Best trains from Amsterdam to Bruges and Bruges to Paris

For Amsterdam to Bruges you have the choice of using the High-speed Thalys train or slower inter-city train, with a connection in Antwerp. With IC trains you simply purchase your ticket at the station on the day of your journey; no reservations are accepted or allowed. The faster Thalys high-speed train connects Amsterdam-Antwerp-Brussels-Paris, reservations are required and the it uses airline style pricing: the sooner you book the cheaper it will be. Tight connections typically aren't a problem with trains, but even if you miss your intended connection to Bruges, just hop on another train 30 minutes later; only IC trains operate this segment. To make your life easier use this site book all your tickets from Amsterdam to Bruges: http://www.nshispeed.nl/en To find out which platform you connecting train can be found just look for the monitors listing the upcoming trains....just like you would find at any airport. For Bruges to Paris, Thalys operates one direct train a day to Paris early in the morning around 6:30am. For later departures you will have to take an IC train to Brussels-Midi and transfer to the Thalys to Paris; there are no direct IC trains from Brussels to central Paris, so you have to use Thalys. Book the Brussels to Paris train here: http://www.thalys.com The earlier you book the cheaper it will be (90 days allowed) the savings are significant.

The Eurostar doesn't operate between Brussels and Paris. It goes Brussels-London and Paris-London. An alternate route from Bruges to Paris is to take an IC train from Bruges to Lille and a TGV from there to Paris. At certain times of the day you would have to make a connection to another IC train in Kortrijk on your way to Lille. However, if you can get a discount fare for a Brussels-Paris Thalys train, I'd choose that route. With your Thalys ticket you can buy a cheap ABS (Any Belgian Station) add-on ticket for Bruges-Brussels on IC trains.

What Michael said... to rephrase, tickets on Thalys are like on an airline. Your ticket gets you a specific seat on a specific train at a specific time. A ticket for the regular IC trains, though, allows you to ride at any time. Connections run frequently in Beligum. You'll rarely have to wait longer than 30 minutes. If you miss your desired connection, just wait for the next one.

It looks like the Thalys saves you an hour. What is the difference between 1st and 2nd class on this train? It is worth the difference when taking into consideration the long train ride?

1st class on European trains is generally designed for business travelers. Meaning, valet service and ample work room. For a casual tourist, there's no advantage.

We did this train trip in April 2011, took the IC train from Amsterdam to Brugges via Antwerp. No big deal, Antwerp has a cool train station. Then IC train from Brugges to Brussels and the Thayls from Brussels to Paris. We did book our Brussels to Paris trip in advance as recommened by other posters. The earlier the better the rate. Have a safe trip !!

Bruce - So if I understand correctly, I must purchased an IC to Antwerp and then a separate Thalys ticket from Antwerp to Paris? I thought I could purchase just one ticket for these trips.Example a ticket from Bruges to Brussels then switch trains in Bruges and board in Brussels going to Paris. Boy am I confused!

If you use the non-Thalys direct service from Brugge to Lille via Kortrijk, note that it arrives at the "old" Lille Flandres station in Lille while many fast trains to Paris depart from Lille Europe. It's a relatively short journey by tram or even on foot, but don't assume you can do a tight connection.

If you decide to do your entire trip via IC trains, you just need to purchase one ticket that will cover the entire journey. If you elect to do part of the journey via IC train and another part with Thalys, you will need to purchase separate tickets for each leg.

Patty, Sorry if I confused you! We went from Amsterdam to brugge to Paris. Purchased IC ticket in Amsterdam for trip to Brugge. Amsterdam to Antwerp switch trains Antwerp to Brugge. Only had to buy one ticket in Amsterdam for the whole trip. Brugge to Paris purchased IC ticket in Brugge for trip to Brussels.
From Brusssels we took the Thayls to Paris with a ticket we purchased a month before our trip via Internet and printed at home. The earlier you purchase the better the rate. Hope this helps.

Patty, Sorry if I confused you! We went from Amsterdam to brugge to Paris. Purchased IC ticket in Amsterdam for trip to Brugge. Amsterdam to Antwerp switch trains Antwerp to Brugge. Only had to buy one ticket in Amsterdam for the whole trip. Brugge to Paris purchased IC ticket in Brugge for trip to Brussels.
From Brusssels we took the Thayls to Paris with a ticket we purchased a month before our trip via Internet and printed at home. The earlier you purchase the better the rate. Hope this helps.

Patty, Sorry if I confused you! We went from Amsterdam to brugge to Paris. Purchased IC ticket in Amsterdam for trip to Brugge. Amsterdam to Antwerp switch trains Antwerp to Brugge. Only had to buy one ticket in Amsterdam for the whole trip. Brugge to Paris purchased IC ticket in Brugge for trip to Brussels.
From Brusssels we took the Thayls to Paris with a ticket we purchased a month before our trip via Internet and printed at home. The earlier you purchase the better the rate. Hope this helps.

Patty, Sorry if I confused you! We went from Amsterdam to brugge to Paris. Purchased IC ticket in Amsterdam for trip to Brugge. Amsterdam to Antwerp switch trains Antwerp to Brugge. Only had to buy one ticket in Amsterdam for the whole trip. Brugge to Paris purchased IC ticket in Brugge for trip to Brussels.
From Brusssels we took the Thayls to Paris with a ticket we purchased a month before our trip via Internet and printed at home. The earlier you purchase the better the rate. Hope this helps.

Patty, Sorry if I confused you! We went from Amsterdam to brugge to Paris. Purchased IC ticket in Amsterdam for trip to Brugge. Amsterdam to Antwerp switch trains Antwerp to Brugge. Only had to buy one ticket in Amsterdam for the whole trip. Brugge to Paris purchased IC ticket in Brugge for trip to Brussels.
From Brusssels we took the Thayls to Paris with a ticket we purchased a month before our trip via Internet and printed at home. The earlier you purchase the better the rate. Hope this helps.

The standard 2nd class fare for Brussels-Paris on Thalys trains is €90.00. Booked well in advance (up to 90 days) at thalys.com, you can get a Smoove fare of €25.00. The anytime 2nd class fare from Bruges to Brussels on IC trains is €13.10. Booked as an ABS (Any Belgian Station) add-on to your Thalys ticket, the fare can be as low as €5.00. Book the entire trip (both legs together, Bruges-Brussels and Brussels-Paris) at thalys.com ASAP to get the lowest fare (€30.00 inclusive).

Bruce - You are the best. Now I am getting it! (especially since you messaged arrived 5 times, ha ha) Tim - What does smoove stand for?

You're welcome Patty.

Thanks Michael and everyone!

Smoove is the name Thalys has given to its cheapest advance purchase discount fare. Each fare level has a different name.

Sorry folk's about the multiple postings

Sorry folk's about the multiple postings

Sorry folk's about the multiple postings