How to Travel by High-Speed Train from Amsterdam to Paris
Seated and about to depart Amsterdam Centraal
So, you want to travel by high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris, but you aren’t sure how to? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! I recently visited Amsterdam (you can read all about that trip here) and then continued on to Paris via train, and in this post, I am going to share everything that I learned about the Amsterdam-Paris rail route with you.
How do you buy a ticket?
The high-speed train that runs between Amsterdam and Paris is operated by Thalys, and you can purchase a ticket over at their website. Tickets can be bought up to four months in advance, but as noted on Thalys’ website, there are instances in which that can be reduced to three months. I recommend buying your ticket as early as possible to ensure that you are able to secure a ticket for the day and time that you desire.
How much does a ticket cost?
The price of a ticket varies depending upon a number of factors, including fare type, date, and time. An adult, standard-fare ticket currently starts at €35, but this rate is subject to change. For the most up-to-date pricing information, visit Thalys’ website.
What departure station do I select when booking my ticket?
You can board the train at either Amsterdam Centraal Station or Schiphol Airport. I opted for Amsterdam Centraal, as that was closer to where I was staying.
What arrival station do I select when booking my ticket?
Unless you want to go to Charles de Gaulle Airport or Disneyland Paris, you will select Paris Nord when booking your ticket. Paris Nord, or Gare du Nord, is located in the heart of Paris.
I am booking two tickets, and when I click into Seating Preferences and select ‘next to,’ it requires me to enter car and seat numbers. What do I put?
When my husband and I were booking our tickets, we ran into this precise situation. We wanted to sit next to one another, but we were at a complete loss as to what to put in the car and seat number fields. We ended up changing our seating preference from ‘next to’ to ‘no preference’ and then clicked through to the next page, where we were asked to enter our names and emails. After entering that information and proceeding to the next page, we were shown our seat numbers, which were located next to one another. We were then able to pay for our tickets and complete the transaction. Hopefully, this strategy will also work for you, but if it does not, you can try reaching out to Thalys’ customer support.
How long is the train ride?
The train ride is approximately three hours.
Is the train from Amsterdam to Paris direct?
No, the train makes several stops along the way, but it does not linger at any stop for too long.
Is there food on the train?
Yes, there is a dining car that sells snacks and beverages. You can also buy food before boarding the train at Amsterdam Centraal or Schiphol.
Is there a bathroom on the train?
Yes, there are bathrooms on the train.
What was my experience on the train like?
I had a very pleasant experience. The seats were comfortable and had decent leg room. There was also plenty of overhead storage for luggage; I had no trouble finding a spot for my suitcase. It was a smooth, enjoyable ride, and I much preferred it to being on an airplane. I would certainly take the Thalys train from Amsterdam to Paris again.
Any other helpful tidbits of information?
Be early; if you arrive on time, you are late. My train was scheduled to depart from Amsterdam Centraal at 9:15 AM, and it left at exactly 9:15 AM. So, to avoid missing your train, arrive at the train platform well ahead of your scheduled departure time.
Well, that does it for everything that I know about the high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me them in the comments section below!
