Three Countries, Two Weeks: Exploring Germany, the Netherlands & France
I just got back from two weeks in Europe, traveling through Germany, the Netherlands, and France, with stops in Berlin, Leipzig, Hamburg, Amsterdam, and Paris. There was time to catch up with friends, revisit favorite places, and, of course, see Céline Dion in Paris. A perfectly reasonable excuse to cross the Atlantic, if you ask me.
As much as I love the life we’ve built in Texas, I always love returning to my home side of the Atlantic. I’m originally from Ireland and didn’t move to the US until my mid-thirties, so my roots are still very much over there. Having also lived in Germany and the Netherlands, these trips are often as much about catching up with family and friends as they are about exploring. I feel fortunate to have a home on both sides of the Atlantic, even if it means there’s always someone I wish I could see more often.
After getting back to Dallas, someone messaged me asking how I was still standing after traveling between three countries in two weeks. It made me smile, but I understood what they meant. If you’re not familiar with traveling around Europe, five cities across three countries can sound like a lot to fit into one vacation. But once you see how the cities connect, it starts to sound less like an ambitious undertaking and more like a trip you might want to take yourself.
So I’m sharing my two-week Europe itinerary, from Berlin and a side trip to Leipzig through Hamburg, Amsterdam, and Paris. I’ll take you through where to stay, what to do, and how to get between each stop, with personal favorites and practical advice along the way. Whether you follow the whole route or borrow a few stops, I hope it makes planning your own trip feel a little less daunting and a lot more tempting.
If it’s your first time flying to Europe, it’s easy to fall into the jet lag trap and spend the first few days feeling ready for bed just as everyone else is heading out for dinner. What works for me is to start nudging my body clock toward my destination’s time a day or two before arrival, going to bed and getting up a little earlier. Once I’m on the plane, I switch my thinking to local time and try to sleep when it’s nighttime where I’m headed. I don’t always get a great night’s sleep, but giving myself that head start makes a difference.
The biggest temptation on arrival is to check into your hotel, close the curtains, and lie down for “just an hour.” Before you know it, it’s evening, you’ve missed most of your first day, and you’re wide awake when you should be going to bed. I find getting outside, walking around, and eating meals on local time makes it easier to keep going until a reasonable bedtime. I keep that first day fairly relaxed, with enough planned to stay occupied without expecting to see an entire city on very little sleep. If I really need a nap, I keep it short and set an alarm rather than letting it turn into an afternoon in bed. That approach usually leaves me feeling much more ready to go the next morning, even if my body clock takes a little longer to fully catch up.
For this trip, I flew from Dallas to Berlin via London, with Leipzig as my first stop to meet a friend. Leipzig is an easy train journey from Berlin, with the fastest direct services from Berlin’s main station taking around an hour and 15 minutes. Allow more time if you’re coming straight from the airport.
Yes, the train. Don’t let that put you off! I understand that navigating a train station in another country can feel intimidating, especially when you don’t speak the language. But Germany’s rail network makes traveling between cities straightforward, with connections to plenty of smaller towns along the way. You’ll also hear English announcements on many mainline services, so you don’t need to understand every word of German to find your way.
One thing I recommend downloading before you go is DB Navigator, the app from Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s main rail operator. You can plan your journey, buy tickets, and check platform information and travel updates all in one place. Having those details on your phone makes the whole process feel much more manageable, especially when you’ve just arrived and a little tired.
Now, German trains aren’t always as punctual as their reputation might suggest, so leave yourself some breathing room between connections and keep an eye on updates. But don’t let unfamiliarity put you off taking them. For a trip built around cities like these, there’s little reason to rent a car when you can settle into a train seat and let someone else do the 'driving'.
