Is there passport control between Paris and Amsterdam?
When taking ground transportation in the Schengen area, which includes Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands there generally isn't passport control. So you don't need a passport when traveling from Paris to Amsterdam. However, it's important to carry some form of identification on you at all times, as there is a chance you might fall victim to a random customs spot check.
Should I fly, drive, or take the train from Paris to Amsterdam?
The fastest way to get to Amsterdam from Paris is via the Eurostar high-speed train or a flight; however, neither option leaves room for sightseeing along the way. That's why the best way to travel from Paris to Amsterdam is by private car service Daytrip. Not only are Daytrip rides comfortable and safe, but they are also time and cost-efficient, saving you the hassle of having to get to and from the airport or bus station, and allow for sightseeing stops.
Is there a direct bus between Paris and Amsterdam?
There is a direct bus from Paris to Amsterdam. The bus departs Paris City Centre at Bercy Seine and arrives in Amsterdam City Center at Sloterdijk. These direct buses operate daily, and the trip is usually just under seven hours between the two cities.
Is there a direct train between Paris and Amsterdam?
There is a direct train between Paris and Amsterdam that departs the Paris Nord and arrives at the Amsterdam Centraal. The direct trains depart every three hours, and the trip takes about three and a half hours.
Can you take a day trip from Paris to Amsterdam?
You can take a day trip from Paris to Amsterdam, but you won't get to see nearly as much as you would if you spent two to three days in this beautiful city. So it's best to book a stay at a hotel to enjoy everything Amsterdam has to offer.
It's safe to say that Paris, the city of romantic love, and Amsterdam, the city of picturesque canals, are on nearly everyone's travel bucket list and attract travelers for different reasons. If you've found yourself making a car trip from Paris to Amsterdam, you're in for a treat since you'll experience both cities and enjoy everything they offer globetrotters.
Beginning your journey in Paris, France, one of the most visited places in the world, is the best move you could make. This city has awe-inspiring sights and attractions, like the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Palace of Versailles. It is also one of the artistic epicenters of the world, with Paris famed for its undiluted dedication to culture and arts.
Historically, Paris has been known for supporting everything about the arts, whether literary, visual, musical, or otherwise. This is why the city showcases gorgeous architectural wonders, a bustling nightlife filled with musical sounds, and museums and art galleries filled with striking but memorable artworks.
With so much to see and do in Paris, no one can blame you if you find it hard to leave, but there's much more to experience in Amsterdam and along the way. Fortunately, a private car service like Daytrip can ensure you see wonderful sights like Kortrijk, De Haar Castle, Antwerp, and Utrecht as you pass through these cities to get to Amsterdam. You can trust that Daytrip's door-to-door services are unparalleled, ensuring your happiness on your adventure.
When we drop you off in Amsterdam, you'll be greeted by one of the best views in the world. This city sees more than 20 million visitors traveling by car yearly, so you'll fit right in when driving from one country to the next. The trip from Paris to Amsterdam will take you less than a day, with the distance between the two only 267 miles (500 km).
Upon arrival, expect to be blown away by Amsterdam's rich history, vibrant culture, inclusiveness, and gorgeous canals. Not to mention, there are numerous sights to be seen, including a trip to Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, Vondelpark, the Amsterdam Dungeon, and the winding canal ring built in the 17th century.
About Amsterdam
Amsterdam might be known for its canals and the old sections' distinctive color and culture. Still, the city is a masterpiece with beautiful historical attractions and vast collections of immersive artworks. Nearly every part of old Amsterdam is well preserved with the modernity that has touched this city, making it one of the greatest places to visit, especially if you're traveling from Paris to Amsterdam.
Amsterdam often gets called the 'Venice of the North,' and with its many canals, it couldn't be more true. Amsterdam is divided into 90 'islands', and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for this feat of urban engineering.
These canals have spurred the construction of more than 1,300 bridges and viaducts, attracting millions of visitors yearly. It will be challenging for you to visit Amsterdam and not find yourself crossing a bridge or peering into the canals in search of one of the many bicycles that exist below the water's murky depths.
