bowulf

Both my wife and I are Dutch, we always imagined that if we went to Europe together that we would go to Amsterdam. I have been to Germany (Bavaria, Regensberg) 20 years ago alone, but for our 25th anniversary, we are finally going back. It being King's day in Amsterdam 3 days after we leave I am worried about crowds. I would welcome any comments or suggestions for our itinerary:

Itinerary #1 -- Car Trip
April 20th: Arrive in Amsterdam (Rental Car one-way to Munich)
- Museums, tour Amsterdam, practice my old college Dutch, perhaps see Dutch friends
April 23: Cologne (1 day)
April 24: Heidelberg (2 days) - Castles (especially Castle Eltz)
April 26: Rothenberg ob der Tauber (1 day)
April 27-29: Munch (3 days)
A couple more days stay perhaps possible, so if there are any major towns or suggestions to stay longer in a town, I'd love to hear it.

-or-
Itinerary #2 -- Europe Capitals
April 20-23 - Amsterdam (poss. 4 days)
April 23-26 - Flight to Berlin (poss. 4 days)
April 26-29 - ICE Train to Prague

We are somewhat independent travelers, so the idea of the rental car on the Autobahn is attractive with 1-2 hour drives between towns of Itinerary #1. I would not be opposed to taking the train and its ease.

JamesEaston

Both plans sound good. It depends completely on whether you would prefer to see Berlin and Prague, or a drive through Germany stopping at different cities. Again, either one is reasonable so pick

RTW1

Kings day in AMS is a one day event, no need to worry about crowds..... It's busy most of the time, but not that you will be bothered.

Sjoerd

Welcome back!

April is a busy month for tourism in Amsterdam, but you will not have problems - King's Day itself is very busy (but the last 5 years or so the crowds have been ok), and if you leave 3 days before King's Day all will be normal.

Please remember to rent the car only when you leave Amsterdam - the car is a hassle in the city and parking is very expensive. Amsterdam is relatively small and a reasonably fit person can walk everywhere, otherwise just take a tram.

Your road trip sounds good. Amsterdam to Cologne is approximately 2.5 hours drive.

bowulf

We are really looking forward to it. Thanks for the reassurance about Amsterdam not being over-crowded earlier in the week. I am sure Monday will be nuts downtown by our hotel, but we'll be long gone by then. Thanks again!

Nanook

Hope you have time to visit Keukenhof. The tulips should be in full bloom then. It's not far by train, then a bus from the train station to the gardens.

bowulf

Coming from also the land of Tulip Festivals (Pella and Orange City, IA), one of the reasons I wanted to go in April was to see the Tulips in bloom in the Netherlands. I will definitely try to make it Keukenhof to see them. I also wanted to go to Aalsmeer Flower market probably on the same daytrip.

How difficult is the Amsterdam trams to get around?

t0t1t2

The Amsterdam trams are fairly easy to get around.

http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/local/a...blic-transport

http://9292.nl/en

bthotugigem05

Is mid-March too early to see the tulips?

jaymar01

Keukenhof Park opens March 20, 2015

http://www.keukenhof.nl/en/

VickiSoCal

Keukenhof looks like a must do for us. Looks like we need to take bus to airport (from Leidseplein area) then bus to Keukenhof. With four people is this most efficient/cost effective way of getting there?

gracall

Just a quick note on your alternative route, no ICE from Berlin to Prague. You'd be on EC (CD) trains.

tingadingling

Itinerary 1 sounds terrific. Don't drive in Amsterdam, get the tourist day card valid for 24 or 48 hours and you can take the tram or bus everywhere. Very walkable city. In Germany, you might want to consider Baden Baden for 1/2 to 1 day for the spa complex. Amazing experience; they have couple days where you can your wife can go in together, I think on alternate days of the week, and the town itself is quite quaint for its cafes and shopping though probably for the more well-heeled, as evidenced by the infamous casino.