First stop: Leipzig
Leipzig is well worth the trip from Berlin and, for me, a lovely place to ease into a European itinerary. Its compact center makes it easy to explore on foot, wandering between historic squares, shopping passages, and cafés without feeling you need to rush from one landmark to the next. There’s plenty of history behind those streets, too. Johann Sebastian Bach spent 27 years working here, and St. Thomas Church, where he served as cantor and is buried, is one of the city’s most meaningful stops. Goethe studied in Leipzig, and his visits to Auerbachs Keller inspired its appearance in Faust, giving even a restaurant visit a literary connection. But you don’t need to be a classical music enthusiast or have read Goethe to enjoy spending a couple of days here. Dresden is another popular choice from Berlin, and its architecture makes it a stunning city, but my personal preference is Leipzig. That mix of history, café life, and a lively university city makes it somewhere you can enjoy simply being, as well as sightseeing.
For somewhere to stay, I recommend the Steigenberger Icon Grandhotel Handelshof, a beautiful historic hotel right in the center of Leipzig, with the main sights on your doorstep and the train station about a ten-minute walk away. To get your bearings, a 1.5-hour guided walking tour is a lovely introduction to the city, and you can prebook through Expedia.
Next Stop: Berlin
Berlin is truly one of my favorite cities. It has been since I was a kid, and these days I visit around four times a year. Yes, I have plenty of friends there and roots that run deep, so I might be a little biased, but it’s a city I never tire of returning to. There’s always something new to discover, alongside familiar places that make arriving feel like coming home.
Berlin’s history is impossible to ignore, and it shouldn’t be. What I find meaningful is the way the city confronts its darkest chapters through remembrance and education, with a visible commitment to protecting the freedoms that were once denied. Taking time to understand that history is an important part of experiencing Berlin, but so is seeing the creative, diverse city it is today.
There’s so much to see, do, and learn, from museums and galleries to a food scene that can take you from a döner kebab to a memorable dinner worth dressing up for. You can spend a morning exploring Museum Island, an afternoon wandering the courtyards around Hackescher Markt, and an evening catching up over drinks in Schöneberg. There are leafy parks, walks along the Spree, and neighborhoods with completely different personalities. But what I love most is the feeling that you can simply be yourself. Whatever your style, whoever you love, Berlin often feels like a place where no one needs you to explain yourself.
For a first visit, these are three places I’d make time for:
Visit the Reichstag dome. The glass dome above Germany’s parliament offers wonderful views across Berlin, and the audio guide gives context to the buildings below. Admission is free, but you need to register and receive confirmation before your visit, so don’t simply turn up at the entrance expecting to go inside. Book through the official Bundestag website and bring your original photo ID.
Walk from the Brandenburg Gate to the Holocaust Memorial. Seeing the Brandenburg Gate in person is one of those moments when you really feel you’ve arrived in Berlin. A short walk away, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe deserves time and reflection, making this an important introduction to the city beyond its postcard views.
Explore the East Side Gallery. This surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall, covered in murals, brings together two things that define Berlin: its history and its creative spirit. Take your time walking along it, then continue exploring the surrounding Friedrichshain neighborhood.
For somewhere to stay, I recommend Telegraphenamt in Mitte, where the former Imperial Telegraph Office has been transformed into a beautifully designed hotel with historic character and a location close to Museum Island and Hackescher Markt. We’ve shared more about our stay, including our room and those balcony views of the TV Tower, in our Telegraphenamt Berlin blog.
Getting around Berlin is wonderfully straightforward on the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams, and buses, with the BVG Fahrinfo app handling route planning and ticket purchases, including a handy 24-hour ticket that runs from its activation time. You can also buy tickets at station machines, but remember to stamp any paper ticket that needs validation before your first journey and make sure mobile tickets are active before boarding: there are no station ticket barriers, but inspectors carry out spot checks, and traveling without a valid ticket can cost you a hefty fine.
Next City: Hamburg, The Pearl of The North
Hamburg, meine Perle. “My pearl,” as the affectionate German phrase goes, and it doesn’t take long to see why. From Berlin, I took the ICE, Germany’s high-speed train, which makes this an easy next stop: direct services between the main stations take around two hours, depending on the departure you choose. For me, the train is the simplest way to make this journey, with time to settle into your seat before arriving right in the heart of Hamburg. Again, the train can be booked all withing the DB app.
