Europe’s great capitals grew up on commerce, ideas, and a talent for reinvention. London rose from Roman Londinium to a seat of empire; Paris shaped art and taste for centuries; Amsterdam banked the Dutch Golden Age into an open, innovative city that never stops moving. Together, they make a classic triangle for culture lovers and curious wanderers.

This 12-day itinerary prioritizes easy rail connections, core neighborhoods, and a balance of museums, wine tasting, nightlife, and “live-like-a-local” moments. You’ll hit icons like the Tower of London, the Louvre, and the Rijksmuseum—and still have time for cozy wine bars, markets, and canal corners where daily life hums.

Practical notes: Advance train tickets save real money; many museums have free or late hours; and transit cards cap daily spend. Pack layers for changeable weather, prebook headline sights, and carry comfortable shoes—you’ll walk more than you think, in the best possible way.

London

London is history you can touch—Roman walls, Tudor towers, and Victorian stations—wrapped in cutting-edge food, theater, and music. Neighborhoods have distinct personalities: Westminster’s ceremonial heart, Shoreditch’s street art and nightlife, South Bank’s culture mile, and Hampstead’s leafy village vibe.

Museums shine (many are free), pubs are neighborhood institutions, and markets like Borough and Maltby Street are weekend rituals. Nights stretch from cocktails in subterranean bars to big-room dance at Fabric and live jazz at Soho clubs.

Days 1–4: Royal icons, riverside culture, and local London

• Arrival and transit: Fly into London and compare fares on Omio and Trip.com (also check Kiwi.com). From Heathrow, the Elizabeth Line (~35–40 minutes) or Tube (~50–60 minutes) is budget-friendly; Heathrow Express (~15 minutes) is fastest but pricier. Use contactless/Oyster for automatic daily caps.
• Essential London sights (mix-and-match): Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace (Changing of the Guard on select mornings), then stroll St James’s Park to Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. Cross the Thames for the South Bank walk: London Eye, street performers, and the Tate Modern with skyline views from the Blavatnik Building.
• Live like a local: Browse Broadway Market (Sat) or Columbia Road Flower Market (Sun). Grab Monmouth Coffee in Covent Garden; snack your way through Borough Market (try Kappacasein’s toasted cheese and Bread Ahead doughnuts). Pub hop in Fitzrovia or Hampstead; finish with sunset on Primrose Hill.
• Nightlife: Cocktails at Swift (Soho) or Nightjar (Old Street). Dance at Fabric or XOYO; for live music, Ronnie Scott’s jazz club rarely misses.

Top activities (book ahead):

• Tower of London and Crown Jewels Exhibition Ticket

  

  Meet the Yeoman Warders, see the White Tower’s Norman might, and get nose-to-glass with the Crown Jewels—1,000 years of royal pageantry in one fortress.

• London Dinner Cruise on the Thames River

  

  Glide past Parliament and St. Paul’s as London lights up—an atmospheric way to kick off the trip with food, wine, and skyline views.

• Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Guided Tour of London

  

  History comes alive with a Blue Badge guide, covering coronations, monarchs, and the stories behind London’s most photographed icons.

Where to eat and drink: Breakfast at Kaffeine (Aussie-style coffee, stellar banana bread) or Dishoom (bacon naan and house chai). Lunch at Padella (hand-rolled pasta; go early) or Flat Iron (great steak value). Dinner at Kiln (wood-fired Thai), Brat (Basque grill, whole turbot), or St. JOHN (nose-to-tail British). Pints at The Harp; natural wine at Noble Rot; late-night bao at Bao Soho.

Stay in London: Browse VRBO London or Hotels.com London. Specific picks: Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London (pool, steps from the South Bank), Point A Hotel London Kings Cross – St Pancras (value, easy Eurostar), or YHA London Central/YHA London St Pancras (budget with clean private rooms).

