How to split time between Paris and Amsterdam

What are your interests in each city? Unless you have some specific interest in many museums in Amsterdam, I"d definitely do 4 Paris 2 Amsterdam. Paris is bigger and, in my opinion, offers much more to see. (Plus, I prefer Paris - my own preference.)

But that's based on the limited time you have. Yes, you really need more time. At least you are young and will have plenty of time to come back and see more later on your own!

If 6 nights is what you have and you definitely want to see both cities, then I would agree to break it up 4 nights Paris and 2 nights Amsterdam. That will give you 3-1/2 days in Paris and 1-1/2 days in Amsterdam. Take an early train to Amsterdam on Friday morning so at least you'll have a good part of Friday and all of Saturday there. There's so much to see in each city that you could easily spend much more time in each, but it is what it is and you have to make the best of it.

My view is that in the time allotted you are only doing an overview of each city, not bad, but figure you will only hit the main points. As for time, rearrange your mindset and figure the following:

Monday is a lost day, getting there late, maybe a stroll and some dinner, but little else.
Sunday you leave, much the same thing; then your travel day, between getting to the train station, 4 hours or so on the train, then getting settled....most of the day is gone.

That leaves really 4 days to "see" things, so I would suggest splitting that between Paris and Amsterdam, while 3 days for Paris would be nice, only one day for Amsterdam would be a crime... you are young, you will be back to both cities, get a good overview of each, then someday go spend a week in one or both.

As for your time in each city, plan ahead, pay attention to Museum closed days, consider any tickets you need to get ahead (Eiffel tower, Anne Frank house, etc.). Try to plan only one major site in the morning and one in the afternoon, with time in between filled with walks, minor drop in sights (a church, a market) and plenty of time for meals, a drink, coffee, just people watching.

As for "vibe" Paris is a big city, lots to see, shopping if that is your thing, but, to me, a bit more hectic. Amsterdam, for me is more laid back, lots of canals to just sit and enjoy; the two are a nice mix, so resist the advice of those that say do one or the other, just do an even split.

Thanks for the replies! I don’t have too many specific interests for each city. Notre Dame, the Louvre, d'Orsay, Sacre-Coeur, and the Eiffel Tower are must-sees for Paris, though it would certainly be nice see much more than that. For Amsterdam, I was mostly just looking forward to soaking in the atmosphere (beyond the Rijksmuseum, Dam Square, and maybe the Anne Frank House).

The only thing I really have to compare it to was spending 2.5 days in Barcelona, which felt like an acceptable amount of time for visiting the big sights (La Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Montjuïc) while still being able to “get lost” in neighborhoods like El Born or the Eixample for several hours without feeling too rushed.

I suppose my main concern was that 1.5 days in Amsterdam might not be enough to get this feeling. But I'll most likely keep it at 4/2 since 3/3 would really limit our time for exploring Paris.

Agree - especially as you will have some jet lag first days. Loads to do in Paris but you can see a lot in a few days if you focus on certain areas. The Paris Bateau-bus is nice way to get peaceful overview of main attractions along the Seine River and you can hop on and off at different points all day with a 17 euro ticket (can get off/on near the Eiffel Tower, near the Louvre, near the Notre Dame etc.) . I usually stay in a hotel within a short walking distance of the Seine/Louvre, very convenient location and don't need to get on the metro.

I agree with 4/2 although you'll probably want to return to both cities. You'll be foggy in Paris for the first days so play it safe and rely on a guidebook for restaurants. I made the mistake of not planning ahead for dinner (reservations in France are imperative). On the fly a guidebook will lead you to "safe bets". If your parents are up to it, a bicycle tour of the city is a great overview and will keep you awake your first day. There are two main companies and you won't go wrong with either.