mikemack31

I will be in dijon for a while and I wanted to travel to amsterdam for a few days. I want to go this Sunday, what is the best way to get from dijon to amsterdam. I looked up the high speed trains and all of the good routes are already booked up and the only route available is through multiple transfers taking 6 hours...so what is the best way if train is not an option? would you recommend renting a car and going? I thought about taking train to paris and then take a direct flight from paris to amsterdam...an then from amsterdam maybe i can take a high speed train to paris and then fly home.

Man_in_seat_61

www.captaintrain.com

There are loads of trains into Paris Gare de Lyon, then train every hour or two Paris Gare du Nord to Amsterdam.

None of them are currently 'booked up' for this Sunday as far as I can see, all are available, even if they're not cheap at this short notice - I'd be interested to know who or what told you they were already booked up when they aren't.

Man_in_seat_61

Ah - I'm guessing you mean the cheap fares are sold out, not that the trains themselves are booked out?

Christina

I think you misunderstand, it always takes about 5.5 to 6 hrs to go from Dijon to Amsterdam. First, you have to go into Paris and that takes about 1:45 hrs and then there will be some wait no doubt for the connecting train, but the Thalys train takes abou 3:20 hrs to get from Paris to Amsterdam. So there isn't any way you could do that in less time, regardless of date. If you wanted a ticket two months from now, it would be the same time frame.

The only difference is cost as tickets are much more expensive at the last minute, but nothing you can do about that at this point. Thalys trains aren't cheap. I was surprised how expensive those tickets are, around 180-200 euro at this date.

HOWEVER, I found an alternative that is cheaper, although you are still going to spend all day getting there. Take the train from Dijon to Basel, tickets are only 48-69 euro depending on time (there is a direct train at 12:01-13:26). Easyjet budget airline flies out of Basel to AMS. Right now they have tickets on SUnday for only 79 CHF which is about 72 euro (3:55 pm-5:20 pm) or for 69 CHF at 5:15 pm-6:40 pm.

So altogether not half but a bit more in total, still a lot cheaper than 200 euro. But if you want to get there earlier in the day, the early train from Dijon at 7:25 am will eventually get you to Amsterdam by about 2 pm.

Both the plane option or the train can be done with only one transfer. Basel is a small airport, I just flew into it, and it is connected by cheap airport bus to the Basel train station. If you got to the train station by 1:26 pm, you would be to the airport by 2 or 2:30 for sure (it's not that long a trip, frequent buses), which should be okay for a 3:55 pm departure.

It's up to you, but I think those are your best options.

Whathello

Good optoin. Maybe from Dijon to Satolas (Lyon airport) but it will be roughly the same in terms of time and the costs found by Christina are quite low !

PalenQ

There are some direct trains Dijon to CDG Airport and some of these may go onto Brussels or you can connect to trains that do - then Brussels to Amsterdam by always cheap IC trains (not Thalys)- checkwww.capitainetrain.com or www.voyages-sncf.com for details. This route does not go thru Paris.

www.thalys.com for Thalys train fares - for general info check www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

PalenQ

Adirect Dijon to CDG airport train leaves Dijon most days or daily at 7:15 am or so and goes direct to CDG Airport- with connections to Amsterdam via TGV and IC trains - about as quick as going to Paris and taking a Thalys but probably a lot cheaper.No reservations need on the Brussels - Amsterdam IC trains - flat fare - no reason to book that portion ahead of time.

cocofromdijon

You may also share a car with blablacar for 44€ to Utrecht and take a local train (25minto Amsterdam). Best way to see France and meet nice people.
There is one seat left on this one and the driver speaks English!
https://www.blablacar.fr/trajet-dijon-utrecht-551274982

PalenQ

bonjour coco cherie!

Yes that car sharing sounds like the best possible scenario for the OP.

Cheers!

cocofromdijon

Salut!I hope he's the one who could get the last seat as it is being booked. Wait and see...

PalenQ

Could also go to Basel and take a train via Frankfurt to Amsterdam - check to see if discounted fares remain - www.bahn.de/en- the German rail site for Basel to Amsterdam trains.

kerouac

Have you checked Eurolines for bus service?

PalenQ

great idea from kerouac -if not from Dijon probably some close big city like Basel, Mulhouse- many go overnight.

cocofromdijon

I hope that mm31 is enjoying Dijon and Amsterdam so much that he's too busy to aknowledge all the answers he got here. No feedback at all?

PalenQ

I agree with Coco (Cherie):

So often the case - folks only come to get advice then never check again - understandable but yes would be nice to know what really happened.

schnauzer

Forget the OP, it's just so lovely to see Coco pop up! Salut Coco...

cocofromdijon

Bonjour schnauzer ça va bien?

Mimar

For the sake of completeness -- for others reading this thread -- take the train from Dijon to Lyon and fly to Amsterdam from there.

PalenQ

Yup nice to hear from Coco cherie!

Dijon gives a hoot - follow the Owl Trail thru town.