Hi, I am travelling to Europe on 15 September. We are flying into Düsseldorf but we’re gonna take a train from Düsseldorf to Cologne and stay in cologne for two days. We plan to do Düsseldorf on a day trip rather than stay one night, two separate destinations. I’m wondering if anybody can give me some help as to where to base ourselves if we want to visit Ghent, Bruge and any other suggested little towns. We have two days in Germany and then four days in and around Ghent and Bruge before going to Amsterdam and staying four days in Amsterdam. Before flying home. Any assistance and suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I have never been in this area. I’m wondering if we’re giving enough time to cologne / Düsseldorf.
Thank you, Carol
Posted by
Minnesota🌲
10202 posts
Why not base yourself in Ghent? It's a charming and beautiful university city with a wonderful vibe, and has so much to see and do. If you base yourself there, you can easily get to Bruges and other places in the area by train. It's a small city so it's not overwhelming at all.
With regards to Cologne, I think 2 days is a decent amount of time to see the both Cologne and Düsseldorf. I love Cologne, especially the cathedral, but it really can easily be seen in a day. And Düsseldorf is very easy and quick to get to from Cologne, so just spend one of the 2 days there.
Posted by
OP
dundas, ontario, canada
107 posts
Thanks that’s a great help!
Carol
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9524 posts
I think I would plan a visit to Aachen! Beautiful small town with a fabulous cathedral where Charlemagne is buried.
Posted by
Paradise
7652 posts
Aachen is nice. A comfier place to stay than Cologne IMO. And Aachen is situated between Cologne and Maastricht, a very charming old-world Dutch town. See map.
https://www.yourdutchguide.com/cities/maastricht/
It's a very different place from Amsterdam. From Cologne, Maastricht would be a longer trek, around 1.75 hours each way... I'd be tempted to stay in Aachen and make a day trip to Maastricht. Aachen is just 50 minutes from Maastricht or Cologne by train.
For Cologne... you might make a daytime visit on your way into or out of the area to see what's important to you there. The station has an automated luggage storage system, handy for a visit there. Not sure whether your plan is flexible enough to shift some of your focus on Amsterdam to Maastricht, but that would be my choice.