So why visit? Hamburg brings a completely different side of Germany to this itinerary, with its maritime history, handsome waterfront buildings, and a cityscape shaped by the Elbe, the Alster lakes, and canals. Water is such a big part of the experience here, whether you’re watching ships at the harbor, walking beside the Alster, or crossing bridges between the red-brick warehouses of the Speicherstadt. It’s a city that rewards leaving yourself time to wander.
There’s plenty to build a few days around, too. The historic Speicherstadt and neighboring HafenCity take you from old trading warehouses to contemporary architecture, with the striking Elbphilharmonie concert hall overlooking the water. Add in boat trips, shopping around Jungfernstieg, and a food scene that gives you every excuse to stop along the way, and Hamburg easily earns its place on the route. It has the culture and variety of a major city, but there’s something about spending so much of your time beside the water that makes a stay here feel like a change of pace.
One of Hamburg’s most iconic spots is the Wasserschloss, tucked between two canals in the historic Speicherstadt. It’s spectacular by day, but even more so after dark, when the lights and reflections give the whole scene a different atmosphere. Head to the Poggenmühlenbrücke for that classic view, then take your time strolling through the surrounding streets and across the bridges. This is an area worth exploring slowly, with plenty of reasons to stop and pull out your camera.
From here, work your way through the Speicherstadt toward the Elbphilharmonie, the striking concert hall with its wave-like glass roof overlooking the harbor. It’s all comfortably walkable, and the changing architecture along the way is part of the appeal. Give yourself time to enjoy the waterfront rather than heading straight from one photo stop to the next.
One of my favorite things about getting around Hamburg is that an hvv day ticket covering the relevant zones also includes the public harbor ferries. From the pier beside the Elbphilharmonie, take ferry 72 to Landungsbrücken, then switch to ferry 62 toward Finkenwerder for a longer journey along the Elbe. Along the way, you’ll pass the Fischmarkt area, Dockland, and the waterfront around Övelgönne, with views across to the working port, cranes, and passing ships. Check departures in the hvv app, find a spot outside if the weather allows, and enjoy seeing Hamburg from the water. With commuters and visitors sharing the ride, it’s also a lovely opportunity to people-watch and get a feeling for everyday life in the city.
When I’m in Hamburg, I always take a stroll before dinner through the Hanseviertel and the surrounding shopping streets, making my way toward Neuer Wall and the Alsterarkaden. There’s everything from smaller boutiques to designer stores, but even if you’re only window-shopping, the canals, bridges, and elegant buildings make this a lovely part of the city to explore. The white arches of the Alsterarkaden run alongside the water, with views toward the Rathaus, Hamburg’s wonderfully grand city hall. From there, I like to wander across to Rathausmarkt and take in the building’s ornate façade before heading off to dinner. Go in the late afternoon if you want to browse inside the shops, then linger as the evening lights start reflecting on the water.
Honeybee Breakfast on Grindelallee turned out to be my favorite brunch spot in Germany on this trip. I think part of the appeal was finding somewhere completely new, because I’m very much a creature of habit and tend to return to the same places when I’m back in a familiar city.
This was a very welcome break from that routine. I opted for a chicken sandwich and loved it enough that I’m already looking forward to going back. They also make their own breads and pastries, with cinnamon rolls from the in-house bakery providing another very good reason to visit. There’s plenty of choice if your brunch preferences run sweeter, including pancakes and French toast, alongside vegetarian and vegan options.
For somewhere to stay in Hamburg, my recommendations are the Renaissance Hamburg Hotel or NYX Hotel Hamburg, depending on the kind of stay you’re after. The Renaissance has two things going for it straight away: a wonderfully central location and a historic building with plenty of character. Set in the former Broschek publishing house, it puts you close to the Hanseviertel, Neuer Wall, and the Alster, making it a convenient base for exploring on foot. Those pre-dinner shopping strolls are practically on your doorstep. It’s the one I’d lean toward for a first visit if you want to be right among the central sights, shops, and restaurants.
