If you’re dreaming of a European trip that blends history, art, food, and walkable neighborhoods, this 10-day London, Paris, and Amsterdam itinerary brings the essentials together in a way that actually works.
These are big cities, but they’re also compact at the center, which makes them ideal for a multi-stop trip if you plan it right.
Thanks to fast, efficient train connections, you can move between cities without losing entire days to travel.
The pace is deliberate rather than frantic, giving you time to see the major sights, explore a few neighborhoods, and still sit down for a proper meal at the end of the day—without feeling like you’re constantly packing and unpacking.
Itinerary Snapshot
Here’s a quick glance of you can see in 10 days:
In lieu of individual tickets, you may want to book city sightseeing passes, which include:
London
• London Pass – covers major attractions
Paris
• Paris Museum Pass – museum and monument entry only (Louvre, Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, etc.)
• Paris Pass – bundles the Museum Pass with extras and transit
Amsterdam
• Amsterdam City Card – museums, public transport, and extras
10 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in London + Westminster Icons
Arrive in London and get settled, then dive right into the city’s landmarks.
Start at Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben.
At Westminster Abbey, you’ll get a mega dose of British history. The abbey is a cathedral, a coronation church, and a royal mausoleum. Be sure to book a timed entry ticket in advance for this site!
The Houses of Parliament are another UNESCO site, and the seat of British government since 1016.
Stroll past Whitehall and Buckingham Palace before winding up in Covent Garden. This is where you’ll find cobbled streets, theaters, quirky boutiques, and great food.
In the evening, enjoy dinner in the West End and catch a show for a classic London experience.
Day 2: South Bank & Tower of London
Begin your day at St. Paul’s Cathedral, climbing to the Golden Gallery for panoramic views.
Cross Millennium Bridge to explore the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe. Then grab lunch at Borough Market.
In the afternoon, visit the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. The tower is one of my favorite historic sites in London. And you’ll need a timed entry ticket to visit.
The tower is 900 years of history. And blood. You’ll be immersed in the English monarchs — the Edwards, the Richards, and the Henrys. You can take the free 45 minute Yeoman Warder tour or book a tour of your own.
End your day with sunset views from the Shard or Sky Garden. For free views, head to the Garden at 120.
Day 3: Museums & Royal London
Spend the morning exploring the British Museum and British Library.
The British Museum houses over 8 million ancient objects, artifacts, and antiquities, including the infamous Elgin Marbles from Athens.
After lunch, head to Kensington for the Victoria & Albert Museum and a stroll through Kensington Gardens.
The V&A is a fantastic decorative arts and design museum. Its collection is vast, spanning fashion, furniture, sculptures, textiles, ceramics, and other objects from Europe, Asia, the Islamic world, and beyond.
Kensington is a beautiful neighborhood in the West End. It’s known for its elegant townhouses and leafy streets and mews.
If you want to see where the young royals once lived, book a ticket to Kensington Palace. Set within Kensington Gardens, it has been the backdrop for stories of love, power, and intrigue
Spend your final evening in London shopping in Soho or Mayfair and enjoying a great dinner in one of these city neighborhoods.
Soho is one of London’s liveliest neighborhoods, long associated with nightlife, music, and counterculture. It’s a dense mix of theaters, bars, historic pubs, and restaurants, with an energy that runs late into the night.
Mayfair is more elegant and home to some of the finest historic pubs in London, like The Punch Bowl or the Grenadier.
Day 4: Eurostar to Paris + Half Day Sightseeing
Catch the Eurostar train from London to Paris in the morning. It takes about 2.5 hours, and leaves from St Pancras International Station.
Once you’ve checked into your hotel, keep your first afternoon light: stroll along the Seine, admire Notre Dame’s facade, and wander through Le Marais.
Notre Dame is now open of course. But you’ll have to book a ticket or guided tour to admire the restorations in person.
The Marais is one of my favorite Paris neighborhoods. It has old world charm and was untouched by the Haussmanian rebuilding frenzy of the 19th century.
You can wander medieval streets, shop in chic boutiques, or visit one of the unique small museums like the Carnavalet or the Picasso Museum.
The Carnavalet is free and explores the history of Paris. But you’ll need a timed entry ticket to see Picasso’s masterpieces.
