Routes / Paris / Paris to Amsterdam

Paris Amsterdam

Q: Can I do a day trip from Paris to Amsterdam by air?

Yes, and the Charles de Gaulle schedule supports it. Take an early morning flight, land by 9 AM, and catch a late evening return. With flights running throughout the day, you have backup options if your schedule shifts.

1 nonstop pairs · 6 nonstop airlines · 472 nonstop flights/week

Air France and KLM together run Paris CDG to Amsterdam Schiphol every hour, all day. They are the same airline group. Pick a departure time.

Book whichever Air France or KLM flight fits your schedule. The flight is about 80 minutes. If you see Cathay Pacific, Emirates, or Kenya Airways selling this route, those are codeshare tickets on Air France or KLM planes. Same seat and crew, sometimes at a higher fare.

Transavia France flies Orly to Schiphol a few times a week if Orly is easier for you. Budget carrier, 737, but on a flight this short the cabin barely matters.

If you are starting and ending in the city center, take the train. Thalys runs Gare du Nord to Amsterdam Centraal in about three and a half hours. Factor in getting to CDG and getting from Schiphol into town, and the door-to-door time is close to even. Flying makes more sense when you live near CDG or need to connect from another flight.

Because one airline group controls nearly every seat on this route, there is no real fare competition between flights. The train is the only thing pushing fares down.

Have a specific need? Use the decision guide below to filter by your airline, where you live, lounges, or where you're staying in Amsterdam.

Best Overall

CDG → AMS

3 airlines 472/wk 1h 25m

Kenya Airways, Air France, KLM. Also bookable via Cathay Pacific, Emirates. Air France from Charles de Gaulle for near-hourly departures and same-day rebooking.

Explore CDG → AMS

Nearby cities · connections only

~110mi Lesquin No nonstop to Amsterdam Connecting

Decision Guide

Pick What Matters to You

Show me the best pair for...

Best pair by where you're coming from

Your location determines which airport is closest and most convenient.

Orly is the natural choice. It sits south of the city, roughly 20 minutes by taxi from Saint-Germain. Orlybus runs to Denfert-Rochereau, which is already on the Left Bank. CDG requires crossing the entire city northward.

Either airport works. Orly is closer at nine miles, reachable by Orlyval plus RER B or by taxi in about 30 minutes. CDG connects via RER B from Chatelet. Choose by flight time rather than ground transit.

CDG is more direct. RER B from Gare du Nord takes about 30 minutes. Orly requires crossing the city southward, and the trip can easily take twice as long in traffic.

CDG is closer and reachable via RER B to Chatelet then RER A, or by taxi in about 40 minutes depending on traffic. Orly has no fast transit link to La Defense.

Orly is just south of these neighborhoods. A taxi or rideshare takes around 15 minutes. Orlybus terminates at Denfert-Rochereau in the 14th, making public transit fast too.

Consider the TGV to Barcelona Sants before booking a flight. The train leaves from Gare de Lyon and avoids both airports. If flying, Orly is the closer airport from this part of the city.

For most Paris-area travelers, CDG → AMS is the default.5 airlines, 472 flights/wk.

Explore CDG → AMS

Best pair by where you're staying in Amsterdam

Your Amsterdam airport matters as much as your Paris airport.

The classic Amsterdam stay. Narrow houses, canal-side walks, and most of the restaurants and bars visitors come for. The train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal takes 15 minutes, and Centraal sits at the top of the canal ring. From there everything is walkable or a short tram ride.

South of the canal ring, near the Rijksmuseum and Vondelpark. More residential, better for longer stays. The train from Schiphol stops at Amsterdam Zuid, which is closer to this area than Centraal. A tram from Zuid reaches De Pijp in about 10 minutes.

The business district. If your meetings are here, skip Centraal and take the train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Zuid. One stop, under 10 minutes. Hotels in Zuidas are functional, not charming. Best for a one-night business trip where proximity to the office matters more than canal views.

Across the IJ river from Centraal, reached by a free ferry that runs 24 hours. Fewer tourists, creative spaces in converted warehouses, and some of the best food in the city. Getting here from Schiphol means train to Centraal then ferry, adding about 30 minutes over a canal ring stay.

If Amsterdam hotel prices spike or you want a quieter base, both towns sit 15 to 20 minutes from Schiphol by train and cost less. Haarlem has a compact historic center. Leiden is a university town with good restaurants. Both connect to Amsterdam Centraal in under 30 minutes.

AMS is the right Amsterdam airport for most travelers.Check individual route pages for ground transport from AMS.

Explore CDG → AMS

Which pair your airline flies nonstop

Loyalty programs drive airport choice for frequent flyers. Here's where each airline operates.

Airline	CDG–AMS
Cathay Pacific	✓
Transavia France	—
Emirates	✓
Kenya Airways	✓
Air France	✓
KLM	✓

Most airlines fly CDG → AMS.0 airlines serve multiple pairs.

