Fly from Dublin Airport to a London airport; the flight is about 1½ hours, but allow several more for airport time and the onward transfer. Check which airport your flight uses before choosing how to reach your accommodation: Heathrow is about 15 minutes by Elizabeth line to Tottenham Court Road, then a short Tube or taxi ride to Covent Garden; from Gatwick, the train to Victoria takes around 30 minutes, followed by the Tube or a taxi. Once you’ve checked in or dropped your bags, spend about an hour wandering Covent Garden—browse the market streets and pause for the street performers around the piazza. It’s liveliest during the day, so if your flight lands late, keep this stroll flexible.
Walk or take the Tube from Covent Garden to Trafalgar Square for the National Gallery. Entry to the permanent collection is free; allow around 1½ hours for a handful of highlights rather than trying to see everything. It’s generally open daily from 10am to 6pm, but check the gallery’s hours and any ticket or exhibition arrangements closer to your visit. Head back to Dishoom Covent Garden for dinner—allow 1–1½ hours and roughly £20–£35 per person. It’s popular, so check availability ahead; if there’s a queue, put your name down and enjoy a short wander nearby while you wait.
Stay in an Airbnb where the listing clearly says it has a separate bedroom, not a studio or an open-plan sleeping area. Book around your arrival airport and onward plans, and confirm check-in arrangements with your host before travel.
After arriving at Gare du Nord, leave your bags at your accommodation or a luggage-storage point before heading out; the historic lanes of Le Marais are much easier to enjoy hands-free. From the station, a taxi is simplest with luggage, or take the Métro towards Hôtel de Ville and walk into the 3rd or 4th arrondissement. Spend about 90 minutes browsing its independent shops and wandering streets such as Rue Vieille-du-Temple and Rue des Francs-Bourgeois—there’s no need to follow a strict route.
Continue to Place des Vosges, a graceful, arcaded square where you can sit in the garden for a breather; it’s free to enter and a lovely spot to slow down for half an hour. Then walk to L’As du Fallafel on Rue des Rosiers for its famous falafel sandwiches, usually around €10–€20 per person. Since it’s Friday, go early: the restaurant generally closes before the Sabbath, and hours or queues can change, so check before setting out. If the timing doesn’t work, the street has other casual lunch options.
From Rue des Rosiers, walk south toward the river and cross to Île de la Cité for an unhurried hour along the quays and island bridges. Take in Notre-Dame Cathedral from the outside and enjoy the Seine-side views; the riverside paths are free, though access and nearby works can vary. Keep the rest of the afternoon flexible for checking into your separate-bedroom Airbnb and resting after the travel day.
Take an early direct train from Paris to Amsterdam, allowing time for station check-in and luggage; the journey is about 3 hours 20 minutes. After arriving, leave your bags at your accommodation or a luggage-storage point, then spend about an hour getting your bearings around Amsterdam Centraal and the nearby canal belt. Wander along the historic streets and canals rather than trying to cover too much—the best part is easing into the city.
Head to the Anne Frank House in the Jordaan for your pre-booked timed visit, allowing around 1½ hours. Tickets are released in limited slots and often sell out well ahead, so book directly with the museum as soon as your dates are available. Afterward, walk through the neighborhood to Café de Reiger for Dutch and European comfort food; budget about €25–€40 per person, and check its current hours and availability before setting off.
Finish with a slow hour in Westerpark, a pleasant walk from the Jordaan, among leafy paths and the former industrial buildings of Westergas. It’s a relaxed place to stretch your legs after the train and museum; park access is free, though cafés and cultural venues within the complex keep their own hours. From here, head to your overnight stay and settle in.
Important: The Day 4 train journey followed by a flight to Dublin is not a realistic plan on the same day: the rail trip alone can take most of the day, and delays or connections may make the flight impossible. Add a Copenhagen overnight and fly the following day, or change the Amsterdam–Copenhagen leg to a flight.
The planned Amsterdam–Copenhagen train takes roughly 10–12 hours, often with changes, so check exact timetable and connections before booking and take the earliest service. That leaves little or no dependable time for sightseeing or a same-day flight onward. If you do arrive early enough, stretch your legs with a 30–45-minute walk along Nyhavn; it’s a lovely first look at the harbor, but keep an eye on the clock rather than trying to fit in a full visit.
If your arrival allows, stop at TorvehallerneKBH, near Nørreport, for a quick bite—budget around DKK 100–200 per person and allow about 45 minutes. Then head to Copenhagen Airport for your flight to Dublin; allow time for the city-to-airport transfer, airline check-in and security, and confirm that the flight schedule genuinely works with your arrival. In practice, taking the long train and flying to Dublin the same day is not a realistic plan. The safer fix is to fly from Amsterdam Schiphol to Copenhagen instead, or stay overnight in Copenhagen and fly to Dublin the following day.
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