a canal tour can be a fun way to see parts of the city. There are quite a few threads on the best options, but one thing I would look for beyond just the good operators would be the open boat vs the glass roof or other closed in boats. Obviously, weather is an issue with open boats, but it is really nice to have fully unobstructed 360 views.

I'd strongly recommend you both read/re-read Anne Frank's diary before going, and also book the additional short overview that can be added to your ticket. What we found to be a strong complement to the Anne Frank tour was also Haarlem's Corrie Ten Boom house, and Amsterdam's Resistance Museum. It's a more holistic view of the how and why things happened.

The Red Light District - day or night - is really, to me, a big "meh". We've wandered through many different times - but usually on the way from A to B. The RS guidebook has a short walking tour that pretty much covers as much as I cared to know. Way too many more relevant places to see and enjoy in and around Amsterdam.

Amsterdam also has many world class art museums. It is also part of a surprisingly small country, so other cities are actually very easy day trips. With a couple days, though, that seems less likely an option.

Sky,
I am reading that you have five nights in Europe. It is possible that you can fit in all the Amsterdam things in the day and a half you will have there (after arrival in the morning, I presume). Travel to Cologne from Amsterdam on day three will take up part of that day, leaving you with a half-day there. Next day to Paris, after arriving and checking into hotel, you have a day and a half (with your 2 nights). Versailles takes up too much of your time to get there and back, IMO. The Louvre, Notre Dame and Eiffel Tower are possible in the day and a half you will have in Paris. Even being young and moving quickly, you will lose time waiting in lines, moving around the cities, finding time to eat and have an aperitif, and breathe. I suggest you drop Cologne this time, and add that travel day and night to Paris (or Amsterdam if you choose). Five nights equal 4 full day, and possibly two half-days. Are you leaving on after the fifth night, i.e. day 6? Have you figured out your options for getting to the Brussels airport? If your flight is late in the day, there is less to be concerned about, but trying to go from Paris to Brussels on the day of your flight out is risky. It would be best to be staying in Brussels the night before your return home, so that would use up your day saved from Cologne.
I don't mean to sound like a Debbie Downer, but please be sure to calculate travel times, check-in and check-out times, and meal times in your plans. They really do matter in your travel experience.
I know this doesn't answer your specific questions, but it would be sad to see your first trip to Europe be disappointing due to lack of planning. (I speak from experience, and when not much older than you we winged it, sometimes sleeping in our VW beetle.)

Have a great trip and bonne chance!
Best of luck and have fun!

Paris is LITERALLY a city you can spend weeks and weeks and weeks exploring. :)

For your two days, visiting Versailles becomes a very LARGE chunk of a day (if not most of it). The Louvre can eat up immense amounts of time too, so often I think a slightly more manageable D'Orsay coupled with another museum like Rodin would work better unless you just have to see the Mona Lisa or other Louvre specific items. Notre Dame may actually be open (YAY!) but it is a fun time even just from the outside. Many times we've just wandered past without going in and there are many places to just sit and have a picnic or watch the world (or river) go by in its shadow. The Eiffel Tower, obviously, is visible from many places, and while a trip up to the observation decks is fun, it is not something I've been itching to repeat. We do, though, usually wander in the park by the Eiffel Tower and that can be an interesting place to be in the evening as folks relax on blankets, the lights come up on the Tower, and the pesky folks selling junk come out.

For me, Paris is a WALKABLE city - ie we literally walk almost everywhere. But that is not an option for a go-go-go itinerary. I don't think, at my age, I'd swap back to that pace, especially in Paris.

I definitely really liked the Palais Garnier opera house tour (in the 9th). Or wandering up by the famed Moulin Rouge windmill (recently updated seemingly from the Olympics coverage I saw?) and up to Sacre Coeur for a great free & crowded view. And even Jim Morrisons grave. And sitting on the bank of the river drinking a beer and eating a crepe. And wandering many of the smaller (still relatively large) neighborhood parks/gardens. Shopping is not my thing, but man is there a bunch of nice stores to try out from small boutique shops to the big department stores. And, of course, FOOD FOOD FOOD.

I'm thinking you need more days in Paris!!! :D

Hi thanks for the input I really do appreciate it. I didn't include that we are going to travel to brussels the night before our flight. If we took out our cologne stay and opted for an extra day in Paris, and also skipped Versailles. What resturants, bars, etc. Specifically would you reccomend? I am excited to try escargot. Also to note, we are a couple of broke kids on a budget haha. That being said. We are willing to spend more for a special resturant, or experience. But need to keep more causal and easier on the wallet options for other meals.

Cannot say enough how much I appreciate all of your replies!

For the canal tour, you can't go wrong with Those Dam Boat Guys. Small boats, evening tours, fun guides. A bike tour or combined bike/walk tour might suit you, as well. The Van Gogh Museum is great, and I'm not at all into museums.