Paris

Paris wears its history elegantly—medieval Île de la Cité, Haussmann boulevards, and Belle Époque cafés—while fueling contemporary art, fashion, and cuisine. Each arrondissement tells a story: the Marais for boutiques and falafel, Saint-Germain for salons and jazz, Belleville for street art and bistros.

Days flow between museums and markets, pâtisserie pit stops and wine bars. Sunset bridges, a glittering Eiffel Tower, and the Seine’s curves deliver the romance, even if you chase it with a late-night techno set.

Day 5: Morning train to Paris (3 hours) + Right Bank wander

• London → Paris by Eurostar: Depart St. Pancras around 8–9 a.m.; 2 h 16 m to Gare du Nord. Advance fares typically £60–£150 one-way. Compare and book on Omio Trains (Eurostar) or look at Omio Buses for budget options (~7–8 hours, from ~€20–€35).
• Afternoon: Drop bags, then loop the covered passages (Passage des Panoramas, Galerie Vivienne) and the Palais Royal gardens. Golden hour at the Pont Neuf, then dinner in the Marais.

Days 6–8: Louvre legends, wine bars, and neighborhood life

• Museums: Louvre for masterpieces (Mona Lisa, Winged Victory); Musée d’Orsay for Impressionism in a Beaux-Arts station. Consider late openings to dodge crowds.
• Wine & local vibe: Taste across France at Ô Chateau (guided flights) or sip natural wine at Le Barav, Septime La Cave, and Frenchie Bar à Vins (standby early). Picnic from Marché des Enfants Rouges or Rue Cler; people-watch along Canal Saint-Martin.
• Nightlife: Jazz at Le Caveau de la Huchette, cocktails at Little Red Door or Danico, rooftop sunsets at Le Perchoir. For clubbing, Rex Club and Badaboum headline.

Top activities (book ahead):

• Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Access

  

  See the great hits with context, pace, and smart routing—vital in the world’s largest museum.

• Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access (Top or 2nd Floor)

  

  Skip the queues and ride straight into the skyline—time this around sunset for the city’s sparkle show on the hour.

• Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Dinner & Sightseeing Cruise

  

  A glass-canopy boat, live music, and floodlit monuments—quintessential Paris on a plate.

Where to eat and drink: Breakfast at Holybelly (savory pancakes) or Du Pain et des Idées (escargot pastries). Lunch at Breizh Café (buckwheat galettes) or L’As du Fallafel (to-go for Place des Vosges). Dinner at Bistrot Paul Bert (steak au poivre), Le Servan (inventive, market-led), or Chez L’Ami Jean (Basque energy). Natural wine crawl: Le Barav → Septime La Cave → La Buvette. Gelato at Berthillon on Île Saint-Louis.

Stay in Paris: Browse VRBO Paris or Hotels.com Paris. Specific picks: Hotel du College de France (Sorbonne area, great value), Hôtel des Arts Montmartre (arty hilltop vibe), Generator Paris (budget with private rooms), or midrange Novotel Paris Centre Gare Montparnasse. Splurge options include Le Meurice and The Peninsula Paris. For an intimate stay near the Eiffel Tower, see Hôtel du Champ de Mars.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam’s UNESCO canals frame gabled houses, cyclists, and ideas in motion. It pairs Rembrandt and Vermeer with design-forward cafés, indie shops, and a progressive nightlife. Compact and walkable, it’s a joy to explore by foot, bike, or boat.

Museums anchor Museumplein, the Jordaan charms with courtyards and brown cafés, and De Pijp fuels the day with coffee, pancakes, and the Albert Cuypmarkt. Evenings drift toward canal cruises, beer at windmill breweries, and late sets in converted churches.

Day 9: Morning train to Amsterdam (3 h 20 m) + Jordaan stroll

• Paris → Amsterdam by high-speed train: Morning Eurostar (formerly Thalys) from Gare du Nord, ~3 h 20 m to Amsterdam Centraal. Advance fares often €35–€120. Book on Omio Trains or compare Omio Buses (~7–8 hours, budget-friendly).
• Afternoon: Settle in, then wander the Jordaan’s canals, indie galleries, and hofjes. Apple pie at Winkel 43 and a canalside borrel (aperitif) at Café ‘t Smalle.

