Amsterdam Schiphol Airport AMS
Airport transfers Amsterdam
Schiphol Airport, known more formally as Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (IATA Code: AMS) is Holland’s main International airport. It is located around 9 miles away from Amsterdam to the southwest. You can reach Amsterdam Centraal Station in about 20 minutes by train and around 25-35 minutes by car. There are also options to transfer using buses and shuttles.
The train is the most popular transfer option, with the station being directly under the terminal.
If you are looking for a layover tour scroll to the bottom of the page, or you can compare all the other options on how to get to Amsterdam. Read on to learn more about how to get to Amsterdam from the airport.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to companies and services we trust. If you purchase something after clicking any link, then we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you (policy page).
Flights to Amsterdam
There are quite a few airlines flying to Amsterdam (easyJet, British Airways, KLM plus American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines). You can find very good flight only deals, but also a lot of the airlines now use their buying power to offer holidays. This works well for city breaks as you can find flight & hotels combined at reduced rates through the holiday section of the airlines website.
One such option in Europe is through easyJet who offer city breaks to Amsterdam, including the flight and hotel. It may offer a more tailored selection of 3-5 star hotels, but it is definitely worth exploring as there are bargains to be had.
Check easyJet prices for your Amsterdam city break.
Our recent visit was created through booking a flight and then booking a hotel separately, which actually worked out cheaper than any package deals offered at the time. So, it is worth exploring all options before deciding. Especially if you find a hotel you like in Amsterdam first.
Flight only Amsterdam
For flight only deals you can also use the easyJet link above and just look at flights only.
The link below will take you to the WayAway App which will scan all the available flights and give you the best prices and travel options for your area of departure.
You can also join its Plus Club and get cash rewards with all sorts of travel related bookings, including flights. The rewards are not miles or specific vouchers but actual cash put into a PayPal account, so you can then use your savings anywhere else. We think it’s a pretty good deal worth checking out.
Arriving at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has one main terminal serving 6 runways. This makes the terminal a very busy one. It also means you do not have to think too much about planning ahead for different terminal departures or arrivals, as it is all housed in one building.
The terminals are located at opposite ends of the building, so be prepared for a lot of walking if you have to go between terminals. We arrived on a British Airways flight in October 2024 and found ourselves walking over 20 minutes to get to passport control and baggage reclaim.
We also noticed that as the whole airport is co-mingled in terms of arrivals and departures it feels very busy with people walking in all directions with cases. It is not an airport where you arrive in your own separate section and it feels relaxed and empty as you make your way through.
Schiphol Railway Station
Underneath the terminal is the railway station. To access it you will see a series of posts to tap in at for your single use travel ticket or other travel ticket.
These are not barriers you walk through after presenting a ticket, so it is easy to miss them. They are more like bollards with the contactless symbol on, hang around ten seconds and you’ll see other people tapping their tickets against them, a light coming on and then they head downstairs. At the other end of your journey (your destination) you tap the same ticket out to complete the journey.
Once you head down the escalators to the area downstairs you’ll find all the platforms. The rail station allows you to transfer directly to Amsterdam Centraal in around 20 minutes. We talk about tickets and transferring by train to Amsterdam in more detail below.
Outside the terminal are bus depots, car hire pick-ups and taxi ranks. All clearly signposted.
As you would expect, the terminal is very well equipped with plenty of facilities. You’ll find currency exchange and an ABN AMRO financial centre which looks after all your banking and currency needs. There is an internet centre located after security with 3 lounges all open 24-hrs a day. Inside there are secure PC’s with secure internet, free data usage with any login details automatically deleted after your session.
There are private airside lounges, a library, Boots pharmacy, baby care lounge, luggage seal and go and an IAmsterdam Visitor centre.
Airport Schiphol Map
There is a very useful interactive map provided by Schiphol Airport that you can use to plan how to get around the airport. It is interactive and if you download the app it will also tell you where you are.
Schiphol Airport serves almost 50 million passengers a year, making it one of the top 5 busiest airports in Europe.