End the evening with a bistro dinner in the Marais or in Saint-Germain. Saint-Germain is the best place to take a food tour in Paris. You may even get oysters!
Day 5: The Left Bank & Eiffel Tower
Today is all about the Left Bank.
Explore Saint-Germain and the Latin Quarter, stopping at the Pantheon and Luxembourg Gardens.
The Panthéon in Paris is a monumental neoclassical building that serves as France’s secular mausoleum, honoring the nation’s most revered figures beneath a vast domed interior inspired by ancient Rome.
After exploring it, stroll through the Latin Quarter, especially down the atmospheric Rue Moufftard.
In the afternoon, head back to the city center and visit the Musée d’Orsay and the Orangerie.
At the Orsay, you’ll find the Impressionists and plenty of Van Gogh paintings. At the Orangerie, you can see Monet’s late-in-life water lily canvases in specially built galleries.
>>> Click here to pre-book an Orsay ticket and tour
Time your visit to the Eiffel Tower for late afternoon or evening. Go up for sweeping views, then watch it sparkle on the hour after dark.
Day 6: Louvre, Champs-Élysées & Arc de Triomphe
Start the day at the Louvre, and go early. This is about seeing the building as much as the art: the medieval foundations, the long galleries, the way the palace unfolds room by room.
Focus on one or two sections rather than trying to “do” the museum. Even an hour or two here feels substantial if you’re selective.
When you leave, walk through the Palais Royal. It’s calmer, architectural, and very Parisian: arcades, formal gardens, and the quiet contrast to the Louvre’s scale. Be sure to admire the Colonnes du Buren, a conceptual art installation.
From there, continue into the Tuileries Gardens, where Paris slows down. This is a good moment to pause, people-watch, and take in the city’s central axis stretching west.
Head toward Place de la Concorde, once the site of the guillotine, now all openness and traffic and uneasy grandeur. From there, continue up the Champs-Élysées.
It’s not subtle, but it’s iconic, and the slow climb gives you a sense of Paris opening outward. If you need a break, duck onto one of the side streets rather than lingering too long on the main drag.
Finish at the Arc de Triomphe. The climb is worth it. From the top, you see the logic of Paris laid out below you: the radiating avenues, the skyline shifting from historic to modern.
End the day with something relaxed.
A food tour works well if you want structure and local context. A Seine river cruise gives you Paris at its most forgiving, especially at dusk
Or head to the 7th arrondissement for dinner, where the pace is calmer and the Eiffel Tower reminds you, occasionally, where you are.
Day 7: Île de la Cité & Montmartre
Begin on Île de la Cité with Sainte-Chapelle. Go in expecting color rather than scale. The upper chapel is all stained glass—walls dissolved into light. It still feels startling, even if you’ve seen photos.
Just next door, the Conciergerie pulls you back to earth. Its vast Gothic halls and prison cells, including Marie Antoinette’s, give the island its darker historical edge.
>>> Click here to pre-book a combo ticket for these sites
From there, cross over to Île Saint-Louis. It’s quieter, residential, and one of the few places in central Paris that still feels lived in. Stop at Berthillon for ice cream, then wander along the quais or down the narrow streets without much of a plan.
In the afternoon, sweep through the Marais again. This is where Paris layers itself rather than announcing itself.
Walk through Place des Vosges, still one of the city’s most perfectly proportioned squares, then drift through nearby streets lined with hôtels particuliers, small museums, and independent shops.
For your final evening, head up to Montmartre. See Sacré-Cœur at dusk, when the light softens and the city spreads out below you.
Wander through Place du Tertre, knowing it’s touristy but also part of the neighborhood’s long artistic mythology.
Settle in for dinner nearby, ideally somewhere slightly removed from the main square, and watch Paris light up below.
Day 8: Train to Amsterdam + Canals & Jordaan
Take a high-speed train from Paris to Amsterdam, which will take about 3.5 hours.
After checking into your hotel, start with Dam Square, the Royal Palace, and a walk along the canals.
Dam Square is one of Amsterdam’s busiest gathering places, a constant mix of protests, public events, and people-watching.
At its center stands the National Monument, a white stone obelisk commemorating Dutch victims of World War II.
