Amsterdam, Bruges, Brussels: the best itinerary

Just 300 kilometres or 3 hours separate the cities of Amsterdam, Brussels and Bruges. That is why, because of the tourist attraction of both cities and because of their good transport links, it is very common to visit all three cities on the same trip.

Knowing which are the best options for getting around these three capitals and how to organise this route is highly recommended if you want to embark on such a trip. In this post you will find all the information you need to enjoy the Amsterdam-Brussels-Brussels circuit.

There is no pre-established route or fixed order to visit these cities. But there are better options than others. It is best to start your trip with a visit to Amsterdam. Amsterdam is the northernmost city in the Netherlands and is the best starting point as it has direct connections to Brussels. For example, you can travel from Amsterdam to Brussels by booking an organised excursion to the Belgian capital.

The distance between the two cities is the longest on the tour. It is always better to end in Brussels, as the distance of the flights from the Belgian city back to Western Europe is shorter and the price is lower.

The alternative is to start in Brussels as it is the central point and the only one with direct connections to the other two cities. From the Belgian capital you can visit Bruges in one day and travel directly to Amsterdam. However, if you are travelling from Western Europe, flights from Amsterdam are always more expensive, so it is not the best option to finish your tour.

The train is the best way to travel between these three cities because of its comfort-speed-price ratio. There is a direct connection between Amsterdam and Brussels, but not between Amsterdam and Bruges, although there are regional trains from Amsterdam to Bruges. The journey time between Amsterdam and Brussels is approximately two hours with direct travel and the price of a ticket starts from 25 euros if you buy it on the same day, but better deals can be found by booking in advance.

From Brussels to Bruges there are regional trains which take around 1 hour to get from one city to the other and prices start from 15 euros. The only disadvantage of the train is that there is no direct connection between Amsterdam and Bruges, but this is not a major handicap as Bruges can be visited in just one day and you can get there and back from Brussels. You can also book an excursion to Bruges from Brussels which will save you a lot of hassle, although these are usually done by bus.

The bus is the cheap alternative to the train. Its great advantage is that there are journeys between the three cities in all possible combinations. Prices for the Amsterdam-Brussels route are cheaper than the train, starting at an average of 12 euros, although there are cheaper options if you book in advance.

The big disadvantage compared to the train is the journey time. It takes about three hours from Amsterdam to Brussels, and just over an hour from Brussels to Bruges. The price difference compared to the train is not very great, so it is up to you whether you prefer the comfort and speed of the train or the price of the bus. There are also organised excursions to Bruges from Amsterdam, usually in an air-conditioned bus.

If you have your own car or a rental car, getting between Amsterdam, Brussels and Bruges is very easy. The three cities are very well connected by road and the journey from Amsterdam to Bruges, about 300 kilometres, takes less than 4 hours. From the city of canals to the Belgian capital is 210 kilometres by the fastest road route and takes about 2.5 hours.

Driving by car gives you absolute freedom of movement, but adding fuel, tolls and, if necessary, car rental, the price will always be higher than travelling by train or bus. And of course, organising the trip will also take time. That's why I recommend you to book some of the organised excursions between the three cities.

The best time to do the Amsterdam-Brussels-Brussels tour is in spring, especially in March and April. To determine why this is the best time to enjoy this tour, two factors must be taken into account: the weather and demand.

In winter and autumn the cold is bitterly cold in these three northern European capitals, while in summer, although the weather is much more pleasant, it is high tourist season and the demand and influx is very high, which increases the prices. Spring is therefore the most balanced time of year in terms of weather and demand, making it the best time to do the Amsterdam-Bruges-Brussels tour.

Amsterdam is perhaps the city with the most sights and attractions of the three cities on the tour. You will need at least 3 days to see Amsterdam without missing anything. On the other hand, the general recommendation is to dedicate a minimum of 2 days to Brussels, while in Bruges a single day may be enough, although it is always better to see it at your own pace and dedicate 2 days.

In total, the recommended time to complete the circuit and visit the three cities in conditions is a one-week trip to go without stress. 3 days in Amsterdam, 2 in Brussels and between 1 and 2 in Bruges.

All three cities have a lot to offer and an endless number of monuments, museums and points of interest that should be part of your itinerary. By way of summary, here are the main places and monuments you should see in each of these three cities:

What to see in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a city famous for its canals and with a large number of museums that are among the most important in the world among many other places worth visiting. Highlights include:

• A cruise on the canals of Amsterdam.
• Anne Frank House Museum
• Van Gogh Museum
• Flower market
• Jewish Quarter Jordaan
• Rijksmuseum
• Begijnhof
• The Red Light District
• Dam Square and Leidseplein

Brussels is not a very big city so most of the sights can be visited on foot and are concentrated in the city centre of Brussels. The seat of the European Union offers visitors a great collection of beautiful buildings combined with modern monuments and a rich gastronomy, famous for its Belgian chocolate tastings. If you go to Brussels, the places not to be missed are:

• Brussels Stock Exchange
• The Jeanneke Pis and the Manneken Pis
• The Saint Hubert Galleries
• The Grand Place
• St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral
• The Royal Palace of Brussels
• The Sablon Quarter
• The Palace of Justice
• The Atomium
• The European Quarter

Bruges shares with Amsterdam the title of the Venice of the North thanks to its famous canals. This World Heritage city has many interesting sights even though it can be visited in just one day. The most famous and beautiful sights of Bruges are:

• Canal walk
• Grote Markt market
• The Rosary Quay
• Minnewater Park
• Burg Square
• Belfort Tower
• St. Saviour's Cathedral
• Jan Van Eyck Square

If you decide to do the Amsterdam-Brussels-Brussels tour after seeing all that the Amsterdam-Bruges-Brussels tour has to offer, which I highly recommend, there are a few tips and points to keep in mind to make the most of your trip:

• If you're travelling in the autumn or winter months, dress warmly and wear waterproof clothing, as all three cities have cold and rainy weather during these months.
• Book accommodation in advance to save money and avoid running out of options, especially in the high season months of May to September.
• The train is also the best form of transport as the train stations in all three cities are within easy reach of the city centres.
• Find out about tourist cards such as the I Amsterdam card to see museums in the cities without queuing and to get benefits for public transport.
• All three cities are very accessible by bike, making cycling one of the best ways to get around.
• If you have more than a week and freedom of movement, I recommend making intermediate stops between the three cities in some towns worth visiting, such as Rotterdam if you travel by train from Amsterdam, or Ghent between Brussels and Bruges.