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day+night trip from paris to amsterdam--good or bad idea?

my husband REALLY wanted to go to amsterdam as part of our trip this summer, but alas it was not to be. but now we have this new thought--what about a very short trip to amsterdam from paris? we will be in paris for two weeks july into august--we rented an apartment. we are considering taking an early train out of paris on a monday morning, spending monday afternoon, evening, and all day tuesday in amsterdam and coming back to paris on tuesday night. we chose monday into tuesday because lots of things are closed in paris on tuesdays. we'd not even have our backpacks because they would stay in the apartment; we'd just take the clothing on our backs so we could start sightseeing right off of the train. we realize that it is a four hour train ride each way, and have already found return tickets on thalys for 70 euros per person. so my question really is--is this an insane idea? am i doing that thing where i'm trying to fit too much in? paris for two weeks seems like plenty of time so it seems we can spare 30 hours or so, and i'd certainly like to see amsterdam. but is it 'worth it' for a 24 hour visit? things we want to do--van gogh museum, anne frank house, ride a bike over quaint bridges, and my husband would like to visit a coffee shop (though this is in NO WAY determining why we'd like to go there--and he's calling it a 'cultural experience'. i am not, though i have zero problem with him doing so.)

EDIT--ok, we're doing this. now looking for tips on inexpensive hotels (RS style authentic places that are well located), as well as suggestions of things to do we'd have from 10am until around 9pm the next day. thanks!

Posted by
4555 posts

Sure, why not....although you might want to stay over that Tuesday evening as well. Think of it as a "weekend" trip.....people in my city regularly make the four hour trip to spend a weekend in Toronto. But I'd take at least a change of underwear! ;)

Posted by
655 posts

We recently returned from Amsterdam. I would try to do it. All of the places you mentioned are open on Monday and Tuesday. Also the Rijksmuseum which you might consider. They also have long lines for tickets so I suggest when you have decided that you do want to do this, that you purchase tickets online and avoid the lines and delays. All of these are "open tickets" -good anytime this year except for Anne Frank where you will have to commit to a time. If you go for Monday and Tuesday, I would suggest the first thing on Tuesday (9AM I think.) In addition to riding over the bridges you can take a boat tour thru the historic center. Enjoy.

Posted by
23626 posts

Are you sure he doesn't want to visit other known sites. Of course it is worth it. It is not something I would want to do but if that is the time available, then make it work. You can get a quick overview of the city, see a few things, and plan for the return trip. That is what we do when we have a short visit.

Posted by
262 posts

Absolutely you can do it! Since you are spending 2 weeks in Paris, you could spare a day or two in Amsterdam. It is such a great walking city. Don't miss Anne Frank's house. The Van Gough museum is not too big but not to be missed. You can also see the
Rijksmuseum as it is very close to Van Gough.
Maybe a cool river cruise too! All worthwhile.

Posted by
463 posts

@Frank--yes, i'm absolutely sure he does not want to visit 'other known sites' and i love the way you put that. ha! i know my husband--he'd be WAY more at home looking up at picture in a museum than he would looking up at a window...ahem. and to be honest, i wouldn't even be considering it if that was the case!

and wow--i got more positive feedback that i thought! thanks! i guess i'm not insane (or at least not insane in this one, very specific way!)

Posted by
29 posts

i'm planning on doing the very same thing in october, so i'll be eager to hear your trip goes. please post when you get back!

Posted by
463 posts

@norma--knowing someone else is doing the same thing really makes me feel less like it is a crazy idea! and we've booked it--the train and the hotel--so it is happening. i'll certainly post here if i can (though it is hard to post trip feedback since it is not technically a question) but feel free to follow my trip on my blog www.elbodans.wordpress.com. the most recent entry is about this very part of the trip planning. we leave on july 12th and will be back on august 11th, and i plan to blog the whole time i'm gone (yes, i realize that's odd to some people, but writing makes me happy!)

