How to do the Eurostar's five big stars: It's 30 years since the first train left London for Paris. Now you can travel direct to four other great cities for a thrilling short break

Eurostar 's cross-Channel service has been a roaring success and, after 30 years, it now carries more than 18 million people a year, with some trains seating close to 900 passengers. It's easy to see why.

Boarding the sleek carriages is invariably far more pleasant than taking to the skies. The seats are comfortable, the staff cheery and there is a welcome air of peace and civility as you glide smoothly across the flat fields of northern Europe.

While checking in can at times be chaotic, with queues for security and crowded departure halls, you are able to take lots of luggage and there are none of those pesky liquids restrictions. Riding the rails is also better for the planet, of course.

So, here's our guide to enjoying a break in the five cities with a direct service from London St Pancras International. Fares to all destinations are from £78 return ( eurostar.com ).

ARTY AMSTERDAM

Eurostar added this popular Dutch city in 2018 and there are now three trains a day. A new, enlarged departure lounge will open at Amsterdam Centraal early next year – until then passengers have to change in Brussels on the return leg. This winter the city's inner canals will be illuminated at night with artworks for the Amsterdam Light Festival (November 28 – January 19, amsterdamlightfestival.com ), with walks and boat tours available ( iamsterdam.com ).

JOURNEY TIME: 3h 52m

HOW TO DO IT: Stroll through the Rijksmuseum's Gallery of Honour which is festooned with masterpieces by Rembrandt and Vermeer (timed entry, rijksmuseum.nl ), then take a '100 Highlights' canal cruise from the nearby pier ( stromma.com ).

The picturesque Nine Streets ( de9straatjes.nl ) are packed with tempting shops and places to eat including Proeflokaal van Wees which distils its own jenever (Dutch gin) with tastings available ( proeflokaalvanwees.nl ).

When hunger calls, Foodhallen is a former tram depot with buzzing bars and 19 street-food stands serving everything from bitterballen (Dutch croquettes) to dim sum and French patisserie ( foodhallen.nl ).

STAY: The canal-facing Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam hotel has Mondrian-inspired rooms and is just a short walk from the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. Doubles from £101, room only ( avanihotels.com ).

OUR TIP: Buy a City Card that parcels up museum entry, public transport, bike rental and a canal cruise, from €60 for 24 hours ( iamsterdam.com/citycard ).

HOP OVER TO LILLE

This charming northern French city is close enough for a day trip, perhaps for a slap-up lunch of moules frites and biere blonde combined with shopping at the sparkling Christmas market in Place Rihour (November 20 – December 29, noel-a-lille.com ). Stay a night or two and you'll have time to discover its flamboyant 17th-century buildings, abundant museums and seductive cake and chocolate shops ( lilletourism.com ).

JOURNEY TIME: 1h 22m

HOW TO DO IT: Vieux Lille, the cobblestoned historic heart, is just a 15-minute walk from Lille-Europe station and packed with small, high-quality shops.

For a view over the city ascend the 341ft belfry in the Hotel de Ville (reservation required, lilletourism.com ) and don't miss the enchanting Hospice de la Comtesse, a hospital built in 1237 that is decorated with delightful blue and white hand-painted tiles ( mhc.lille.fr ).

In the evening have a drink in the lively bars of rue Royale then dine at reasonably priced Club Marot, which serves creative dishes such as smoked haddock with foie gras ( clubmarot.fr ).

STAY: Le Chat Qui Dort has smart rental apartments in five locations including options for families. Studios from £80 ( lechatquidort.fr ).

OUR TIP: Most museums close on Tuesday. Bradt has just published an updated city guide (£14.99, bradtguides.com ).

DISCOVER BRUSSELS

The secret to visiting the sprawling capital of both Belgium and the European Union is to home in on a particular area. For most that means the World Heritage-listed Grand-Place framed with magnificent guildhouses – while there, drop in on the nearby Fashion and Lace Museum ( fashionandlacemuseum.brussels ). Another rewarding theme is art nouveau centred on the St Gilles and Ixelles neighbourhoods, with the sensuous home of star architect Victor Horta an essential stop ( hortamuseum.be ).

JOURNEY TIME: 1h 53m

HOW TO DO IT: Rise above the tourist hullabaloo by booking lunch at The Brasserie on the first floor of the old Stock Exchange, which serves Belgian staples such as chicken vol-au-vent paired with regional beers ( thebrasserie.be ). In the evening enjoy a surrealist cocktail at Bar Magritte in Hotel Amigo ( roccofortehotels.com ) then dine on old school favourites like roast venison with juniper sauce at wood-panelled Les Brigittines ( lesbrigittines.com ) Info: visit.brussels .

STAY: NH Hotels has seven contemporary four-star hotels in the city centre including the zestful nhow Brussels Bloom next to the Jardin Botanique. Doubles from £95, room only ( nh-hotels.com ).

OUR TIP: Book a Eurostar ticket to Brussels and you can continue to any rail destination in the country at no extra cost. Transfers are valid 24 hours, allowing time to see some sights while en route to cities such as Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp.

PROCEED TO PARIS

After the success of the Summer Olympics, the French capital will be back in the news with the partial re-opening of Notre-Dame cathedral on December 7 following a five-year restoration ( notredamedeparis.fr ). Get festive at the Christmas market in the Jardin des Tuileries, which opens November 16, while the New Year sales start January 8, 2025.

JOURNEY TIME: 2h 16m

HOW TO DO IT: For a cultural hit with free admission visit the permanent collection at the Petit Palais, which includes works by Rubens, Courbet, Monet and Cezanne ( petitpalais.paris.fr ). If the weather's poor, download a self-guided walk through the city's historic arcades and hidden passages ( gpsmycity.com ). Book dinner at Brasserie Vagenende in Saint-Germain-des-Pres which has original decor from 1904 and a classic menu with dishes such as skate wing with capers ( vagenende.com ). Info: parisjetaime.com .

STAY: Right by Gare du Nord and the foodie delights of Marche Saint-Quentin, Hotel Mademoiselle is a friendly four-star hotel with elegant rooms and a small spa. Doubles from £117 with breakfast ( hotel-mademoiselle-paris.com ).

OUR TIP: Buy Metro tickets in advance from the cafe on board Eurostar, saving time on arrival. For a longer stay, get a Navigo Easy card (€2 from newsagents) then download the Bonjour RATP app which has live data on bus and Metro services ( ratp.fr ).

EXPLORE ROTTERDAM

Flattened in the Second World War, this dynamic port is well worth discovering, with its eye-catching modern buildings and intriguing mesh of harbours and waterways. A chief reason to get off the train here is Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, a pot-shaped warehouse covered in mirrored plates where artworks from Breughel to Picasso are displayed on innovative 'crystal easels' that let you see their backs. Don't miss the 360-degree city views from the forested roof terrace ( boijmans.nl/en/depot ). Info: rotterdam.info

JOURNEY TIME: 3h 13m

HOW TO DO IT: Explore the city centre by bike on a guided tour that pairs tastings of local snacks like raw herring and poffertjes (small pancakes) with stops at key sights such as Piet Blom's amusingly wonky Cube Houses ( bikeandbite.nl ). Book dinner at De Matroos en Het Meisje, a cosy restaurant with no menu – instead you sup on what the kitchen feels is good that day, which could be brill with fermented honey followed by slow-cooked pork with cabbage ( dematroosenhetmeisje.nl ).

STAY: Built in 1901, the former harbourside headquarters of the Holland-America shipping line is now the highly atmospheric Hotel New York complete with vintage posters and leather luggage. Doubles from £111, room only ( hotelnewyork.com ).