1-Month Itinerary: Opinions and Comments Welcome!

I can only offer an opinion on days 1`-5, as I haven't been to most of the remaining destinations on your itinerary.

Jordaan is a neighborhood in Amsterdam, not a day trip from Amsterdam, and Haarlem is just a 15 minute train ride. I would suggest seeing these two locations during the last three days of "relax in Amsterdam" time.

The Hague and Delft en route to your next destination. So my suggestion is hop on a train direct from Schiphol to Delft and stay there the first three nights, using it as a base for The Hague and also Rotterdam, which I think is worth a visit.

Also, I think day 5 is too much for one day. Ghent and Bruges are easily worth a day (or more) each. If you take my advice for days 1-3, you might consider just 2 nights in Delft and an extra night in Brussels so you can devote more time to the Belgian cities you want to see. You might also consider staying in Ghent, which is midway between Brussels and Bruges, so your day trips will be shorter train rides.

I think you've done a great job at a first draft for your itinerary. With a few tweaks, you will undoubtedly have an amazing trip!

Hi,

How are you getting from Prague to Hamburg? A good route.

Fred, I'll take the train from Prague to Hamburg - but I'm not set on Hamburg. I've seen Desden, Leipzig, and Berlin on previous trips. Any other ideas as a stop between Prague and Amsterdam?

Lane, thank you! I don't know how I missed that Haarlam and Jordaan were so close... Looking at the map again, I don't know what I was thinking! I will also look at the Belgium visit.

This is why I love these forums. Thanks so much!

Day 10 looks overly full. You want to visit 3 cities, plus your drive from Luxembourg and end up in a 4th city. What were you planning on seeing in Worms, Speyer and Heidelberg?

@ Bachguy...Prague to Hamburg is a direct shot, a 6+ hour ride, you don't have to change in Berlin Hbf....that's good. What is interesting in between...how much do you want to deviate? In the Saxon area I would look at Meissen. Near Dresden is Weimar, Germany's Dichterstadt (city of poets), the town of Goethe and Schiller, Wieland, Hegel.

Now, if you decide to shoot right to Hamburg from Prague, instead of spending day 25 in Hamburg, do a day trip to Kiel or Eutin/Holstein or Lüneburg. The last two to see a small town. Both Eutin and Lüneburg survived the war unscathed. The church in both are well worth seeing, esp the Johanniskirche in Lüneburg at the entrance of the Altstadt.

Day 5 - Bruges - If there is any chance you can stay longer it is an amazing place to explore. If you want to try something that you won't find anywhere else see if you can get a local to direct you to De Garre for one of the best beers I have ever had.

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the feedback.

I am going to adjust for an extra day in Belgium to leave enough time for Brussels, Bruges and Ghent.

I will be taking a direct train from Prague to Hamburg. Fred, thank you - I will be taking a look at Eutin/Holstein or Lüneburg. One reason I was not sure about Hamburg is because I enjoy the smaller towns over the larger cities.

Ms Jo, I will not be spending much time in Worms, Speyer and Heidelberg - they are all within about 30 minutes of each other. I plan on doing some "cathedral hopping" to see the architecture of the churches in those cities.

If you want to do cathedral hopping, then you really ought to stop in Mainz on your way. The cathedrals in Mainz, Worms and Speyer were all built about the same time and though in many ways similar, are also very different. For my personal tastes, Mainz is #1 for inner architecture and decoration, then Worms and Speyer. You can tell which Arch Bishops had the most wealth and power. Outer architecture with sculptures & portals, is tied between Speyer and Worms.

Heidelberg does not have a cathedral, just a large church. If you want to see that one, then you might want to pop into the Jesuit church near by. Very different style, very beautiful.

Day 6. Cologne because you want to visit or because bahn.de routes you that way? If you don't need to be there it's simpler just to get the train down to Heerlen and then the Aachen regional bus line 44 https://avv.de/files/avv/files/fahrplaene/linienfahrplaene/044_avv.pdf into Aachen. Or go to Maastricht and get bus 350 https://avv.de/files/avv/files/fahrplaene/linienfahrplaene/350_arriva.pdf

Day 8. Central Koblenz has the usual city traffic/parking issues. The final approach from Bonn where the B9 tries to get over the river is especially "exciting". Try the district of Koblenz-Güls which is southwest of the city, west side of the Moselle on the B416 road. Because of the river creating a break it has a quieter, villagey feel to it. Has a few hotels and places to eat (several overlooking the river) and is in the right place for next morning. There are regular trains and buses into the city if you want to see it.