Hello We are travelling via train from Amsterdam to Bruges (hopefully having couple of hours in Antwerp). Then a few days later Bruges to Paris. can someone please advise best train option or if we need to book in advance. We are a family of 4 from Australia - heard that we will not need train pass ....just turn up at the station...not sure if this is correct. Many thanks
Leanne
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London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
You will get much cheaper tickets for international journeys if you book ninety days or so in advance, but the cheap tickets are strictly limited to a specific train and you have to pay full-fare if you miss it. This may be hazardous if you're flying into Amsterdam and leaving the same day. Amsterdam - Bruges: Take a train to Antwerp and then change there. It's possible that you may have to change a second time at Gent. Bruges - Paris. You have two options. Either go from Bruges to Brussels and take the Thalys high-speed train from there, or take a cross-country train from Bruges to Lille and a TGV from there (you may need to change at Kortrijk and may also possibly have to walk or tram between the two city centre stations in Lille). The latter may be cheaper but a bit slower. There are also a couple of through Thalys trains from Bruges to Paris but I think they are aimed at the business market and leave very early am. Booking sites: For Amsterdam - Bruges: www.NS-Hispeed.nl For Bruges - Paris via Brussels: www.thalys.com
For Bruges - Paris via Lille: book ticket from Bruges to Lille on day but book Lille-Paris in advance at tgv-europe.com