6 Days 5 Nights Itinerary in Amsterdam and Belgium - Overview
This is an overview of this cross-country trip which I would like to share with you before I mentioned my trip. It can be quite challenging to understand the train system in Europe, as there are plenty of options available. Hopefully, this post would provide you with useful detail on what to look out for when you plan for a cross-country trip in Europe.
There are not many tourist attractions that I wanted to visit in Amsterdam. A few of my friends recommended that I could visit Belgium too. It was a great add-on. I went to Amsterdam and Belgium in April 2019. Here's an overview of the itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Amsterdam and tour around Amsterdam
Day 2: Travel to Brussels and Tour around Brussels
Day 3: Day Tour to Ghent
Day 4: Day Tour to Bruges
Day 5: Travel back to Amsterdam and tour around the area
Day 6: Day Trip to Keukenhof Park and Zaanse Schans
It was a great choice to have visited 2 different countries because I got to experience both cultures. On balance, I preferred Belgium because the vibe in Belgium is more chill and I don’t like the smell of weed. Moreover, I enjoyed my days in Belgium the most.
Let's zoom in to the details.
1. Planning
Keukenhof Park is the most beautiful spring garden in the world, which is a must-visit. My mum, who is a fan of nature, enjoyed the trip to Keukenhof Park the most. It has always been her wish to visit the place, so I brought her along for this trip. It's easier to plan the itinerary when you have the list of must-visit places. Split the work, so you have less research to do. My mum and I split the work. She planned the itinerary, while I looked into the hotels, train tickets and booking of day tours.
2. Transportation
Travelling from Amsterdam to Belgium and vice-verse
Now, this is the tough one. There are several options available for you to travel from Amsterdam to Belgium and vice-versa. As you can see from the table below, the cheapest option is to take a bus and the most economical way is to take the train. It is not ideal to take a plane to Brussels, as you would need to spend at least another 2 hours in the airports to go through the security checkpoints.
| Time | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | Approximately 3.5 hours | Around 35 Euros |
| Train | Around 1.5 hours to 2 hours | From 29 Euros onwards |
| Plane | Flight duration is 45 minutes. | From 99 Euros onwards |
You can take either the high-speed train - via Thalys, or the regional train - via Eurail. Belgium and Netherlands are both part of the Schengen agreement so no need for border checks. The price of the train tickets may fluctuate, so purchase your train ticket as soon as possible. I spent 249 Euros in total for 2 Thalys tickets for the entire trip, inclusive of tax. The returned first-class train tickets with Thalys cost 124.50 Euros, after tax. The first-class was the was the cheapest option available for purchase 1 month before my trip. There are additional benefits of having first-class train tickets too, like, having lounge access and meals on board too. For my case, I purchased the first-class tickets because it was around 30 Euros cheaper than the second class tickets.
| Thalys | Eurail Benelux Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of First-class ticket excluding tax | 124.50 Euros | Around 190 Euros |
| Number of Available Rides | 2 rides | Applicable for 4 days in a month. Take as many trains as you want on each travel day. |
If you're looking to travel in The Netherlands and Belgium, the Eurail Benelux Pass might be just the thing for you. This pass gives you access to the three Benelux countries: Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg. You can use the pass to travel on their regional trains as well. You can take as many trains as you want on each travel day. You can reserve the rides on Thalys too if you have a Eurail pass, but, you need to pay a reservation fee for the tickets. List down all the rides you need to take, check the prices of the tickets and calculate the sum of all the tickets. If the sum is more than 190 Euros, it' is worthy to purchase the Eurail. I did not choose this option, because the total cost of my transport fee is less than 190 Euros.
Tips!
Do not book through the train tickets via a third-party website. I read quite a number of negative reviews that if you booked through third party agencies, you might not even get your tickets or refunds. Do not risk it.
Always have the train tickets with you at all time. The service crew will check your ticket before you board the train and during the train journey. They may check your ticket more than once.
Local Transport
Amsterdam and Belgium have their local train system. If you purchase the Eurail, good for you, there is nothing much for you to worry about. You can buy the train tickets at the train stations. You can choose to purchase the ticket via a train ticket machine or with an attendant. You can use cash when you purchase the tickets at the ticket counter. Alternatively, use your credit card to purchase via the train ticket machine. The machine has several language options, including English. It is easy to make a purchase. You can save time when you use a machine. You do not need to wait in a queue and wait for an attendant to assist you. I didn’t spend on local transport in Amsterdam as I walked to all various tourist attraction. Not only could you save money, you can take in more views too.
3. Expenses
Both countries used Euros. The living expenses in Amsterdam is higher than in Belgium. The cost of accommodation in Amsterdam during spring is ridiculously high. I checked a few hotels and Airbnbs. The average price of accommodation in the city area is SGD240. I paid more than SGD250 for a 13-meter square room in Hotel CC for a night. It is a 5 minutes walk from the train station. You have to pay a lot if you want to stay in the central area. Whereas, the price of the accommodation drops if you stay further away from the city area. Each night costs around SGD180 instead. You can save around SGD70 per night. However, the cost of accommodation in Amsterdam is considered expensive as compared with Belgium. I paid around SGD150 for a 17-meter square room in Brussels per night. The Augustin is located in a centralised location. It’s just a 10 minutes walk to the city area and 20 minutes walk to the main train station.
The cost of food in Amsterdam is higher as well. I spent an average of 23 Euros per meal in Amsterdam and 18 Euros in Belgium. Moreover, there is delicious food at an affordable rate in Belgium. Not only is the food overpriced in Amsterdam, it doesn't taste fantastic too.
Here’s an overview of my expenses for your reference:
Cost of 1 Air Ticket: around SGD 2600, including taxes
Singapore - Amsterdam - Singapore via Singapore Airlines
You fly from Singapore in the middle of the night, around 12am, and you arrive in Amsterdam in the morning, like 8am.
It was a direct flight and I managed to secure a good deal. I got a seat in the premium economy for the returned flight.
Hotel: around SGD 1000 including taxes for 2 people
Transport: 170 Euros
Meal per person: SGD 100 per day
Tours: SGD300
Shopping: 300 Euros
4. Weather and Temperature
The weather in Amsterdam and Belgium are equally pleasant in spring. Spring is one of my favourite seasons to travel. The temperature of the two countries is very similar; it is around 14 to 17 degree Celsius. So, there is simply no need to pack too many clothes. You need to bring along a scarf and windbreaker whenever you head out, as it is quite windy and chilly on most days. There could be light drizzle during the day as well. You do not need an umbrella or poncho if you have a windbreaker.
These are all the main points which you can take note of when you are planning a trip to Amsterdam and Belgium.
I would be sharing more about the trip in subsequent posts. Stay tuned!
x, Esther
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