Paris/Amsterdam

I know it's a great temptation to add a third city but Paris and Amsterdam have so much to offer for only 10 days. Don't water down the experience. For good info on Paris go to tomsguidetoparis.com and maybe even parisbytrain.com

Norma makes a sound point! If splitting just between the two, I'd spend more days in Paris. IMHO there is more to see and do. There are three times as many museums, for instance! (Of course the sheer number of museums isn't necessarily a proper benchmark - I'm just saying.) However, with ten days, you could make a flying stop in Brussels and take in some of the sights, have some moules frites and a good beer! You could even stop in Cologne, or Luxembourg. Are you driving? Taking the train?

For what it's worth, I'm doing a somewhat similar trip but traveling from Amsterdam to Paris, and decided to get there via train with a day in Cologne. But I also agree with the other responders; Paris has so much to offer that even if you spent your entire trip just there, you still wouldn't feel that you've seen enough. Enjoy!

I haven't been to Amsterdam, going this fall, but I've been to Paris several times. I'd give Paris a week and Amsterdam 3 days, just based on size and how many different places there are to see. Your interests may affect your choice though. The quickest, easiest way to get between them is the Thalys train, takes a little over 3 hours, see http://www.thalys.com/fr/en/. For three weeks out, it will be expensive. I just plugged July 10 into their website and the one-way fare for two adults is 130 euros in the morning, 154 midday. Gare du Nord is the Paris station, Centraal in Amsterdam. Re safety, I wouldn't be concerned. Pickpockets are the biggest hazard, you need to be alert especially in crowds and stations. There are several recent threads on this board about pickpockets and scams, also good advice under "Travel Tips" on this website. Violent crime is really a non-issue, but as in any big city be careful at night in certain neighborhoods.

Is that 10 full days on the ground sightseeing or are you including travel days in and out which bring it to 8 days? On my first trip to Paris & Amsterdam, I spent 2 full weeks in each city. Never ran out of things to do (and there was plenty I could not fit in so saved for future visits). It has absolutely nothing to do with "Paris is bigger than Amsterdam-spend more time there!". Amsterdam also has a LOT of world class things to see that are just squeezed into a smaller space. But if you have 10 full days & want to squeeze in a day trip somewhere else, go ahead. Certainly there is enough to keep you entertained for a day if you want to visit Brussels or Antwerp. Or take a day trip in France or the Netherlands outside of your 2 key cities (Versailles, Giverny, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, etc.). As for safety, I've traveled solo to both Paris & Amsterdam with no problems, even late at night. For the average tourist, most of what want to do will be pretty central so it's unlikely you would accidentally wander into a bad area. Some official from the Rick Steves Money Belt Police will likely pop up to remind you to be on high alert for pickpockets, scam artists, smart phone stealers, bag snatchers & pant pocket slashers armed with knives. While theft can occur, don't let their talk paralyze you with fear. Just apply the same common sense you use at home to guard your belongings - don't dangle your purse filled with cash & credit cards off the back of a chair, use ATMs inside a bank or lobby rather than out on the street, & if someone approaches you to ask if you speak English or sign a petition, just keep walking. Tips: Go online now to look over public transit maps to get an idea of the Metro, tram & bus stops closest to your hotel or where you want to go sightseeing. And investigate whether purchasing a museum pass or online tickets will make the most of your time & money vs. buying tickets at the door.

Pickpockets can be an issue in both Paris and Amsterdam. You can defeat the problem by either using a hotel room safe or a money belt type device available for purchase on this very website. When out sightseeing, just keep day's spending money and perhaps one credit card if you carrying multiple cards, and everything else in the money belt ever to be accessed in public. Money belts don't prevent you from being robbed they just cut your losses. Instead losing everything and wasting a couple of days replacing passport/cards/cash, you just loose a day's worth of cash and it won't ruin your trip.

You can't argue with more time in Paris, But I think you could justify a night in Brugges, if that appeals to you.

I visited Bruges on a separate trip that did not include Amsterdam. While it is a lovely place to visit, I think since you are definitely going to be spending a few days in Amsterdam, you will get more than your fill of canals there. And Amsterdam and Paris also have great architecture. I would not recommend doing both Bruges and Amsterdam in the same trip, and if you wanted to go to Belgium for a day trip, I would still stick with Antwerp (you'll see the architecture and old buildings in many parts of the city) or Brussels as a stop in between Paris and Amsterdam if you are going by train. If you have a car, then you could also consider Gent or Ypres. At any of those places you can sample some Belgian beers and get your fix of fries, mussels and chocolate.

I appreciate that this isn't your question - I usually don't get involved in how many days here and there because I never know what the people involved would like to do or what would interest them - you don't want to go where I want to go perhaps - but with less than 3 weeks before liftoff I'd start thinking about getting some reservations for decent hotels in both places and my Thalys or flights. You are looking at the peak of the travel season and you wouldn't want to be stuck with what all the early birds left over. Well, I wouldn't.

Paris and Amsterdam can take up this time. If you do decide to daytrip to a third area. I would make it Bruge. I would spend a night there too not just daytrip. At night the city is gorgeous. If you go to www.flickr.com type bruge night in the search feature.

Something that is possible to do is a stop in either Bruxelles on Antwerpen. Just take the first Thalys train from Paris to either city, then the last Thalys train from either to Amsterdam. That would give you up to 10 hours for some rendezvous or strolling on both (they are on the high-speed service route, so total travel time would be the same, though you do need two separate tickets).

Thank you all for your feedback. We are arriving the morning of Bastille Day in Paris, so that should be interesting. We are flying into Paris and taking the train to Amsterdam and back home from there. Two of the 10 days is travel (Not my idea, I would have spent a month!) We are spending one more day in Paris than Amsterdam, and I guess the day trip is still up in the air. Hotels are set, but I think that was good advice to get train and museum tix NOW. I am so busy planning work trips, I just want to show up and have everything done for me! lol I am getting excited about the trip. Thanks all. Have a great weekend.
Brenda