Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Munich Itinerary October 2026

Afternoon Arrival

Arrive at Citadines Place d’Italie Paris in the Place d’Italie area, check in, and leave roughly an hour to settle in. From Charles de Gaulle Airport, the RER B to Denfert-Rochereau followed by Métro Line 6 to Place d’Italie is usually the most economical route, taking about 45–60 minutes plus walking; a taxi is more comfortable with luggage and has a fixed airport fare, generally around €62 to the Left Bank. If arriving by train, continue by Métro or taxi, and confirm reception and luggage-storage hours in advance.

Late Afternoon and Early Evening

Walk or take Métro Line 7 from Place d’Italie toward Censier–Daubenton, then explore Rue Mouffetard for about an hour. This lively street is especially pleasant before dinner, with boulangeries, cheese shops, produce stalls, and small cafés; look around the side streets near Place de la Contrescarpe rather than rushing straight through. Continue north on foot toward the Panthéon, which is roughly 15 minutes away. Allow about an hour inside: October opening hours are commonly until early evening, but the last admission is earlier and schedules can vary, so check the official site before setting out. Admission is usually around €13, with reduced prices available.

Dinner and Evening

From the Panthéon, take Métro Line 10 from Cardinal Lemoine or a 20-minute taxi to Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse. Expect traditional, generously priced French dishes such as œufs mayonnaise, steak-frites, and crème caramel for approximately €20–35 per person; it is a popular dining room, so arriving around 6:30–7:00pm helps avoid the longest queue, and reservations may not be available. Finish with a gentle 10-minute walk to Luxembourg Gardens for about 45 minutes. The gates close in the evening and closing time changes with sunset, so check the posted hours; in October, enjoy the tree-lined paths and Medici Fountain before the gardens shut, then return to Citadines Place d’Italie by Métro from Odéon or Luxembourg, allowing roughly 20–30 minutes.

Morning

Start with the Louvre Museum, arriving for your timed entry as close to opening as possible—usually around 9:00, though check your October ticket confirmation. Allow about three hours, concentrating on a few highlights rather than attempting the entire collection: the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, and the grand French paintings are a sensible route. Tickets are generally around €22, and the museum is closed on Tuesdays; keep your confirmation and passport or ID handy. From Place d’Italie, take Métro Line 7 toward La Courneuve–8 Mai 1945 to Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre, roughly 20 minutes including the walk.

Early Afternoon and Lunch

After the museum, stroll to Palais Royal for its elegant arcades and Daniel Buren’s Les Deux Plateaux—the black-and-white striped columns in the courtyard. It is a compact, atmospheric stop of around 45 minutes, and the surrounding arcades are pleasant for a light lunch or coffee. Continue along Rue de Rivoli to Angelina Paris for its famously rich hot chocolate and Mont-Blanc pastry. Expect €15–25 per person; queues can be long, so a late lunch or early afternoon tea is often easier than arriving at noon.

Late Afternoon and Evening

Walk west through the Tuileries Garden, where October’s trees and gravel paths give you classic Paris views toward the Place de la Concorde. Allow an hour, with time to sit by the ponds if the weather is mild. Then take Métro Line 1 from Concorde to Franklin D. Roosevelt, changing to Line 9 for Trocadéro, or use a taxi if your legs are tired—allow 25–35 minutes. Finish at the Eiffel Tower for your reserved second-floor or summit visit, ideally around sunset; the full experience takes about two hours, and summit tickets commonly range from roughly €30–€40 depending on lift access and availability. Book directly through the official tower website, arrive 20–30 minutes early for security, and bring a light layer: the upper platforms can feel distinctly cold and windy. Afterward, return to Place d’Italie by Métro Line 6 from Bir-Hakeim, or take a taxi for a simpler late-night journey.

Morning

Begin at Marché d’Aligre, arriving around 8:30–9:00 so you can see the market at its liveliest before the crowds build. The covered Marché Beauvau and the outdoor stalls along Place d’Aligre are generally open in the morning, with Monday schedules sometimes more limited—check the market’s official hours the day before. Browse for fruit, cheese, pastries, and small snacks, but keep bags secure in the busy aisles. From Place d’Italie, take Métro Line 5 to Bastille, then walk about ten minutes to the market. Continue west through the streets of the Marais to Place des Vosges, roughly 20 minutes on foot; the arcades and quiet central garden make this a good pause before the museum.

