Thalys – get to Belgium and southern France comfortably
Thalys is the ultimate high-speed train for daily connections between the Netherlands and France. In the summer Sun-Thalys will bring you directly to southern France. In the winter you can travel directly to the French Alps with Ski-Thalys. It's fast and it's easy!
With Thalys to Antwerp, Brussels and Paris
Thalys is the ultimate high-speed train for daily connections between the Netherlands, Belgium and France. From Amsterdam via Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam to Antwerp, Brussels and Paris at 300 km/h. On the way you can relax or work.
Thalys departs 9 times a day via the HSL-Zuid. Your travel time to Antwerp, Brussels and Paris will therefore become considerably shorter. Tickets can be bought 3 months before departure.
| |
Travel time |
| Amsterdam - Paris |
3h18 |
| Schiphol - Paris |
3h04 |
| Rotterdam - Paris |
2h36 |
With Sun-Thalys to the south of France
In the months of July and August, you can travel every Saturday with the Sun-Thalys directly from Amsterdam Central to Valence, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Marseille.
From these four end stations, you can easily travel onwards to the beautiful Alps or the most well-known beach resorts in southern France.
With Ski-Thalys to the French Alps
In the winter months, you can travel with Ski-Thalys directly to Chambéry, Albertville, Moûtiers, Aime-la-Plagne, Landry and Bourg-St-Maurice. From these stations, bus transfers are offered by SnowBuzz to nearby skiing villages. Take a look at all the winter destinations you can travel to with the Ski-Thalys.
Travel classes in Thalys
The Thalys has 2 travel classes: Comfort 1 and Comfort 2. Travelling in Comfort 1 means extra services and amenities:
- • more leg room
- • wider seats
- • complimentary drink, snack and main course meal* served at your seat
- • an electrical outlet at your seat (except silence carriages 1,11 and 21)
- • free WiFi
- • a choice of newspapers in various languages
- • taxi reservation service in Paris
- • free access to NS Hispeed Lounges at Amsterdam Central, Schiphol and Rotterdam Central stations
WiFi
All carriages are now equipped with a WiFi (a complementary service in Comfort 1 and available for a fee in Comfort 2).
* Your main course meal will be served between Amsterdam and Brussels or between Brussels and Paris, depending on when your train leaves your departure station.
On board the Thalys
Thalys in general
Thalys has changed in many different aspects:
• Comfortable and modern interior
• New culinary offerings, served with newly styled tableware
• Improved technology
• New uniforms for personnel
Catering
In the bar/buffet carriage, you can order coffee, tea or another beverage, and sandwiches, salads and hot or cold snacks. You can pay cash or, for orders of € 10.00 or more, with a credit card. Tickets for the Paris metro can also be bought here.
Locating your carriage
Your ticket has your carriage number on it. On the platforms you will find posters with information about the train set-up which will indicate where you can best wait for your carriage. On the Thalys trains, the carriage numbers are located next to the exterior doors. So, finding your carriage should be easy. In the carriage, seat numbers are clearly marked above the seats.
Travellers with impaired mobility
Thalys provides a number of special facilities that make sure our trains are as accessible as possible for everyone, including the elderly, visually impaired and other passengers with impaired mobility.
> More information for passengers with impaired mobility
Luggage
You can take two large pieces of luggage (max. 85 cm) and one piece of hand luggage aboard. Luggage racks are located at the entrance to the carriages.
> More information about luggage regulations
Taking your bicycle along
On board Thalys, a bicycle is only allowed if its front wheel has been removed and if the bicycle is packed in a special bicycle slipcover (maximum dimensions: 120x90 cm). The bicyle is then considered a bagage item. A folding bike is permitted as long as it is folded and packed.
> More information about taking along bicycles
Taking a pet along
Most trains allow you to take your pet with you. In certain cases, there are conditions that will have to be met.
> More information about transporting pets
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted on board.
Thalys Timetable
The Thalys departs from Amsterdam Central nine times a day and travels from Amsterdam Central through Antwerp Central and Brussels South/Midi to reach Paris in 3 hours and 18 minutes. Travel time to Antwerp Central is 1 hour and 12 minutes; travelling to Brussels takes 1 hour and 54 minutes. From Rotterdam Central the Thalys will bring you to Paris in 2 hours and 36 minutes.
Extra Thalys can be booked online now
From 12 december 2010 ten Thalys trains will travel between Amsterdam and Paris. View our itinerary planner here.
Departure stations:
- • Amsterdam Central
- • Schiphol airport
- • Rotterdam Central
Arrival stations:
- • Antwerp Central
- • Brussels South/Midi
- • Paris Gare du Nord
Seasonal destinations
Travel to the sun or snow with Thalys
Sun-Thalys: southern France
From the end of June to the end of August, Thalys can take you from Amsterdam to Valence, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Marseilles every Saturday.
> More about Sun-Thalys
Ski-Thalys: Frence Alps
From the end of December to March, the Thalys can take you from Amsterdam to the ski resorts in Chambéry, Albertville, Moutiers, Aime-la-Plagne, Landry and Bourg-St-Maurice.
> More about Ski-Thalys