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Transferring to Amsterdam by train
This is likely the most popular and easiest transfer for arrivals to Schiphol Airport. This may not be the case if you are a large family or have lots of luggage and do not fancy the idea of struggling to get your cases to the platform and onto the train, and then onwards to your hotel from Amsterdam Centraal. If you have these concerns a private car, taxi or hotel shuttle might make for an easier transfer.
You can pick up a train to Amsterdam Centraal roughly every 10-15 minutes between 6am and 12.30am. These trains leave from platforms 1, 2 and 3.
Tickets for the train can be picked up either at the ticket desk on the arrivals level or you can use one of the yellow machines with a card or euros. A single ticket will cost €5.90 which includes a disposable ticket surcharge of €1. You can save this surcharge by buying online in advance, so paying €4.90. It is difficult to say how many people bought tickets in advance, but the machines seemed in constant use for single use tickets, so being that prepared may not be in everyones thoughts before a flight to save €1 each.
When you use the machine, there is a super helpful first page button option that as good as reads ‘I want to go to Amsterdam Centraal’. This saves navigating around the options, just press it and you then just select if you want one-way or a return and first or second class. The machine will spit out a single use card for this journey(s) that you tap in and out with at the start of the journey and end.
Ticket options that save you money
There are however, a couple of other ticket types that are definitely worth considering at this stage. And these are worth being prepared earlier for we think.
Amsterdam Travel Ticket
If you are visiting Amsterdam for a 1-3 days then this ticket could suit you. It includes the transfer from Schiphol Airport plus unlimited travel on all GVB public transport. Trams, day and night buses and the metro are all included. So you only need one ticket for your travel needs. The ticket can be for 1, 2 or 3 days and costs €18, €24 and €30 respectively.
If your hotel is not within walking distance from Centraal Station, then this ticket is a very good option as it saves you buying multiple tickets just to get to your hotel plus it also allows you to start exploring straight after checking your luggage into your hotel.
It will save you money on buying tickets for public transport as you go along, especially as it includes the transfer to the airport.
You can buy this ticket in advance online and take all the worries away about how you’ll get around when in Amsterdam.
I Amsterdam City Card
This can be purchased in advance online or from the visitor centre in Schiphol Airport.
The main difference here is that this card is designed for a tourist already in Amsterdam. It offers a range of free entries to some of the most popular attractions in Amsterdam plus discounted entry to some others. It also includes free use on the GVB public transport in Amsterdam.
Unfortunately it does not include trains, which means you cannot use it to transfer to Amsterdam by train from Schiphol Airport and would need to buy a single ticket for this. You can though pick it up in the airport if you wish, so that you are ready to travel around Amsterdam the moment you arrive in Amsterdam Centraal.
Learn more about the I amsterdam City Card.
To be completely prepared and save time waiting to buy the tourist pass, you can order this ticket online in advance.
Transferring to Amsterdam by bus
The Amsterdam Airport Express
This bus runs from Schiphol Airport through Amsterdam, ending at Leidesplein. Its route takes you to the centre of the city with stops at Museumplein, Rijksmuseum and Leidesplein. It is easy to reach any of the hotels in the centre of Amsterdam either by foot or using the metro or trams.
The Amsterdam Express bus takes around 30-minutes to reach the centre of Amsterdam.
There are two buses. The 397 which runs every 7.5 minutes and leaves from bus stop B17 at Schiphol Airport. Just follow the signs to the outside buses and look for the B17 platform. At night the Niteliner N97 replaces this bus and runs along the same route.
2024 ticket prices for the Amsterdam Airport Express bus
Single ticket (one way trip) valid on both 397 and N97: €6.50
Return ticket valid on both 397 and N97: €11.75
Comparing the bus and train transfers from Schiphol
In terms of cost, the bus is the cheapest option available providing you do not need to go to Amsterdam Centraal Station to then get to your accommodation. If you are staying in the centre and Museumplein area of Amsterdam the bus will save you a couple of Euro’s and a couple of minutes when compared to taking the train to Centraal Station and changing to (and buying ticket for) a tram or the metro to get to your hotel.
