One-Week Schengen Holiday Through Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels

Afternoon Arrival

After landing at Charles de Gaulle Airport, the RER B is usually the most predictable option: allow roughly 40–50 minutes to central Paris, plus the walk or Metro connection to your accommodation. A taxi typically takes 45–75 minutes depending on traffic and has a fixed fare to central Paris—about €56 to the Right Bank or €65 to the Left Bank. From Orly Airport, the Orlyval–RER B route takes around 35–45 minutes; taxis to central Paris have fixed fares of roughly €44–€53. Drop your bags, have a quick coffee, and aim to reach the historic center by about 3:00 pm.

Start at Île de la Cité, allowing about 90 minutes to wander around Notre-Dame Cathedral from the exterior and along the Seine quays. The area is especially pleasant in the afternoon light: cross the Pont Saint-Louis briefly for views back toward the island, then return to the riverside rather than rushing straight between sights. Sainte-Chapelle is nearby and deserves a timed visit of about an hour; September hours are generally around 9:00 am–7:00 pm, but admission is commonly €13, and security queues can be significant. Reserve an entry slot in advance, and remember that the chapel is inside the Palais de Justice complex, so allow extra time for screening.

Evening in Le Marais

Walk north into Le Marais via the lively streets around Rue des Rosiers and Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, leaving roughly two hours to browse small shops, courtyards, galleries, and the handsome Place des Vosges. This is an easy area to explore on foot; if your legs are tired, Metro line 1 from Châtelet or line 4 from Cité will get you close. Finish at Breizh Café in Le Marais for buckwheat galettes, sweet crêpes, and Breton cider. Expect about €20–35 per person; reservations are sensible, especially for dinner. Afterward, take an unhurried evening stroll through the neighborhood—Paris is at its most atmospheric here once the day-trippers have gone.

Morning

Start early at the Musée du Louvre, ideally arriving for a 9:00 opening slot; reserve a timed ticket in advance, generally around €22. Spend about three hours, concentrating on a manageable route through the Denon wing for the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace, and Venus de Milo, rather than attempting the entire museum. The nearest Metro stops are Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre and Pyramides. Wear comfortable shoes, and remember that large bags may need to be left in the free cloakroom.

Early Afternoon

Leave through the Carrousel du Louvre and stroll into the Jardin des Tuileries, allowing about an hour to enjoy the tree-lined promenades, fountains, and green metal chairs around the ponds. This is a good place for a light lunch from a garden kiosk or café—keep it simple, as the afternoon museums are the focus. Walk west toward Place de la Concorde, where the Musée de l’Orangerie sits in the southwest corner of the gardens. Book a timed entry, usually about €12, and give yourself 60–90 minutes for Monet’s Water Lilies; the oval rooms are calmest outside the busiest midday period.

Late Afternoon and Evening

From Place de la Concorde, take Metro line 12 from Concorde to Solférino, or walk roughly 20 minutes along the Seine, to the Musée d’Orsay. Reserve an afternoon ticket—typically around €16—and allow two hours for the Impressionist collection, including works by Renoir, Degas, Manet, and Cézanne. Afterward, take Metro line 12 from Solférino to Montparnasse–Bienvenüe for dinner at Bouillon Chartier Montparnasse. Expect traditional dishes such as steak-frites, œufs mayonnaise, or crème caramel for roughly €20–35 per person; queues are common, but they usually move quickly and reservations are generally not the norm.

Morning Arrival

Take the morning Eurostar from Paris Gare du Nord to Amsterdam Centraal, allowing roughly 3½–4 hours for the train, arrival, and dropping bags at your hotel. A departure around 07:00–08:00 gives you enough time to reach the canal district before lunch; reserve seats early, as fares rise considerably closer to departure. From Amsterdam Centraal, most central hotels are walkable, or you can use a tram—tap in and out with a contactless bank card.

Afternoon Canal Ring

After checking in, begin with an easy walk through the Amsterdam Canal Ring, following Prinsengracht and the quieter stretches around Egelantiersgracht. Allow about 90 minutes, stopping for coffee at Winkel 43 near Noordermarkt—their apple pie is a local classic. Keep an eye on bicycles when crossing streets and bridges, and don’t try to cover every canal; the prettiest experience comes from lingering beside the water and turning down smaller lanes.

