Amsterdam-Bruges-Paris in April

michelle, I was in all those cities recently, and IMO your original plan is the most appropriate. If anything, I'd drop one night in Amsterdam and add it to one of the other locations. Bruges was absolutely one of my favourites! As your group likes to ride bicycles, you might consider the scenic ride along pastoral trails to the village of Damme (about half an hour). Happy travels!

The boys might appreciate some time away from the parents in Gent, which has a younger vibe than Brugge.

In Paris my boys ( who were both 14 when they got their visits) loved visiting the Catacombs and the Invalids War Msueum,, one son loved seeing the mummies at the Louvre, the other son loved the Eiffel Tower and climbing the Towers of Notre Dame. Depending on weather I would strongly encourage you to consider taking them on a Fat Tire Bike tour,, the Paris by night one includes a boat ride( dress warmly). The ride is easy for anyone as Paris is pretty flat, and there isn't as much traffic at night as there is during the day,, in fact, both the day and night tours are slightly different( over last 5-6 years I have taken all their bike tours, they are that fun)so you could even take both as routes vary between them. They also do ones out to Versailles etc. I personally think Brugges may be worth only 2 nights for teens,, its pretty,, lots of chocolate, beer and lace shops,, small canal boat ride,,but for teen boys,,three days may be pushing the cuteness level a bit. Make sure you reserve tickets for Anne Franks house, its one of my fondest memories of Amsterdam,, and the first time I saw it I was 13 ,, do make sure you give them a bit of the story about it ,,unless of course they read the book, but most teen boys won't.

Thank you so much. That all sounds great. I was actually trying to stay only 2 night in Bruges and then an extra in Paris or one in Brussels, but its amazing how many places rent for a 3 night minimum in Bruges. Would you swing another night in Paris or a quick stay in Brussels?

Wonderful time of year for your trip! Have you planned a visit to Keukenhof? It's easily reached from Amsterdam and does not have to take even half a day. If you go, go early in the morning, before the tour buses from all over Europe roll in.

Yes, we are planning a trip to Keukenhof. We currently are looking for a place to stay as it looks like a busy time of year. I'd like to get something booked ASAP. Any suggestions?

We made a similar trip last year with our 12yo daughter, but fewer days than you have (you work with what you have). We spent 3 nights Amsterdam, 1 night Brussels, 2 nights Bruges, 3 nights Paris. We all liked the cities so much that we're basically repeating the trip next year (plus time in England and Scotland). A night in Brussels worked for us because we like French food more than Flemish, and we wanted time to visit the Grand Place and the art museum there. Which we could have done as a day trip from Bruges, but we really liked Brussels, even though we'd heard that it's a "blah" sort of city. IMHO, Bruges was so cute that it was a bit like being on a movie set, but it was cute! For our next year's trip, we are trying to decide the same thing as you - stay in Bruges, stay in Brussels, or a combination. If you stay in Brussels, consider Hotel Welcome - it's a really fun hotel, very good location, and they do have a quad room.

I agree 2 nights in Brugge, not 3. Don't add another stop in Brussels (or anywhere), but if you like, spend a day there enroute to Paris. (Doing what? If you do not know, then do not stop.) Bike ride out of A'dam a great idea, weather permitting. There's also great biking out of Beaune, but at 2 hours each way it might be too far for a day trip. Some great day trips out of Paris by rail, but not sure what your boys would like. Provins? If weather is bad you will want to stay in the city, fortunately that is not a hardship. But bring rain shells and you should be okay most of the time.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all the tips and advice!

One of the plus points of Bruges, is being able to take a train to the North Sea at Ostende for about 3.50 euro. Train takes about 15 min. or so. Huge beach, tons of boats, sand dunes, gun emplacements left over from the war, and for kids that age, perfect spot to go run and play. Do some bike tours in the cities you are visiting. The kids will love it and so will you. Do it the first day and you will have a great orientation to the city, plus get some wonderful history thrown into the mix.

We did this trip about 4 years ago. We did Ams (3 nights), Bruges (2), Paris (4). I really felt that 1 more day in each city would have provided a bit more ease of the whirl-wind schedule. I could have added a thing or 2 in regards to sites to see. I could have taken in the city without having to say, "ok we have got to get to this site ASAP b/c it closes in 1 hour and it is closed tomorrow". And yes, I felt I needed an extra day in Bruges. We loved that city. In fact, we are returning to Belgium this year, for our honeymoon, and we are spending 5 nights in Bruges and 3 in Ghent. I know that for many that frequent this forum say 5 nights is way too many nights to stay in BRuges but I want to just chill, not live by an itinerary, and go with the flow, maybe go to A'dam or Paris as a side trip. Or just go to the Groeninge Museum for the 3rd day in a row, to take in all those Flemish Primitives (its our thing, our favorite art). We have never been to Ghent, so we are excited about that too.
So really your trip plans would have been my ideal trip after experiencing them all in a 3-2-4 manner a few years ago.

I would choose Ghent over Bruge for an overnight stay. Ghent has a great castle and is bigger and I thought more fun than Brugge. In Amsterdam visit.the cathedral hidden in a canal house, the resistance museu. Is there a way you can add an overnight in Normandy?

Thanks everyone. My husband and I were talking tonight about renting a car in Belgium, staying in Bruges for those 3 nights and just doing day trips from there, probably to those places you all have suggested in Belgium. I just am trying to avoid the hotel hopping and Belgium looks quite drivable. We were thinking of picking a car up in Antwerp and dropping off in Brussels. Any suggestions?
I don't think we'll make it to Normandy this time.

michelle Its not clear to me if you have been to Bruges previously, nor where you are staying. If you are in the centre, unless you have the underground car park at the Crowne Plaza, parking in Bruges can be ...um challenging. It is much more crowded than it used to be. Most streets are one way and cobbled. Parking restrictions are somewhat less restrictive in the blue zone. Once you do organize the car Bruges is well located for day trips to the WWI trenches, the coast, via a ferry to the Dutch islands. Other places like Antwerpen, Gent, Brussels and Lille are easy by train. The coast with the coast tram is easy from Oostende which is just a few train minutes away. Don't know where you will be dropping off in Brussels but, take it from one who knows, driving in Brussels is a bear.

From what you have proposed thus far and most of what others have suggested, I don't think you'll benefit from a car in Belgium. As Nigel noted, a car is useless in Brugge. I wouldn't want to drive in Antwerp, Gent or Brussels either if I could help it. The only suggestion I've seen where a car might be worthwhile is if you choose to visit some of the WWI battlefields around Ieper and Mons. All of these cities can be reached easily by train. Belgian rail (NMBS) sells various passes that can be of great value for families. The biggest advantage is that more than one person can use the pass at the same time.

Thanks for the replies. I hadn't heard much about car rentals in Belgium. They didn't look too expensive, in fact I thought with the cost of the trains and a family of 4, it might be cheaper to rent a car. I did not know about the passes, so I will look into it. One of the places we were thinking of staying in Bruges, did offer parking. We certainly don't want to have any parking or driving issues. Thanks again.