pbottino

Hello. I would like to plan a vacation to Amsterdam and Copenhagen Spring 2024.
Is there any advantage to flying into one or the other first?
Do you have any recommendations for hotels?
As I said in title, this is the first time I am planning a trip outside of the US and I don't know what I am doing LOL
My friend Mikki suggested I join this well traveled group, and I thank you in advance for your suggestions.
Patti

janisj

Welcome to Fodors -- no real difference which city you fly into. Most people would pick which ever gave them the best schedule or airfare or whatever is most important to them.

It is usually best to fly what is called open jaw. Often called 'multi-city' on airline websites. That is when you fly in to one city and home from the other.

And re hotels -- you'll need to give us some idea of your budget and what sort of properties you like

Jean

Can you fly into both cities from your "home" airport without a connection? I like to have the simpler/simplest transit, preferably with no connection, at the beginning of the trip.

If tulips (or other flowers) are on your sightseeing list, you should do some research on which weeks are the best bets.

Southam

Mulli-destination tickets are a favourite tactic so let me add some details. While there are different airports involved, the flights are all on one ticket. Do not try to patch the schedule together yourself with single bookings. Most on-line agencies have a multi-destination function that will do the work for you. Costs vary, but often on European runs the ticket will be about the same cost as a a simple round trip. That takes into consideration the saving on not returning to the initial arrival city. And the time saved can be substantial.

lavandula

If this is your first time planning an overseas trip I would certainly look at guidebooks. It may seem old-fashioned but you will get a much better idea of the lie of the land in Amsterdam and Copenhagen, prices of hotels, things to do, etc. Amsterdam is a good place to start, lots of English there, likewise Copenhagen.

Many North American Fodorites start with Rick Steves' books if they are just starting off.

How will you get between both cities? Plane? Train? If train, will you stop off somewhere (maybe Hamburg?)?

Lavandula

Darren91

Amsterdam Schiphol airport is the fourth biggest airport in Europe in terms of passenger volume so I am guessing it has more frequent flights to the US airports than his Danish counterpart.

bilboburgler

I'd take the train between Copenhagen and Amsterdam
seat61.com gives good advice

menachem

It also has the longest lines for check in and security going back, because Schiphol is chronically under staff capacity. If it were me, I"d fly into Amsterdam and out of Copenhagen.

menachem

12 hours on a train and a full day out of your itinerary. There used to be a nighttrain, which was the better option. But: Schiphol and its lines.

bilboburgler

You are right, but
Hiring a car, as proposed by one writer, hits you with different country fees.
Flying helps destroy the thing you are going to see.
Flying, you get up early, you travel to the airport, you wait, you wait, you fly, you get to the other end, you catch a bus/train into town. Train you catch a train with a picnic.

menachem

Yes I know all that. I stopped flying 5 years ago. The better option would be not to move between Amsterdam and Copenhagen, but replan for Hamburg, or Berlin or some such. Or, take the train to Delfzijl and Eemsmond and take a direct ferry to Krisiansand if Scandinavia is a must.