How to Travel from Amsterdam to Paris by Train
The high-speed Eurostar train is the fastest and most comfortable way to travel from Amsterdam to Paris.
This guide shows how you can book train tickets and what the journey between the Dutch and French capital cities is like.
From Amsterdam to Paris by train
On a typical day, there are at least ten direct high-speed Eurostar trains running between Amsterdam and Paris, with departures every hour for most of the day.
These high-speed trains were formerly known as Thalys – and you may still see some old travel guidebooks or outdated websites referring to them as such – although they are now branded Eurostar after Thalys merged with Eurostar in 2022.
It’s best to book the Amsterdam-Paris Eurostar train through Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), the Dutch national railway company.
After completing your booking, you will be sent an e-ticket, which you can simply show to the conductor on board.
Ticket prices are variable and are usually cheapest when booked in advance.
There is no special boarding procedure for the Eurostar train from Amsterdam to Paris – simply turn up at the station on time, check which platform your train departs from, head there, and board the train.
Eurostar train at Paris Gare du Nord. ©Paliparan
Route
The Amsterdam to Paris Eurostar train takes around three-and-a-half hours to complete the journey between the two capital cities.
In the Dutch capital, the train departs from Amsterdam Centraal, the city’s main railway station, also abbreviated as Amsterdam CS on station signs and timetables.
In Paris, the Eurostar train uses Gare du Nord.
As the train runs from city centre to city centre, it is often faster than flying, as an Amsterdam-Paris flight with Air France, KLM, or Transavia will usually take longer once you factor in travel to and from the airports and check-in cut-off times.
Between Amsterdam and Paris, the Eurostar also calls at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam (Rotterdam Centraal), Antwerp (Antwerpen Centraal), and Brussels South (Bruxelles Midi).
A high-speed Eurostar train. ©AndyBTravels
On board the Eurostar train
The Amsterdam to Paris Eurostar train has second class seats in a 2+2 configuration and first class seats in a more spacious 1+2 configuration, with more comfortable seats in a coach that is usually quieter.
A ‘Standard’ ticket gets you a second class seat, while a ‘Plus’ ticket gives you a first class seat without any additional service.
A ‘Premier’ ticket also gives you a first class seat but includes a meal and drink served at your seat.
With a ‘Premier’ ticket, you also gain access to a lounge before departure in Paris or Amsterdam.
On the Amsterdam-Paris Eurostar, there is also a café-bar coach where you can buy snacks and drinks from vending machines, with a trolley service usually in operation as well.
Of course, you are free to bring your own food and drinks on board the train.
Conclusion
Taking the high-speed Eurostar train is the obvious choice for travelling from Amsterdam to Paris, as it is faster than flying from city centre to city centre and certainly far more comfortable than making the journey by bus.
Eurostar operates over ten departures a day between Amsterdam and Paris, making it the best option for travelling from the Netherlands to France.
