Hello /r/travel,

My SO and I am planning to be in Belgium and Paris around NYE time this coming year. Right now we have booked airline, lodging, and the train ride between Brussels and Paris. So, now we need to fill up our time with fun activities.

General Notes:

• For Paris, we are planning to purchase the Paris Museum Pass.

• For transit around Paris, we plan to purchase transit passes (whatever makes sense for each day) when we are there.

• For transit around Belgium, we plan to purchase a transit pass there.

• I have already booked lodging for Paris (12/30 - 1/4) and Brussels (1/4 - 1/7).

• I've listed a few items for certain days. With the exception of a few things, we would like to have MORE planned than LESS... we don't mind eliminating things for certain days.

• One of the days in Paris we might do a free walking tour.

Saturday 12/30: Brussels to Paris

• Flight arrives in Brussels. Take train from Brussels to Paris and arrive in Paris in the evening. Check into lodging.

Sunday 12/31: Paris - Chateau

• Right now we are torn between going to Versailles or another Chateau (Fountainbleau is one we were thinking)... So we will likely do either one of these. Our plan is to leave very early for either one of these.

• We plan to keep our NYE celebrations very low key... So, we are planning to cook in (place we booked has kitchen), maybe walk around the area we are staying in, and maybe go to a bar or two for a drink... but we will not be disappointed going to bed before midnight :P

Monday 1/1: Paris

• This seems like it will be the most difficult day to plan because lots of things are shut down NY day. So, we will likely hit up whatever museums (via Paris Museum Pass) we can find that are open... or just try to see notable landmarks that can be viewed from the outside...

• We hope to do a lot of our walking-around-the-city this day. We don't really sleep in so we're hoping to be up relatively early (before many of the party-goers are up) to see the city less crowded.

• Might do Montparnasse Viewing Deck.

• We're open to any other suggestions for this day!

Tuesday 1/2: Paris

• There's a chance we might do one of the Chateaus this day instead of Sunday 12/31.

• Might do the Catacombes; getting there as early as we can.

• Otherwise, some museums we are considering for this day: Musee d'Orsay, des Invalides, Notre-Dame, Musee Marmottan-Monet (SO likes Monet), and Sainte-Chapelle.

Wednesday 1/3: Paris

• This day will likely have the same itinerary as Tuesday 1/2 so we can catch any museums we missed and/or really want to go to.

• One exception is that we plan to go to the Lourve in the afternoon/evening this day as it is open late on Wednesdays.

Thursday 1/4: Paris to Brussels

• Our train leaves early on this day for Brussels so we will be getting there in the morning and hopefully dropping our stuff off at our next lodging.

• Our plan is to see all there is to see in Brussels this day; I've heard it can easily be done in a day.

• So, the main things we plan to see: Grand Place area, Triumphal Arch, Palais de Bruxelles, maybe some museums (army museum, art museum), etc.

• We're open to suggestions for this day.

Friday 1/5: Bruges/Ghent Day Trip

• I have been to Bruges but my SO has not. I'm thinking we will go to either Bruges/Ghent for the day or split the day between the two. I don't think we will have a shortage of things to do however this day turns out.

Saturday 1/6: Not sure?? Maybe Antwerp? Maybe Bruges/Ghent again?

• I figure we will not want to stay in Brussels for this day so I have considered Bruges/Ghent again or maybe Antwerp. Open to suggestions!

Sunday 1/7: fly out of Brussels early

Some General Questions I have:

1. What are your thoughts on going to a different Chateau than Versailles? We're considering Fountainbleau.

2. One thing I'm considering filling our last full day in Brussels with is visiting a Trappist brewery. Or maybe some kind of beer tour? Any experience with this?