London, Paris, Brussels & Amsterdam 10-Day Rail Itinerary
Connect four major cities via Eurostar, featuring three nights in Paris and a day trip to Bruges.
High-speed rail all the way with no car rental: start with two nights in London, cross the Channel for a three-night stay in Paris as the centerpiece, spend two nights in Brussels including a day trip to Bruges, and wrap up in Amsterdam. Visit only the iconic sights in each city, with half a day lost on travel days. An open-jaw flight avoids backtracking, making it perfect for first-time visitors to Europe with limited time. The trade-off is skipping the English countryside and the southern Netherlands.
Accommodation in Amsterdam is tight during the tulip season in April; train tickets and hotels should be booked early.
Day by day
Day 1 · Half-Day along the Westminster Riverfront
London（Buckingham Palace、Westminster Abbey、Palace of Westminster & Big Ben、London Eye）
Take the Elizabeth line from the airport into the city (approx. 40 mins). Walk from Buckingham Palace along the River Thames in the afternoon.
Westminster Abbey is closed to regular visitors on Sundays; it is recommended to buy tickets in advance on the official website.
Stay: Bloomsbury
Day 2 · Tower of London to the South Bank
London（Tower of London、Tower Bridge、Borough Market、Tate Modern）
Take the metro to Tower Hill Station (approx. 25 mins). Cross Tower Bridge and walk along the South Bank to Tate Modern.
It is recommended to enter the Tower of London as soon as it opens; see the Crown Jewels first before exploring other parts.
Stay: Bloomsbury
Day 3 · British Museum then Head to Paris
London（British Museum） → Paris（Seine River Cruise）
Walk to the British Museum in the morning. Take the Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris Nord in the afternoon (approx. 2 hours 20 mins).
You must arrive at the station about an hour before departure for security and border control.
Stay: Opéra–Grands Boulevards
Day 4 · Louvre to the Arc de Triomphe
Paris（Louvre Museum、Tuileries Garden & Place de la Concorde、Champs-Élysées、Arc de Triomphe）
Walk or take the metro to the Louvre. Walk through the Tuileries and along the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe in the afternoon, totaling about 4 km.
The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays; you must book a time slot, and allow plenty of time for security checks at the entrance.
Stay: Opéra–Grands Boulevards
Day 5 · Île de la Cité, Eiffel Tower, and Montmartre
Paris（Notre-Dame de Paris、Sainte-Chapelle、Eiffel Tower、Montmartre / Sacré-Cœur）
Take the metro to Île de la Cité (approx. 15 mins), then to the Eiffel Tower (approx. 25 mins), and take the metro up to Montmartre in the evening.
Both Sainte-Chapelle and the Eiffel Tower require booking time slots in advance; watch your belongings in Montmartre at night.
Stay: Opéra–Grands Boulevards
Day 6 · High-Speed Rail to Brussels
Brussels & Bruges（Grand-Place、Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries、Manneken Pis）
Take the Eurostar from Paris Nord to Brussels-South (approx. 1 hour 30 mins), then transfer to local transport to the center.
The former Thalys routes have been integrated into Eurostar; pay attention to the train name when booking tickets.
Stay: Brussels City Centre
Day 7 · Bruges Canals Day Trip
Brussels & Bruges（Markt & Belfry of Bruges、Burg & Basilica of the Holy Blood, Bruges、Bruges Canals & Rozenhoedkaai、Church of Our Lady, Bruges）
Take an intercity train from Brussels to Bruges (approx. 1 hour). Walk everywhere in the Old Town and return in the evening.
The Belfry has visitor limits, resulting in long queues; canal cruises may run less frequently in winter.
Stay: Brussels City Centre
Day 8 · To the Amsterdam Canal Ring
Amsterdam（Canal Ring & Jordaan、Anne Frank House）
Take the high-speed train from Brussels-South to Amsterdam Central (approx. 2 hours). Walk around the Canal Ring in the afternoon.
The Anne Frank House only sells tickets online; you must book in advance for a specific time slot.
Stay: Canal Ring and Jordaan
Day 9 · Museumplein Day Trip
Amsterdam（Rijksmuseum、Van Gogh Museum、Vondelpark）
Take a tram or walk to the Museum District (approx. 15 mins). The two museums are adjacent; stroll in Vondelpark in the evening.
The Van Gogh Museum requires booking a time slot in advance; it is recommended to leave at least half a day for the Rijksmuseum.
Stay: Canal Ring and Jordaan
Day 10 · Half-Day at Windmill Village and Departure
Take a train from Central Station to Zaandam (approx. 20 mins). After returning, head to Schiphol Airport (approx. 20 mins).
There will be construction at Amsterdam Central Station in 2026; check train schedules again before departure.