I'm off to Paris in 9/07--I'd like to visit Amsterdam or Switzerland on my visit.?

Question

Has anyone done this and if so, how? I know I want to use the Eurorail system. If you used this avenue for transport, what was your experience? I'm only there for 7 days--Am I pushing it, trying to visit two countries in 7 days? Thanks.

Answer 1

We took the train all the way from Paris, through Belgium (seeing out the window seemingly endless narrow rows of  flowers falling away from the train into infinity), & on into Amsterdam. It was a blast and very comfortable.

Answer 2

There is more than enough to do in Paris for 7 days, especially because you will likely be jet-lagged a day or so.  If you are set going to one of those two places, I would go to Amsterdam.  The trip is shorter and there are many direct trains (Thalys).  If you are under 26, you can reduced priced tickets.  I am not sure what mean by Eurorail system, if mean passes, it would be a waste of money to do that to just go to Amsterdam, the tickets are pretty cheap.  Generally, you can't book train tickets in Europe more than 3 months in advance.  

This is a link to the SNCF (the national train company in France) so you can look at times and prices.

http://www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/_SvT...

Answer 3

You will never have enough time to visit Paris,Amsterdam and Switzerland in one week, it's impossible...

To really enjoy Paris, you need to stay at least 4 days, and that will be also too quick to see everything, and I don't think it's a good thing to run everywhere with so much stress...It's such a non-sense...

You can go to Amsterdam, by train, from Paris...But in Netherlands you also have to stay at least 3 or 4 days ...And you can't go to Switzerland, unless you decide to stay one more week...

What you are asking is pretty complicated...You need 2 weeks...Or you have to chose Netherlands or Switzerland...

If you go too fast, you'll be so disappointed...

Answer 4

First of all, Amsterdam's not a country. And yes, you are pushing it, because there's sooo much to do in Paris, 14 days is probably not enough. Having said that, The Netherlands uses the same Eurail system that is used in France. This is not the case in Switzerland. For your convenience, it may be a better idea to go to The Netherlands. Although, on a personal level, I would much rather go back to Switzerland because it is so scenic and an amazing place to visit.

Answer 5

Skip Switzerland, it is much too far and difficult to combine with France. Amsterdam is less than 5  hours by train, you can easily visit it from Paris for a weekend or so. I would only recommend it you you don't plan to see anything besides Paris in France. So it would be a combined city-trip. If you actually want to see France (or the Netherlands besides Amsterdam), you definitely need the week.

Answer 6

Well, I'm doing the exact same thing this summer and have put a lot of investigation into it because of the time constraint. I am flying into Amsterdam from Boston and then flying into Paris from Amsterdam so I am unable to provide details using the rail system. I've only heard positive reviews though.

http://www.raileurope.com/us/index.htm

As you are probably aware, you could spend all 7 days in the Louvre if you wanted to. However, that is not realistic. I think that 7 days is plenty of time to see the main attractions in both Amsterdam and Paris.

I'm not sure of your scenario but I'd try to spend 4-5 nights in Paris and only 2-3 in Amsterdam.

In Amsterdam, you'd have time for the Anne Frank Museum, RLD, Heineken Museum, a canal ride, some cafe stops, etc. BTW, you can now purchase passes to the Anne Frank Museum on-line. This is new for this year and will save you about an hour in line. The only downfall is that you need to specify within a hour of your arrival time.

http://www.annefrank.org/content.asp?pid...

In Paris, you'd have plenty of time to walk around and enjoy cafe life, climb the Notre Dame towers, ascend Eiffel tower, visit the Louvre, walk the Champs-Elysees, climb Arc de Triomphe, see Napoleons Tomb, visit Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur, and hang in the Latin Quarter, etc.

September is also the perfect time to go. Enjoy.