Spend late morning at Musée Picasso Paris, housed in the elegant Hôtel Salé. Allow about 90 minutes, and reserve a timed ticket if available; admission is commonly around €16, with reduced rates and free-entry rules varying by date. The museum is typically open from late morning until early evening but is often closed on Mondays, so verify the October 19 schedule and ticket availability before relying on this plan. Afterward, walk a few minutes to L’As du Fallafel on Rue des Rosiers for its famous falafel pita, usually about €10–20 per person. Expect a queue and mostly casual takeaway seating; if the line is excessive, wait a little rather than ordering elsewhere, since this stop is particularly convenient after Musée Picasso.

Afternoon and Evening

After lunch, walk south toward Sainte-Chapelle on Île de la Cité, allowing roughly 20–25 minutes through the historic center, or take a short taxi if you prefer to save your legs. Book a timed entry in advance—security lines can be slow, and afternoon light is especially beautiful through the upper chapel’s stained glass. Admission is usually around €13, with opening hours commonly extending into the early evening, though seasonal times and court-area security can change. Once inside, spend time looking upward at the jewel-like windows rather than rushing through; allow about an hour, then leave a little breathing room around the nearby quays before your Seine River evening cruise from the Pont Neuf area. Aim for a departure around sunset or after dark, checking the exact boarding point and arrival time on your ticket; a one-hour cruise generally costs roughly €15–25. Bring a layer, as the open deck becomes chilly, and arrive 20–30 minutes early. After the cruise, return to Place d’Italie by Métro Line 7 from Pont Neuf with a change as needed, or take a taxi if you are tired.

Morning Arrival and Hotel Check-in

Take the morning Eurostar from Paris Gare du Nord to Bruxelles-Midi; after the roughly 1½-hour journey, allow another 30–45 minutes to reach the Park Inn by Radisson Brussels Airport in Diegem by taxi or local train. Leave your luggage at the hotel if the room is not ready, and give yourselves about an hour to refresh. The airport area is practical rather than picturesque, so head into central Brussels once you are ready; a taxi is simplest with bags, while the train to Brussels Airport and onward connection can be cheaper if you are travelling light.

Afternoon in the Historic Centre

From Bruxelles-Central, walk 5–10 minutes through the old centre to Grand-Place, arriving in the afternoon when the gilded façades catch the changing light. Spend about an hour taking in the Town Hall, Maison du Roi, and the ornate guildhalls, then continue a few minutes to the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert. This elegant 19th-century arcade is good for a relaxed browse among chocolate shops, cafés, and Belgian design stores; most shops generally open until around 19:00, though individual hours vary. Expect chocolate gifts to cost roughly €8–€20, depending on the box.

Evening: Moules-Frites and the Îlot Sacré

For dinner, walk into the Îlot Sacré and eat at Chez Léon, one of the classic places for Belgian mussels and fries. A main course usually runs about €25–€40 per person; reservations are sensible at busy dinner times, though the restaurant is large. Afterward, stroll for five minutes to Manneken Pis for the brief evening visit—the statue itself is tiny, and 15–20 minutes is plenty, but the surrounding lanes are atmospheric after the day-trippers thin out. From central Brussels, return to the hotel by taxi for convenience, or take the train back toward Diegem if services are still running; check the final connection before dinner.

Morning

Start with Atomium in Heysel, ideally around 9:30–10:00. From Park Inn by Radisson Brussels Airport, take a taxi for the simplest journey—roughly 15–25 minutes depending on traffic—or use the train from Brussels Airport–Zaventem toward Bruxelles-Midi, then continue by Métro Line 6 to Heysel. The Atomium usually opens around 10:00; allow about two hours for the interior exhibitions, escalators between the spheres, and the panoramic view. Tickets are generally around €16–€18 for adults, and advance booking is worthwhile during school holidays. Wear comfortable shoes: although the building is compact, there are stairs and moving walkways between sections.

Walk a few minutes to Mini-Europe for a relaxed late-morning visit of about 1½ hours. It is largely outdoors, so bring a waterproof layer in October, and check the seasonal closing time before setting out—hours can shorten late in the season. Combined tickets with the Atomium are often better value than buying separately. Afterward, take Métro Line 6 from Heysel toward central Brussels, getting off at Sainte-Catherine; the ride takes about 20 minutes. For lunch around Place Sainte-Catherine, choose a seafood restaurant along the square or nearby Rue de Flandre—Noordzee Mer du Nord is a casual local favorite for fish and shrimp eaten standing at the counter, while La Marée offers a more leisurely sit-down meal. Budget roughly €12–20 for a quick lunch or €30–45 for a full seafood meal.