Besides the canals, Amsterdam is easily recognizable by its charming canal houses with gabled facades, noble brick facades clad with sandstone, towers, churches, and richly decorated cornices that delight the eyes. This city is also home to drawbridges, old-world windmills, and hole-in-the-wall eateries selling local cuisine you must try at least once during your visit.
Amsterdam is also a haven for history lovers and artists, with the city having the most museums per square meter globally. Some of the must-visit museums include the Stedelijk Museum, the magnificent Van Gogh Museum, and the Rijksmuseum. It's undoubtedly a place to visit if you're after architectural sights and historical gems. Luckily, you can take a trip to Amsterdam by car, train, bus, or flight, depending on where in the world you're traveling from.
It's also important to note that Amsterdam's weather patterns are greatly influenced by its location near the mighty North Sea and a large freshwater lake. This ocean and lake can influence the temperatures seen in the city, so keep this in mind when planning your trip. In addition, although you might not get to explore the North Sea, you can take a boat tour of the lake as the city offers numerous every day.
Outdoor enthusiasts will feel like they are at home in Amsterdam. Its sprawling pathways and abundance of greenery allow for cycling and biking around the city. So, if you ever tire of taking taxis and other modes of transportation, it might be worth looking for walkways to breathe in the fresh air, or you might want to hire a bike and cycle from one attraction to the next.
Other notable attractions that are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you shouldn't skip out on include the floating flower market, the Skinny Bridge, and the Dancing Houses.
From Paris to Amsterdam: Travel tips
Both Paris and Amsterdam are enchanting places to visit alone or with family. However, when traveling from Paris to Amsterdam, there are a few travel tips you need to consider following if you want to ensure you have a positive travel experience.
Save money with passes and cards
Unfortunately, Amsterdam's beauty comes with a price since it is not a cheap destination. If you only plan to stay within the city for a few days, you're unlikely to tax your budget too much, but it's best to save where you can. And one of the key places to save money is on transportation by purchasing passes and cards.
With the iAmsterdam City Card, you can visit numerous Amsterdam attractions without it costing an arm and a leg. This card almost pays for itself if you purchase it for a few days, especially since it includes bike rental, museum tickets, and tickets to the Zaanse Schans windmills.
There are also other European public transportation cards you can look into that could cover ticket prices to some of the attractions you want to visit along the way.
### Make sure you have enough time
While you can see the best of Amsterdam in two days, we recommend you extend your stay if you plan on stopping and sightseeing in the other cities along the way.
For example, if you book with a door-to-door friendly car service like Daytrip, you can visit places like Oudenaarde, Antwerp, and Utrecht on the drive to Amsterdam. These sightseeing stops will add time to your trip, which should take about five hours to complete if you travel directly. So keep this in mind and plan your length of stay accordingly.
In addition, if you plan on seeing more of the Netherlands during your stay in Amsterdam, you should stay in this magnificent city for about a week to see everything Amsterdam offers and the nearby towns and cities.
### Hire a private car service
Although you can get to Amsterdam by bus, train, taxi, rideshare, or flight, it's best to consider hiring a private car through a service like Daytrip. If you travel with Daytrip, you'll be brought door-to-door and have the opportunity to stop and sightsee along the way without it costing you a fortune with connected flights, trains, or buses.
Daytrip rides from Paris to Amsterdam start at 146 euros per seat, but you'll have convenience, comfort, and safety. Your English-speaking driver will not only get you where you need to be on time with the door-to-door service but also share travel insights about the cities and towns you want to visit alongside Amsterdam.
How to get from Paris to Amsterdam
Getting from Paris to Amsterdam can be challenging, especially if it's your first time traveling through Europe. Luckily, you do not need to stress about scrambling to learn how to get from Paris to Amsterdam because we've shared the available travel options.
You might still need to investigate each option a little further to book tickets and such, but we've done most of the groundwork for you.
