These are two major cities in Europe that should be on anyone’s bucket-list. Each of the cities are unique and beautiful in their own way. We’ve combined them here because they are easy to travel between!
Practicalities
Currency: European Euro
Month of Visit: April and June
Pro tips: You’ll definitely want to plan your wardrobe based on the season. These cities become quite warm and sunny in the summer, but in the winter can be fairly snowy and cold.
CDC’s recommended vaccinations: Click here and here!
Packing List
How to Get Here
Amsterdam has plenty of direct flights departing from LAX and the flight is just a little over ten hours. That makes it a relatively easy destination to visit. From Amsterdam, Brussels is a quick hopper flight down to Belgium. KLM operates this flight multiple times a day and it only takes 45 minutes. If you’d prefer to take some time and soak in the European countryside, then look into the Eurail which takes anywhere from two to three hours depending on the speed of the train. It’s definitely the more scenic route, and we prefer traveling by train over air! Traveling by train also tends to be cheaper and less of a hassle at the station compared to the airport.
Amsterdam
Where to Stay
Luxury: De L’Europe Amsterdam. This 5 star luxury hotel will set you back around $600-700 per night, but from what we hear it’s worth it! It has a boutique spa and multiple bars and restaurants on site, in case you just want to visit.
Midrange: The Intercontinental Amstel Amsterdam. You can’t go wrong with staying at an Intercontinental, and this one is surprisingly affordable to those located in other major European cities. The interior design and pool ooze splendor and luxury.
Budget: The Muse Amsterdam Boutique Hotel. This hotel is located in a great area of town that is easily walkable to major attractions. The rooms are each individually decorated, and the staff is pleasant and helpful.
What to Do
When you think of Amsterdam, you might think of bicycling along winding canals. Well, you’d be right! Exploring the canals is definitely something that you should do while you’re in Amsterdam. The good thing is, it’s not something you necessarily need to go out of your way to do, since the central city is built up around the canals. Rent a bike and go for a ride up and down the canals. We do also recommend taking a cruise along the canals as the captain will point out historic landmarks. Try to time your cruise around sunset for the best views! We also saw tons of people sitting alongside the canals enjoying a picnic, which is a beautiful way to experience the canals as well.
Amsterdam is well known for its artistic heritage and is home to many famous art museums. One must-see is the Van Gogh Museum. Vincent Van Gogh is from the Netherlands, and this museum houses the largest collection of his work anywhere on the planet. Near the Van Gogh Museum you’ll find the famous Rijksmuseum, which is an impressive building housing Dutch and European art across the ages. On the other side of the Van Gogh Museum is the Stedelijk Museum which focuses on contemporary art pieces. If you keep wandering around this area known as Museumplein, you’ll find countless other small and large museums to visit along with large sculptures along the walkways.
Although not in Museumplein, the Rembrandt House Museum is also worth a visit. It houses a large collection from the famed artist and the setting is an old Dutch house. It’s also very close to Bluebird, which is an excellent authentic “coffeeshop” selling coffee and…other things. Even if you don’t partake, it’s definitely worth seeing what all the fuss is about.
Speaking of museums, the Anne Frank House is definitely one that should be on your list. Be prepared for quite the wait to get in as this is one of the most-visited museums in the city. This is the house that Anne Frank grew up in. The museum details her life and experience and has various exhibits detailing persecution in the area during World War II.
If you’re looking for a lovely place to relax in the afternoon, visit Vondelpark, named after the playwright Vondel. Appropriately, there is a large open air theater located in the park; check the schedule online before you visit to see if you can catch a show. The park also houses a rose garden, multiple ponds, and a fountain. Nearby, catch a bite to eat at The Seafood Bar for delicious and fresh sea fare. Amstelpark is another beautiful park in central Amsterdam offering a vast green expanse to enjoy. We were overall very impressed with the amount and quality of parks in this fairly urban city. We didn’t make it to Blosempark on this trip, but this park also looks amazing. It is known for its cherry blossoms and has multiple canals that run through the park.
