Lille is a principal city in northern France and lies around 220km south-west in distance from Amsterdam. Lille is known as Rijsel in Dutch.
Are you looking to travel between Amsterdam and Lille? Let’s consider the transport options between the 2 cities by train and bus.
1. Amsterdam-Lille by Train
There are currently no direct train services between Amsterdam and Lille. You will need to make a change in Belgium at either Brussels or Antwerp. On this route there is the choice of using high-speed trains or taking the slightly slower Intercity services – in multiple combinations.
The Amsterdam-Brussels portion of the trip can be made either by Eurostar (formerly Thalys) which normally runs 11x daily or the hourly Intercity Brussels train.
Brussels-Lille can be made quickly (35 minutes) by TGV which operate a few times a day. High speed trains arrive/depart at the Lille Europe station.
For more info about Eurostar and Intercity Brussels please see International Trains from Amsterdam
An alternative route is to travel Amsterdam-Antwerp by Eurostar or Intercity Brussels and then take a Belgian Intercity train to Lille Flandres station. The Antwerp-Lille trip via Gent and Kortrijk takes just over 2 hours. It can be possible that a change is required in Kortrijk.
The total Amsterdam-Lille rail journey time varies between 3 hours 30 mins and 4 hours 30 mins depending on trains taken and connection times.
Fares (2022) can vary considerably and its best to book in advance, especially if using the high speed trains. The standard Intercity single is €65.70 (2nd class) and €101.60 (1st class). Cheaper one-way advance fares using the TGV can be found from around €46 (2nd class) and €74 (1st class).
Holders of Dutch Railways NS discount cards receive a slight fare reduction off the standard Intercity fare for the Netherlands segment of travel.
The 2 stations in Lille are located about 400m apart. Gare de Lille Europe handles mainly high speed rail services whilst Gare de Lille Flandres has more Intercity and provincial lines. It is easy to walk between the 2 stations – past the large Euralille shopping centre which lies between them.
As Belgium, France and the Netherlands are members of the Schengen Zone agreement you do not need to go through a passport control check when travelling between Amsterdam and Lille. However we have experienced French border agents coming on to the Intercity train before arrival in Lille Flandres.
How to book train tickets online: Amsterdam-Lille rail tickets can be easily booked at the NS International site – various combinations of Intercity and high-speed trains are available.
2. Amsterdam-Lille by Coach
The coach is a cheap and convenient way to travel between Amsterdam and Lille. There are 2 bus companies which operate direct Amsterdam-Lille services.
The main coach stop at Lille is located on Boulevard de Turin, directly outside of Lille Europe train station.
German coach company Flixbus operates a direct coach between Amsterdam Sloterdijk and Lille, although frequency of service is greatly reduced currently.
The Amsterdam-Lille direct coach journey with Flixbus takes an average of about 5 hours and singles start from around €7.
BlaBlaCar Bus (formerly OUIBUS) normally operates daily services between Amsterdam Sloterdijk and Lille. One-way fares start at €10.
If you are on a tight budget then the coach is probably the best way to travel Amsterdam-Lille.
3. Amsterdam-Lille by Air
Note, there are no flights between Amsterdam (AMS) and Lille (LIL).
Amsterdam Resources
Looking for a convenient hotel near Amsterdam Central station? Check out the stylish Kimpton-De Witt which is a short walk from the station. For those on a budget the Ibis Amsterdam Centre is literally on top of the western edge of the station platforms.
Accommodation around Amsterdam Sloterdijk includes the well-rated Citadines Apart Hotel and the quirky Train Lodge Amsterdam which is a hostel inside an old sleeper train.
The Iamsterdam City Card (1-5 days) offers free entry and discounts to numerous Amsterdam museums and attractions. It also includes a free public transport pass, a canal cruise and bike rental as well. You can order your Iamsterdam City Card online here
Lille Resources
In Lille you can book your hotel with Booking.com here.
The Lille City Pass (1-3 days) allows free entry into 30 Lille attractions and includes public transport.
This article was originally published in 2019, last update 19 May 2022.