Posted by
989 posts

LUCKY YOU - AMSTERDAM!!!Definitely, definitely purchase your Anne Frank tickets online before you go - you'll walk right in the door at your stated time. My daughter didn't and stood in line for almost 3 hours. Who has that much time to waste? I bought my Rijksmuseum tickets online too before I went over there. Anything to bypass a line. Amsterdam is a wonderful city for walking - try to make it to the Flower Market. There is a Dutch War Resistance museum that my daughter and her BF gave high marks too, I couldn't make it in my 2.5 days there, so now I HAVE to go back.
Did you find a hotel yet? We had a great hotel, around the corner from Dam Square. If you need it, I can look it up.

Posted by
989 posts

oh almost forgot - there's the SEX Museum - It's down the street from Dam Square, not in the RL district as you might expect.I hear it's a hoot. I don't have any personal knowledge - I was on holidays with my 81 y/o mother, who wasn't that intersted, so I just put it on my list as another reason to go back there.

Posted by
368 posts

Great idea! Now for the hotel suggestions, if you are into nightlife, shopping and restaurants Leideseplein is one area with lots of various priced hotels. I like Ambassade which is in a neighborhood, centrally located but a little pricy but well worth it. The Ibis is OK, very generic and mentioned in RS; book and prepay for the cheapest rate located next to Central Station and all the trams. Have a great time and wear your moneybelt. No different than any other big city.

Posted by
875 posts

It's defintely doable, and since Amsterdam is relatively small, you'll have time to get a good feel for the city. You should have a great time!

Posted by
1162 posts

We actually did this a couple of years ago. We got to Amsterdam from Paris at 5 pm our first day (should have taken an earlier train I guess) had time for a nice Indonesian dinner and could've had time for "other" sites but my travel buddies weren't feeling that adventurous. In your case, this is a perfect time for that "cultural experience". The next day, we got up early, and started the HOHO canal cruise. We went to the Van Gogh museum (got tickets online to avoid the long line), spent a couple of hours there, had lunch, got to Anne Frank's house in the late afternoon. We didn't have reservations but only waited about 30 minutes in line. Spent less than 2 hours there then had time to HOHO on the canal boats again. Had time for a quick dinner before heading to the airport since we were flying to London.

Samantha Brown on travel channel has a great Passport to Europe episode on Amsterdam, try to catch it if you can. She actually visits a coffee shop too! I've been to Macungie also, I have a cousin that lives there!

Posted by
463 posts

claudette--thanks for sharing; hearing that other people spent short visits there but still had a good time is very reassuring! and we are taking an earlier train--a scary early train that's going to require us getting up at an ungodly hour that morning (we figure we can rest on the three hour journey!) but we'll be there before 10am, and we're not leaving until 7:30 the following day.

also--my husband and i were talking about forgoing the anne frank house--you said you didn't spend much time there. would skipping it be a not bad idea?

and i'm laughing at your samantha brown tip--that very episode is what put the husband over the edge wanting to go there--we finished watching it, walked to the computer, researched trains, posted this question, and then 48 hours later had booked the trip! behold the power of the travel channel! to be fair, the rick steves barcelona episode had the exact same effect, though to be fair, at the time i was actively looking at trip options.

Posted by
1162 posts

You must have just seen the episode I just saw! I really like Anne Frank House, the reason we spent less than 2 hours there is because that's all you really need to. It is so awe-inspiring how 2 families were able to live in the annex for years and what they had to go through to stay safe. Since you'll be there in August, definitely book ahead for this and Van Gogh if you do decide to go.

Posted by
9110 posts

See if you can find time to squeeze in the brand new Hermitage Museum. It's now Amsterdam's largest art museum. Both the building and the exhibits are stunning.

http://www.hermitage.nl

I also like the tropenmuseum (tropical museum), featuring stunning exhibits about third world countries, and cultures.

http://www.tropenmuseum.nl

For a complete list of exhibits around the city browse through this site:

http://www.iamsterdamcard.com/