Paris to Amsterdam
See the side of north-western Europe you’ve been dreaming about
Spend a week exploring some of the best bits of northwestern Europe, from Paris to Amsterdam. Walk the streets of romantic Paris, have a beer in Brussels and discover hidden gems in Ghent. Walk along the cobbled alleys in Belgium, cycle along canals in Amsterdam and visit a floating farm in Rotterdam. Tick iconic landmarks off your bucket list, spend a day in Bruges and enjoy free time to explore at your own pace – all with like-minded travellers!
Start: Paris, France
End: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Duration
- 8 days
- Group size
- 1 to 16
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Basix
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Explorer, Rail
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Visit a floating farm in Rotterdam, where you’ll learn about sustainable farming practices and see the resident cows living and grazing along the harbour.
- Walk the picturesque waterways and cobbled streets in Bruges on a free day to go your own way. Maybe visit a local brewery and try one of the refreshing regional beers.
- Explore the many romantic districts and hidden alleyways of Paris. Dive into the local food scene with a croissant or coffee and tick the Eiffel Tower off your list in your free time.
- Discover Amsterdam’s museums, cafe culture and leafy parks. Maybe visit the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum or Anne Frank House to brush up on your art history.
- Travel like the locals do on public transport. Take the train cross-country and enjoy extra time to relax, play games with fellow travellers and watch the changing landscapes roll by.
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
Itinerary
Bonjour! Welcome to Paris. Your trip kicks off with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe check out the world-famous Louvre, where you can see the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo or climb the Eiffel Tower for some impressive aerial views of the city. If the weather’s nice, maybe take a picnic lunch of baguettes and cheese to the Tuileries, Plantes or the Jardin du Luxembourg. After your meeting, maybe find a local restaurant for dinner and get to know your fellow travellers.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Paris - Napoleon's Tomb & Les Invalides Army Museum - EUR17
- Paris - Musee d'Orsay - EUR16
- Paris - Da Vinci Code Walking Tour - EUR25
- Paris - Centre Pompidou (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR15
- Paris - Catacombs (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR31
- Paris - Fragonard Perfume Museum - Free
- Paris - Museum of Comparative Anatomy and Paleontology - EUR7
- Paris - Paradis Latin Cabaret Show (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR90
- Paris - Eiffel Tower (from - must be prebooked in advance) - EUR23
- Paris - Louvre Museum (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR22
- Paris - Sainte Chapelle & Conciergerie - EUR22
- Paris - Arc de Triomphe - EUR20
- Paris - Rodin Museum - EUR14
- Paris - Picasso Museum - EUR17
- Paris - Palace of Versailles & Gardens - EUR32
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
If you wish to visit the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Catacombs or the Musee d'Orsay, it’s best to pre-book your tickets online before the tour. To avoid queuing at the ticket windows you can book your tickets on the official websites: http://www.louvre.fr, https://www.toureiffel.paris/fr, https://www.catacombes.paris.fr/, https://www.musee-orsay.fr/fr
Leave Paris behind and jump on a train to Brussels. When you arrive, join your leader on a walk around the city, where you can sample some traditional Belgian fries along the way. After, you have free time to explore at your own pace. Maybe wander down to the Manneken Pis (Little Peeing Man) – an iconic symbol of Belgium. Or, visit the Musical Instrument Museum to get your fix of cultural history. Tonight, maybe explore Ilot Sacre – a great place to find good food and fun bars.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Brussels - Belgium Fries Snack
- Brussels - Orientation Walk
- Brussels - Cantillon Brewery Visit - EUR8
- Brussels - Museum of the Musical Instruments - EUR15
- Brussels - Grand Place - Free
- Brussels - Manneken Pis - Free
- Brussels - Magritte Museum - EUR10
- Brussels - Mini Europe Attraction Park - EUR23
- Brussels - Local Brewery Visit With Tasting - EUR16
- Brussels - Jeu de Balle Flea Market - Free
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.
Today is a free day. Maybe wander the Jeu de Balle Flea Market, visit the Cantillon Brewery or walk through the Magritte Museum – an art museum in the Royal Quarters, dedicated to the work of the Belgian artist, Rene Magritte. This afternoon, maybe explore the Grand Palace or discover the miniature world at Mini Europe Attraction Park, where monuments in the European Union and other countries have been reproduced and are on display at a scale of 1:25. Tonight, maybe join your group for dinner at a local restaurant – your leader will have the best recommendations.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Brussels - Jeu de Balle Flea Market - Free
- Brussels - Local Brewery Visit With Tasting - EUR16
- Brussels - Magritte Museum - EUR10
- Brussels - Mini Europe Attraction Park - EUR23
- Brussels - Museum of the Musical Instruments - EUR15
- Brussels - Cantillon Brewery Visit - EUR8
- Brussels - Manneken Pis - Free
- Brussels - Grand Place - Free
After breakfast, take the train to Ghent – a port city northwest of Belgium, known for its medieval architecture and artwork. When you arrive, set off on an orientation walk around the city with your local leader. Then, the rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. Maybe visit Gravensteen Castle, take a guided boat tour on the canal or find a restaurant for dinner and try a local dish like gentse waterzooi (fish or chicken stew).
