Europe 7-Day Itinerary: Paris, London & Amsterdam — The Classic Golden Triangle (2026)
The iconic Paris–London–Amsterdam Eurotrip in 7 days: Eurostar connections, where to stay, Louvre vs. British Museum vs. Rijksmuseum, canal boats, double-decker buses, and the best food in three capitals.
Europe 7-Day Itinerary: Paris → London → Amsterdam
This is Europe’s most-booked first-trip itinerary — three iconic capitals connected by high-speed rail, each with a completely different character. Paris for romance and art, London for history and diversity, Amsterdam for canals and cycling freedom.
Transport: Eurostar Paris–London (2h15), Eurostar London–Brussels then Thalys to Amsterdam, or direct Eurostar London–Amsterdam (3h40, new service)
Best rail pass: Eurail Global Pass 3-day (covers all legs)
Day 1–2: Paris
Day 1: The Classic Paris
Morning: Eiffel Tower — take the stairs to the second floor (no queue, excellent views) or book the summit lift online months in advance. Visit before 9am to beat crowds.
Afternoon: Musée du Louvre — the world’s most-visited museum (9 million annual visitors). You cannot see everything in one visit — make a shortlist. Essentials: Venus de Milo (Greek wing), Winged Victory (top of Daru Staircase), Mona Lisa (Salle des États — be prepared for crowds). Allow 2.5 hours minimum.
Evening: Walk across Pont Alexandre III (Paris’s most ornate bridge, 1900) to the Seine banks. Aperitivo at a café near Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Dinner in Le Marais — Paris’s medieval Jewish quarter, now the city’s most vibrant dining neighborhood. L’As du Fallafel on rue des Rosiers for the queue-worthy falafel.
Day 2: Deeper Paris
Morning: Montmartre — take the funicular up to Sacré-Cœur Basilica (1914, Byzantine-Romanesque). The surrounding streets: Place du Tertre (artists), Moulin Rouge (1889), and the vine-covered passages are Paris at its most romantic. Come early for the view before tour groups.
Afternoon: Musée d’Orsay — the Impressionist collection in a converted 1900 railway station. Monet’s Water Lilies series, Van Gogh’s Bedroom in Arles, Renoir’s Bal du moulin de la Galette. Better than the Louvre for many visitors.
Evening: Seine river cruise (Bateaux Mouches, 1hr) at dusk — Paris’s golden-hour light on Haussmann façades and the Eiffel Tower. Then champagne at a rooftop bar.
Day 2 food: Croissant breakfast at any neighborhood boulangerie (arrive 7:30am for fresh-from-oven), lunch at a brasserie (steak-frites + glass of Bordeaux), crêpe nutella from a street cart at 3pm.
Day 3–4: London
Take the Eurostar from Paris Gare du Nord to London St. Pancras: 2h15, from €50 if booked ahead. Check-in at your London hotel.
Day 3: London’s Icons
Morning: British Museum (free entry) — the world’s oldest national museum (1753). Rosetta Stone, Elgin Marbles, Egyptian Mummies, Lewis Chessmen. Plan 2–3 hours minimum.
Afternoon: Tower of London (Historic Royal Palace, 1078) — Crown Jewels (genuinely spectacular), the ravens, and the history of every royal execution in British history. Walk across Tower Bridge (1894, not London Bridge) for the full Thames view.
Evening: Borough Market for London’s best food market (open until 5pm Thurs–Sat). Then cross the Millennium Bridge to Tate Modern — free and open until 10pm on Fridays. Dinner in Shoreditch for London’s best multicultural restaurant scene.
Day 4: The Other London
Morning: Notting Hill — Portobello Road Market on Saturdays (antiques, vintage, street food). Hyde Park for morning jog or pedalo on the Serpentine. Harrods in Knightsbridge if you must.
Afternoon: Westminster — Houses of Parliament, Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower, currently undergoing restoration), Westminster Abbey (1,000 years of royal history, £29 entry), Buckingham Palace. Walk through St. James’s Park to see the pelicans.
