Europe rewards curiosity. Centuries of art, architecture, and ideas are layered into cities designed for walking, biking, and lingering over coffee. This 12-day itinerary connects three classics—Paris, Amsterdam, and Berlin—by fast trains, balancing headline sights with neighborhood discoveries.

Paris refines elegance and everyday pleasures, from luminous Impressionism to a perfect baguette. Amsterdam captivates with Golden Age canals, a vibrant cycling culture, and intimate museums. Berlin tells a dramatic story of division and reunification, now a laboratory for art, music, and food.

Practical notes for 2025: book major museums and intercity trains in advance, especially weeknds. Use contactless cards on most transit systems. Be mindful of pickpockets in crowded areas, and check for occasional transport strikes. Expect a modest service charge in some restaurants; otherwise, tip 5–10% for good service.

Paris

The City of Light dazzles with grand boulevards, café terraces, and the Seine threading it all together. From Notre-Dame’s rebirth to the Monet water lilies glowing at L’Orangerie, Paris blends the monumental and the intimate like nowhere else.

Getting in and around: Fly into CDG or ORY (compare fares on Omio (Flights); if arriving from outside Europe also check Trip.com (Flights)). From CDG, take RER B (~35–45 min to central Paris). For local travel, load a Navigo Easy card and tap on the Metro and buses; paper carnets are being phased out.

Where to stay: Base in the 1st/2nd (walk to the Louvre), the Marais (historic lanes, independent shops), Saint‑Germain (Left Bank classic), or Canal Saint‑Martin (creative, quieter nights). Browse stays on VRBO Paris or vetted hotels on Hotels.com Paris.

Days 1–4: The Icons and the Intimate Left/Right Banks

• Louvre and Tuileries: Book a timed entry (closed Tue). See the Grande Galerie, Delacroix, and the Egyptian wing; then decompress in the Tuileries garden with a coffee.
• Île de la Cité & Notre‑Dame: The cathedral reopened in Dec 2024; admire the restored nave and stained glass. Nearby, Sainte‑Chapelle dazzles with 13th‑century windows—go mid‑morning for peak light.
• Musée d’Orsay and L’Orangerie: Orsay (closed Mon) holds the world’s richest Impressionist collection; pair it with Monet’s Nymphéas at L’Orangerie in the Tuileries.
• Montmartre: Climb to Sacré‑Cœur for views, wander Place du Tertre’s artists’ square, then hunt for tiny vineyards at Clos Montmartre.
• Seine cruise at dusk: Board near Pont de l’Alma or Île de la Cité for the prettiest hour when bridges glow and the Eiffel Tower sparkles on the hour.
• Local gems: Stroll Canal Saint‑Martin at golden hour; explore 19th‑century covered passages like Galerie Vivienne and Passage des Panoramas.

• Coffee & Breakfast: KB Coffee Roasters (specialty roasts near Pigalle); Boot Café (tiny, postcard‑pretty, strong espresso); Poilâne (buttery croissants and the famous sourdough).
• Lunch: Breizh Café (Brittany buckwheat galettes, cider lists); L’As du Fallafel (brisk line, excellent pita in the Marais); Bouillon Pigalle (classic French at great value—arrive early).
• Dinner: Bistrot Paul Bert (steak frites, Parisian atmosphere); Le Servan (Filipino‑French notes, natural wines); Septime (seasonal tasting—book weeks ahead).
• Sips: Le Mary Celeste (oyster happy hour, inventive cocktails); Le Barav (wine bar with a bottle shop next door—pick a bottle and settle in).

Why these picks? They blend masterworks with neighborhood texture, giving you both headline museums and the street‑level life Parisians love: bouillons, canals, and covered passages.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is human‑scale beauty: gabled houses mirrored in water, bike bells, and world‑class art tucked into orderly streets. The city’s Golden Age history lives alongside creative cuisine and design‑forward cafés.

Getting there from Paris: Take the high‑speed train Paris–Amsterdam (~3h20). Reserve on Omio (Trains in Europe); advance fares from ~€35–€150, assigned seats, light security. Flying is ~1h15 but seldom faster door‑to‑door.

Where to stay: Jordaan (village feel), Canal Ring/9 Streets (postcard views), De Pijp (vibrant, great food). Compare options on VRBO Amsterdam and Hotels.com Amsterdam. For transit, tap in/out with your contactless card (OVpay) on GVB trams/metros or get day tickets.

Days 5–8: Canals, Masterpieces, and a Taste of the Netherlands

• Rijksmuseum & Van Gogh Museum: The Rijksmuseum’s Gallery of Honour (Rembrandt’s Night Watch, Vermeer) is essential. Book the Van Gogh Museum timed entry; start early for quieter rooms.
• Anne Frank House: Sobering and vital. Tickets release about six weeks ahead with limited day‑of drops—set an alarm.
• Canal cruise & 9 Streets: A small‑boat cruise reveals bridges and merchant houses up close; afterward browse De Negen Straatjes for boutiques and design stores.
• Vondelpark & bikes: Rent bikes and loop Vondelpark; stick to bike lanes and yield rules. Consider an easy ride to the Eastern Docklands for modern architecture.
• Modern viewpoints: Take the free ferry behind Centraal to A’DAM Lookout for skyline views and the “Over the Edge” swing; pop into Eye Filmmuseum across the way.
• Local gems: Brouwerij ’t IJ (windmill brewery, Belgian‑style ales); Foodhallen (indoor market—hit The Butcher for burgers, Viet View for banh mi, and Dim Sum Thing for dumplings).
• Optional half‑day: Haarlem’s Grote Markt and Frans Hals Museum (15 min by train) or Zaanse Schans for windmills and wooden houses.