Explore CDG → AMS

Ranked by on-time performance

On-time = departing within 15 min of schedule. Higher competition tends to keep airlines punctual.

Insufficient data — 472/wk doesn't generate meaningful OTP stats.

Insufficient data — 1 flight/week doesn't generate meaningful OTP stats.

CDG → AMS has the most schedule depth.High competition keeps airlines punctual.

Explore CDG → AMS

Lounge access by airport and terminal

Premium lounge access varies dramatically by terminal. This alone can determine airport choice for some travelers.

Air France first class and top-tier Flying Blue members only. Dedicated restaurant, spa treatments, champagne bar, and private rest areas. One of the best airline lounges in Europe. Worth arriving early if you are flying La Premiere on the JFK route.

Open to Air France business class and SkyTeam Elite Plus. Large space with hot food, a wine bar, showers, and quiet rest areas. Fills up before the afternoon long-haul departure wave but absorbs the crowd. Food quality is noticeably above US airline lounge standard.

Star Alliance Gold and business class on member carriers. Smaller and quieter than the Air France lounges in Terminal 2. Decent food and bar selection. United passengers departing from Terminal 1 use this one.

Priority Pass and pay-per-entry access in Terminal 2. Basic food, drinks, seating, and Wi-Fi. Smaller than the airline lounges and can fill to capacity. It beats the gate, but keep expectations in check.

Beauvais-Tillé has no airline or independent lounges. The terminal is too small to support one. Grab food before security or at the small café inside.

Priority Pass and walk-in access. Small lounge with basic food, drinks, and seating. Orly does not have the airline-operated transatlantic lounges that CDG offers. This is the main option for passengers without carrier-specific access.

La Compagnie does not operate its own lounge, and French bee is a budget carrier without lounge service. The terminal restaurants and cafes before security are the realistic fallback. Eat before you arrive or plan to grab something airside. Do not expect a pre-departure lounge experience at Orly for New York flights.

Vatry has no lounges of any kind. The terminal is minimal, with limited seating and a small café. Bring your own food and something to read.

The main KLM lounge near the E gates. Spacious, with hot food, a full bar, and views of the tarmac. Access for business class on KLM or SkyTeam carriers, or Flying Blue Gold and above. Gets crowded during the evening rush of long-haul departures.

Smaller and quieter than the non-Schengen version, near the B and C gates. Same access rules. Fine for a coffee before a short flight back to London.

Pay-in lounge accessible with Priority Pass or a walk-in fee of around 40 euros. Locations on both sides of passport control. The food is basic but it beats sitting at the gate. Most non-KLM airlines direct their premium passengers here.

Your airline and cabin class determine which lounges you can access.Check route pages for terminal assignments.

Explore CDG → AMS

Ranked by flights per week

More flights = more flexibility. Miss your flight, catch the next one. Schedule depth is insurance.

472/wk (~67/day) — 5 airlines. A departure roughly every 21 minutes at peak.

1/wk each. Not viable for flexible travel planning.

CDG → AMS: 472 flights/week.Miss one flight, wait 21 min for the next.

Explore CDG → AMS

Getting to the airport

Cost and time vary by mode. Train is more predictable than driving.

Direct from CDG Terminal 2 station to Chatelet-Les Halles in around 40 minutes for around 12 euros. Stops at Gare du Nord on the way, useful if your hotel is in the 10th. Runs early morning to late evening. The platform at CDG requires a walk from the terminal, and trains fill up at morning rush. Buy tickets from the machines to skip the window queue.

Flat rate: around 56 euros to the Right Bank, around 50 euros to the Left Bank. Regulated pricing, no meter. Journey takes 40 to 75 minutes depending on the A1 motorway traffic. Morning rush into Paris can push it past an hour. Predictable cost and no transfers, which matters when you are carrying luggage after an overnight flight.

Direct bus from CDG to Opera Garnier for around 17 euros. Takes 60 to 75 minutes with no transfers. Drops you in the 9th arrondissement near Metro 3, 7, and 8. Slower than the RER B but simpler with heavy bags and a good option if your hotel is near Opera or Grands Boulevards.

Uber and Bolt pick up at CDG. Expect around 50 to 70 euros to central Paris, roughly matching taxi rates. Pre-booked private transfers run around 60 to 90 euros. Surge pricing during the morning arrival wave can push rideshare above the regulated taxi flat rate. Check both before committing.

A dedicated bus connects the airport to Porte Maillot in western Paris. The ride takes around 75 minutes in normal traffic and longer during rush hour. Departures are timed to flight arrivals and departures. Tickets cost around 15 to 20 euros one way.

The 55-mile drive into central Paris takes 60 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. Expect to pay around 120 to 150 euros. Only worthwhile if splitting the cost with several passengers.