Afternoon

From Place Sainte-Catherine, walk about 15 minutes through the old center to St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral. Set aside around 45 minutes to admire the soaring Gothic nave, stained glass, and quieter chapels; entry to the main church is generally free, while special areas or concerts may require a small charge. Continue on foot toward Mont des Arts, about 10 minutes away, passing through the historic streets around Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert without turning the stop into another major visit. Spend 45 minutes on the terraces and gardens for the classic view toward the lower city and the tower of Brussels Town Hall. This is a good point to pause for coffee at MOK Coffee on Rue du Bailli if you want something more distinctive than a tourist café, though it requires a short detour; otherwise, cafés around Rue de la Madeleine are convenient.

Evening

Walk downhill from Mont des Arts for roughly 10–15 minutes to Delirium Village in Îlot Sacré. Arrive before 19:00 if you prefer a seat; later in the evening the lanes and bars become lively and noisy. The complex is centered on Delirium Café, with different rooms offering an enormous Belgian and international beer list. Expect around €5–8 for a standard beer and €10 or more for specialty bottles, making €10–25 per person realistic for a few tastings. Keep an eye on your belongings in the busiest alleys, and return to the airport hotel by taxi for the easiest ride—usually 20–30 minutes at night—or take a train from Bruxelles-Central to Brussels Airport–Zaventem if services are still running conveniently.

Morning Arrival

Take the morning Eurostar from Bruxelles-Midi to Amsterdam Centraal, allowing around two hours including the usual boarding and arrival formalities. From Amsterdam Centraal, continue to Mercure Hotel Amsterdam City by taxi for the easiest luggage transfer, or take the train toward Amsterdam RAI and connect by tram or bus; the hotel is outside the historic centre, so leave bags at reception before sightseeing. Plan to reach De Pijp around 1:00pm, using the metro or tram from the hotel area.

Afternoon in De Pijp

Spend the early afternoon wandering De Pijp, one of Amsterdam’s most enjoyable neighborhoods for an unhurried first look at the city. Browse the independent shops and cafés around Gerard Doustraat and Ferdinand Bolstraat, then continue to Albert Cuyp Market, which usually runs from Monday to Saturday and is generally open until late afternoon. Try a warm stroopwafel, herring if you are curious, or fries from one of the market stands; allow about 1½ hours and carry a little cash, although many stalls accept cards. Market hours can vary, so check locally if arriving near closing time.

Late Afternoon and Dinner

From De Pijp, walk or take the tram north toward the Museum Quarter for the Rijksmuseum. A late-afternoon entry is a good fit after the train journey; reserve a timed ticket in advance and allow about two hours for the Gallery of Honour, including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, and selected Vermeer works rather than trying to cover every room. Afterward, return to De Pijp for dinner at Café Loetje De Pijp, where the classic steak with fries and gravy is a reliable Dutch comfort-food choice, usually around €25–40 per person; booking ahead is sensible for an evening meal.

Evening Canal Walk

Finish with a relaxed walk from the Museum Quarter toward Leidseplein, following the quieter canal stretches around Weteringschans and Leidsegracht. The bridges and house fronts are especially atmospheric once the lights come on. Keep to the edge of cycle lanes—bikes have priority here—and, if you still have energy, pause for a drink near Leidseplein before taking the tram or taxi back to Mercure Hotel Amsterdam City.

Morning

Start with your timed visit to Anne Frank House, ideally between 9:00 and 10:00. Tickets are online-only and tied to a specific entry time; bring the booking confirmation and allow about 1½ hours. The preserved annex is physically demanding, with narrow staircases and no lift, so arrive a little early and avoid bringing large luggage. From Mercure Hotel Amsterdam City, take Metro 51, 53, or 54 toward Amsterdam Centraal, then walk or take tram 13 or 17 toward the Jordaan; allow roughly 30–40 minutes in total.

Afterwards, spend an unhurried hour and a half wandering the Jordaan. Follow the quieter canals around Egelantiersgracht, Bloemgracht, and Lindengracht, dipping into small design shops and hofjes where permitted. For lunch, settle at Winkel 43 on Noordermarkt for its famous Dutch apple pie—best with coffee, though you can also order a light lunch. Expect approximately €10–20 per person; it is popular, so a short wait is normal. The nearby market is usually liveliest on Saturdays, but the square remains a pleasant place to pause on Friday.

Afternoon and Evening

Walk a few minutes to Westerkerk, the distinctive church beside Anne Frank House. Check the day’s schedule before relying on an interior visit, as services and events can affect access; the tower may also have separate opening times and tickets. Even if you only see the church inside briefly, its location beside the canal and the surrounding Westermarkt make for a worthwhile stop. Continue east toward the Amsterdam Museum, allowing about 25 minutes on foot through the canal belt, or take a short tram ride if your feet are tired. The museum generally opens into the early evening, but verify October hours and reserve ahead if a timed exhibition is listed; allow 1½ hours and budget roughly €15–20 for admission.

