Amsterdam to Paris travel is possible by high-speed train, plane or coach as well as car.
Paris is the capital of France, a major international city and popular tourist hub. It is located around 425km south-west from the Dutch capital Amsterdam.
Amsterdam to Paris travel overview |
[1] Amsterdam to Paris by Train
The Eurostar train (formerly Thalys) is without doubt the best way to travel Amsterdam-Paris or Paris-Amsterdam. This is our recommended choice when considering a combination of price, travel time, city centre convenience and luggage allowance.
Amsterdam-Paris tickets can be easily booked at the Trainline site here (multi-currencies) or at the local NS International site (euros) with one-way prices starting at just €35 (2nd class), €75 (1st class seat) or €165 (1st class seat+meal).
Amsterdam-Paris Rail Route
- The Amsterdam-Paris Eurostar journey takes around 3 hours 25 mins
- It travels on high-speed tracks in the Netherlands, Belgium and France at speeds up to 300km/h
- Convenience of departing and arriving in the city centres at Amsterdam Centraal station and Paris Gare du Nord station
- Stops en route are Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam, Antwerp and Brussels Zuid/Midi
- Eurostar runs up to 10x daily on the full Amsterdam-Paris route (slightly reduced weekend service)
Eurostar Train – Travel Classes
There are 3 classes of travel on the Eurostar: Standard, Plus and Premier.
On top of this there are 2 types of trains – the classic TGV unit and the newer ‘Ruby’ type trainsets with refurbished seating and interiors.
Eurostar Standard
- Standard is 2nd class seating (2-2 configuration)
- Food/drink can be purchased at the Eurostar Café bar or kiosk
- Free WiFi is available and seats have EU power outlets
- Standard fares cost €35-€180 for Amsterdam-Paris – cheapest available class
- Exchangeable up to 1 hour before departure (just pay the fare difference)
- Refundable up to 7 days before departure for €25/£25/$40
Eurostar Plus
- Plus is 1st class seating only (2-1 configuration)
- Food/drink can be purchased at the Eurostar Café bar or kiosk
- Free WiFi is available and seats have EU power outlets
- Plus fares cost €79-€185 for Amsterdam-Paris
- Exchangeable up to 1 hour before departure (just pay the fare difference)
- Refundable up to 7 days before departure for €25/£25/$40
Eurostar Premier
- Premier is 1st class seating (2-1 configuration)
- Gourmet meal and drinks (including champagne) served at your seat
- Free WiFi is available and seats have EU power outlets
- Premier fares cost €165-€235 for Amsterdam-Paris
- Exchangeable/refundable up to 48 hours after departure (no fee, just pay the fare difference)
- Lounge access available at Amsterdam Centraal (NS International lounge) and Paris Gare du Nord (Eurostar Premier lounge)
What is the luggage allowance on Eurostar for Amsterdam-Paris?
A great advantage of travelling by Eurostar train is that (unlike flying) you will not need to pay extra for bringing standard sized suitcases.
- Eurostar Standard and Plus fares permit 2 pieces of luggage (max 75cm long) plus 1 small daypack/handbag
- Eurostar Premier permits 3 pieces of luggage (max 75cm long) plus 1 small daypack/handbag.
- Children can bring 1 piece of luggage and 1 piece of hand luggage
- Pushchairs (strollers) and prams travel for free but must be folded away and stowed safely
There are no weight limits for luggage – however you must be able to carry them safely on and off the train.
Store them on the overhead luggage racks or at the special racks at each end of the carriage. You cannot block the aisles with any items.
- KLM charges €33 extra for a Standard fare over its Light fare for Amsterdam-Paris – which allows 1 checked bag and a seat assignment at check-in.
- This is almost the same as the cheapest €35 standalone Eurostar Amsterdam-Paris fare!
Who can get discounted travel on Eurostar?
