Amsterdam to Brussels to ? - 21 days and where to go?

You can definitely see all of those places in three weeks. If you start in Amsterdam, you can take a Thalys train to Brussels, then a local train to Bruges.

Head back to Brussels and up to London on the Eurostar, then after a few days in London go down to Paris, also on the Eurostar.

From Paris to Barcelona there are good overnight trains, and you can either make your way back to Amsterdam after that or fly home from Barcelona.

Hi James, last year we flew into London, Eruostar to Brussels, train to Amsterdam and then into Germany. Trip was 3 weeks also. However, we had recently been to Paris. Given your situation, I would spend a week each in London and Paris and divide the third between Amsterdam and Brussels with a day trip to Bruges.

I returned from a three week trip last October. 1 week in Paris, 2 days in Brussels, three in Bruges, and a week on a houseboat in Amsterdam, solo as well. I like to settle in for a while and discover a place more closely rather than have a busy itinerary. If you're in Brussels, then Paris is an hour by train. It's beautiful in May and the crowds are smaller. I also found that at 56 and travelling solo, lugging my luggage everywhere worked better when I stayed longer in Paris and Amsterdam and went on day trips like Honfleur and Haarlem. Bruges is worth more than a day in my opinion. Before the trip I wasn't sure there was enough in Belgium to interest me, but I went anyway and I'm going back this fall. Cologne and Strasbourg are in the area and Berlin isn't too far from Amsterdam or Brussels.

Our 22 day trip was 3 nights in Amsterdam, 4 in Bruges, 6 in Paris, 4 in Aix-en-Provence, 4 in Nice and back home. Seemed perfect time-wise. Plenty of time for side trips throughout France....never really wanted to leave Bruges though. One more Zot please.

HI James! I spent a week in Amsterdam last April and found that still wasn't enough time to (fully) explore the city. It has so much to see and experience - allow a few more days if you can - especially if you enjoy museums and just wondering around a city. I spent 4 days in Bruges and wish I never left! I would highly recommend a week here, too. It is a beautiful medieval town that is the perfect place to get "lost" in. I loved wondering around, discovering side streets, finding bars and restaurants that only locals favored, and experiencing life in this delightful town. A climb up the bell tower is a must for a breath taking view of the city and its surroundings. I enjoyed chocolate from many, many chocolate shops, beer from different bars, and of course waffles, mussels, and pommes frites! The weather then should be great. I hope you have a fantastic trip. Cheers!!

Thank you all so much for the advice! It is very helpful. I booked my flight last night, and hopefully it all works out. I am leaving for Amsterdam on April 28, and I chose to leave from Barcelona on May 18. I might have made a dumb decision, but I will be arriving in Amsterdam just before Queen's Day. I hope I don't have a problem finding a place to stay. I will put some thought into the timing for the rest of the trip, but I will go to Brussels, Bruge, and then to Paris. I then figure a bit of time in Barcelona before leaving for home. That seem seems like more than enough places to visit, and, I can always go back!

Some ideas...we loved these:

Bruges...Hotel Heritage
Amsterdam....American Hotel (don't let name put you off)
Barcelona.....Hotel Montecarlo.

We were in Bruges when they made their website's video and that's us at the very end having coffee and snacks on their veranda. Kinda fun actually. You'll love this trip.

I'm going to put a little different spin on the advice you have received. Which is good but I have an alternative. We are spending a month,mid may to mid June. Consider Amsterdam/Bruge, Berlin, Prague. Although I see you have purchased your tickets and depart from Barcelona. Having said that, if you haven't been to Paris I would definetly spend 4 or 5 days in the Paris area.