Finish at Dam Square, about a 10-minute walk from the museum. Take in the Royal Palace, Nieuwe Kerk, and the city’s grandest central architecture as the lights come on, but keep bags close in this busy area. For dinner, wander a few streets away from the square toward Spui or the Nine Streets rather than eating directly on the square, where prices are higher. Return to the hotel by tram or Metro from Amsterdam Centraal; allow 30–40 minutes, and use an OVpay contactless card or an OV-chipkaart for public transport.

Morning

Start at NEMO Science Museum in Oosterdok, arriving around opening time—typically 10:00, though confirm the October schedule when booking. Allow about 2½ hours for the hands-on exhibitions, and do not miss the free rooftop terrace for broad views over the harbor and central Amsterdam. From your hotel, a taxi is simplest; by public transport, use the nearest connection toward Amsterdam Centraal, then walk roughly 15 minutes across the Oosterdok waterfront. Museum admission is usually around €18–20 and advance tickets are worthwhile during school-holiday periods.

Walk a few minutes along the harbor to the Maritime Museum, allowing about two hours for the galleries and the reconstructed Amsterdam ship moored outside. It is an excellent, calmer follow-up to NEMO, with a strong sense of Amsterdam’s trading and naval history. Tickets are generally around €18–20; check the closing time before setting out, as it is often around 17:00. Afterward, take a tram or taxi toward Foodhallen in Oud-West—the journey is usually 20–30 minutes depending on traffic and connections.

Lunch and Afternoon

Have lunch at Foodhallen, an indoor market in the former De Hallen complex. Choose a few small dishes rather than one large meal—budget €15–30 per person—and allow about 1½ hours. The surrounding Bellamyplein and Kinkerstraat make a pleasant short wander if you want to stretch your legs before continuing. From here, walk or take a tram toward Vondelpark, entering from the east or northeast side; the park is free and an hour is enough for an unhurried stroll through its tree-lined paths and ponds.

Continue to the Van Gogh Museum in the Museum Quarter for a late-afternoon timed entry, ideally around 16:00. Reserve online in advance, as same-day tickets are unreliable; allow two hours and expect admission to be roughly €25. The chronological layout makes it easy to follow Van Gogh’s changing style without rushing, and the nearby Museumplein is a good place to pause afterward. For the evening, take a tram or taxi east to Brouwerij ’t IJ, beside the De Gooyer windmill. Settle in for a relaxed tasting of Dutch beers—about €10–20 per person—and check the brewery’s current closing time, since the taproom can become busy and may close earlier than a typical bar.

Early Morning and Arrival in Munich

Take an early Amsterdam Centraal–München Hauptbahnhof train, allowing roughly eight hours with a connection and keeping snacks, water, and a downloaded connection plan handy. On arrival, continue to Holiday Inn München Süd in Obersendling by U-Bahn or taxi; allow about 25–35 minutes by public transport, depending on the connection. Leave your bags, refresh, and give yourself about an hour to recover—the long rail journey makes a slow start to the evening worthwhile.

Early Evening: Market and Old Town

Head into the centre for Viktualienmarkt, usually a 20–25-minute U-Bahn journey from Obersendling via the central network. Although many individual stalls begin closing by early evening, the market area and beer-garden atmosphere are still pleasant; check current stall hours, particularly on a Sunday. Spend around 1½ hours browsing Bavarian cheeses, sausages, bread, seasonal produce, and local specialties. It is a good place for a light snack before dinner, with most small bites costing roughly €5–12.

Dinner and Evening

Walk about five minutes through the old town to Hofbräuhaus München for a classic Bavarian dinner. Expect approximately €25–40 per person for a main course, beer, and perhaps a shared starter; reservations are sensible if you want a table at a busy time, though the large hall often accommodates walk-ins. After dinner, stroll for about five minutes to Marienplatz. The Neues Rathaus and surrounding square are especially atmospheric after the daytime crowds have eased, and 30–45 minutes is enough to admire the illuminated façade and get your first relaxed look at central Munich. From there, return to Obersendling by U-Bahn or taxi; allow roughly 25 minutes and keep the evening unhurried after the travel day.

Morning

Take the U-Bahn from Holiday Inn München Süd to Nymphenburg Palace, usually via Laimer Platz; allow about 30–40 minutes door to door. Arrive near opening time, around 10:00, and spend roughly 2½ hours touring the former Bavarian summer residence. The palace interior is generally open from late morning, while the grounds open earlier; confirm October hours and ticket details before going. A palace-and-carriage museum combination ticket is typically around €15–18, and the gardens are especially pleasant in autumn. Allow extra time for the expansive grounds, but keep the visit focused so the day does not become tiring.

