wanderful

I went to the Keukenhof Gardens this year during the first week in May. It was in full bloom as far as I could see. Like Venice, the Keukenhof is one of those places where it's hard to take a lousy photo.

suec1

Well if you have not been to Paris that is easy to combine with Amsterdam - I would suggest flying into one city, then going by trian to the other and then flying home from there.

Ifnotnow_when

You can easily spend two weeks in The Netherlands without leaving the country. We stayed in Leiden, a lovely University town, with lots to do. Then did day trips via train to other places - Amsterdam (4 day trips), Delft, Haarlem, Kroller-Muller Museum. We did do one overnight to Brugge Belgium. Didn't get to see the blooming tulips, that's on the bucket list for another trip.

kam77

I highly recommend visiting Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer, a flower auction open to the public. Imagine the largest warehouse you've ever seen, filled with thousands of beautiful cut flowers on their way to shops and vendors all over the world. It was a highlight of our trip. Here is the website: http://www.floraholland.com/en/about...lower-auction/ The auction building is minutes from Keukenhof, which is spectacular, as others have noted. We visited in early April 2012. You may also benefit from getting the Holland Pass, a discount attraction program. http://www.hollandpass.com/

bjc280

Thank you everyone! this is great!

another question...
I am going to start in London and spend a few days... then take the train... I want to go to Amsterdam and a few other places... maybe brussles... and another suggestion or two... what is the best order to do this in?
Thanks!
I will leave from my last destintation

hpeabody

Brugge A day trip from Amsterdam

PalenQ

Bruges is about 3.5-4 hours each way from Amsterdam by train or car - better IMO to go and stay the night in that wonderful wonderful historic town.

(I am going to start in London and spend a few days... then take the train... I want to go to Amsterdam and a few other places... maybe Brussels... and another suggestion or two... what is the best order to do this in??

Well you could take the Chunnel train (Eurostar) London to Brussels - then head to nearby Bruges and then head to Amsterdam via Antwerp - fly back from Amsterdam or go on to say Germany.

For lots of great info on trains in Benelux and Eurostar Chunnel trains I always spotlight these IMO fantastic info-laden sites - www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com. For Chunnel trains www.eurostar.com is easy to book tickets by yourself for London to Brussels.

PalenQ

I echo kam77's endorsement of the Aalsmeer Flower Auction being a neat place to go - you can easily reach it from Amsterdam via public bus but go early - things start to wrap up IME around 11am - this calls itself a market under the largest roof of any market in the world and you see the trading floor where just like Wall Street decisions are made on what price to buy certain offerings at.

Many of the flowers are then whisked away to nearby Schiphol Airport for distribution around the world - the blooms you buy today may have been auctioned off a day or two before at Aalsmeer!.

If driving it would be a short hop between Aalsmeer and Keukenhof - going to Aalsmeer first of course and then Keukenhof - by public transit I suppose you take a bus from Aalsmmer to Schiphol Airport and onto to Leiden for direct buses to Keukenhof.

bjc280

does this make any sense--- fly from New York to London and spend a few days. Then from London take the train to Amsterdam. Then from Amsterdam take the train to Brussell and or Bruges... Thoughts?

bardo1

You have 6 nights in hotels and 6 days "on the ground" - correct? You just listed 3 major capital cities and one small city (Bruges).

IMHO...it's too much for your very limited time.

I would strongly suggest you simply fly into London from NYC and spend 3 days in London (which is hardly anytime at all there) and then take the train and spend the other 3 nights/days in Amsterdam (also not enough - especially with one day spend outside the city looking at tulips). Fly home from Amsterdam.

Save Belgium for its 10-14 day trip.

bjc280

thank you bardo1

I have been to london many times, i am going to spend the weekend at my friends country house in london and then i guess ill go off to amsterdam! if i wanted to spend a 1-2 days somewhere after amsterdam and fly home from there where would you suggest?

Thanks!

bardo1

Bruges or Brusssels for 2 days, but I would suggest it on the way TO Amsterdam since there are more direct (and cheaper) flights from Amsterdam to the US.

PalenQ

Yes take the Chunnel train to Brussels then use the ABS fare to go onto Bruges, the absolute highlight of Belgium for many folks and one of the most romantically old-world dream places in northern Europe IMO - then go on by train to Amsterdam for 3-4 days - actually 3 is about right for most folks IMO for Amsterdam, which though lovely is compact and its relatively few must sights can easily be seen in a few days (though it offers an eclectic offering of special interest things that could make one linger months here).

bjc280

so question.... my friend who lives in london will come to amsterdam with me... so does it make sense to do london, amsterdam and then brussels?

spaarne

I would skip Brussels. Spend a couple of days in London then fly over to Amsterdam. Maybe you can book RT to AMS with a two day layover for LHR.

bardo1

I agree, skip Brussels - but DO hold out the possibility of a day-trip to Antwerp, It's only 70 minutes each way by train from Amsterdam.

Xircal

@ bardo1, that 70 mins journey time applies to the Thalys. Normal trains take 2 hrs 39 mins.

You can take the Fyra which is a cross between the two and takes 82 mins to Antwerp Central. Both trains require that you make a reservation though.

See: http://www.ns.nl/en/travellers/home

TPAYT

bookmarking

bjc280

Thank You everyone!

Ok so there is kind of a change and need more of your awesome help and advice.

I will be leaving NYC and flying to amsterdam... My friend wants me in london by April 3rd... So that leaves me a while in Amsterdam... What do we think...

And... It is over good friday and easter... is it silly to go to eroupe over that time... will anything be open?

Please help!

Thanks!

bjc280

also what area is best to stay in while i am in amsterdam and brussels?