Late Afternoon and Dinner

Continue into the Jordaan for your timed visit to the Anne Frank House. Tickets are online-only and released through the official website, so arrive about 15 minutes early; the visit takes around 1½ hours and involves narrow staircases. Afterwards, walk a few minutes to The Pancake Bakery on Prinsengracht for Dutch pancakes, with mains generally costing €15–30 per person. It is popular, so an early or late dinner is easier than the peak 18:00–19:30 period.

Evening Cruise

Finish with a 1½-hour evening canal cruise departing near Amsterdam Centraal. Book a departure after dinner and bring a light layer—the water can feel cool even in September. Illuminated bridges and narrow canal houses are especially atmospheric after dark; arrive 15–20 minutes early to find the correct operator and boarding point, since several cruise companies use nearby docks.

Morning

Start at Rijksmuseum when it opens, ideally around 9:00. Allow about 2½ hours for the Gallery of Honour, Rembrandt’s Night Watch, Vermeer’s paintings, and the excellent collections of decorative arts. Timed tickets are strongly recommended and usually cost around €25; book through the museum’s official website. From Amsterdam Centraal, take tram 2 or 12 to Museumplein, or cycle for roughly 15 minutes. The museum is large, so resist trying to see everything—leave time for the building itself and the gardens.

Midday and Afternoon

Walk south through Oud-Zuid to Vondelpark, about 10–15 minutes from the museum. Take a relaxed circuit past the ponds and rose garden, stopping at Groot Melkhuis if you want coffee or a light snack; an hour is enough to enjoy the park without turning the day into a hike. Continue back toward Museumplein for your timed visit to the Van Gogh Museum, allowing around two hours. Entry is generally about €25, and tickets often sell out well ahead, particularly in September. Keep the reservation time in mind, as late arrivals may not be admitted.

Late Afternoon and Evening

From Museumplein, walk or take tram 3 toward Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp, a lively 20–25-minute stroll through one of Amsterdam’s best neighborhoods for casual wandering. The market usually runs Monday to Saturday until around 17:00, so arrive no later than 15:30–16:00 for the fullest selection. Try a fresh stroopwafel, herring if you are curious, or fries and Indonesian snacks while browsing cheese, produce, clothing, and souvenir stalls. Finish at De Kas in Park Frankendael for dinner. It is east of the center—allow roughly 25 minutes by tram, bike, or taxi—and reservations are essential. The greenhouse restaurant serves a set seasonal menu built around produce grown on-site and nearby, typically costing about €60–€100 per person before drinks; plan on two hours and take a taxi back if you are tired.

Morning Arrival

After arriving at Bruxelles-Midi, leave your luggage at your hotel or a nearby storage facility and take the Metro to De Brouckère, followed by a short walk through the Îlot Sacré toward the historic center. Aim to reach Grand-Place around lunchtime or early afternoon; the square is best enjoyed before the evening crowds, when you can properly take in the ornate Brussels Town Hall, Maison du Roi, and the guildhall façades. Allow about an hour to wander and take photographs. For a quick snack nearby, try a cone of fries from Fritland on Rue Henri Maus, usually around €5–8.

Afternoon Exploring

The Brussels City Museum, inside the Maison du Roi on Grand-Place, is a compact one-hour visit and a good introduction to the city’s history, including the wardrobe of Manneken Pis. It is generally open Tuesday through Sunday, roughly 10:00–17:00, with admission around €10; check the museum’s current schedule before setting out. From there, walk five minutes down Rue de l’Étuve to Manneken Pis. The statue takes only about 20 minutes to see, but it is worth checking whether he is dressed for a festival—the costumes change regularly. This is also a good area for a relaxed chocolate stop at Pistachio, or for simply wandering the small lanes around Rue du Lombard.