Evening: West End theater — the world’s best. Book 3–6 months ahead for Hamilton, Les Misérables, or Phantom of the Opera at the proper venues. Covent Garden for street performers after. Pub in Soho for the classic London evening.
Day 5–7: Amsterdam
Take the Eurostar London to Amsterdam (3h40, direct from St. Pancras). Or London–Brussels (2h) then Thalys to Amsterdam (1h40).
Day 5: Amsterdam’s Core
Morning: Rijksmuseum — the Netherlands’ greatest museum, housing Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and Vermeer’s The Milkmaid. Pre-book online (€22.50, timed entry). Allow 2–3 hours.
Afternoon: Anne Frank House — the hidden annex where Anne Frank wrote her diary 1942–1944. Deeply moving and essential. Book weeks in advance — it sells out. Then walk the Jordaan district — Amsterdam’s most beautiful neighborhood, 17th-century canal houses, independent boutiques, brown cafés (bruine kroegen).
Evening: Canal boat tour (1hr, €15) at dusk — the seven bridges view on Reguliersgracht is spectacular. Dinner in the Jordaan — raw herring with onions from a street cart is mandatory (try Frens Haringhandel).
Day 6: Day Trip — Keukenhof or Haarlem
Option A: Keukenhof Gardens (March–May only) — 7 million tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths in 32 hectares. The world’s most spectacular seasonal garden. 40-minute bus from Leiden Centraal (itself 15 min from Amsterdam by train). Worth the trip if timing aligns.
Option B: Haarlem (year-round, 20 min by train) — Frans Hals Museum (Haarlem School Dutch Golden Age paintings), the Grote Kerk, and a more authentic Dutch city atmosphere than tourist-dense Amsterdam.
Day 7: Amsterdam’s Depths + Departure
Morning: Van Gogh Museum — the world’s most comprehensive Van Gogh collection: 200 paintings, 500 drawings. Pre-book essential. Walk to the I Amsterdam sign in Museumplein for the obligatory photo.
Afternoon: Rent a bicycle (€10/day from multiple rental shops near Centraal) and cycle through Vondelpark, the famous park where Amsterdammers sunbathe, picnic, and play chess. Optional: NEMO Science Museum for families.
Departure: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is 20 minutes by direct train from Centraal Station.
Practical Information
When to Do This Trip
April–May (best — Paris tulips, mild weather, pre-summer crowds) or September–October (good weather, thinner crowds). July–August is doable but all three cities are packed — book everything weeks in advance.
Accommodation Budget
| City | Budget/night | Mid-range/night | Luxury/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | €80–120 | €150–250 | €350+ |
| London | €90–130 | €160–280 | €400+ |
| Amsterdam | €70–110 | €130–220 | €300+ |
Food Budget
- Paris: €8–12 breakfast, €15–25 lunch, €25–50 dinner
- London: £10–15 breakfast, £15–25 lunch, £30–60 dinner
- Amsterdam: €5–10 breakfast, €12–20 lunch, €20–40 dinner
FAQ
Is 7 days enough for Paris + London + Amsterdam? Seven days is a sprint — you’ll see the highlights but not the depth of any one city. Ideally: 3 days Paris, 3 days London, 3 days Amsterdam (9 days total) gives a more relaxed pace. If you have only 7 days, allocate 3 Paris + 2 London + 2 Amsterdam, and accept you’ll have a reason to return.
How far in advance should I book the Eurostar? Book as soon as your dates are confirmed — best prices disappear 3–4 months before travel. Paris–London from €50, London–Amsterdam from €35 if caught early. On the day of travel: €200+ each way.
Do I need cash in Amsterdam? Amsterdam is nearly entirely card-payment based — even street markets and small cafés accept contactless. Carry €20–30 in cash for canal boat tips, markets, and herring stands. Paris and London similarly card-friendly, but always carry some cash for emergencies.