From Paris to Amsterdam by train
If you need to get to Amsterdam with due haste, the best travel option is to take the Eurostar high-speed train. This train is fast, comfortable, and modern, with all the amenities you could need during the almost three-and-a-half-hour trip. There are multiple departures daily.
To find out the travel times that suit you best, you'll need to check their timetable online or in person at the Eurostar train station in Paris. If you plan to travel by train around, consider getting the Eurail Pass.
This pass will let you travel on almost every train in Europe, and there are customizable options. These passes are not tickets, so you only need to pay a reservation fee for the pass, which will give you access.
Alternatively, you can take a not-quite-as-nice regional train from Paris to Amsterdam if you don't want to go on a high-speed train but still want to travel by train. Regional trains are slower, but you can stop along the way, depending on the train schedule. Regional trains are free if you have the Eurail Pass.
### From Paris to Amsterdam by bus
There are many buses that can take you from Paris to Amsterdam, which is unsurprising considering Paris is a transport hub with more than ten coach stations and 349 coach connections departing daily, with many of these departures heading to Amsterdam.
One of the best coaches that makes the trip from Paris to Amsterdam with 15 direct buses daily is Flixbus. This bus does not offer direct service, but it makes one stop between trips, with the journey taking a minimum of six and a half hours. It's not the fastest or most comfortable way to get from Paris to Amsterdam, but it is the cheapest, with tickets starting at 54 euros and not usually exceeding 100 euros per trip.
If you want to save even more money, you can get cheaper tickets by booking online in advance. Afterward, simply show your ticket on your phone when boarding. Although not as luxurious as traveling by train or private car, most Flixbusses traveling from Paris to Amsterdam have onboard WiFi, toilets, and power sockets to charge your devices.
### From Paris to Amsterdam by private car transfer
It might not be the cheapest option, but booking a private car with Daytrip is worth it, considering it is one of the most convenient and fastest ways to get from Paris to Amsterdam. When traveling in a group, it comes out to under 150 euros per person - almost the same price as the high-speed train.
Typically, depending on the stops you want to make, your private driver will follow the A1 toward Lille before taking the E17 in Belgium. From Antwerp, you'll travel through to the E19 to enter the Netherlands, and from there, join the A15 to Amsterdam.
As you can see, this might have been confusing if you rented a car and tried to drive yourself from Paris to Amsterdam. With Daytrip, you will be driven door-to-door, so you won't need to worry about getting lost or finding parking in Amsterdam. An added benefit is that you'll get to stop and sightsee, and your driver can share travel tips! You'll also get to enjoy the passing Dutch, French, and German countryside.
### Flight from Paris to Amsterdam
The fastest way to get from Paris to Amsterdam is via flight, but it's also one of the most expensive travel options, with a ticket setting you back between 100 and 300 euros one-way. There are three airlines, including Air France, KLM, and Transavia.
A plane flight between these two cities is typically one hour and 15 minutes long, and there are between 10 and 14 flights from Paris to Amsterdam daily. But the downside is you won't be able to see any of the memorable scenery along the way, nor will you get to make stops in the various cities and towns, thus missing out on many attractions and landmarks.
Taking a plane can also be a hassle because you must transfer to Charles de Gaulle or Orly before catching a train from Schiphol in Amsterdam to a more central station to catch a taxi to your hotel then. So, although the plane flight is fast, the connecting transportation to get to where you need to be can be time-consuming and increase the price.
Things to do when you get to Amsterdam
Amsterdam is an enchanting city no matter when you plan to visit. It has hundreds of attractions, from museums and churches to food stalls and parks. There's no shortage of things to do when you get to Amsterdam.
Understandably, with so much to see and do, choosing which attractions and landmarks to visit can be challenging, which is why we've recommended a few of the best things to do if you're planning a trip from Paris to Amsterdam.
Vondelpark
Parks might not be at the top of the attractions list in other parts of the world, but if you're traveling to Amsterdam, you'll want to stop at Vondelpark.