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Ghent - Orientation Walk
- Ghent - St. Nicholas' Church - Free
- Ghent - Gravensteen Castle - EUR13
- Ghent - Canal boat tour - EUR10
- Ghent - Belfry of Ghent - EUR11
- Ghent - STAM (City Museum) - EUR10
- Ghent - Museum of Fine Arts - EUR13
Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours.
This morning, take the train to Bruges. This city on the coast of Belgium looks like it's been plucked straight from the pages of a fairytale book with its medieval buildings and the network of canals that crisscross it. When you arrive, the day is free for you to explore at your own pace. Maybe stroll through the UNESCO Protected Old Town, discover the Gothic, Renaissance and Neoclassicism architecture or visit the Basilica of the Holy Blood, which is said to be home to a vial of cloth stained with a drop of the blood of Jesus. When you return back to Ghent, maybe find the best bowl of moules-frites (a Flemish classic of mussels cooked in white wine and served with a side of crunchy fries) for dinner.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Bruges - Day Trip
- Bruges - Belfry of Bruges - EUR15
- Bruges - Canal Boat Tour - EUR15
- Bruges - Chocolate Workshop - EUR56
- Bruges - Cycle trip to Damme - EUR13
- Bruges - Museum St John's Hospital - EUR15
- Bruges - Sint-Janshuismolen Mill - Free
Your travel time today will be approximately 1 hour.
Your train ticket today has a flexible return time. You can choose to return to Ghent in the afternoon, or spend a full day in Bruges and return to Ghent later in the day.
Travel to Amsterdam this morning. When you arrive, your leader will show you around the city, best known for its narrow houses and artistic heritage. Along the walk, stop at FEBO – an iconic local food stop where you can buy traditional snacks. The rest of the day is free for you to explore. Maybe visit Anne Frank's House – the former hiding place of the famous child diarist and her family during WWII or explore the De Waag – a 15th-century building on Nieuwmarkt Square first constructed as a gate for the city’s fortified walls. This afternoon, maybe head to the Heineken Museum and learn about the Netherland’s rich beer history.
- Hostel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Amsterdam - FEBO Snack
- Amsterdam - Orientation Walk
- Amsterdam - Rijksmuseum - EUR27
- Amsterdam - Heineken Museum (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR30
- Amsterdam - Anne Frank's House (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR16
- Amsterdam - Canal Boat Tour - EUR24
- Amsterdam - Van Gogh Museum (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR24
- Amsterdam - Bike Hire - EUR10
Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.
If you wish to visit Anne Frank's House, the Heineken Museum or the Van Gogh Museum, it’s best to pre-book your tickets before the tour. Please make sure that you book your tickets after 3 pm if you plan to visit today. To avoid missing out on Anne Frank's House, you can buy your tickets at http://www.annefrank.org.
Set off on a daytrip today to Europe’s largest seaport, Rotterdam. When you arrive, visit the Floating Farm – the world’s first self-sufficient dairy farm. Here you’ll learn about sustainable farming practices and see the resident cows. The afternoon is then free for you to explore Rotterdam at your own pace – maybe walk through Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen or visit Euromast Observation Tower for panoramic views over the city. Then, take the train back to Amsterdam and enjoy a free evening to wander the canals.
- Hostel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Rotterdam - Floating Farm Visit
- Rotterdam - Day Trip
- Amsterdam - Royal Palace - EUR13
- Amsterdam - Bike Tour - EUR30
- Amsterdam - Oude Kerk - EUR14
- Rotterdam - Markthal Market - Free
- Rotterdam - Cube House - EUR3
- Rotterdam - Euromast Tower - EUR17
Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.
Your train ticket today has a flexible return time. You can choose to return to Amsterdam in the afternoon, or spend a full day in Rotterdam and return to Amsterdam later in the day.
If you wish to visit Anne Frank's House, the Heineken Museum or the Van Gogh Museum, it’s best to pre-book your tickets before the tour. Please make sure that you book your tickets after 3 pm if you plan to visit today. To avoid missing out on Anne Frank's House, you can buy your tickets at http://www.annefrank.org.
As there are no further activities, your adventure comes to an end this morning. If you’d like to stay longer in Amsterdam, just speak to our booking agent ahead of time.
