I am traveling with my dad and brother in August to Europe. It is my first time traveling to Europe but I have family in Cambridge who will be doing a lot of the traveling with us. We fly into London the morning of the 8th. We will then have 4 days to go to and from London with family. the 13th we will travel from London or Stansted airport to Amsterdam either plane or train. So that is 1 day of travel, might get some Amsterdam time in the afternoon. We will then have 2 full days in Amsterdam (14th and 15th). I was hoping to travel to Bruge the next day and spend one night and have part of the next day before traveling to Paris. This would be the 16th and 17th in Bruge but not full days. I just want to stop in Bruge before Paris and am okay with not seeing a lot or visiting other parts of Belgium. If we went to Paris from Bruge on the 17th, we would have 4 full days in Paris (18th through the 21st) before flying home on the 22nd. I just want to have a nice night in Bruge before going to Paris but I am unsure if it is doable. I know that a trip to Bruge is doable but not sure if it is given my timing. I wish I could share an image of the calendar that I made so everyone could see the days I am dealing with. A lot of people are saying that a day trip to Bruge is doable and I know that but I want to know if the dates I have picked is good enough or if there is any adjusting I can do to make it work.
1.fly in 2.day in cambridge 3.London 4.London 5.London London 6.fly/train to Amsterdam 7.Amsterdam 8.Amsterdam 9.train to Bruge(1 night)10.Train to France 11.France 12.France 13.France 14.France 15.fly home
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7299 posts
It is relatively hard to train from London to Amsterdam. If you train to Bussels instead, you can buy an Any Belgian Station add-on that will get you to Bruges. Then go to Amsterdam. Personally, I would leave Bruges for another time. You will probably visit Europe again. I've been 50 times from the US, and I'm only 65.
I love Amsterdam, but if you substitute Antwerp and Brussels (one hotel, in Antwerp, for all 3 cities), it's easy to get to Paris from Brussels or Antwerp. Amsterdam is so easy to fly to that you have a good shot at seeing it another time. As our host says, "Assume you'll return."
Posted by
Green Bay
20089 posts
But yes, it can be done easily. Using IC trains, it is 2 or 3 changes and 3 3/4 to 4 hours, using the Thalys train to start, it is 1 or 2 changes and 2 3/4 to 3 1/4 hours and costs more. Brugge to Paris is 1 change at Brussels and takes 2 3/4 hours using the Thalys train from Brussels.