How to get from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to the city center

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Schiphol airport is the largest airport of The Netherlands, it has six runways and is one of the busiest airports in Europe. Measured in market share it ranks 3th in Europe with over 63 million passengers in 2016. These numbers make sense when you consider that there are 108 airlines at Schiphol which make it possible to fly directly to 322 destinations worldwide. Schiphol is also an attractive airport for leisure as it has a total of 349 spots to shop, eat and drink and to relax and enjoy.

When Amsterdam is your final destination and you travel by airplane then you have probably chosen to fly to Schiphol as it is only 9 km (5.6 mi) southwest of Amsterdam. From Schiphol airport you can choose between several options to get into Amsterdam:

Taking the train
One convenient and inexpensive method to reach the inner city of Amsterdam is by train. The Schiphol train station is situated below Schiphol Plaza, which is the central hall of the airport with many shops, restaurants and other facilities. From the train station at Schiphol airport you can travel directly to Amsterdam Central Station.

To get on the train you need to buy a single-use chipcard or an OV-chipkaart (which is the Dutch public transport card). These are available from the yellow NS (Dutch Railways) ticket machines. After you have purchased the ticket and you want to go to the train station, you have to check in by swiping your card on the yellow card readers. These are located at the top of the escalators and lifts in Schiphol Plaza. And when you arrive at the train station of your destination you have to check out at the same type of yellow card reader on the train station.

It should be noted that trains to the city center of Amsterdam run 24 hours a day and that it is also very easy to reach other parts of the country from Schiphol as well. Even at night are trains to cities like Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Delft and Leiden available. During day time can almost all train stations in the country be reached with at most a single change of trains. It is also possible to take a train from Schiphol to other major cities in Europe like Brussels and Paris. The international train tickets from Thalys, ICE International, CityNightLine and Eurostar can be bought at the Nederlandse Spoorwegen Hispeed desks.

Taking the bus
Another option is to travel by bus. There is a network of direct bus lines connecting Schiphol airport to the surrounding towns and cities. The busses arrive and depart directly in front of the Arrival and Departure Halls at Schiphol Plaza. Most visitors that want to take the bus choose the Amsterdam Airport Express (bus 397) which departs every 15 minutes from bus platform B9 and takes you to the Museumplein, Rijksmuseum or Leidseplein in Amsterdam city center. And from here it’s very easy to get to your hotel.

If you wish a little more comfort and are willing to pay a little extra then you should consider the Schiphol Hotel Shuttle. This is a shuttle bus service that can bring you to your hotel in Amsterdam. The shuttle busses depart from Arrival Hall 4.

Taking the taxi
If you want to travel in comfort from Schiphol airport you could take your private taxi. After a long flight the chauffeur will drive you directly to your destination. In this case you won’t have to go drag your suitcases around in the city. Outside in front of Schiphol Plaza is a taxi rank where are plenty of shared- and private taxis available. There are not only taxi cars available, but also taxi vans. This is ideal when you travel with a group. All official taxis in The Netherlands are metered and will issue a printed receipt. Most chauffeurs also speak English.

If you wish is it possible, but not necessary, to pre-order a taxi. This can be arranged by calling the Schiphol Transfer Assistance (STA) at +31 20 601 3400, or to visit them in Arrival hall 4.

Renting a car
If you like the experience of driving yourself in The Netherlands it is a very good option to rent a car that you can pick up at Schiphol airport. This choice is especially convenient for people who also plan to explore other cities in Netherlands. Many car rental companies have a desk at Schiphol airport where you can check which options they have readily available for you. Some examples of car rental companies that have a desk at Schiphol airport are: Avis, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt. Most of these companies have a recent car fleet and have these cars ready in the parking garage of Schiphol, which is accessible via a covered walkway.

It also possible and more convenient to pre-order your desired car in advance. The advantage of booking well in advance instead at an airport desk is that you will have a wider choice of available cars and that the price is probably lower. Making use of a car rental comparison website will also help reducing the price, because you can easily compare different car rental companies and see which one has your favorite car at the most favorable price.

The city of Amsterdam also has plenty of places available where you can park your car, such as at the P+R transferium garages where you can park your car at reduced rates.