- Breakfast
Inclusions and activities
7 breakfasts
Train, Tram, Public Bus, Metro
Hotel (5 nights), Hostel (2 nights)
- Brussels - Belgium Fries Snack
- Brussels - Orientation Walk
- Ghent - Orientation Walk
- Bruges - Day Trip
- Amsterdam - FEBO Snack
- Amsterdam - Orientation Walk
- Rotterdam - Floating Farm Visit
- Rotterdam - Day Trip
- Paris - Napoleon's Tomb & Les Invalides Army Museum - EUR17
- Paris - Musee d'Orsay - EUR16
- Paris - Da Vinci Code Walking Tour - EUR25
- Paris - Centre Pompidou (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR15
- Paris - Catacombs (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR31
- Paris - Fragonard Perfume Museum - Free
- Paris - Museum of Comparative Anatomy and Paleontology - EUR7
- Paris - Paradis Latin Cabaret Show (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR90
- Paris - Eiffel Tower (from - must be prebooked in advance) - EUR23
- Paris - Louvre Museum (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR22
- Paris - Sainte Chapelle & Conciergerie - EUR22
- Paris - Arc de Triomphe - EUR20
- Paris - Rodin Museum - EUR14
- Paris - Picasso Museum - EUR17
- Paris - Palace of Versailles & Gardens - EUR32
- Brussels - Cantillon Brewery Visit - EUR8
- Brussels - Museum of the Musical Instruments - EUR15
- Brussels - Grand Place - Free
- Brussels - Manneken Pis - Free
- Brussels - Magritte Museum - EUR10
- Brussels - Mini Europe Attraction Park - EUR23
- Brussels - Local Brewery Visit With Tasting - EUR16
- Brussels - Jeu de Balle Flea Market - Free
- Ghent - St. Nicholas' Church - Free
- Ghent - Gravensteen Castle - EUR13
- Ghent - Canal boat tour - EUR10
- Ghent - Belfry of Ghent - EUR11
- Ghent - STAM (City Museum) - EUR10
- Ghent - Museum of Fine Arts - EUR13
- Bruges - Belfry of Bruges - EUR15
- Bruges - Canal Boat Tour - EUR15
- Bruges - Chocolate Workshop - EUR56
- Bruges - Cycle trip to Damme - EUR13
- Bruges - Museum St John's Hospital - EUR15
- Bruges - Sint-Janshuismolen Mill - Free
- Amsterdam - Rijksmuseum - EUR27
- Amsterdam - Heineken Museum (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR30
- Amsterdam - Anne Frank's House (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR16
- Amsterdam - Canal Boat Tour - EUR24
- Amsterdam - Van Gogh Museum (must be prebooked in advance) - EUR24
- Amsterdam - Bike Hire - EUR10
- Amsterdam - Royal Palace - EUR13
- Amsterdam - Bike Tour - EUR30
- Amsterdam - Oude Kerk - EUR14
- Rotterdam - Markthal Market - Free
- Rotterdam - Cube House - EUR3
- Rotterdam - Euromast Tower - EUR17
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, learn more about our climate commitment.
When you travel with us, The Intrepid Foundation gives you more opportunities to support important causes in destinations you visit.
Before you book you should know
- Please keep your luggage as small and light as possible. You'll be travelling on public transport where storage space is limited. You'll need to be able to lift your luggage into storage racks, walk across cobblestone streets with it and carry it up and down stairs.
- This trip is made for travellers who value their independence but also want the benefit of a local leader and a group of like-minded travellers. The itinerary has a mix of included activities and free time where your leader will have the best recommendations. Please budget spending money for optional activities. We recommend booking tickets one month in advance for any optional activities that require pre-booking.
- As accommodation on this trip is twin-share, solo travellers will share a room with other travellers of the same gender. Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together/apart. Rooms can be small and in some cases bathroom facilities will be shared rather than ensuite.
- Summer temperatures can be very high in many of the regions visited (over 40°C), which can be uncomfortable. It’s important to use sun protection, wear layers to combat the heat, and drink plenty of water. Please keep in mind that many European hotel rooms are not equipped with air-conditioning. In Winter, warm waterproof layers will be needed as snow and rain can be expected. Carefully consider the time of the year you wish to travel and your suitability to that season.
- The primary means of transportation on this trip is by train. Trains are a fast way to cross long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive in the city centre.
- The best way to experience a city is by doing as the locals do – and in this case that means using public transport such as trams, buses or metro at some locations.
- Make sure your shoes are comfy as you’ll spend most days on your feet.
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
FACILITIES
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Appart'City Bibliothèque
70 Av. de France, 75013 Paris, France
Paris
FRANCE
Instructions
From Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), the easiest way by public transport is to take the RER B train towards the city, change at Denfert-Rochereau for Metro line 6 towards Nation, and get off at Nationale. From there it’s about a 10-minute walk to Appart’City Grande Bibliothèque.
From Paris Orly, take the Orlyval shuttle to Antony, then the RER B into Paris. At Denfert-Rochereau, change to Metro line 6 towards Nation, get off at Nationale, and walk 10 minutes.
Both routes take approximately 60–70 minutes depending on time of day.
Alternatively, a taxi or private transfer will bring you directly to the property in 30–45 minutes depending on traffic. For convenience, you can also book a private transfer through your booking agent in advance.
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. A single supplement is not available on this trip.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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