Departing from

AMS 🇳🇱

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

A city of canals and bikes

Amsterdam is a small, low-lying capital built around a ring of canals, where bikes outnumber cars and most of the center is flat and easy to walk. It is compact enough to cross by bicycle or tram in minutes, and the historic core is the main draw. The city sits below sea level, kept dry by centuries of engineering, and spreads into newer districts and the wider Randstad beyond. In the center, a car is rarely worth the trouble.

Arriving at

LHR 🇬🇧

London Heathrow Airport

A capital of villages

London is a vast, low-slung capital that grew by absorbing villages, so it reads as dozens of distinct neighborhoods rather than one grid. The Underground and a dense rail network make it a transit city at heart; in the center a car is a liability, discouraged by narrow streets and the congestion charge. The landmarks and business districts cluster in the middle, but much of London is the high streets and parks further out. It is large, so crossing town takes longer than the map suggests.

City access

Heathrow is the main airport, west of London and among the busiest in Europe. It has a fast dedicated rail link to the center and is also on the Underground, so reaching the city without a car is straightforward. Allow extra time at peak hours, both on the roads and through its large terminals.