Paris and Amsterdam

"But now am having second thoughts that we can comfortably squeeze in another city like Vienna or Geneva/Chamonix or the like." Your first thoughts were good enough. Don't let "destination creep" set in. Vienna is too far away, unless you want to fly. To make a trip to Chamonix worthwhile, you would need to spend at least three nights there. This lessens your chances of getting washed out by bad weather and thus, completely wasting your time. Also considering that the trip duration between Paris and Chamonix plus the two whole days there would chew up the better part of 4 of your 7 Paris days. If you want to see Brugge, it would be easier to spend the night there between Paris and Amsterdam. 5 nights would still give you a more than adequate amount of time for Amsterdam.

I agree 100% with Tom's thoughts. There is plenty to do in both locations, and there are easy side trips from Paris or Amsterdam if you get bored. I was in both places recently, as well as Bruges. You could easily do an overnight in Bruges between Paris and Amsterdam and get a taste of that city. Please don't overextend yourselves by trying to take on too much. You are on vacation.

I agree with the above. I rushed around Paris (after twenty years of wanting to go, since age 9) and exhausted myself. And that was with almost 7 days! (We took two days in Brittany because my husband had spent a year in Paris as a kid, plus trips there later, and insisted we add a destination he'd never been to.) You can take side trips instead if you get bored. From Paris alone there are numerous options.

I agree with Tom's advice about Bruges as well. Seven days in Paris is a good amount of time to explore the city. And 5 nights in Amsterdam is plenty. The city is very compact and walkable, and the trams are excellent for sites too far to walk to. Stick to these places with a night in Bruges if you decide to do that. Don't add anything else. It's tempting because you're SO CLOSE to a lot of stuff, much closer than you are from India; but it's a case of so close and yet so far because of your limited time. Make the most of it and slow down!

I loved Amsterdam, but personally I'd take a day or two away from it and give it to Paris. There's a lot more to do/see in Paris; plus, you have a lot more options for day trips.

I would take two days away from Amsterdam( four days is more then enough) , then take one of those days for Brugges ( on route to Paris) , and add one more day to Paris. The shortest visit I have ever made to Paris was 9 days , with a friend who had never been before, and she agreed it was too short.
There are so many great daytrips from Paris , Giverny and Versailles is not a one day trip,,its two.. unless you plan on some bus tour there to rush through them , costing twice as much and seeing half of what you would see if you did them on your own.

Thank you all! We are sticking to the original plan, increasing one day in Paris and reducing a day in Amsterdam and thinking through Bruges

I have not spent the night in Bruges, but I have spent a full day there. It's a very controversial topic, here and on other forums, but that means everyone's answer is, after all an opinion, not a fact : While the town is beautiful, and there are some pieces of art that don't leave Bruges, it simply is not the nicest medieval city center in Europe. (I don't know what is, but some nice ones I've seen are Gent, Obidos, Avila, Dubrovnik, Perouges, Cesky Krumlov, Korcula, Kotor, York, Lucca, Monemvassia, well maybe you get the idea.) It's not even the most attractive Beguinage in Belgium. (I vote for Leuven.) Neither Paris nor Amsterdam can be exhausted in only 7 days, and some of the day trips are (eventually in your lives ... ) "essential". There are plenty of medieval corners of Paris, and plenty of art in both cities. Rick's rule #87: Assume you'll return.

Bruges is stunningly beautiful with many must-see attractions. You will not be disappointed! Here is a taste: http://youtu.be/s-BYMPMhjpU

Michael,,, what are the must see attractions in Brugges.. I only took the canal cruise and saw the church.. neither blew me away..

The Church, the Bascilica, the Brewrey Tour, Groeninge art museum, all the chocolate shops (I could literally spend a day just doing that), the convent, and especially the canal boats.

In Brugges, we enjoyed the market, lace making school (watching an 80 Year old who had been making lace since she was 6) and museum as well as the Jeruzalemkerk. We stopped in the oldest pub in town on the walk back. Very relaxing. We were there in November, though. I can't imagine how crowded it gets during high season.

if your purpose is to relax, I would recommend 1 or 2 nights in Bruges. it is a great place to enjoy the outside cafes and stroll leisurely. we loved it.

Having been to both cities several times in the past year , i would take away time away from Paris and add a stop in Belgium. I am so happy we did this in January. Belgium was great. you also talked about Delft. It is such a cute little town . very easy to get to by train. We also went to Haarlem and looked around. i prefer the atmosphere of the Netherlands over Paris. There is a lot to see in Paris but things are very overpriced.

I happen to love Belgium and to a lesser extent, the Netherlands, but if Paris seems overpriced, that's because the food, accomodations, and attractions are all better! It's like saying that Philadelphia is a bargain, and New York is too espensive. Seriously, we drove across the Netherlands last year, and the food stinks (compared to France.) I have to comment that Bruges (OP) is not next door to Amsterdam, and it's not in the Netherlands. Although Utrecht and Leiden are not quite as pretty as Bruges, they are otherwise nearly as good. They have more to do, and better food. And there are a few medieval towns in the Netherlands, like Amersfoort and Deventer that are as pretty as Bruges, but don't have as much art on the walls. Delft is also very pretty, but most of the art is now in Amsterdam!