I'm going for a short-term study abroad from after Thanksgiving until right before Christmas. Most of our time is spent in Amsterdam but we will be in
Paris for a week and Brussels for 4 days. Anyone have any places that I HAVE to go see or do???
Going to Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris. Any recommendations?
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 rosieposie788 |
Going to Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris. Any recommendations? |
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Posts: 240 (11/02/2009 12:57 AM) |
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 Patti972 |
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Posts: 13038 (11/02/2009 1:01 AM) |
I have no recommendations so my response will be of no value to you (
 ) but --
I'm INCREDIBLY JEALOUS. That's awesome! |
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ucbearcat21 |
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Posts: 1104 (11/02/2009 1:19 AM) |
I've been to Brussels and Paris and loved them both.
Brussels: Get an authentic Belgian waffle. I am obsessed! Also, go find Mannekin Pis, because you will laugh. Sample the beers. I didn't get to do a lot of sightseeing because I was also on a short study abroad trip so we were on company visits a lot of our time in Brussels. If you decide to take a day trip, go to Bruges for a few hours. It's an adorable little town, and I could be totally off, but I feel like it was only 40 min-1hr by train. I looooooved it there. Paris: Depends on what you like to do, but there is plenty! You'll have plenty of time to see the big things ie, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, etc. I got to see all of the big things, and I was there for only about a day and a half. We also took a train to Versailles, but be prepared to spend money and wait if you want to go inside. My favorite part of Paris is the area of Montmartre, right around Sacre Couer. Its a cute little area, full of shops etc and I absolutely love it. I'd definitely recommend taking time to just get lost and explore the off the beaten path side streets. You'll probably find some neat stuff, and I prefer that kind of sightseeing. One other recc for getting around- try the BateauBus- It's a water taxi that cost only about 8 euro for the whole day, and you can take it up and down the Seine to places like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, etc. Have fun, I am so jealous! I want to go back! |
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ucbearcat21 |
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Posts: 1105 (11/02/2009 1:19 AM) |
I've been to Brussels and Paris and loved them both.
Brussels: Get an authentic Belgian waffle. I am obsessed! Also, go find Mannekin Pis, because you will laugh. Sample the beers. I didn't get to do a lot of sightseeing because I was also on a short study abroad trip so we were on company visits a lot of our time in Brussels. If you decide to take a day trip, go to Bruges for a few hours. It's an adorable little town, and I could be totally off, but I feel like it was only 40 min-1hr by train. I looooooved it there. Paris: Depends on what you like to do, but there is plenty! You'll have plenty of time to see the big things ie, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, etc. I got to see all of the big things, and I was there for only about a day and a half. We also took a train to Versailles, but be prepared to spend money and wait if you want to go inside. My favorite part of Paris is the area of Montmartre, right around Sacre Couer. Its a cute little area, full of shops etc and I absolutely love it. I'd definitely recommend taking time to just get lost and explore the off the beaten path side streets. You'll probably find some neat stuff, and I prefer that kind of sightseeing. One other recc for getting around- try the BateauBus- It's a water taxi that cost only about 8 euro for the whole day, and you can take it up and down the Seine to places like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, etc. Have fun, I am so jealous! I want to go back! |
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AVFswimmin |
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Posts: 4000 (11/02/2009 1:23 AM) |
You must spend an evening in the Latin Quarter in Paris
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AliasSpy |
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Posts: 11347 (11/02/2009 4:43 PM) |
Agreed with all the suggestions above.
As for Amsterdam, I can't remember the exact company so you may want to google around for it, but there's a bar that gives free boat rides/tours through the canals. It's actually a small boat, so there's about six people and it's just very intimate and worthwhile, imo. |
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KellySD |
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Posts: 884 (11/02/2009 4:45 PM) |
Why Brussels? Go to Prague instead.
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blindpilot |
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Posts: 1631 (11/02/2009 4:45 PM) |
In Paris go to Angelicas for their real hot chocolate. Basically a jug of melted chocolate. You will feel sick afterwards.
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celebtrashwhore |
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Posts: 7709 (11/02/2009 4:50 PM) |
I can PM you my guide to amsterdam if you'd like.
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NotLiza |
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Posts: 1151 (11/02/2009 4:55 PM) |
KellySD wrote:Well I can see the logic in going: Amsterdam-Brussels-Paris. It's one straight line from North to South with only a couple of hours by train between those cities. Prague is wayyyy further and in a totally different direction. You'd need to take a plane to get there and then a bus and whatnot to get to the actual city center. |
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une reine |
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Posts: 1121 (11/02/2009 5:04 PM) |
Don't watch Taken.
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JellyRoll2 |
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Posts: 17539 (11/02/2009 5:18 PM) |
Woo! Have fun and thanks for asking this question! I'm heading to Paris, London and Venice in about 5 weeks and I'm super excited. This info about
Paris helps me too.
 Thanks all!
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MissyJG |
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Posts: 3653 (11/02/2009 5:21 PM) |
I think you're really gonna like Amsterdam. I've been there like only twice but the Dutch are really friendly and they all speak english. Don't
hassitate to approach someone for help there!
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thingsthatgob00m |
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Posts: 17223 (11/02/2009 5:25 PM) |
ucbearcat21 wrote:Montmartre is a beautiful area! It's fun to walk up the steps to the Sacré Coeur aswell, and go inside and have a look for yourself, it's a really stunning cathedral. If you go to Notre Dame, you should walk to Ile Saint Louis afterwards - it's a little island just to the east of where Notre Dame is - and find an ice cream shop called Berthillon (look it up, it's pretty famous). They have the BEST ice cream and sorbets there, omg. I don't normally recommend this kind of thing but it will be so worth it, I promise  Plus the area around there is really quaint with cobbled pavements and little shops, just a nice atmosphere really. But trust me, go to the ice cream
place.
If you like shopping and walking, you should take the Metro to Madelaine station, take a stroll down Rue Royale (mostly designer shops but it's fun to look at the windows), NOT missing La Durée - best macaroons EVER - keep going down it until you reach Place de la Concorde. From there you can walk through the Tuleries gardens, visit the Louvre nearby, go to Place Vendome (where the Ritz is), walk along Rue Saint-Honoré (another shopping street).....yeah basically there's a lot to do in that area! Hope that was helpful to you! If you have any preferences or questions, let me know and I'd be happy to give you some more info. I'm half French and go to Paris often to visit family so I know it pretty well =)
Edited By: thingsthatgob00m
11/02/2009 5:30 PM.
Edited 1 times.
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digitaldiva16 |
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Posts: 9485 (11/02/2009 5:38 PM) |
In Paris, go to the top of the Tour Montparnasse. Check out the catacombs, visit the Louvre, St. Chappelle (not far from Notre Dame). Visit the Galleries
Lafayette.
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rosieposie788 |
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Posts: 241 (11/02/2009 5:42 PM) |
thanks everyone, I'm gonna write this all down!
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rosieposie788 |
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Posts: 242 (11/02/2009 5:46 PM) |
celebtrashwhore wrote: that would be great! |
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