Just off the square, the Royal Palace Amsterdam (still used for royal functions) can be visited for its grand interiors, including faux marble floors, chandeliers, sculptures, and historic paintings.
>>> Click here to pre-book a palace ticket
Then, visit the Anne Frank House.
The museum is built around the Secret Annex where Anne Frank hid from the Nazis for more than two years. It’s a quiet, symbolic place. Less about exhibition design than about standing inside a story the world already knows.
Tickets are in high demand and sell out months ahead. This is not a stop you can add last minute.
Have dinner in the Jordaan and enjoy an evening canal stroll. For the classic Dutch apple pie, head to Winkle 43 or Papeneiland.
Day 9: Museums & Neighborhoods
Dedicate the morning to art. Choose the Rijksmuseum for Dutch masters or the Van Gogh Museum for Post-Impressionism.
The Rijksmuseum is home to the greatest masterpieces of the Dutch Golden Age.
You’ll find seminal pieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals, and Jan Steen. There’s also a collection of Delft Pottery and the Cuyper Library to explore.
The Van Gogh Museum houses the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s artworks. There are over 200 paintings, hundreds of drawings, and personal letters.
The museum offers more than just famous images. It gives a powerful glimpse into Van Gogh’s life and mind.
Enjoy lunch around Museumplein or at Albert Cupyer Market in De Pijp (10 minutes away).
In the afternoon, take a canal cruise, explore the flower market, and browse boutiques in the Nine Streets.
Spend the evening with dinner along the canals, experience Amsterdam’s famous nightlife, or learn about brewing at the Heineken Experience.
Day 10: Final Morning in Amsterdam
On your last day, take it easy.
Wander through the Jordaan’s narrow streets, pop into cafes.
Or, if time allows and you want to see more, take a quick day trip. Here are the best and easiest options:
- Zaanse Schans (windmills and Dutch countryside views)
- Keukenhof Gardens (spring tulips)
- Haarlem (refined cousin of Amsterdam)
- Delft (tree-lined canals, Delft pottery & Vermeer)
If you want to see the tulips, be sure to book ahead. It’s very popular in spring!
Enjoy one final lunch or dinner before heading to the airport for your departure.
Travel Tips for This Itinerary
Getting Between Cities:
Take the Eurostar from London to Paris, and a high-speed train (like Thalys or Eurostar) from Paris to Amsterdam. Book in advance for the best fares.
Getting Around:
London
The underground (or “tube”) is the fastest way to cover distance. Buses are slower but great for seeing the city.
Use a contactless credit card or Apple Pay. No need for tickets or passes unless you’re staying longer. Black cabs are useful late at night, but pricey.
Paris
The metro is compact, frequent, and easy to use, especially for short hops. Combine it with walking; central Paris is very walkable. Buy single tickets or a carnet (bundle of 10). Taxis and Uber work well at night or when you’re tired.
Amsterdam
This is the easiest of the three cities to navigate. The center is small and flat.
Walking and trams cover almost everything. Buy a 24–72 hour GVB pass if you’ll use transit a lot. Or, you can tap in and tap out, just like London. No paper ticket needed.
Skip biking unless you’re confident. Locals ride fast and expect you to know the rules.
Avoid renting cars in any of these cities. Parking is miserable and unnecessary in all three cities.
Where to Stay:
Stay centrally in all three cities — Westminster/Covent Garden in London, the Marais or Left Bank in Paris, and the Jordaan in Amsterdam. This saves transit time and puts you in the heart of the action.
Here are some of my favorite hotels:
London: Rosewood London in Covent Garden, Claridge’s in Mayfair, Beaumont Hotel in Mayfair
Paris: Relais Christine in Saint Germain, Pavillon de la Reine in the Marais
Amsterdam: Rosewood Amsterdam, Hotel V Nesplein
I hope you’ve enjoyed my itinerary. You may find these related travel guides helpful:
- 3 days in London itinerary
- 5 days in London itinerary
- 2 days in Paris itinerary
- 5 days in Paris itinerary
- Hidden gems in Paris
- 1 day in Amsterdam itinerary
- 2 days in Amsterdam itinerary
- 1 week in Holland itinerary
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