Transportation Guide From Paris to Amsterdam and Brussels

Several options exist when it comes to getting to Amsterdam and Brussels from Paris. Some can be slow and cheap while others are fast and expensive.

The Cheapest Option to Reach Amsterdam and Brussels From Paris

Eurolines is a company which operates a bus service between most European capitals and large cities. Their buses are modern and comfortable and they depart from bus stations located next to major transportation hubs. However, as can be expected, it is probably the slowest way to reach Brussels or Amsterdam from the French capital. A journey on a Eurolines bus between Paris and Brussels takes, for example, about four hours, while the same journey on a Thalys train takes one hour and forty minutes. It is, however, the cheapest way to travel between those cities, since bus fares tend to be about half of train fares on similar routes.

It is also, of course, possible to hitchhike between those cities, even though there are safety issues associated with this practice, especially for female travelers. Some websites now also offer tourists in Europe a safer option, which is car sharing. Both the passenger and the car owner have to disclose their identity to the website before arranging a journey, which eliminates most of the safety concerns.

The Fastest Way to Travel From Paris to Brussels and Amsterdam

The fastest and most popular option when it comes to traveling between those European cities is the high-speed TGV Thalys train. It operates on dedicated rail tracks which allow it to travel at over 300 kilometers per hour and departs from Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Liege and Cologne.

The Thalys terminal in Paris is located at the Gare du Nord station, next to one of the most popular Metro lines in the capital. In Belgium, the terminal is at the Brussels Midi train station while in Amsterdam, it is at the Central Station, adjacent to the city center.

Fares on the Thalys tend to be reasonable, especially during the low season from September to November and from January to March. Promotions are available on early and late bookings. Tickets can be bought in most French, Belgian and Dutch train stations or on the Thalys website. Tickets bought online can be printed at home and are then scanned by the security personnel aboard the train. Both first and second-class tickets are available on Thalys trains. The different between both types of fares being usually quite low, it can sometimes be more interesting to book a first-class ticket since it entitles travelers to a free meal served during the trip.