Discover the Benelux Capitals: Amsterdam, Brussels & Luxembourg City - 7 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Amsterdam (Netherlands), Canal Cruise to the Rijksmuseum

Welcome to the Netherlands! Upon arrival at the airport in Amsterdam, take the 15-minute train ride or grab a taxi to your accommodation. Your hotel will be in the city center, a fantastic labyrinth of canals and small streets dotted with historic houses and other buildings. The center of Amsterdam is relatively small, and most places can be easily reached on foot, by bike, or by tram. 

After you settle in, meet your guide at a canal in the historic center, where you'll board a small private open boat that will take you along the maze of waterways. Relax and enjoy the ride as you take in some of the city's best sites from a different perspective. After about an hour and a half ride, you'll be in front of the Rijksmuseum, with its 8,000 artworks across almost a mile (1.5 km) of galleries. Take a self-guided tour to see world-famous Dutch master paintings such as "The Milkmaid" by Johannes Vermeer and the gigantic "Night Watch" by Rembrandt van Rijn. 

Day 2: Historic Walking Tour, Visit the Anne Frank House & Van Gogh Museum

Another ideal way to discover Amsterdam is on foot. This morning, join a guided walking tour to learn how this beautiful city has grown and changed in 750 years. Start on the harbor front and follow the Zeedijk, initially built in the 13th century as a seawall, now part of Amsterdam's Chinatown. Follow the canals as you reach the Amstel River, from which the city takes its name. Continue your walk to de Begijnhof, a beautiful courtyard of the Beguines religious order. See the Roman Catholic Church, the English Church, and the oldest wooden house in Amsterdam.

After your tour, visit the Anne Frank House to gain meaningful insight into Amsterdam during World War II and the short life of this famous girl. The museum is built around the secret annex, where Anne and her family hid for over two years before their tragic discovery and capture by the Nazis.

At the end of the day, head to the Van Gogh Museum and explore the collections at your own pace. Van Gogh famously created over 2,000 paintings in a little over a decade. The museum houses some of his most famous works, including "The Potato Eaters," "Sunflowers," "Almond Blossom," and one of his very last works, "Wheatfield with Crows." 

Day 3: Train to Brussels (Belgium), Explore the City at Your Own Pace

Bid the Netherlands farewell today and take the high-speed train to Brussels. You'll have a free day to explore the capital of Belgium's many significant historical and architectural sights. Landmarks such as the Louis XVI-style Royal Palace, the medieval Cathedral of Sint-Michel and Sint-Goedele, and the futuristic Atomium building are not to be missed. Curiously enough, a tiny statue of a peeing boy, Manneken Pis, is also a famous landmark.

As Belgium has the reputation of being the world's best chocolate creators, you could also visit a few of the many chocolate boutiques in town. If castles and royalty are more your cup of tea, you'll want to visit the Castle of Laeken, one of the royal residences in Belgium. It's surrounded by a 296-acre (120 ha) park containing the Royal Greenhouses. Beer lovers will enjoy a visit to the Gueuze Museum in the Cantillon Brewery for a tour and tasting of typical Belgian beers, including lambics (sour ale) with flavors such as kriek (cherry) and framboise (raspberry). 

Day 4: Explore Brussels' Museums & BOZAR, Rowboat to Robinson Island

Your second day in Brussels gives you time to go museum hopping. Get to know this warm, welcoming, and quirky city by visiting a few of its 49 museums, which celebrate everything from art history (try the Design Museum, Old Masters Museum, or the Fine Arts Museum) to comic books and cars (head to the Comics Museum or Autoworld). History fanatics should head to the City Museum, Military Museum, or Jewish Museum. Don't forget to look for boutiques selling handmade lace, another craft that makes Belgium famous. 

For a pick-me-up along the way, grab a warm Belgian waffle from one of the countless stalls, then visit the Centre for Fine Arts, also known as BOZAR. The gorgeous Art Deco building hosts various cultural events, from art showings to opera, and is home to the Bozar Restaurant. Next, wander through the English-style Bois de la Cambre (Brussels' city park) and hire a rowboat to explore Robinson Island in the middle of the lake. If the weather holds, bring a picnic to enjoy the green oasis.

In the evening, conduct your own Belgium beer-tasting event by stopping at some of the biggest beer hotspots and places popular with locals. Try a range of beers, from witbiers (Belgian-style wheat ale) to dubbels (strong dark beers). Then, try some of Brussels' many local comfort foods, such as moules-frites (mussels and fries), waterzooi (fish or chicken stew), or Brussels sprouts.

Day 5: Train to Luxembourg City, Explore the City, Visit the Grand Ducal Palace

Today, you'll leave Belgium behind and take the two-and-a-half-hour train ride to Luxembourg City. The diminutive country's eponymous capital, a relatively small and lesser-known European city, has some fine museums and restaurants. What might be most impressive is its scenic setting along deep-cut gorges of the rivers Alzette and Pétrusse. This, along with the fortified walls and blockades, ensured the city was well-defended throughout its history.

After you settle in, head out to explore. The old city is easily explored on foot. Within a mile, you'll see the fortifications known as casemates, the lovely city squares, historic buildings, the impressive Pont Adolphe bridge, the Cathédrale of Notre-Dame, and city parks. 

Later in the day, find your way to the Grand Ducal Palace, built in 1572 as Luxembourg's town hall until 1795, after which it was the seat of the Département des Forêts for some years. In 1817, the palace became the headquarters of the government of Luxembourg, and the building became the official residence of the head of state. In 1890, it became the exclusive residence of the Grand Duke and his family. Interestingly, during World War II, the building temporarily served as a concert hall and tavern.

Day 6: Discover Chemin de la Corniche & Wenzel, Visit Pétrusse Casemates

Spend your day exploring more of Luxembourg. Participate in a favorite local pastime by walking along the famous Chemin de la Corniche, a scenic promenade winding atop the 17th-century city ramparts. The walk offers some of the best views of the valley and the river, and it's a great way to experience the city's impressive fortifications from another perspective.

Continue your discovery on foot as you complete the Wenzel Circular Walk to learn the millennial-long history of Luxembourg City. The walk pays tribute to Wenceslas II, Duke of Luxembourg, from 1383 to 1419. The walk takes you through some of the city's oldest quarters, dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Along the way, you'll see the Bock Promontory (the city's cradle), Grund Gate, built in 1632 by the Spanish, and Castle Bridge, built in 1735, among many other highlights.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the underground tunnels and fortified walls of the Pétrusse Casemates should be on your must-see list for Luxembourg. Called "the most beautiful balcony of Europe," the 14-mile (23 km) galleries were first built in 1644 during the era of Spanish domination. They were enlarged 40 years later and given their present form by Marshal Vauban, the French military engineer.