Lunch and Afternoon

From Nymphenburg Palace, take the tram or U-Bahn toward Augustiner-Keller in Maxvorstadt, allowing about 25–35 minutes. This historic beer garden and cellar is a good place for a relaxed Bavarian lunch: expect roughly €20–35 per person for dishes such as roast pork, schnitzel, or sausages with a locally brewed beer. After lunch, walk or take a short tram ride to Lenbachhaus, where you can spend about 1½ hours with the museum’s outstanding Blue Rider collection, including works associated with Kandinsky and Münter. It is usually open Tuesday through Sunday, with admission commonly around €12–16; check the exact October schedule, as opening times can vary.

Late Afternoon and Evening

Walk from Lenbachhaus to Königsplatz in about 10 minutes. Take 45 minutes to appreciate the grand neoclassical buildings and broad stone square, particularly atmospheric as the light softens; this area is compact and easy to explore on foot. Continue by U-Bahn or tram toward the English Garden, entering around Schwabing for an evening walk beside the Eisbach wave and through the landscaped park paths. The river wave is best viewed before dusk, but never enter the water—strong currents and cold temperatures make it dangerous. Allow about 1½ hours, then return to the hotel by U-Bahn from Universität or Giselastraße; the journey to Obersendling usually takes around 30–40 minutes with a change. In October, sunset is early, so aim to reach the park by approximately 17:00 and bring a warm layer.

Morning

Start at Deutsches Museum on Museum Island, arriving close to opening—usually around 9:00, but confirm the October timetable before you go. Allow about three hours; the collections are enormous, so choose a few sections rather than trying to cover everything. The aviation, transport, astronomy, and energy displays are particularly rewarding. From Holiday Inn München Süd, take the U-Bahn toward central Munich and continue on foot from Fraunhoferstraße or Isartor; allow roughly 25–35 minutes. Admission is generally around €15–18 for an adult, with reduced combination tickets sometimes available online.

Afternoon

After the museum, walk west toward Isartor, one of Munich’s surviving medieval gates, passing through the lively Isarvorstadt streets on the way. Spend about half an hour looking at the gate and its surrounding square, then continue by tram, S-Bahn, or a 20-minute walk toward Wiener Platz in Haidhausen. The neighborhood market is a pleasant place for a coffee, pastry, or light snack; stalls typically operate through the afternoon but individual traders may close earlier, so do not leave this stop too late. Give yourself an hour to browse, then wander slowly through Haidhausen, especially around its small historic squares, quiet lanes, and courtyards. This is one of Munich’s best areas for an unhurried walk away from the main tourist routes.

Evening

Have dinner at Wirtshaus in der Au, a traditional and popular Bavarian restaurant in Haidhausen. Reserve ahead if possible, particularly for a Tuesday evening, and expect roughly €25–40 per person for dumplings, regional mains, and a drink. Afterward, take a relaxed 45-minute walk along the Isar River banks while there is still some evening light, using the paths around Maximiliansanlagen rather than rushing straight back. October evenings can be chilly and riverside paths are dimmer after sunset, so bring a warm layer and comfortable shoes. From Haidhausen, return to Holiday Inn München Süd by U-Bahn, allowing about 25–35 minutes.

Morning

Check out of Holiday Inn München Süd in Obersendling after breakfast, ideally around 7:30–8:00, allowing time for reception formalities and luggage handling. For Munich Airport, the most predictable public-transport option is usually the U-Bahn toward central Munich followed by the S-Bahn connection to the airport; allow roughly 55–70 minutes door to door, depending on the connection. A taxi is more convenient with several large bags and generally takes 45–60 minutes in light traffic, but allow extra time during the morning commute. S-Bahn tickets are typically around €13–€16 per adult; check the MVV app before leaving, as construction or timetable changes can affect the route.

Munich Airport Departure

Aim to reach Munich Airport at least two hours before a European flight and closer to three hours if you are checking luggage, travelling outside the Schengen Area, or have a long-haul connection onward from Paris. Check your terminal and airline details before leaving the hotel, then complete bag drop and security without relying on a quick connection. Once airside, the airport has cafés, bakeries, and a small selection of Bavarian food; Airbräu is a pleasant option if you have time in the public area, while the terminal cafés are more practical after security. Keep passports, boarding passes, and any onward Paris booking easily accessible, and remember that your arrival airport in Paris may be different from the one used at the start of the trip, so check the final transfer details before boarding.