For something a little more colorful and playful, take a look at NYX Hotel Hamburg. Its bold interiors, artwork by Hamburg artists, and bar with a pool table give it a more informal feel. It’s in Hammerbrook, a little outside the main sightseeing and shopping area, but the nearby S-Bahn makes getting around straightforward. Some room categories also offer water views, which is a lovely detail in a city so shaped by its canals.
Let's catch a plane to Amsterdam
From Hamburg, I flew to Amsterdam for the next part of my trip. You can also make this journey by train, with the fastest connections taking around five hours and 15 minutes, depending on your departure and connections. It’s an option if you’d like to keep traveling by rail, but this time I opted to fly.
The Netherlands has a special place in my heart. I studied Germanic Languages and spent time studying in Groningen, and I loved my time living there. Any opportunity to return and catch up with old friends is one I’m very happy to take, but it’s also the Dutch way of life that keeps drawing me back. I’ve always appreciated the directness, the humor, and the importance of making time to sit together over a coffee or a drink. There’s a Dutch word, gezellig, that captures something of that warm, sociable feeling, and an afternoon catching up with friends is exactly where I find it.
Amsterdam is a wonderful place to experience a little of that for yourself. The tall, narrow canal houses, decorative gables, and rows of buildings leaning at slightly different angles give the city so much character before you’ve even stepped inside a museum. Then there are the canals and bridges, which make a simple walk take considerably longer than planned because apparently I need a photograph from every single one. Exploring the Jordaan or browsing the shops around the Nine Streets is as much a part of the appeal as visiting the bigger sights.
And those sights are worth making time for. On this visit, I stopped by the Moco Museum to enjoy the Banksy exhibition, followed by a canal boat tour with a friend, some wine, and cheese. Art, a catch-up, and Amsterdam from the water made for a pretty lovely way to spend the day. There’s something about seeing those canal houses and bridges from a boat that gives you a whole new appreciation for the city, even when you’ve walked past them countless times.
For first time visitors to Amsterdam, of course the Anne Frank House will most likely be number number one on your list but this needs to be booked well in advance. It usually sells out months ahead of time. If this is on your list, you can prebook tickets here.
My favorite property to stay at when in town is The Pulitzer. It feels so connected to everything I enjoy about the city. Set across 25 restored canal houses from the 17th and 18th centuries, it gives you the chance to stay inside the architecture you’ve spent the day admiring. The interiors bring together historic details, color, and contemporary design, with rooms that vary in layout and character because of the buildings themselves. It feels luxurious, but there’s a playfulness to it that suits Amsterdam.
The location is another big part of the appeal, right in the Nine Streets with the Jordaan on your doorstep. It’s a lovely base for heading out on foot, browsing little shops, stopping for coffee, and inevitably taking another photograph of a canal. The tucked-away gardens also offer a peaceful place to pause when you want a break from exploring. For me, that combination of character, comfort, and being in a neighborhood I want to spend time in makes the Pulitzer somewhere I’m always happy to return to.
And off to the final stop of this trip: Paris, the city of light and love
After a couple of days in Amsterdam, it was time to jump on the Eurostar and head to Paris. This is one of those journeys that shows just how manageable a trip across several European countries can be: board at Amsterdam Centraal, settle into your seat, and arrive at Paris Gare du Nord around three and a half hours later. It’s a direct service, so there’s no changing trains or hauling your suitcase between platforms along the way. You simply travel through Belgium and onward into France while the scenery passes outside your window.
