Combo Trips: Amsterdam and Brussels

Amsterdam and Brussels are great destinations to choose for a “combo trip”. Both cities are amazing to visit on their own. For clients looking for double the fun, they can also be combined. These two special cities are close enough to each other to making visiting both easy.

Amsterdam is packed with historical sites and unforgettable architecture. Famous for its romantic canals, bridges, bicycles – and of course tulips! This diverse city has something to offer for every type of traveler.

Brussels is the ultimate European city. As the headquarters to the EU (European Union) and NATO it is often referred to as The Capital of Europe. It is an international metropolis – a mosaic of languages, cultures and traditions. Besides the amazing and varied architecture, there are also so many tourist sites – and even over 80 museums!

Our destination portfolio has expanded quite a bit in the past several years. Amsterdam and Brussels are both newer destinations for our clients. However, they are old favorites for Bella Vita. We’ve been planning holidays here for years now, and we cannot wait to show you what we can do here!

Tours in Amsterdam: Historical city center walking tour

Amsterdam is world-famous for its canals, locks, and bridges. Also, the historical and beautiful architecture. The ‘canal district’ is where these can be seen. Designed in the early 1600s, this unique area would obtain its final shape by the 1660s. An international and accommodating city that forms the splendid embodiment of what has been named ‘The Golden Age’. The architecture of the elegant town homes that were built in the residential sections of the ‘New Town’, continues to impress up to today.

Today, your private local guide will meet you to explain some of these beautiful spots and the history of the city.

To start, there will be a guided tour at Willet-Holthuysen, built in 1687. After, since Amsterdam is an excellent walking city, strolling down the paved streets, your guide will point out famous landmarks such as the Royal Palace on Dam Square. After, the former civic orphanage on Kalverstraat and the neighboring Begijnhof. To continue, the Sephardic synagogue in the former Jewish district and the former home of Rembrandt van Rijn. All are within walking distance of most hotels.

Finally, the De Jordaan or de Pijp neighborhoods are lovely areas. We can easily incorporate them into your tour. Both are home to famous street markets and offer plentiful opportunities for a lunch or coffee break. The Nine Street district with its local stores and boutiques is also interesting to walk through.

Amsterdam hotel: Conservatorium Hotel

Conservatorium Hotel is located in the heart of Amsterdam’s famous fashion and museum district. Conveniently located adjacent to the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, and P.C. Hooftstraat, a street of luxury retail shops. With eight floors and 129 rooms and suites, the hotel offers spacious deluxe rooms up to a penthouse suite. They feature state-of-the-art technology and large bathrooms. Access to the hotel’s 10,764-square-foot spa is complimentary. Finally, exquisite food is offered in the Brasserie and Lounge, in the Asian-inspired restaurant, Taiko, and in Taiko Bar.

Amsterdam Hotel: De L’Europe

De L’Europe is arguably the perfect way to connect with Amsterdam. It is more than just a hotel; it is symbol of what makes the historic city an attractive destination. Centrally located and overlooking the Amstel River, De L’Europe is perfectly located for visiting Amsterdam’s most heralded sites. A place where local icons of art, style and luxury come together under one roof. Here, browse around for a book at the library-like shop MENDO, find a nice gift at The Wunderkammer or sit down at Trattoria Graziella for an authentic Italian culinary feast.

Brussels tour: City walking tour

This morning, meet your English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby. Here, we will start an interesting walking tour of the historical city center in Brussels.

Shopping in the distinctive fashion boutiques, lingering over a warm waffle or a beer, people watching from a street cafe, or picking up a unique antique on the Sablon – Brussels is a city you can call your own.

The tour incorporates all the main sights of Brussels. The Grand Place, world famous Market Square, in the heart of medieval Brussels with its incomparable City Hall and precious Guild Houses. The Galleries St Hubert, the “Ilôt Sacré”, Cathedral of St Michel, the “Mont des Arts” with all his museums, the Royal district with the Royal Square and Palace, the Sablon district with countless antique dealer shops, the remains of the 12th Century City Wall and last but not least Manneken-Pis.

During the tour, there will be a private workshop chocolate praline making at famous chocolatier Neuhaus.

Day Trip to Bruges

Today you’ll leave Brussels for a guided walking tour of Bruges, a splendid medieval city and one of Belgium’s crown jewels and world heritage site.

Known as the Venice of the North, because of its peaceful canals, Bruges is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It was a justified motive that prompted UNESCO in 2000 to include the entire historical city center on the World Heritage list. The current city boundaries still coincide exactly with those of the medieval city center. The spaces and structures that were so typical of Bruges in the past have been preserved. Walking along the maze of winding cobbled alleys and romantic canals, you imagine yourself to be in medieval times. The wealth of museums is a striking image of this city’s stirring history.

In no other European city are the feel and the look of medieval times so present! Here, the town authorities have done their utmost to preserve the medieval-looking image of the city and a stroll through the tiny medieval streets is always an enchanting experience.

The city boasts dozens of excellent restaurants, trendy lunch addresses, fun coffee bars and a local population famed for its love of the good life and its high levels of expectation! Bruges is famous for chocolate and lace. On every corner in the city center you will find shops relating to this. After the tour, you’ll return to Brussels in the evening.

Amsterdam and Brussels, combo trip

We hope you enjoyed these suggestions for a combo trip to Amsterdam and Brussels. These are great cities to pair together on a trip to this part of Europe.

Contact us to start planning your tailor made vacation today!