Three Cities, One Love Story: Our Springtime Euro Adventure

Amsterdam, Netherlands - April 2023

There’s something undeniably magical about springtime in Europe — the flowers are blooming, the weather is almost behaving, and the croissants somehow taste 37% better. In April of 2023, my boyfriend (now husband!!), Francesco and I decided to fully lean into the magic by planning a whirlwind trip across Hamburg, Amsterdam, and Paris. It was equal parts romantic, chaotic, and hilarious. Let’s just say, if this trip were a movie, it would be part travel documentary, part rom-com, and part sitcom.

Stop 1: Hamburg, Germany

Our journey began in the beautiful port city of Hamburg, where we met up after being long distance for a little while. There’s something really special about seeing someone you love walk toward you in a hotel lobby after 3 days of plane delays, sketchy cabs & lack of sleep — it feels like a scene out of a movie, minus the dramatic soundtrack.

My first tired encounter in Hamburg came via a cab driver insistent that I use an ATM—despite me waving perfectly good cash at him. Cue me panic-clutching my luggage at the hotel entrance, frantically trying to exchange money, certain he’d drive off with my belongings. Plot twist: he happily accepted USD from my hero of a boyfriend. Once we actually reunited, Hamburg won us over immediately. We stumbled upon the city’s annual fairground event—think twinkling lights, carnival rides, and the kind of churros that make you forget about awkward currency exchanges. Pro tip: Check local event calendars when planning your trip. These neighborhood festivals give you a taste of real city life that no guidebook can replicate. We also discovered a speakeasy tucked away in the city (Hamburg has a surprisingly vibrant cocktail scene), which became our blueprint for seeking out hidden bars in every city.

Lastly, we cannot deny that a part of us wanted to try a hamburger in Hamburg. After all, Hamburg is truly credited with having some influence on the concept of hamburgers that all of us know so well. It only seemed right to experience a restaurant that truly tied together the city and the concept. So after some of my classic foodie researching, we landed on Peter Pane Burgergrill & Bar in Neustadt, tucked near Bleichenbrücke in the city center. It's a homegrown German burger concept, not an import, which felt like the right kind of full-circle: a German kitchen's own take on the sandwich the world named after their city. Our Hamburg experience then leads us onto our next stop: Amsterdam.

Stop 2: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Now time to jet set to Amsterdam. Of course, we do as the Europeans do and traveled between cities entirely by train, which sounds romantic until you’re wrestling four suitcases through narrow train aisles. I am still trying to convince Francesco & myself that I will pack lighter from now on. I was fortunate enough to have visited Amsterdam prior to this trip & had a list of the main hot spots. However, I was able to re connect with an old friend who happens to be from the Amsterdam area and thanks to her we got local intel on all the new buzz-worthy spots. The main unexpected highlight was catching a movie at a local Dutch cinema. The film was in English (most are), but the whole experience of sitting in a neighborhood theater with locals felt authentically Amsterdam. The other huge hit was a concept that was still new to America – food halls. Food halls are absolute gold mines for sampling local bites & providing so much variety it’s hard to decide.

Lastly, we had to add in one tourist item. We discovered that Amsterdam is crowned for inventing Heineken beer. Heineken has a unique brewery experience in the city. With the purchase of a ticket, we were able to get a full tour inside the brewery & see the brewing process. Additionally, they have a full rooftop experience that you can get a free pour & vibe to the music. Lastly, to commemorate the experience, you can customize a sealed Heineken beer bottle with names, symbols or whatever you like to make it special. We took part in this unique tidbit & we still have the bottle showcased on our shelf at home. Amsterdam delivered everything we hoped for—canals, bikes, food halls & more.

Stop 3: Paris, France

Paris. The city of light, love, and my biggest fashion miscalculation. Picture this: a sunny spring day, a romantic walk to Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur, and me in leather pants. Not breezy linen. Not flowy cotton. Leather. Pants. By the time we reached the basilica, I was approximately 200 degrees and questioning every life choice that led to this moment. Fashion tip from someone who learned the hard way: Spring in Europe means layers. The weather can shift from chilly morning to blazing afternoon. Leave the statement leather at home.

But Paris redeemed itself at Café de Flore, the Instagram-famous institution that somehow lives up to the hype. Their authentic hot chocolate is rich, decadent, and worth every euro—the kind that makes you understand why people write poetry about Parisian cafés. During our other Paris days, we had to ensure we crossed off the Parisian dream hot spots – Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Jardin du Luxembourg, and a night cruise on the Seine. You get to experience a lot more views on a river cruise and it was more magical at night with all the city lights and the sun setting. Before our trip came to a close, we found another phenomenal speakeasy (sensing a theme?) named Le Gatsby. It was truly charmed with a Gatsby theme & we felt like time wasn’t moving inside. Couples and groups perfectly crowding the aisles and corners, bartenders dressed in tuxedos, dimly lit booths, and patrons singing and dancing alongside the perfect speakeasy playlist. We couldn’t have dreamt up a better end to Europe.

The Takeaways

Spring in Europe delivered dreamy weather—mostly sunny and dry with flowers blooming everywhere and just enough rain to feel atmospheric. The trip was equal parts romantic getaway and foodie pilgrimage, with local experiences peppered throughout that made it feel less touristy and more like we’d borrowed someone’s good life for a week.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. Would I pack four suitcases and wear leather pants on a walking tour? Absolutely not. But that’s what makes the best stories, isn’t it?

Quick Hit List:

     Hamburg: Fairgrounds, Peter Pane, The Chug Club speakeasy, Tazzi Pizza

     Amsterdam: Dutch cinemas (English films!), Foodhallen, Heineken Brewery

     Paris: Café de Flore, Montmartre (in breathable clothing), Le Gatsby

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some very sensible linen pants to go pack for next time.

With gratitude and a good cup of coffee,

Teah