I agree with the other posters about trying to do too much. While distances in Europe are short compared to US, they aren't that short. Your itinerary will have you spending almost a whole day on trains. With only five days total, that's a lot of time you could be spending actually doing stuff. What about going to Antwerp on the way to Brussels? Or another city in Netherlands? You could go to The Hague or Rotterdam (I don't know anything about these cities, just that they are "on the way" from Amsterdam to Brussels).

Here is the info on how to get from Amsterdam to Brussels:
https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/amsterdam-to-brussels-by-train.htm

Only two days in Amsterdam, last time we visited two years ago we stayed a week and were busy every day.
Book the Anne Frank House early in the month before your visit. Be sure to book as soon as you can, since it books up quickly.
A canal cruise will only take about an hour, but you need more time. The Rijksmuseum is a wonderful art museum with Rembrandt's work as well as other Dutch Masters. Also, the Van Gogh Museum is close by. It takes about 3 hours for each museum.

Two nights in Paris, you will only see the tip of the iceberg. I recommend you stay the entire trip in Netherlands.

Keeping in mind that a lot of us on the forum have a lot to share because of our experience, and having experience often correlates with age. So those of us (speaking for me) who are saying you can't do this, it's trying to cover too much; choose 1 city; what are you thinking; you're spending too much time traveling between cities, especially the Cologne idea; you haven't factored in jet lag...well we may have more time for travel, perhaps more money, and definitely less energy; if this is really what you want to do, then you are the exact right age to go for it! Have fun, and enjoy!

I think the average age in Amsterdam looked about 27 when we were there this past spring, so if you don't get the suggestions for bars and restaurants here; ask the hundreds and hundreds of your peers who are out and about when you are there.
Also, you must take getting Anne Frank tickets seriously. Please look at the website. The tickets go on sale on Tuesdays at 10am (Amsterdam time) for the sixth week out. Get familiar with the process so you know exactly when your dates become available; and set your alarm to get up to buy them; don't think you'll wait until morning. No third party tickets accepted.

For Paris, forget Versailles. Takes too much of your limited time. Do a search on this forum for Paris activities. There's some great suggestions, like the Catacombs; climb up Notre Dame to the gargoyles if that has reopened by then. Notre Dame reopens in December but not sure about the gargoyles tour.

If you had 9 days, I could see Amsterdam, Cologne, and Paris, but 5 days is not enough for 3 cities. Take one out. Much as I like Cologne, it looks ripe for the chopping block. And especially as you are flying out of Brussels. Rethink this, as the cost and time and extra check-in and out of getting to Brussels may exceed your air price advantage.

In Paris, we ate fairly cheaply at Breizh Cafe in the St. Germain area. There are others in the city. Food is Breton, buckwheat crepes with savory (not sweet fillings). Cider is a good go-with drink. We walked there after visiting the Cluny Museum, then went to Ste. Chapelle by taxi so we wouldn't miss our reserved time. You can get cheap eats at falafel and pizza places. Most ethnic food locations keep you in a lower food budget.
I am too old now to be familiar with the nightlife you would enjoy. One free thing you might enjoy is walking along the Seine on the left bank, across from Notre Dame, and checking out the bouquinistes. Good views of the cathedral's back end from that area as well (classic photo op!). It is cheap to take a (about) one hour cruise on the Seine with Vedettes de Pont Neuf. Sit up top for the best view of Paris. Usually narrated. Get in line about 45 min. before the ride for best chance of a good seat. They leave from the tip of the Ile de la Cite.

The view of the Eiffel Tower from the Champs de Mar, or many streets nearby, is exciting too. You don't have to use up your minimal time going up it in order to get an Eiffel Tower thrill. It's free to go to the roof of Galleries Lafayette dept. store for a good view of Paris from on high. And check out the ceiling of the store when you go in. A metro to Montmartre also gives you another great view, and the Basilica of Sacre Coeur is not ancient, but full of beautiful mosaics. You can take a picture in front of the Moulin Rouge. (Shows there aren't cheap.) Churches are free to visit, but going up on top, or into towers have fees. Notre Dame will, of course, be open by then.

Best of luck on your Paris visit. I am sure you will want to return for much longer stay next time!
Amusez-vous bien!

Thank you all! Thinking we will possibly skip cologne. Much appreciated for the Paris info! Definitely adding the catacombs to my list. Thanks for the encouragement KD! -will definitely be setting my alarm for Anne frank.

Are your airline tickets purchased yet? If you are stuck with flying out of Brussels, you should buy your train tickets in the next month or so to get the best price. Right now, Eurostar, the train company you will be using is booking out until Feb 8.

You will get the best prices booking nonrefundable tickets well in advance. You will need tickets for Amsterdam to Paris and Paris to Brussels.
https://www.eurostar.com/us-en

Yes we are stuck flying out of brussels.. we are going 2nd week of March so I will look to get tickets next month! Thank you for the heads up!