With ten days to spend in Europe, you can take on this classic itinerary and travel from Paris to Amsterdam (with some stops in Belgium). From amazing museums to delicious food and everything in between, you’ll be sure to have a great time on this trip. Start your adventure in Paris, where you’ll visiting some of the best art museums in the world. In Belgium, dine on frites, waffles, and beer. Finish your adventure in Amsterdam where you’ll take in more museums and if you time your visit right, some of the best gardens in the world.
Notes About This Itinerary
This itinerary requires a multi city ticket. You’ll fly into Paris, travel through Belgium, and fly out of Amsterdam on this itinerary. While you may find this slightly more expensive than a round trip ticket, you’ll save precious time because you won’t need to backtrack to your starting destination.
A Paris, Belgium, and Amsterdam Itinerary
Day 1 – Hello, Paris
Welcome to Paris, France. It’s time to start this adventure. However, I don’t have as much planned for the first day. Your only goal for the day is to get from the airport to your hotel.
In an ideal world, you’ll arrive in Paris in the morning, which leaves you the afternoon to explore and get your first taste of the city. I recommend spending the day on a walking tour and getting your bearings around Paris. You can join a tour group, hire a private guide, or utilize one of the many free self guided options that are available online. Personally, I use the Rick Steves’ Audio Europe app. While the dialogue is cheesy, the tours are free and give a great introduction to the city you’re visiting.
Sleep: Paris, France
Day 2 – Paris
We’re spending today at the birthplace of Paris: the island in the middle of the Seine River. The Île de la Cité, and its immediate surroundings, house three phenomenal stops: Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle, and the Archeological Crypt.
Sainte Chapelle is best visited early when you can admire the stained glass without throngs of tourists. This chapel was built to house Jesus’s crown of thrones and the stained glass windows tell the stories of the Bible. A visit here can be quick, but the chapel is beautiful.
A short walk away on the actual island where Paris was founded sits Notre Dame and the Archeological Crypt. Many people just visit Notre Dame and skip the Archeological Crypt. The Archeological Crypt allows you to walk through the ancient Roman ruins that Paris was built upon. While you’re down here, you’ll wonder why more people aren’t visiting (especially because you’ll exit and be surrounded by people again).
Notre Dame is a magnificent 14th century cathedral that has become one of the symbols of Paris. Unfortunately due to a fire in April 2019, much of the Cathedral is closed and is not expected to be open until December 2024. While you can’t enter the cathedral, you can still admire the structure from the exterior.
By now, you’ve probably worked up an appetite. The good news is, you should have absolutely no problem finding a cafe nearby to grab a bite to eat.
In the afternoon, the plan is to visit two museums: The Museé d’Orsay and the Museé d’Orangerie.
At the Museé d’Orsay, you’ll see 19th and 20th century art. For many visitors, seeing the impressionist artworks are a highlight. It’s at this museum that you’ll find paintings from Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Vincent Van Gogh, Auguste Renoir, Paul Cezanne, and so many more.
Just a short 10 minute walk from the Museé d’Orsay is the Museé d’Orangerie. The collection at the Museé d’Orangerie is smaller, but it holds Claude Monet’s famous waterlily paintings. These waterlilies are the highlight of the Museé d’Orangerie.
We’re going to cram in one last thing on this busy sightseeing day: the Arc di Triomphe. It’s a long walk, so save your feet and catch the metro to the Arc di Triomphe where you’ll get incredible views of Paris. And before you get freaked out about crossing through the massive roundabout—you don’t have to. Before you cross the street, look around. There are entrances that will allow you to go down, under the street, and under the roundabout, to reach the Arc di Triomphe.
The evening is free for you to do as you please. Have a nice dinner, find another great view of Paris (I like the view from Sacre Ceour in Montmartre), take a sightseeing boat down the River Sienne, or head back to your hotel to relax. There’s no wrong answer.
Sleep: Paris, France
Day 3 – Paris
We’re starting the morning with a trip out of Paris to visit one of the most magnificent palaces in Europe at Versailles.
Getting to Versailles is easy and efficient. Simply catch the RER C from one of the numerous stops in Paris and ride it all the way to the very last station: Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche. Once at the train station, follow the crowd of tourists as you all make your way to the palace.
The Palace of Versailles is one of the most popular day trips from Paris. Given that, I think it’s really important to get there early. The earlier you go, the lower the crowds and the more enjoyable your experience will be.
At the Palace of Versailles, start with the interior. Take note of its magnificent decor and do your best to survive the crowds in the Hall of Mirrors. When you’ve finished touring the interior, don’t forget to visit the expansive gardens.