If you are staying near Centraal Station then the train is much quicker and cheaper.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport shuttle buses
When booking your accommodation it is also worth checking if your hotel offers a free shuttle bus service. This can often take the worry out of transferring as you will be picked up at Schiphol Plaza at the airport and taken directly to your hotel. Some hotels will charge for this service but it can still work out cheaper than making your own way by either train or bus.
Taxi from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam
The taxi ranks are located just outside the arrivals hall. You can book in advance but there are usually plenty of available taxis to take you into Amsterdam. This is the most comfortable route into Amsterdam but does cost the most too. The taxi’s are provided from different companies, so there is no official taxi brand as such. You do though need to use the taxi rank to be sure of using an official Amsterdam taxi company for your own safety and to avoid being overcharged. It will take around 30-minutes for your journey into Amsterdam.
Prices for taxi to Amsterdam from Schiphol Airport
There is a fixed starting cost of €39 for a taxi into the centre of Amsterdam. Depending on your time of travel, amount of luggage and required destination in Amsterdam, there may be additional add-ons. Be sure to agree the price with the driver before beginning your journey.
Private car from Schiphol Airport to Centraal Amsterdam
Sometimes you just want to be looked after as soon as you arrive at the airport. Booking a private car transfer to Amsterdam is the best way to start your break in style. You’ll be met at the airport and shown to your executive vehicle and then driven directly to your hotel. Private transfers are bookable in advance so that you can relax knowing everything is taken care of for you.
Private transfers are also good value for large families or groups travelling with lots of luggage who might otherwise dread the dragging their luggage and themselves around the airport to catch a train or bus.
We work with a private transfer company who will offer competitive online quotes to give you the best start to your break in Amsterdam. Just use the link to get a quote now.
We also have a dedicated page on private airport transfers with other supplier options and details to consider.
PRIVATE CAR TRANSFER
Relax knowing everything is taken care of before you arrive. Online booking, competitive prices and executive vehicles. Every car is cleaned after every trip to ensure your safety.
Layover tours Amsterdam
Sometimes you just cannot stay in Amsterdam and are just passing through. This doesn’t mean you have to miss out on seeing the beautiful city though.
A layover tour of Amsterdam will allow you to use the gap between your flights to visit the city, experience its attractions and get you back to the airport on time.
A private layover tour usually lasts 3-hrs and you’ll get a walking tour plus a one hour canal cruise before you are whisked back to Schiphol Airport. This is a great way to experience Amsterdam and so much better use of your time than sitting in an airport lounge.
Booking a hotel in Amsterdam
As Amsterdam is a major city there are a plethora of options available to you. There are the cheap Amsterdam hotels and Amsterdam hostels that cater more for the young travellers and party goers, a whole host of mid-range hotels, Airbnb’s and apartments, right the way through to top of the range luxury hotels.
You can explore a variety of our favourite luxury hotels in Amsterdam, as who doesn’t want to stay in a fantastic city and experience some luxury at the same time. And there are always good deals to be found.
However, we also appreciate the beautiful chain hotels in Amsterdam, that allow you to be flexible with your budget, but also give you a little peace of mind if you have stayed with the chain before or are a member of their rewards scheme.
Holiday in Amsterdam
Most people think of a short city break when thinking about visiting Amsterdam. But Amsterdam is a very popular holiday destination too.
What’s the difference? Well, often a holiday will be for longer and because of that, costs can actually end up cheaper. It is quite possible (with a bit of research) to stay in Amsterdam for 7 nights for the same price as staying for 3/4 nights.
Often, visitors will book flights, train and hotel separately. But by using a holiday company, everything is included and costs can be saved.
It is certainly another option to consider when visiting Amsterdam, the amount of time you stay can be adaptable too.
easyJet holidays offers excellent deals to Amsterdam in very nice hotels across the city. You can stay longer and explore more of the surrounding area at your leisure. There is more than enough to do in and around Amsterdam to consider it as a fabulous destination for far more than just a short city break.
Check out easyJet’s Amsterdam deals.