Beauvais is off the A16 motorway. If your trip involves driving outside Paris, picking up a car here avoids city traffic. Not useful if your destination is central Paris.

A local bus or taxi to Beauvais train station takes about 20 minutes. From there, trains to Gare du Nord run about once an hour and take around 80 minutes. The total journey is close to two hours door to door.

Flat rate: around 37 euros to the Left Bank, around 44 euros to the Right Bank. Regulated pricing. The drive takes 20 to 40 minutes depending on Peripherique traffic. The southern approach into Paris misses the worst congestion. Fastest door-to-door option, and noticeably cheaper than a CDG taxi.

Automated train from Orly to Antony station, then RER B north to Chatelet-Les Halles. Total time around 40 minutes for around 14 euros. The Orlyval runs every few minutes and the connection at Antony is simple. Good option if your hotel is on the RER B line or near Chatelet.

Direct bus from Orly to Denfert-Rochereau in the 14th arrondissement, around 30 minutes. Connects to Metro 4 and 6 and RER B. Around 11 euros. Works well if you are staying near Montparnasse or the southern Left Bank.

Tram T7 from Orly to Villejuif-Louis Aragon, the end of Metro line 7. Around 2 euros for the tram, then a normal Metro fare into the city. Takes 45 to 60 minutes total to reach central Paris. The cheapest way in, and you see the southern suburbs from the tram window.

Some carriers arrange shuttle buses to Paris that take around two to two and a half hours. Service depends on the flight schedule and is not guaranteed year-round. Check with your airline before counting on it.

A 90-mile drive to central Paris. Expect to pay around 150 euros or more and spend 90 minutes to two hours in the car. Not a realistic option for budget travelers.

Limited rental availability at the airport. If you are visiting the Champagne region and have no need to reach Paris, this is the one scenario where Vatry makes geographic sense.

Weigh transit time against schedule flexibility.A faster airport with fewer flights may not save you time overall.

Explore CDG → AMS

Red-eye vs daytime departures

Departure timing affects jet lag, hotel costs, and how you spend your first day.

The flight is 90 minutes and no carrier runs an overnight departure on this route.

CDG → AMS has the most departure options.Check the route page for schedule details.

Explore CDG → AMS

Premium cabin options

Business and first class products on this route, ranked by value and quality.

Both airlines fly narrow-body aircraft on this route. Business class is an economy seat with the middle seat blocked, priority boarding, lounge access, and a meal. On a 90-minute flight the lounge matters more than the seat. The fare premium over economy is modest compared to long-haul routes.

Transavia is a low-cost carrier with no business class. Standard narrow-body economy seats. On a 90-minute flight, the seat is the same experience as Air France economy at a lower fare.

Check route pages for cabin details per airline.Business class products vary significantly between carriers.

Explore CDG → AMS

Connecting through Paris from a domestic flight

Air France and KLM run direct flights from Charles de Gaulle to Schiphol throughout the day. Connecting through a third city adds hours and costs more. Both Charles de Gaulle and Schiphol are major hubs, so the route serves connecting passengers moving between the two networks. If you are arriving in Paris from elsewhere and continuing to Amsterdam, a connection through Charles de Gaulle works, but check whether your origin city has its own direct Amsterdam service first.

Book CDG → AMS. Same airport, no ground transport needed. 5 airlines, 472/wk.

BVA has no Amsterdam nonstops. Your airline may offer a single-ticket connection through a hub. Otherwise, ground transport to a nonstop airport.

ORY has no Amsterdam nonstops. Your airline may offer a single-ticket connection through a hub. Otherwise, ground transport to a nonstop airport.

XCR has no Amsterdam nonstops. Your airline may offer a single-ticket connection through a hub. Otherwise, ground transport to a nonstop airport.

Avoid cross-airport transfers. No direct transit links between most metro airports. Budget 4+ hours minimum if you must.

Check which Paris airport your domestic flight arrives at, then book Amsterdam from that same airport.CDG arrivals → CDG–AMS · ORY arrivals → ORY–AMS

CDG → AMS

Know Your Airports

Paris & Amsterdam Airport Profiles

Each airport has a personality. Terminal quality, transit access, lounge scene, and crowd levels vary dramatically — sometimes more than the flight itself.

Paris Metro

Charles de Gaulle is three airports wearing one name. Terminal 1 is the original 1974 brutalist circle with satellite gates reached through underground tunnels. It handles Star Alliance carriers and has a retro-futurist quality that either fascinates or confuses on first visit. Terminal 2 sprawls across sub-terminals labeled 2A through 2G, the largest section by far, with 2E handling most transatlantic arrivals. Terminal 3 is the budget terminal: basic, separate, and a different experience entirely.