Evening

Walk about 10 minutes toward Fin de Siècle, near Sainte-Catherine, for dinner. Reserve if possible, as this atmospheric restaurant is popular and does not take the most polished approach to service, but its hearty Belgian dishes—such as stoemp, carbonnade, and seasonal specials—fit the evening perfectly. Expect approximately €25–45 per person before drinks. After dinner, take an unhurried stroll around the illuminated Place Sainte-Catherine and the old docks; it is quieter and more local-feeling than Grand-Place, and a pleasant way to end your first evening in Brussels.

Morning: Brussels to Ghent

Take a train from Bruxelles-Central to Gent-Sint-Pieters around 8:00–8:30, before the day-trip crowds build. The journey takes about 35 minutes, with frequent direct services; a standard return ticket is usually around €20–€25, depending on the fare and travel conditions. From Gent-Sint-Pieters, walk for roughly 25 minutes toward the center or take tram 1 toward Korenmarkt. Ghent is pleasantly compact, but keep your return train in mind because the station is well outside the historic core.

Begin at Gravensteen, the imposing medieval castle in Patershol, and allow about 1½ hours. It generally opens around 10:00, with admission commonly around €13–€15; the audio guide is worth taking, particularly for the entertaining stories about Ghent’s former rulers and the castle’s surprisingly grim interior. Afterwards, walk through Patershol, one of the city’s oldest lanes, toward Saint Bavo’s Cathedral. Allow about an hour for the cathedral and the Ghent Altarpiece; check the official ticket arrangements before going, as access to the altarpiece is timed and separate from general cathedral entry.

Afternoon and Evening: Ghent’s Waterfront

After the cathedral, wander down to Korenlei and Graslei, the city’s most atmospheric stretch of medieval waterfront. Spend an hour strolling between the historic guild houses, crossing Saint Michael’s Bridge, and pausing for a coffee or local beer along the quay. This is a good point to slow down rather than add another museum—the narrow streets around Korenmarkt and Werregarenstraat are best enjoyed without a strict route. For an early dinner, settle at Du Progrès in the city center, where Belgian classics such as carbonnade flamande and shrimp croquettes typically cost about €25–€45 per person; booking is sensible for Saturday evening.

After dinner, walk or take tram 1 back to Gent-Sint-Pieters and catch a frequent evening train to Bruxelles-Central, again taking about 35 minutes. Allow at least 20 minutes to reach the station, and check the departure board rather than assuming the next train is direct. You should be back in central Brussels with time for a relaxed drink near Sainte-Catherine or a short evening walk before turning in.

Morning

Begin at the Royal Palace of Brussels, arriving around 10:00 if it is open during your September visit. The palace is generally a seasonal attraction, so check the official opening calendar before relying on the interior visit; admission is usually free when open, and allow about 90 minutes. Even when the state rooms are closed, the broad frontage and surrounding Royal Quarter make a worthwhile start. From there, walk downhill through the Mont des Arts gardens—about 10 minutes—and spend 30–45 minutes enjoying the terraces, formal plantings, and one of the best elevated views toward Grand-Place.

Midday and Afternoon

Continue a few minutes to the Magritte Museum, where a timed ticket is sensible, particularly on weekends; expect roughly €10–15 and about 90 minutes for the chronological collection of René Magritte’s surrealist work. For lunch, keep it light nearby at Le Pain Quotidien, or simply pick up something from a bakery so you have more time to wander. Afterward, stroll toward the Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert via the elegant lanes around Rue de la Madeleine. Allow an hour to admire the glass-roofed arcades and browse the chocolate shops—Neuhaus, Mary, and Corné Port-Royal are all convenient for a final Belgian treat. Most shops generally open around 10:00 and close around 19:00, though Sunday hours can vary.

Late Afternoon and Evening

Take the Metro from Gare Centrale toward Schuman, then walk about 10 minutes to Place Jourdan for a cone at Maison Antoine. The stall is famous for crisp fries with a generous choice of sauces; budget €5–15 per person, and eat at one of the surrounding cafés if the square is busy. Finish with a gentle walk through Brussels Park, reached by walking back toward the Royal Quarter or taking the Metro to Parc. The park is especially pleasant in the early evening, when the formal paths and fountains provide a calm final pause; allow about an hour, and check the seasonal closing time before setting out.