The Amsterdam Airport Express Bus 397 operated by Connexxion is a convenient transport option which connects Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to the centre of Amsterdam.
The red 397 articulated electric buses (R-NET branded) operate between Schiphol Airport, just outside the airport arrivals area and Amsterdam Elandsgracht bus station.
Note, the standard 397 bus does NOT go to Amsterdam Centraal station – however the N97 night service does terminate at Centraal.
Amsterdam Airport Express Bus Operating Hours
The 397 bus operates 4-8x hourly from 0500 to 0100 between Schiphol Airport (stand B17) and Amsterdam Elandsgracht. On Sundays the service frequency is reduced to 4x hourly.
Night bus N97 operates 1x hourly between 0100-0500 between Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Centraal.
The journey time from Schiphol Airport to Leidseplein will be around 30 minutes but can vary slightly depending on traffic.
Bus 397 Route and Stops
The full 397 route runs from the towns of Nieuw-Vennep and Hoofddorp before getting to Schiphol Airport – from there it runs into the centre of Amsterdam, terminating at Elandsgracht bus station.
From Elandsgracht it runs back to Nieuw-Vennep via the airport along the same route.
If your hotel/accommodation is on the route or around the Museumplein/Leidseplein area of Amsterdam then bus 397 is an excellent airport transport option.
Bus 397 – On Board
Buses have convenient ground-level boarding – good for those with luggage or accessibility issues.
On boarding you should ‘check-in’ with your ticket – either hold an OV-chip card or debit/credit card against the card reader or scan your ticket QR code underneath.
There are designated areas with folding seats for prams/pushchairs and wheelchairs. If these are vacant this could be used for placing larger bags/cases here as there are no dedicated luggage areas.
There is free WiFi available on board and USB charging points can be found under the windows of some seats.
Screens give live travel info en route and the ceiling is illustrated with the various stops and surrounding places of interest.
Press the red stop buttons to alert the driver for the next stop and don’t forget to check-out when you leave the bus.
Bus 397 Tickets
There are various ticket options for the Amsterdam Airport Express Bus.
You can buy a single (one-way) ticket for €6.50 or a return ticket at a slight discount for €11.75 – which is valid for 14 days on both the 397 and N97.
You can conveniently purchase online here and choose single or return (saves the hassle of buying at the airport).
For children aged 4-11 buy a children’s ticket on board from the driver for €1 (card payments only). Children 0-3 travel for free.
It is also possible to buy tickets at Public Transport Service & Tickets minibus tucked away near the hotel shuttle bus stops A5-A7 or at the public transport ticket machines.
You can use the credit on an OV-chipcard or check-in/out with a debit/credit card (OVpay) which will charge the standard one-way distance fare between your stops.
Note, standard GVB tickets are NOT valid for the 397 service. However, the following multi-day tickets are valid for unlimited trips on the 397 bus:
| Good for AMS airport | Best for Excursions |
 |  |
| Amsterdam Travel Ticket | Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket |
| 1/2/3 days | 1/2/3 days |
| €18/€24/€30 | €21/€31.50/€40.50 |
| Valid on all GVB transport (trams/metro/buses) in Amsterdam | Valid on all GVB transport (trams/metro/buses) in Amsterdam |
| Valid on Schiphol airport train + 397 airport bus | Valid on Schiphol airport train + 397 airport bus |
| Valid on trains between any Amsterdam stations | Valid on regional NS trains + EBS/Connexxion/Arriva/R-NET buses in region |
| Calendar day basis | Calendar day basis |
| Card only (not digital) | Card only (not digital) |
| Order here | Order here |
| more info | more info |
Alternatives to Bus 397
The train is the quickest way to reach Amsterdam Centraal from Schiphol Airport, taking just 15 minutes. Trains run up to 10x hourly between 0600-0100 and hourly during the night.
One-way tickets (2025) between Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Central cost €6.20 standard 2nd class or €9.84 in 1st class – these prices include the €1 surcharge for buying a disposable ticket. The standard Schiphol-Amsterdam 2nd class fare is thus €5.20. Book e-tickets here
Taxis in the Netherlands are not particularly cheap – the trip from the airport to the centre of Amsterdam will cost around €45 to €60. That said, the cars are usually very comfortable (Mercedes sedan or similar) so this may be a good choice for business travellers, older visitors and small groups.
The official taxi stand at Amsterdam Schiphol is located just outside the main station hall slightly to the left. The journey should take between 25 and 45 minutes, depending on traffic.
Sneleentaxi offers fixed fares to/from Schiphol airport to Amsterdam or any destination in the Netherlands. Book a taxi at fixed rate with Sneleentaxi
Amsterdam Airport Express Bus 397: Summary
Bus 397 from R-NET Connexxion offers a reliable, frequent and cost-effective way to travel between Schiphol Airport and central Amsterdam.
- Reasonable value
- No need to navigate train station steps, gates and platforms
- Convenient for staying around Museumplein/Leidseplein
- Cheap €1 children fares (age 4-11)
- Does not serve Amsterdam Centraal Station
- Longer journey time than the train
Order your Bus 397 Tickets here
First published on 12 November 2024.
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