After you’re done touring the Palace of Versailles, it’s time to head back to Paris. We’re not in a rush though, so you have time to eat some lunch. Stop in the city of Versailles or wait until you get back to Paris. The choice is yours.
Once back in Paris, it’s time to visit one of the most iconic museums in the world: The Louvre. The museum will undoubtedly be packed, particularly around the most well known pieces, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying it.
Not a big fan of art? The building itself is a former palace and absolutely stunning. I think I enjoyed marveling at the architecture of the building more than some of the actual paintings. I followed a self guided walking tour of the Louvre to make my visit efficient, but not too long winded. Without the tour giving me context, I likely would have been very bored.
After the museums, we’re going to visit the most iconic sight of Paris. Head over to the Eiffel tower. Gaze up at Paris’s most iconic sight. For those wanting to get the views from the top of the tower, make sure to reserve a time slot in advance.
The evening is once again yours to explore.
Sleep: Paris, France
Day 4 – Paris to Brussels
Today is the day where we move on from Paris and onto Belgium, en route to Amsterdam, the final destination of this itinerary. In the morning, take a train from Paris to Brussels. It will take about two hours, which should leave you enough time to see some of the highlights of Brussels.
Admittedly, Brussels is not my favorite city in Belgium. That’s not to say that it’s bad, but I think there are other, more interesting Belgian cities to visit. However, it makes a great base for two nights, so I’m including Brussels in this itinerary.
When you arrive in Brussels, store your bag at your hotel and then head out to explore. You only have the afternoon to explore Brussels, so make it count. You’ll want to see the Grote Markt, which is the main square and where you’ll find the best architecture in Brussels. Beyond that, you can check out Mannekin Pis, the statue of the little boy peeing.
For me, I used Brussels as more of a culinary sightseeing. And by culinary, I mean chocolate. I had researched ahead of time, found six chocolate shops and visited each of them for a small treat. I made my own walking tour that looped together the top sights and numerous chocolate shops. If you only have one half day in Brussels, I recommend you do something similar. It’s a fantastic way to spend a short time.
Don’t stay out too late in Brussels though. Tomorrow is a big sightseeing day.
Sleep: Brussels, Belgium
Day 5 – Bruges and Ghent
Today is a busy day, but that’s because you’ll be visiting two Belgian cities. I’d argue it’s the busiest of all of the days in this Paris, Belgium, and Amsterdam itinerary. Bruges and Ghent frequently rank high on traveler’s favorite cities in Belgium and today you’ll visit both. Now, some people will tell you that visiting both of these cities in one day is a waste of time (because you couldn’t possibly do them justice), but I disagree.
I’m a fast paced traveler who wants to see as much as I can when I’m younger (and have more energy), so I know what places I need to come back to explore more in depth. However, if you’re concerned about moving too fast, cut one city (I’d skip Ghent if I had to choose).
In Bruges, take in the architecture, tour the canals by boat, climb the Belfry for views of the city, and visit some beautiful churches. Plus, if you haven’t gotten your fill on Belgian treats, visit some more chocolate shops to sample their selection.
In Ghent, you’ll have similar experiences to Bruges. However, the two cities do still feel different. Take in the architecture, especially at Sint-Michielsbrug (St. Michael’s Bridge). Tour some squares, climb the Belfry for views of the city, or take a canal boat tour. The choice is yours.
Because it’s going to be such a busy day, it’s a good idea to get an early start. When I did this I spent my morning in Bruges and my afternoon in Ghent and found this to work really well.
Here’s a rough idea of how my day looked:
7:30 – Depart Brussels
8:30 – Arrive Bruges
1:30 – Depart Bruges
2:00 – Arrive Ghent
5:00 – Depart Ghent
5:30 – Arrive Brussels
Sleep: Brussels, Belgium
Day 6 – Brussels to Antwerp
Today, you’re packing up again. Hop on the train and head an hour east to Antwerp. While Antwerp could be visited as a day trip from Brussels, for this particular itinerary, it makes sense to spend the night. If you don’t spend the night, you’ll take the train to Antwerp and then back to Brussels. Then, the next day, you’ll take the train to Amsterdam, and that train will make a stop at Antwerp. Just back your bags and save some time on the train.
Once you arrive in Antwerp, don’t head out to explore immediately. Antwerp’s train station is a major sight here. The interior is one of the most beautiful train stations in Europe. Take it in before you go out to explore the rest of the city.
Wander the city and explore the architecture, shopping malls, chocolate, and great food. There’s plenty of tourist sights to see here, and I’ve written a whole post about it, but this city has an old town that was just great to wander.