Speaking of blooms – definitely visit Bloemenmarkt on the canals. It was established nearly 200 years ago. This floating flower market sells tons of flower and plant related offerings, from live plants to seeds to souvenirs. It’s a great place to shop for small items to bring back for friends and family.
If you’re looking to do a little more shopping, head to Kalverstraat. This street is lined with big name shops and brands. Cars are not allowed on this street making for a fun and safe shopping experience.
We are quite into learning about the history of the cities we visit. For this we recommend visiting two places – the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, and the National Maritime Museum. The Royal Palace is a beautiful palace from the 1800s filled with beautiful art work and historical exhibits. The Maritime Museum has a replica of an old ship that would have been used on trading voyages, and gives a lot of good information about the role of sea trading in the development of the country.
Finally, you may wish to visit the Red Light District of Amsterdam. This area may not be suitable if you are traveling with young children, and it is a hot spot for bachelor and bachelorette parties across Europe. It’s known for sex workers as well as sex shops and pleasure paraphernalia.
One great way to explore Amsterdam affordably is the I amsterdam City Card. It allows entry into various museums and includes bike rental and a canal cruise. You can pick the number of days you’re going to be in the city as well. Find more info on that here.
Brussels
Where to Stay
Luxury: Rocco Forte Hotel Amigo. This beautifully decorated hotel is in a great location for visiting major Brussels attractions. The rooms are tastefully decorated and offer a warm and comfortable stay.
Midrange: Steigenberger Wiltcher’s. This regal looking hotel is in the city center and is close to lots of great shopping areas. Major attractions are also a short walk away.
Budget: Hotel Agora Bruxelles Grand Place. This hotel is in an AMAZING location – just down the street from Mont des Arts, and close walking distance to multiple cathedrals as well as the Palace de Bruxelles.
What to Do
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and is home to many buildings of both historic and modern political relevance. Visit the Parc du Cinquantenaire which houses the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History of Belgium. You’ll see these amazing arches and statues outside. Unfortunately the museum itself was closed when we visited.
You’ll definitely want to visit Le Grand-Place in the heart of Brussels. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a central square surrounded by multiple historic buildings. The architecture is absolutely stunning and the level of detail is incredible.
There are plenty of amazing museums in Brussels. Check out the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium which is actually a collection of six museums that showcase various European artists. To learn more about the history of the city itself, visit the Brussels City Museum which is located in the Grand-Place. A stones throw from here is the Mont des Arts which is a beautiful garden to stroll through.
You’ll also want to stop by the Atomium, which you may have seen on Instagram. It is the giant steel sculpture shaped like an atom that was constructed for the World’s Fair in Belgium. Nearby you’ll find the park called Mini-Europe, which is a collection of miniature sized famous European buildings like Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower.
If you’re spending time in Belgium, you’ll most likely want to do at least a day trip to Bruges. This would be a good time to head to our movie page, if you haven’t seen it already, as there are certain movies that can prepare you for this! To get to Bruges, you’ll take a Belgian Railways train which takes about an hour and deposits you a short walk away from central Bruges (or Brugge as it is known in Belgium).
Bruges is a quaint little town with fairytale cobblestone streets, beautiful old buildings and a canal running through. The whole town seems very Disney-village-esque and is a romantic and beautiful place to walk around. Start your day at the Belfry of Bruges, the town’s central landmark.
As far as walking around the town, you really can’t go wrong with strolling up and down the cobblestoned streets. We enjoyed visiting St. John’s Hospital which was built in the 12th century. Minnewater and Minnewater Park house a beautiful castle and lake which is a lovely area to stroll around. Basilica of the Holy Blood is an amazing 12th century chapel that was later converted into a basilica.
As far as eating and drinking in Bruges, there is a lot to explore. Aside from the delicious and hot fresh chips, you’ll want to check out Chocolate de Julie. We tried some amazing chocolate dipped treats from here. Bruges is also known for its beer, so you can have some of that to wash it all down with.
We were impressed by how modernized and inclusive Belgium was. Just check out this cross walk light!