• Coffee & Breakfast: Back to Black (house‑roasted beans, canalside); Scandinavian Embassy (precision brews, open‑face sandwiches); Bakers & Roasters (Kiwi‑Brazilian brunch—get the pancakes).
• Lunch: Winkel 43 (legendary apple pie; add whipped cream); Broodje Bert (overflowing sandwiches near Spui); Vleminckx (paper cone fries with satay or truffle mayo).
• Dinner: Moeders (home‑style Dutch stamppot, walls of mom photos); De Kas (greenhouse‑to‑table tasting menu in a city garden); Restaurant Blauw (Indonesian rijsttafel, a delicious colonial‑era legacy).
• Sips: Hiding in Plain Sight (craft cocktails); Proeflokaal Arendsnest (all‑Dutch beers on draft); Cafe Papeneiland (17th‑century brown café atmosphere).

Why these picks? Amsterdam shines in small details. This plan mixes headline art with ferry rides, markets, and neighborhood cafés that locals genuinely frequent.

Berlin

Berlin wears its history openly: Prussian grandeur, Weimar creativity, the scars and lessons of the Wall—then night descends and the city remakes itself with music, galleries, and experimental kitchens.

Getting there from Amsterdam: Direct ICE/IC trains take ~6h10 between Centraal and Hauptbahnhof; book on Omio (Trains in Europe), advance fares often €38–€90. Night‑train options operate on select days. Flying takes ~1h15 but add airport transfers.

Where to stay: Mitte (walk to Museum Island), Prenzlauer Berg (leafy, cafés), Friedrichshain/Kreuzberg (nightlife, street art). Search VRBO Berlin or Hotels.com Berlin. For transit, a 24‑hour AB ticket is about €10; validate before boarding.

Days 9–12: Museum Island, Memory, and Modern Berlin

• Museum Island: The Pergamon’s main building remains closed for renovation, but the Neues Museum (Nefertiti), Altes Museum (antiquities), and Alte Nationalgalerie (19th‑century art) are excellent. Pop into the Berliner Dom for dome views.
• Landmarks: Brandenburg Gate at Pariser Platz; the Reichstag’s glass dome (free—reserve in advance); Unter den Linden’s linden‑lined boulevard.
• History walks: Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (powerful field of stelae). The Berlin Wall Memorial at Bernauer Straße explains escapes and divisions; the East Side Gallery displays murals on an original stretch.
• Kreuzberg & markets: Markthalle Neun hosts producers and “Street Food Thursday.” Wander the canals of Landwehrkanal at sunset.
• Parks & perspectives: Tempelhofer Feld (picnic and bike the former runway) and the Soviet War Memorial in Treptower Park (solemn, grand scale).
• Nightlife: For a taste of Berlin’s scene, try Sisyphos (summer garden parties), Kater Blau (riverside), or jazz at A‑Trane; dress simply and be patient in lines.
• Optional day trip: Potsdam’s Sanssouci Park—Frederician palaces and landscaped gardens, ~40–50 min by S‑Bahn and bus.

• Coffee & Breakfast: The Barn Roastery (benchmark light roasts); Five Elephant (cheesecake worth a detour); Father Carpenter (Aussie‑style brunch in a pretty courtyard).
• Lunch: Konnopke’s Imbiss (Currywurst institution under the U2); Mogg (house‑smoked pastrami in a former Jewish girls’ school); Mustafa’s Gemüse Kebap (grilled veg‑laden döner; go off‑peak).
• Dinner: Lokal (seasonal Berlin cuisine, low‑key elegance); Katz Orange (slow‑cooked meats, candlelit courtyard); Nobelhart & Schmutzig (one‑star tasting menu, “vocally local”—reserve early). Vegetarians: Cookies Cream (modern, creative).
• Sips: Buck & Breck (speakeasy—ring the bell); Vagabund Brauerei (small‑batch craft beer); Klunkerkranich (rooftop bar atop a parking garage with sunset views).

Why these picks? They trace Berlin’s arc from empire to avant‑garde, pairing essential memorials with parks, markets, and a nightlife culture unlike anywhere else.

City-to-City and Departure Logistics

• Paris → Amsterdam: ~3h20 by high‑speed train; typical advance fares €35–€150 on Omio (Trains in Europe).
• Amsterdam → Berlin: ~6h10 direct; advance fares often €38–€90 via Omio (Trains in Europe). Buses can be cheaper but longer—check Omio (Buses in Europe).
• Flying out: Depart from BER, AMS, or CDG depending on your open‑jaw ticket. Compare fares on Omio (Flights); if returning outside Europe, also check Trip.com (Flights).
• Ferries: Adding North Sea ferries (e.g., to the UK) or Baltic routes? Explore options on Omio (Ferries in Europe).

Estimated costs: Intercity trains for this route typically total €90–€220 per person booked early. Museum admissions: Louvre ~€22, Orsay ~€16, Rijksmuseum ~€23, Van Gogh ~€20, Anne Frank House ~€16. Canal cruises ~€18–€25; Seine cruises ~€15–€20.

In twelve days you’ll savor Parisian art and boulevards, drift along Amsterdam’s canals with a stroopwafel in hand, and stand where history turned in Berlin—then toast it all on a rooftop at sunset. This rail‑friendly itinerary balances icons with local haunts, leaving room for serendipity on every corner.