Days 10–12: Golden Age art, canal life, and convivial nights

• Museums: Rijksmuseum (Night Watch and Golden Age masters) and the Van Gogh Museum (book timed entries). Anne Frank House is powerful—reserve far ahead or consider a guided walk for context.
• Local living: Coffee at Lot Sixty One or Back to Black; lunch at Foodhallen (bitterballen, bao, tacos). Cycle to Vondelpark; sunset along the Brouwersgracht. Craft beer at Brouwerij ’t IJ beside a historic windmill.
• Nightlife: Speakeasy cocktails at Door 74 or Vesper; live shows at Paradiso and Melkweg; late-night dance at Shelter (A’DAM Toren). Natural wine at GlouGlou or Bar Centraal.

Top activities (book ahead):

• Amsterdam Classic Saloon Boat Cruise with Drinks and Cheese

  

  See the canal belt from a cozy, historic vessel—gouda in one hand, camera in the other.

• Anne Frank's Story – Guided Walking Tour

  

  Walk the Jewish Quarter and hear the city’s WWII history with sensitivity and detail.

• Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Small-Group Tour

  

  Context-rich exploration of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and the merchants who made the city.

Where to eat and drink: Breakfast at The Pancake Bakery (stroop heaven) or Coffee & Coconuts (airy, all-day). Lunch at Foodhallen (try De BallenBar’s bitterballen) or Stach (easy and tasty). Dinner at Café de Klos (ribs), Restaurant C (inventive tasting menus), or Daalder (creative fine dining). For wine lovers: GlouGlou (natural), Wester Wijnfabriek (glasses by the canal); for beer, Foeders and Proeflokaal Arendsnest (Dutch-only taps).

Stay in Amsterdam: Browse VRBO Amsterdam or Hotels.com Amsterdam. Specific picks: Hotel Estherea (canal-house elegance), The Student Hotel Amsterdam City (stylish value, big rooms), ClinkNOORD Hostel (budget across the free ferry), or Amsterdam Marriott Hotel near Vondelpark. Splurge at Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam on the Herengracht.

Getting around and budget tips

• Transit: London’s contactless/Oyster, Paris’s Navigo Easy, and Amsterdam’s GVB day tickets keep costs predictable. Walk and cycle whenever possible—it’s the most scenic way to see each city.
• Museums: London museums like the British Museum, National Gallery, and Tate Modern are free; consider donating. In Paris/Amsterdam, reserve timed entries for headline museums.
• Food & drink: Mix market lunches and bistro dinners. Seek lunch prix fixe in Paris, early bird tables in London, and neighborhood eetcafés in Amsterdam for value.

Intercity and departure travel tools

• Trains (primary recommendation): Compare times and fares on Omio Trains for London ↔ Paris ↔ Amsterdam.
• Buses (budget alternative): Find options on Omio Buses.
• Flights: For transatlantic or long-haul, check Omio Flights, Trip.com, and Kiwi.com.

Suggested 12-day flow at a glance

• Days 1–4: London – Icons, markets, museums, and a Thames dinner cruise.
• Day 5: Train to Paris – Right Bank passages and Marais dinner.
• Days 6–8: Paris – Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Seine cruise, wine bars, and canal picnics.
• Day 9: Train to Amsterdam – Jordaan stroll and brown cafés.
• Days 10–12: Amsterdam – Rijksmuseum, canal cruise, Anne Frank walking tour, and nightlife.

This route stitches together three European capitals in a logical, low-stress arc, with fast trains, food-forward neighborhoods, and late-night options when you want them. With museums, wine tasting, local haunts, and nightlife baked in, you’ll experience each city’s personality—not just its postcards.