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There’s nothing quite like the adventure of rail travel.
Hopping on a train is easy and convenient and a great way to get from A to B, especially in Europe, where the most iconic cities are well connected.
To improve this connectivity, Eurostar has just announced direct train services between Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and London, making it easier than ever to travel between the UK and the Netherlands.
Here’s what you need to know about the new train connecting 2 iconic European cities this winter.
Eurostar Launches Route From London To Amsterdam
Eurostar is the train best associated with the London to Paris route.
But starting in February of next year, you will be able to take a direct Eurostar train between London and Amsterdam.
This once-popular route will launch on February 10.
It was suspended when the UK left the European Union due to border control issues, but now it’s back!
And as an added bonus, the new route will have the capacity for 450 passengers when it launches, meaning you won’t be hard-pressed for space.
During the spring of next year, this capacity will be increased to 650 passengers.
This will make Eurostar a convenient and more environmentally friendly alternative to flying on this route. No luggage allowances to worry about, and without the hassle of an airport.
It will make it easy to explore 2 iconic European capitals in one vacation.
One of the biggest questions, of course, is how much will it cost? I looked at a return Eurostar standard class rail ticket from London St Pancras to Amsterdam Central Station from March 1 – March 4. The cheapest option is £156.50 ($203) per person.
Visiting London And Amsterdam In The Winter
If you don’t mind a little cold and occasional rain, then winter is a wonderful time to visit both London and Amsterdam.
From a practical point of view airfare, hotel rates, and crowd levels are all much lower in both cities during the winter months. For example, February is the cheapest month in the next 12 months to fly from the U.S. to London.
You can get a nonstop return flight from New York to London for as little as $342. This is based on flying from February 4 – February 11 on a British Airways flight.
But it’s not just the budget that makes winter such a great time to visit both London and Amsterdam. Because the days are shorter and the skies a little gloomier, it’s the perfect time of year to explore museums and galleries, then cozy up in pubs and bars with the locals.
In London you can visit Borough Market, which is one of my favorite spots when it’s cold outside.
A celebration of food and drink whether you want to grab something from a low-key stall or eat in one of the many restaurants. Make sure you come hungry!
I love Amsterdam in the winter, especially when it snows, and the whole city is white and glistening. The city feels so much calmer than the chaos of the summer months.
And it’s not possible every year (because you can’t predict the weather!) but one of my favorite Amsterdam memories is ice skating on the frozen canals with my family.
For this to be possible, the temperature needs to drop to -5°C or below for 1 or 2 weeks to get natural ice that’s safe to skate on.
Warm up with a hot chocolate and an oily Oliebollen afterward. These are delicious dough balls that you can buy from street vendors all winter, and they’re covered in powdered sugar. It’s perfection in a paper bag!
Why Travel By Train?
I know there are at least some of you out there wondering: why choose the train? Isn’t it faster to fly? But there’s nothing quite like traveling by train. It’s a great place to people watch and feel closer to the countries you’re visiting.
From a comfort point of view, the seats on trains are wider and they offer more legroom too. You can also get up and wander around whenever you want to.
As an added bonus, both St Pancras and Amsterdam Central stations are very centrally located.
This means you can depart from and arrive in the heart of the city without needing to worry about getting to the airport during rush hour or checking in hours ahead of time.
This route will make traveling between these two wonderful, iconic cities incredibly straightforward for locals and tourists alike.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.