Sleep: Antwerp, Belgium
Day 7 – Antwerp to Rotterdam to Leiden
We’re moving again, but this time its to the final hotel on this Paris, Belgium, and Amsterdam itinerary. Before we get too far into it, you do have a choice. You can head all the way to Amsterdam and make your base there. When I started to plan my trip, this was my intention. Then I looked at hotel rooms in Amsterdam and had a bit of sticker shock. I needed to find a more affordable accommodation option.
Haarlem, Utrecht, and Leiden are all a short train ride from Amsterdam, but have much more reasonable hotel options. For my trip, I chose Leiden. I was able to find a nice hotel room for a third of the price of what I would have paid in Amsterdam. Plus, I enjoyed this small town. It’s calmer than Amsterdam and that’s a huge plus.
If you plan to stay in Amsterdam, you can catch a train direct to Amsterdam to start exploring. But if you’re heading to Leiden, you’ll have to make a connection. Since you will likely have to change trains in Rotterdam, it’s a great place to get out and explore. Store your bag at the train station and head out on foot.
You will only have a half day to explore Rotterdam, but there’s still some fun things to see. Most of it revolves around Rotterdam’s quirky architecture, which is a stark contrast to nearly everything else you will see as you travel through the Netherlands. For more of what to see in Rotterdam, check out my guide of the best things to do on a short visit.
When you are done exploring in Rotterdam, return to the train station, collect your bag, and hop on your train to Leiden. The train ride is short, but rest your feet. If you still have energy, you can spend a little time exploring Leiden once you arrive. If you don’t have energy, no worries. Take a break at your hotel, but try to carve out some time another day to explore Leiden. You don’t need a lot of time, but I still think it’s worth spending an hour or two wandering this city.
Sleep: Leiden, Netherlands
Day 8 – Amsterdam
It’s time for Amsterdam. Catch an early train into the city so you can be at your first museum right when it opens. There’s so much to see in Amsterdam and efficiency is key.
With your one day in Amsterdam, I recommend picking two museums and combining them with some walking tours. This is how I spent my one day in Amsterdam and it was one of my favorites of my entire trip.
For museums, consider the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, and Anne Frank House (although this is just a starting list – there are so many more museums in Amsterdam). You can comfortably visit two museums and still have time for some walking tours in the afternoon.
For walking tours, you can join a group, hire a guide, or use a self guided walk. If you used the Rick Steves’ app for Paris, good news. You can use it again for Amsterdam.
As afternoon turns into evening, you have a choice. Spend the evening in Amsterdam and have a nice dinner or start working your way back to Leiden and stop off in Haarlem. I chose to stop off in Haarlem, because I read from many travelers how nice it was. I’ll be honest, I didn’t quite see it. Was it nice? Sure, but it just wasn’t my favorite city in the Netherlands. I think Leiden is better, so if you didn’t explore Leiden yesterday, consider exploring it today.
Sleep: Leiden, Netherlands
Day 9 – Amsterdam
For day three, I’m giving you two options. The first is a spring itinerary, ideal for those who are visiting the Netherlands from Mid March to Mid May. For everyone else, I option one isn’t possible, so jump straight to option two.
Option 1 – For Spring Visitors
If you’re visiting in the spring, you’ll want to see some of the famous tulips in the Netherlands. The best place to do this is at the Keukenhof Gardens. The big caveat is Keukenhof is only open for two months every year—which is why I had to give two options for this itinerary. Spring visitors will be able to visit Keukenhof, but for all other travelers, you’re out of luck.
I recommend visiting Keukenhof right when they open. I found crowds to be significantly smaller right at opening time. Plus, as an added bonus, you will get the afternoon to explore another Dutch city.
The Keukenhof can be tricky to get to, but the owners know this. Handy tourist buses depart from Amsterdam, Leiden, and elsewhere to help bring tourists to one of the Netherlands’ top sights. When you book your ticket in advance (which is my recommendation anyway), you have the option to select transportation.
You can spend as long as you like at the Keukenhof, but I found four hours is sufficient (although it can definitely be done in less). However, if you choose to rent a bike and cycle through nearby tulip fields, you may need longer.
The afternoon is a trip to another small Dutch town. This time we’re going to Delft which isn’t as high on the excitement scale as Amsterdam or Keukenhof. However, Delft still has a handful of sights and it is a very nice city to wander.
Option 2 – For non-spring Visitors
For travelers who visit outside of spring, you have a few options for how to spend your time. You could return to Amsterdam and continue exploring some of the museums and major sights that you didn’t visit on day 8. Another option is to split your time between Leiden (assuming you didn’t explore much when you arrived on day 7) and Delft, a charming town to the west of Leiden. The choice is yours.