The CDGVAL automated shuttle connects the three terminals in about 8 minutes, but the walk from your gate to the shuttle platform can add another 10. Walking between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 is not realistic without the shuttle. Within Terminal 2, some sub-terminal connections are walkable and others require a bus. Security wait times spike during the morning transatlantic departure push from 2E.

The defining fact about CDG is its distance: 25 kilometers northeast of central Paris. The airport itself is well-equipped, modern in the newer sections, and stocked with restaurants and shops. But everything about your trip includes that commute into the city, which takes longer than many short-haul European flights.

Amsterdam Pairs

1

AMS

Airlines

5

Flights/Week

472

Closest nonstop airport CDG (Charles de Gaulle International Airport) · 37mi from BVA

Or connect through DUB Dublin Airport · 303/wk onward OPO Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airpo... · 107/wk onward KRK Kraków John Paul II Internatio... · 70/wk onward

No high-frequency connections found. Check ORY routes for all options.

No high-frequency connections found. Check XCR routes for all options.

Amsterdam Metro

Schiphol is a single-terminal airport, which sounds simple until you walk it. The building wraps around a central hall called Schiphol Plaza, with departure gates radiating outward in lettered piers. Some gates are a 20-minute walk from security. The upside of one terminal is that you never take a bus between buildings or guess which entrance to use. The downside is the distances once you are airside.

The airport sits on a former lake bed, below sea level. The train station is directly under the terminal. Walk out of arrivals, follow the signs down, and you are on a platform with service to Amsterdam Centraal and the rest of the Dutch rail network. Trains leave every few minutes. Schiphol compensates for long pier walks with clear signage and moving walkways, but leave time between connections.

Paris Pairs

2

CDG + ORY

Nonstop from Paris

472/wk

Into Amsterdam

15 min

Train to Centraal

All Pairs

Full Comparison

Every airport combination ranked by schedule depth. CDG–AMS carries 100% of weekly flights with the best on-time record.

Route	Airlines	Flights/Wk	Share	Duration	OTP
CDG → AMS	3	472		1h 25m	—	Explore →
ORY → AMS	1	0		1h 30m	—	Explore →

Coverage Matrix

Which Airlines Fly Which Pairs

Not all planes are the same size. The aircraft type below each checkmark tells you whether you are getting a widebody (777, 787, A350) with wider seats and a quieter ride, or a narrowbody (737, A321) with a single aisle. On flights over five hours, the difference is significant.

CDG–AMS

Air France

✓
A220-300, A320

KLM

✓
A220-300, A320

Kenya Airways

✓
A220-300, A320

Cathay Pacific (codeshare)

✓
74N

Emirates (codeshare)

✓

Quick Reference

Route Facts

Total Nonstops

472/wk

Across 1 pairs

Airlines

6

5 on CDG–AMS

Fastest Pair

1h 25m

CDG → AMS

Distance

248 mi

399 km

Paris

4 airports

CDG, BVA, ORY, XCR

Amsterdam

1 airports

AMS

No Nonstop

BVA, ORY, XCR

No Amsterdam nonstops

CDG → AMS ORY → AMS CDG Routes BVA Routes CDG Delays BVA Delays

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Paris to Amsterdam flights.

If both ends of your trip are in the city center, the train is faster door to door. The Thalys from Gare du Nord to Amsterdam Centraal takes about three and a half hours with no transfer. Flying takes 90 minutes in the air, but add the commute to Charles de Gaulle, security, boarding, and the train from Schiphol into Amsterdam. The totals are close. Fly if you are connecting through Charles de Gaulle or Schiphol, or if the train is sold out.

They sell tickets on Air France and KLM flights under codeshare agreements. You board an Air France or KLM plane with Air France or KLM crew. The only difference is which frequent flyer program gets the credit and which booking system issued the ticket. Kenya Airways works the same way on this route.

Transavia France runs Orly to Schiphol about six times a week at lower fares than Air France or KLM from Charles de Gaulle. The tradeoff is schedule: if your flight cancels, the next Transavia departure might be days away. If your dates are fixed and you want the lowest fare, it works. If you need same-day rebooking, fly from Charles de Gaulle.

Morning departures cluster between 7 and 10 AM, mostly serving business travelers catching a full day in Amsterdam. A second wave runs in the late afternoon for same-day returns. Midday flights tend to be less full and sometimes cheaper. Flights run all day with enough frequency that missing one is a minor delay, not a crisis.

Yes, and the Charles de Gaulle schedule supports it. Take an early morning flight, land by 9 AM, and catch a late evening return. With flights running throughout the day, you have backup options if your schedule shifts.

Charles de Gaulle has nearly all the service. Air France and KLM run dozens of daily departures from there. Orly has Transavia France with a handful of weekly flights at lower fares. If frequency and flexibility matter, fly from Charles de Gaulle. If you live south of Paris and want the cheapest ticket on fixed dates, check Orly.