For me, traveling between city centers is a big part of the appeal. There’s no airport transfer at either end, and the journey gives you a few hours to read, have something to eat, or just enjoy sitting down after all that walking in Amsterdam. Book your ticket ahead and give yourself time to find your platform and carriage without rushing. You can leave Amsterdam after breakfast and still have much of the afternoon to enjoy Paris, which makes adding another country feel surprisingly straightforward. And on this trip, I had a particularly good reason to be excited about arriving: a date with Céline Dion.
I arrived in Paris the afternoon before the show for a two-night stay, meeting up with a friend to see Céline Dion together. We stayed at Hôtel de Crillon, one of my favorite hotels in Paris and a special property for what was already a very special trip. There’s something about its grand architecture and beautiful interiors that makes arriving feel like an occasion in itself. If ever there was an excuse to make a little more of a stay in Paris, this was mine.
The location is a big part of the appeal, overlooking Place de la Concorde with the Tuileries Gardens just across the square and the Champs-Élysées close by. From here, you can stroll through the gardens toward the Louvre or head in the opposite direction along the Champs-Élysées toward the Arc de Triomphe. The Arc is roughly two kilometers away, so allow around 30 minutes on foot, depending on how often you stop along the way. The Eiffel Tower is approximately three kilometers away, making it a longer walk of around 40 to 45 minutes, with the option of following the Seine for much of the route. For a short visit, it’s a wonderful base for enjoying Paris on foot while having somewhere equally memorable to return to at the end of the day.
One of my go-to places to eat in Paris is Le Relais de l’Entrecôte. Yes, it’s certainly popular with tourists, and it’s also a favorite with our boys when we visit as a family, although this time they were back home. The simple menu is a big part of the appeal: salad, steak, and fries, with that sauce bringing everything together. There’s no lengthy menu to work through, just a meal I’m always happy to come back for. They don’t take reservations, so expect to join a line, particularly at the busiest lunch and dinner times. Getting there before opening is a sensible idea, although you probably won’t be the only person with that plan. The line can be up to 2 hours so be warned.
And then there are the pastries, because I can’t imagine coming to Paris and not making room for something sweet. Cédric Grolet’s creations are particularly tempting, especially the intricate pastries designed to look like pieces of fruit. They’re a splurge, but if you’ve been admiring them online, a trip to Paris is a pretty good excuse to see what all the fuss is about.
Between meals, leave yourself time to explore, whether that means a museum, a cruise along the Seine, or simply walking until a café persuades you to stop. For the experiences you really want to include, booking ahead makes it much easier to plan your days, especially on a short stay like this one. The Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Musée d’Orsay are popular for good reason, but turning up without a plan can mean spending valuable time in line or finding that your preferred entry times are unavailable. Where offered, a timed-entry ticket lets you organize the rest of your day around a confirmed visit and can save you joining the ticket-buying queue. You’ll still need to allow time for security and any entry lines, so don’t assume that “skip the line” means walking straight inside. The same thinking applies to a Seine cruise or guided tour, particularly if you have your heart set on a sunset departure or a particular experience. Wherever I travel to, I like to have a few things booked and leave room between them for wandering, lunch, and whatever catches my eye along the way. I’ve linked a selection of Paris activities you can prebook, so you can spend more of your trip enjoying the city and less of it figuring out what’s still available.
Two weeks, three countries, and plenty of time to enjoy being there. That’s what I wanted to share with this trip: how easily you can connect different parts of Europe and enjoy a variety of cities within one vacation. You can make a shorter trip work just as well by choosing a few stops from this route. It’s about finding a combination that suits your time and interests, with room for sightseeing, catching up with friends, and sitting down somewhere lovely without watching the clock.
The trains are a big part of what makes this possible, so don’t let an unfamiliar system or a different language put you off. With routes and tickets on your phone and stations in the heart of the cities, getting from one place to the next can be a straightforward part of your day. I hope this gives you a few ideas for your own trip, whether you follow the route from Germany through the Netherlands to France or use it as a starting point. These are places I love returning to, and being able to enjoy several of them in one visit is part of what keeps bringing me back.
