Weekend Trips from Amsterdam: Where Americans Love to Go
One of the best parts of living in Amsterdam? You're two hours from everywhere.
Brussels. Paris. Cologne. London. Berlin. All easy weekend trips.
In our first year, we visited 12 countries. Some trips were amazing. Some were disappointments. Here's what we learned.
In this guide:
- Best weekend trips by train
- Budget airline destinations
- What to skip
- How to plan trips
- Real costs
By Train (Under 4 Hours)
Brussels, Belgium (2 hours, €30-50)
Why go:
- Beautiful Grand Place
- Amazing chocolate and beer
- Easy day trip or weekend
- Different vibe from Amsterdam
What to do:
- Grand Place and surrounding area
- Atomium
- Comic book murals
- Eat frites and waffles
Our take: Perfect for a quick weekend. Two days is enough to see highlights.
Bruges, Belgium (3 hours, €40-60)
Why go:
- Medieval fairy tale town
- Canals and cobblestones
- Chocolate shops everywhere
- Romantic
What to do:
- Walk the canals
- Climb the Belfry
- Eat chocolate
- Just wander
Our take: Touristy but worth it. Go in off-season if possible.
Cologne, Germany (2.5 hours, €40-60)
Why go:
- Impressive cathedral
- Rhine River views
- Christmas markets (winter)
- German beer culture
What to do:
- Cologne Cathedral
- Walk along Rhine
- Beer halls
- Museum Ludwig
Our take: Good for a weekend. Cathedral is stunning.
For settling into your Amsterdam home base, see First Week in Amsterdam: Essential Tasks Checklist.
Paris, France (3.5 hours, €60-100)
Why go:
- It's Paris
- World-class museums
- Food and wine
- Architecture
What to do:
- Eiffel Tower
- Louvre
- Montmartre
- Eat everything
Our take: Worth multiple trips. Three days minimum to see highlights.
London, UK (4 hours via Eurostar, €80-150)
Why go:
- English-speaking
- World-class museums (free!)
- Theater and culture
- Familiar yet different
What to do:
- British Museum
- Tower of London
- West End show
- Pub culture
Our take: Easy weekend trip. Expensive but worth it.
By Budget Airline
Schiphol has cheap flights to everywhere.
Barcelona, Spain (2.5 hours, €40-100)
Why go:
- Warm weather
- Beach and city
- Gaudi architecture
- Amazing food
What to do:
- Sagrada Familia
- Park Guell
- Gothic Quarter
- Beach time
Our take: Perfect winter escape. Three days minimum.
Prague, Czech Republic (1.5 hours, €30-80)
Why go:
- Beautiful old town
- Cheap beer and food
- Castle and bridges
- Affordable
What to do:
- Charles Bridge
- Prague Castle
- Old Town Square
- Beer gardens
Our take: Great value. Two-three days is perfect.
Lisbon, Portugal (3 hours, €50-120)
Why go:
- Sunshine and warmth
- Hills and views
- Pasteis de nata
- Affordable
What to do:
- Alfama district
- Tram 28
- Belem Tower
- Eat pastries
Our take: One of our favorites. Three-four days recommended.
Copenhagen, Denmark (1.5 hours, €50-100)
Why go:
- Design and architecture
- Hygge culture
- Bike-friendly (like Amsterdam)
- Scandinavian vibe
What to do:
- Nyhavn
- Tivoli Gardens
- Bike around
- Nordic food
Our take: Expensive but beautiful. Two days is enough.
Berlin, Germany (1.5 hours, €40-90)
Why go:
- History and culture
- Nightlife
- Museums
- Affordable
What to do:
- Brandenburg Gate
- Berlin Wall remnants
- Museum Island
- Nightlife
Our take: Needs three-four days. So much to see.
What to Skip
Based on our experience:
Frankfurt
Why we were disappointed:
- Very corporate
- Not much to see
- Better cities in Germany
Better alternative: Cologne or Munich
Luxembourg City
Why it was meh:
- Small (see it in 4 hours)
- Expensive
- Not much to do
Better alternative: Bruges or Brussels
Dusseldorf
Why we didn't love it:
- Fine but not special
- Similar to other German cities
- Nothing unique
Better alternative: Cologne nearby
Planning Tips
Book Early
Trains:
- Book 1-2 months ahead
- Prices increase closer to date
- NS International for trains
- Check Trainline app
Flights:
- Book 2-3 months ahead
- Tuesday/Wednesday cheaper
- Budget airlines: Ryanair, EasyJet, Transavia
- Watch for sales
Budget Realistically
Weekend trip costs (2 people):
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Transport | €100-300 |
| Accommodation | €150-300 |
| Food | €150-250 |
| Activities | €50-150 |
| Total | €450-1,000 |
Budget destinations: Prague, Lisbon, Berlin Expensive destinations: London, Copenhagen, Paris
For the full cost picture of living in Amsterdam, see How Much Money Do You Need for DAFT?.
Pack Light
Weekend trips:
- Carry-on only
- Avoid baggage fees
- Easier to move around
- Less to worry about
What we bring:
- One small backpack each
- 2-3 outfits
- Toiletries
- Phone charger
- That's it
Use Apps
Essential:
- Google Maps (offline maps)
- Citymapper (public transport)
- Google Translate
- XE Currency
- Booking.com or Airbnb
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- Step-by-step timeline from start to approval
- Common mistakes that delay applications
Our Favorite Trips
#1: Lisbon
Why we loved it:
- Sunshine in February
- Beautiful architecture
- Amazing food
- Affordable
- Friendly people
Perfect for:
- Winter escape
- Food lovers
- Architecture fans
#2: Paris
Why it's special:
- World-class everything
- Easy from Amsterdam
- Always something new
- Romantic
Perfect for:
- Culture lovers
- Foodies
- Multiple visits
#3: Prague
Why it surprised us:
- More beautiful than expected
- Great value
- Delicious food
- Easy to explore
Perfect for:
- Budget travelers
- Beer lovers
- History buffs
Seasonal Recommendations
Winter (Dec-Feb)
Go south for sun:
- Lisbon
- Barcelona
- Seville
Or embrace winter:
- Cologne Christmas markets
- Prague in snow
- Copenhagen hygge
Spring (Mar-May)
Perfect weather for:
- Paris
- Brussels
- London
- Any city
Summer (Jun-Aug)
Beach destinations:
- Barcelona
- Lisbon
- Nice
- Greek islands
Or escape heat:
- Copenhagen
- Edinburgh
- Oslo
Fall (Sep-Nov)
Beautiful autumn:
- Paris
- Prague
- Berlin
- Munich (Oktoberfest)
FAQ
Q: How often do you travel?
A: We do 1-2 weekend trips per month. Some people do more, some less. It's one of the best parts of living in Amsterdam.
Q: Is it expensive to travel from Amsterdam?
A: It can be, but budget airlines make it affordable. We spend €500-800/month on travel, but we travel a lot. You can do less.
Q: Do I need to book accommodation in advance?
A: For popular destinations and weekends, yes. Book 2-4 weeks ahead. Last-minute can be expensive or sold out.
Q: Can I do day trips instead of weekends?
A: Yes! Brussels, Bruges, Cologne, and even Paris are doable as long day trips. We've done all of them.
Q: What's the best first trip from Amsterdam?
A: Brussels or Bruges. Close, easy, affordable, and beautiful. Perfect for your first European trip from Amsterdam.
Ready to learn what American things you'll miss and where to find substitutes? Get the honest list. Read What We Miss →
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