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Italy, Tuscany, Florence, the city of Florence with the Duomo and the wisteria flowers in the Bardini garden.

1 month in Europe: Amsterdam to Florence

Explore the Benelux, France, Switzerland and Italy

 

Get ready to explore Europe's most iconic cities with this 1-month rail adventure. You'll be visiting the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Italy, combining big city thrills with day trips to lesser-explored towns and attractions.

From Amsterdam to Florence map
 
Click here or on the map to view this route in our Trip Planner.

Cities visited in this trip:

 

1. Amsterdam, the Netherlands

2. Brussels, Belgium

3. Paris, France

4. Bern, Switzerland

5. Florence, Italy

 

For this itinerary we recommend:

  • Interrail Pass: Global Pass
  • Travel days: 7 days within 1 month
Amsterdam

Days 1 - 5: Amsterdam, the Netherlands

 

  • Enjoy the sights and sounds of Amsterdam by walking or cycling the canals. You can also take a boat tour!
  • Visit Anne Frank’s house to learn more about World War II and her remarkable tale.
  • Take your pick of Amsterdam's famous art museums - most popular are the Rijksmuseum, Rembrandt House and Van Gogh Museum.
Arriving by plane? The quickest way to reach Amsterdam city centre from Schiphol Airport is by train.

Day trips from Amsterdam

  1. Travel by train to Rotterdam, a unique Dutch city with one of the largest ports in the world. There are reservation-free trains departing every few minutes, and the return journey takes only 80 minutes. 

  2. Spend a day exploring The Hague & Scheveningen, a beautiful region that’s also home to the Dutch parliament. There are direct trains throughout the day, and a return journey takes less than 1 hour.

  3. Head to the vibrant town of Maastricht for its medieval architecture, quaint old town, and bustling cultural scene. There are reservation-free trains leaving every 30 minutes, and a round trip will take you 5 hours.

Brussels, Belgium

Days 6 - 11: Brussels, Belgium

 
  • Have a night out in Brussels, visiting a traditional chocolate shop, sampling a few Belgian beers, and treating yourself to some waffles.
  • Explore the beautiful Grand Place and the old town on foot.
  • Visit the Atomium - an iconic steel structure in the shape of an atom, built for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair
The quickest connection between Amsterdam to Brussels is only 2 hours and requires advance reservation. If you’re looking to avoid reservations, there are plenty of options throughout the day that take approximately 3 hours.

Day trips from Brussels

  1. Take a train to the port city of Antwerp - the beautiful Flemish Renaissance architecture makes the trip worthwhile. There are direct InterCity trains throughout the day, and the journey time is just 2 hours.

  2. Spend the day exploring the medieval towns of Ghent & Bruges. Both are within easy reach of Brussels and can be combined into a fascinating day trip. The total journey time should be under 2 hours.

Paris

Days 12 - 17: Paris, France

 

  • Check out the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur Basilica and countless other  architectural highlights.

  • Watch the city from the water on a hop-on, hop-off boat cruise along the Seine river. 

  • Dedicate at least half a day to an iconic museum - consider the Louvre, Centre Pompidou, and the Musée d’Orsay.

High-speed trains from Brussels to Paris leave from Brussels Midi station and require an advance reservation. The journey time between the two cities is just 90 minutes.

Day trips from Paris

  1. The bustling university town of Lille, in northern France, is a beautiful place to explore on a day trip from Paris. If you choose to go by TGV train you’ll need to reserve a seat, but the travel time is only 2.5 hours.

  2. Spend a day exploring the beautiful palace and gardens of Versailles. There are trains to and from Versailles throughout the day with some journey times as short as 15 minutes each way.

  3. ​Strasbourg is a fascinating town in eastern France that benefits from French and German influences. It’s an easy day trip from the capital - the TGV and ICE trains require reservations, but they will get you there and back in 3.5 hours.

Bern

Days 18 - 22: Bern, Switzerland

 

  • Visit Bärengraben, or Bear Pit, on the eastern reaches of the city, to see the animals from which Bern derives its name.

  • Head to the surrounding mountains to enjoy a scenic walk or challenging hike.

  • Explore the Aare river by kayak or by raft.

Most trains from Paris to Bern leave from Paris Est Station. The high-speed train requires advance reservations and changes in Strasbourg and Basel, but the route is scenic and the total journey time is under 4.5 hours.

Day trips from Bern

  1. Visit the beautiful lakeside city of Lucerne - its incredible medieval architecture, covered bridges, and towering mountains are a great day trip away from the capital. A return trip with direct trains takes about 2 hours.

  2. Interlaken is an easy day trip from Bern, and it’s an adventure sports enthusiast’s dream. There are boat cruises, and connections to the top of the Jungfrau mountain. The return trip should take you less than 2 hours.

  3. Head to the famous city of Geneva to take in the views of the lake and its surroundings. There are direct trains that serve up incredible scenery, and the return journey is typically under 4 hours.

Florence

Days 23 - 28: Florence, Italy

 

  • Get a combo ticket to Giotto's Campanile and the Florence Cathedral, and be sure to climb both for the best views of the city.

  • Spend some time exploring one of the world’s best art museums, the Uffizi Gallery.

  • Walk across the iconic Ponte Vecchio bridge, and keep going to Piazzale Michelangelo for more incredible panoramic views.

Most trains between Bern and Florence take up to 7 hours, but the fastest options leave at 7:34 AM and 1:34 PM respectively. These trains require an advance reservation and have a single stopover in Milan - the total journey time is 5.5 hours.

Day trips from Florence

  1. Spend a day out of town to get that iconic shot in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa - there are direct trains from Florence leaving every few minutes, and the return journey takes less than 2 hours.

  2. Be sure to visit Rome, if only for a day. In just a few hours you can explore the city’s most famous landmarks, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Trains are departing all day long and the return journey is only 3 hours.

Want to travel this route?

 

The best Interrail Pass for this itinerary is the 7 days within 1 month Global Pass. This will allow you to travel between the 5 main cities and add 3 more of our suggested day trips by train.

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