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Getting to Amsterdam from Schiphol Airport
Schiphol international airport lies 17km (11 miles) to the south west of Amsterdam. Probably the best way to get into the city centre is by train which takes around 15 to 20 minutes - Schiphol has a railway station which runs directly under the airport. You can also reach the centre by bus, shuttle bus or taxi cab. |
Schiphol by Train: Trains leave to Amsterdam Centraal around 7 times per hour between 6am and 12.30am. There is also a night-time service which runs once an hour. One-way tickets (2010 prices) cost €3.80 or €6.50 in first class. If you have a NS Dutch railways discount 'korting' card it costs €2.30 or €3.90 in first.
Buy your ticket using one of the yellow and blue touch-screen ticket machines in the main hall - a few machines accept euro coins (no notes accepted) whilst most accept Dutch bank ‘PIN’ cards, Maestro and Mastercards. There is a €0.50 'service' charge for purchasing tickets at the counter and a €1 surcharge for using some cards at the machine.
A few tips:
*If you can, keep some euro coins handy with you for your arrival to pay for your train ticket at the machine - to save the €0.50 surcharge.
*There is also a train ticket machine in the luggage claim area - buy a ticket while waiting for your bag.
*On the ticket machine screen front page there is a one-touch option for a single "comfort class" ticket to Amsterdam - this is actually for a first class ticket - so if you want to buy second class use the normal ticket selection process.
*If you are going to Amsterdam Central Station ("Amsterdam Centraal") make sure you get on the right train. You can check the blue LCD screens at either end of the station hall for the next departing train. Double check the info boards above the platform which show the train destination and stopping stations. Trains going to "Amsterdam Zuid/WTC" and "Amsterdam RAI" use a different route and do not go to Central station.
For more details check our Amsterdam Rail Network Map and Amsterdam Metro Map.
For more on buying train tickets read our guide: How To Buy A Dutch Train Ticket
Schiphol by Bus: Another cheap option which is particularly good if you are staying in the Leidseplein / Museumplein areas is to take one of the public bus services run by Connexxion. The 197 bus (route: Schiphol Zuid to Amsterdam Marnixstraat) and Interliner 370 (route: Alphen a/d Rijn to Amsterdam Marnixstraat) run regularly throughout the day - both stop at Museumplein and Leidseplein before terminating at nearby Marnixstraat.
The bus will cost you €3.80 one-way and can be picked up from outside the Schiphol Plaza / NS train station - check the screens for the time and departure bay. The journey takes around 25 minutes.
Night Buses: Night bus service N97 runs hourly during the night between Schiphol Plaza and Marnixstraat. There is also the 392 night bus service from Schiphol to Sloterdijk train station and the 348 service from Sloterdijk to Central station. Tickets cost €3.50 single or €6 for a transfer ticket.
Shuttle Bus: If you have a lot of luggage you may want to consider taking a shuttle bus directly to your hotel. Connexxion's Schiphol Hotel Shuttle (tel. +31(0)38 339 47 41) departs regularly between 0600 and 2100 from bay A7 outside the station hall. Journey time to Amsterdam will be around 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.
This costs €15 one-way and €24.50 return. Children between 4 and 14 travel for half-price, under 4's free. Tickets can be bought from the driver or at the Connexxion desk at the airport; they are also sold at tourist information offices and participating hotels.
Taxis in the Netherlands are not cheap - the trip to the centre of Amsterdam will cost around €40 - €50 and will only be economical with 3 or 4 passengers. The taxi rank is just outside the station hall to the left. You can choose whichever taxi you want - you are not obliged to take the first cab. Schiphol also runs shared taxi services which can work out cheaper than private taxis, especially when you are travelling alone. More on Amsterdam Taxis
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Tips
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