Not only does this park offer free entry, but it is the largest park in Amsterdam, filled with a beautiful rose garden, pillowy grass perfect for a picnic, and numerous ponds, statues, and fountains. There's even a teahouse, and the park hosts numerous concerts yearly with its open-air theater!
### The Dam
Why not visit a collection of attractions together? If you want to do this to save time, you might want to visit The Dam in Amsterdam. The Dam has nothing to do with water and everything to do with culture, history, and extraordinary architecture.
When you visit The Dam, Amsterdam's central square, you'll see the visually appealing Royal Palace of Amsterdam, the national monument, and Nieuwe Kerk. Besides these attractions, there are also many shopping streets to explore that are directly connected to the square.
And perhaps best of all, you'll get to visit Madame Tussaud's wax museum, which can be found near The Dam.
### The Jordaan
If you have a burning desire to see what the neighborhoods are like in Amsterdam, you need to take a drive or walk through The Jordaan. This neighborhood might be a typical working-class neighborhood typical of Amsterdam, but it's different from the rest of the world.
This is unsurprising considering The Jordaan was built in the 17th century, so it features spectacular canal houses and numerous shops and restaurants famous for their Dutch music. When visiting The Jordaan, don't forget to explore the "Nine Little Streets" shopping area, which has some of the best souvenirs.
### Rijksmuseum
Arguably, Amsterdam's most popular attraction is the Rijksmuseum. This museum sees thousands of visitors yearly, and it's not hard to imagine why, considering it is home to more than 5,000 paintings and tells the story of more than 800 years of Dutch history through its many exhibitions.
Should you choose to visit the Rijksmuseum, prepare to learn more about the Dutch Golden Age and see world-famous paintings like Johannes Vermeer's "The Milkmaid" and Rembrandt's "The Night Watch."
### Anne Frank House
Anne Frank House is an immensely popular attraction in Amsterdam, with individuals queuing for hours to visit, so get your tickets in advance. People are prepared to wait so long because this house has an immense historical significance, which is why it was turned into a museum.
Book a tour of the museum and explore the hidden room behind the movable bookcase where Frank hid during the persecution of the Jews. If you can't get a booking to tour this impressive building, you can book a two-hour walking tour that will detail the fascinating story of Anne Frank as you walk through Amsterdam and take in the sights.
Best time to visit Amsterdam
Typically, the best time to visit Amsterdam when you're traveling from Paris to Amsterdam is in the months of April and May before the summertime and the peak season. If you can't visit during these months, you should consider visiting between September and November before the onset of winter.
In addition, certain times of the year are better for certain travelers. For example, the best time for budget backpacking is during December and January, when there are few tourists and incredible deals on food, accommodations, and attractions.
In contrast, the best time for honeymooners is the summer or fall. These shoulder seasons offer many deals and fewer tourists.
To enjoy local festivals, visit Amsterdam in April for some of the city's best festivals, like the Film Festival and the Tulip Festival.
Learn about life in the trenches and the horrors of the great war at the site of some of the fiercest fighting.┬аDigging Deep┬а
Kortrijk
This border town's car-free city center is one of the largest in Europe, and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.┬аCar-Free Beauty┬а
Oudenaarde
This medieval city's historic architecture, particularly its UNESCO-listed town hall, are giant works of art.┬аCity of Art┬а
Antwerp
BelgiumтАЩs second largest city, and the worldтАЩs second most diverse, has been a cultural capital since Rubens moved here in the 16th century.┬аThe Capital of Cool┬а
Utrecht
The canals in this ancient Dutch city were voted the most beautiful in Europe.┬аCanal Culture┬а
De Haar Castle
Get a glimpse into the extravagant lives of the Rothschilds in the largest castle in the Netherlands.┬аThe Golden Age┬а
тАЬThe driver Raymond was punctual and helpful. He made an unscheduled stop at the Amsterdam Police Station for us to report a lost wallet, likely being pickpocket.
Excellent service.тАЭ
тАЬExcellent and pleasant driver
Driver made the 6 hour trip easy. Only cost slightly more than taxis to and from train stations and railway costs. Door to door service is a plusтАЭ