Sleep: Leiden, Netherlands
Day 10 – Fly Home
Catch a train to Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport (AMS) and return home. This itinerary through Paris, Belgium, and Amsterdam is over.
Recap and Hotels Needed
Day 1 – Arrive in Paris. Sleep in Paris.
Day 2 – Explore Paris. Sleep in Paris.
Day 3 – Explore Paris. Sleep in Paris.
Day 4 – Paris to Brussels. Sleep in Brussels.
Day 5 – Day trip to Bruges and Ghent. Sleep in Brussels.
Day 6 – Brussels to Antwerp. Sleep in Antwerp.
Day 7 – Antwerp to Leiden. Sleep in Leiden (or Amsterdam).
Day 8 – Explore Amsterdam. Sleep in Leiden (or Amsterdam).
Day 9 – Explore Amsterdam. Sleep in Leiden (or Amsterdam).
Day 10 – Fly Home.
Trains Needed
Here’s a look at what train tickets you’ll need. There is only one train that I strongly encourage booking in advance and that is the train from Paris to Brussels. This train can, and will sell out. Plus, it will be more expensive the longer you wait to book. For your train tickets in Belgium and the Netherlands, prices won’t change and the tickets can be purchased as you go.
Days 1-3 – None.
Day 4 – Paris to Brussels. NOTE: Book this train well in advance.
Day 5 – Brussels to Bruges, Bruges to Ghent, and Ghent to Brussels. NOTE: No need to book in advance.
Day 6 – Brussels to Antwerp. NOTE: No need to book in advance.
Day 7 – Antwerp to Rotterdam and Rotterdam to Leiden. NOTE: No need to book in advance.
Day 8 – Day trip from Leiden. Depending on your plans, you’ll either need Leiden to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Haarlem, and Haarlem to Leiden or just a Leiden to Amsterdam and Amsterdam to Leiden. NOTE: No need to book in advance.
Day 9 – Traveler’s choice.
Day 10 – Leiden to AMS Schipol. NOTE: No need to book in advance.
More Notes on This Itinerary
This Paris, Belgium, and Amsterdam itinerary is very fast paced. I’m aware of that, but I still think this is a good pace for most travelers who want to get a taste of three different countries. And admittedly, this itinerary is slightly slower paced than the itinerary I did.
Variations on This Itinerary
Admittedly, I have not done this exact itinerary. I had visited Paris on a separate trip and spent five days exploring this wonderful city. So, when I returned to Europe to explore Belgium and Amsterdam, I made a slight modification and cut Paris from my itinerary. Instead of spending my time in Paris, I relocated west to the Loire Valley. This added more travel time, but it allowed me to explore a new-to-me region in France.
When to Do This Itinerary
This itinerary can be done at any point during the year. Winters (December through February) will be cold, but have the fewest tourists. Summers (June to August) will have the warmest weather, but its peak season for traveling. Except high prices and the largest tourist crowds.
Shoulder season in spring and fall (March to May and September to November) can offer a nice balance of crowds and weather. So, if given a choice, this is when I would choose to travel (and it’s when I actually traveled to these places).
However, if possible, I’d recommend spring. Specifically, I’d recommend mid March to mid May. Why? This is when Keukenhof (a fabulous garden showcasing Netherlands’ tulips) is open. I went in mid March in 2023. It was chilly (but it could have been worse). Tourist crowds were manageable and I got a chance to include these gardens on my itinerary.
Final Thoughts
While I haven’t done this exact itinerary, I’ve done everything on this Paris, Belgium, and Amsterdam itinerary. It has a lot to see and is a wonderful trip for your first visit to Europe.
Continue Your Adventure
France: Start in the capital of France and explore Paris. Whether you have five days, two days, or a layover, you’ll have a great time. Beyond Paris is the Loire Valley with it’s magnificent chateaux which can be explored by train. Learn more in my France Travel Guide.
Belgium: The capital of Brussels makes a great starting point, but don’t limit your visit to just this city. Bruges is a favorite, but can easily be combined with Ghent. Plus, Antwerp can be a great break for longer journeys. Learn more in my Belgium Travel Guide.
Netherlands: Amsterdam has so much to offer travelers, but that’s not the only city. Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ second largest city has a completely different feel. Plus Delft and Leiden offer something even more different. And if you visit in spring, make sure to visit the Keukenhof Gardens. Learn more in my Netherlands Travel Guide.
More Itineraries: If you’re looking for more itineraries in Europe, check out the Best of Spain in 10 Days or my Long Weekend in Zurich. For something different, try Five Days in Iceland Without a Car.