Trains from Paris to Amsterdam

Travelling from Paris to Amsterdam is much easier and faster than we first thought it would be. Planning for a week in Europe starting in Paris and then heading further afield, Amsterdam became a serious option with Thalys high-speed trains taking around 3 hours 20 minutes to whisk us from Gare du Nord to Amsterdam Centraal. It seemed like a no-brainer, so off we went.

Thalys have 3 classes of travel onboard and we found out reservations were mandatory as this will guarantee a seat at time of booking. Whilst each class includes things such as WiFi, for a 3-hour trip we opted for the “Premium” ticket (or First Class to most travellers). Included in the price of the ticket is an at-seat hot meal service and drinks. Deciding to get two good full days in Amsterdam we opted for one of the early morning services and enjoyed breakfast on the train.

Gare du Nord is a hive of activity and there’s plenty at the station to keep you occupied, from cafes, shops or people watching. There’s always something going on here. We found the platform information easy to find as its displayed on the large screens around the station. Thalys trains are easy to spot as well, their deep red colour and slick styling means they stand out among all the other trains.

Before boarding at Gare du Nord its worth noting that there’s a small security check, although not long I’d recommend arriving at least 20 minutes before departure to give yourself enough time to pass security, board and get settled.

Once on-board the time begins to fly and as you gaze out the window as Paris passes you by before the countryside begins to surround you, and everything turns green.

As a direct train service to Amsterdam Centraal there was no need to change trains and only a few stops along the way. As you head north of Paris the first calling point was Lille, a brief stop and then on to Belgium and the capital, Brussels. Again, we’re soon flying along and heading into the Netherlands via Antwerp and Rotterdam. Rotterdam is a great place to see something a little unusual out of a train window. Just outside the station, Rotterdam Zoo straddles the railway on either side. Here we caught a glimpse of some of the animals living there and lots of storks nesting on top of telegraph poles.

In just over 3 hours 20 minutes we’re arriving at Amsterdam Centraal and you can’t help but notice the stunning Gothic meets Renaissance Revival architecture – look up as you walk out through the ticket hall, the ceilings are impressive! Before you head off down the canals and towards the heart of the city, consider heading across the lake on one of the free ferries. You will head across the IJ where you can get a truly panoramic view of Amsterdam and its surroundings from the viewing platform on top of A’DAM lookout.

Amsterdam is a terrific city and one we’ll return to in the future, hopefully by train!

About Richard

Richard is one of our trusted, hand-picked travel writers. The information for this article was recorded first-hand, based on his own genuine experience of the journey.