Various age groups can get cheaper fares on Eurostar’s European routes:
- Children 0-3 travel free but do not get a seat assignment – they must sit on an adult’s lap
- Children 0-11 get up to 50% discount off Standard and Plus fares (no Premier class discounts)
- Youths age 12-25 get up to 20% off Standard and 15% off Plus and Premier fares, subject to availability
- Seniors age 60+ get 10% off all fares, subject to availability
- Interrail/Eurail pass-holders pay fees of €32 (Standard) and €37 (Plus) for Amsterdam-Paris Eurostar travel
Eurostar tickets are released for sale up to 6 months out – to secure the cheapest fares you should book as early as possible.
| TIP: If travelling at short notice, the fare difference between classes can be minimal – it may be worth booking the Plus or Premier fares in that case. |
Example (1 week from travel):
In this case there is only €15 between all 3 fare classes – it’s a no-brainer to book the Premier fare (fully refundable, lounge access, 1st class seat, meal and drink).
Eurostar tickets have a specific seat reservation included in the price. Your ticket will show the carriage and seat number.
| TIP: If you need to travel at the last minute and Eurostar Amsterdam-Paris fares are too high for your budget then consider the following (cheaper but longer travel time and with a risk of missing the connection). Split your ticket via Brussels – take an Intercity/Eurocity combination between Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Brussels and then a low-cost OUIGO service Brussel Zuid/Midi and Paris Gare du Nord. The total should be around €75. Check coach prices as well. |
To sum up the Eurostar service between Amsterdam and Paris:
- Fastest journey time between city centres
- Includes free seat reservation
- Includes free luggage allowance
- Lowest Standard fares are good value
- Catering available
- Very popular – trains can sell out
- Last-minute standard fares can be high
Book your Eurostar tickets with Trainline here
Book your Eurostar tickets with NS International here
[2] Amsterdam-Paris Flights
Amsterdam-Paris is a well served air route by Skyteam’s Air France-KLM with non-stop flights between Amsterdam Schiphol airport (AMS) and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) taking around 1 hour 20 mins.
Although the flying time is relatively short, when you account for transfers to/from the airports, security and boarding queues then the Eurostar train is undoubtedly the quicker and more convenient city-to-city option.
- KLM operates 3x daily Amsterdam-Paris flights using Boeing 737/Airbus A321neo aircraft
- Air France has 9x daily Amsterdam-Paris flights using Airbus A220 series planes
- One way fares start at €157 (Light fare, hand-baggage only) and from €191 (Standard fare, checked bag)
[3] Amsterdam-Paris by Coach
The coach trip between Amsterdam and Paris takes around 7-9 hours. Although a bit cheaper than the train the journey is significantly slower and more uncomfortable. In our opinion it’s best to stick to the train.
- BlaBlaCar Bus and Flixbus operate multiple Amsterdam-Paris coach services daily
- The main coach stop in Amsterdam is at Amsterdam Sloterdijk station
- The main coach stop in Paris is at Paris Bercy-Seine
- Fares start at €20 one-way
- Both companies allow 1 checked bag which is stowed in the luggage compartment
- Flixbus allows 1 item of small hand baggage (BlaBlaCar 2 items)
Amsterdam Resources
Looking for a convenient hotel near Amsterdam Central station? Check out the stylish Kimpton-De Witt which is a short walk from the station. For those on a budget the Ibis Amsterdam Centre is literally on top of the western edge of the station platforms.
The Iamsterdam City Card (1-5 days) offers free entry and discounts to numerous Amsterdam museums and attractions. It also includes a free public transport pass, a canal cruise and bike rental as well. You can order your Iamsterdam City Card online here
Paris Resources
Looking for a hotel close to Paris Gare du Nord? Consider the colourful and well-rated 25hours Hotel Terminus Nord (literally across the road) or the Avalon Cosy Hotel Paris Gare du Nord
Alternatively book a quality apartment in Paris here
The Go City Paris Passes offer various pass options for entrance into Paris attractions.
As France and the Netherlands are members of the Schengen Zone agreement you do not normally need to go through a passport control check when travelling between Amsterdam and Paris.
We have made the Amsterdam-Paris journey multiple times by all modes of transport mentioned.
This article was originally published in 2010. Last checked and updated 16 January 2026.
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