Amsterdam Airport Express Bus 397
fast & cheap transfer: Schiphol Airport ↔ city center
The Amsterdam Airport Express Bus (Connexxion line 397) offers a convenient and direct transfer from Schiphol Airport to the city center of Amsterdam. The N97 Niteliner covers this route at night.
Our travelguide gives you all the information you need, such as departure times, journey times, stops and our tips on buying tickets.
Airport Express Bus 397: Fast and cheap connection to the city center
Connexxion Airport Express Bus 397: travel times
The Airport Express Bus is operated by the Dutch public transport company Connexxion.
That is why you will sometimes find the term Connexxion 397 for the Airport Express Bus 397.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is located approximately 18 km (11 miles) from downtown Amsterdam.
The N97 Niteliner runs at night
The Airport Express runs every day from 5:30 a.m. to midnight.
Between midnight and 5 a.m., the night bus N97 (Niteliner) takes over the route.
Operating hours & journey time
The transfer time from the airport to the city center depends on the bus stop at which you want to get off. An average trip takes about 30 min.
You can find more information below, where we have listed all stops with travel times.
How often does the Connexxion Airport Express Bus 397 / Niteliner 97 run? Frequency
In addition to travel time, the frequency of service is also important for passengers.
During the day (5:30 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.), the bus runs every 7-15 minutes. This means only short waiting times at the bus stop.
At night (12:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m.), the N97 – Niteliner N97 bus takes over. It runs every 60 minutes and serves more stops. Therefore, the travel time is longer at night.
Timetable 2025 for download
→ Download: Timetable line 397 from stop “Schiphol Airport”
→ Download: Timetable line N97 (Nitelliner) from stop “Schiphol Airport”
The Airport Express Bus 397 also offers space for strollers and wheelchair users. At peak times, the bus can be significantly fuller.
Ticket price (2025) for bus 397 / N97 – save money when buying tickets
Currently, a ticket for a one-way trip costs €6.50.
A return ticket costs €11.75.
With this ticket, you save €1.25 compared to buying 2 tickets for a single journey.
Our tips for buying tickets
1 Online tickets save time and stress
If you buy your ticket online before your trip, you save yourself the hassle of searching for the ticket machines, queuing and having to deal with foreign language problems.
You can buy your tickets for the Amsterdam Airport Express Bus – at no extra charge – online via this English language website before your journey.
No cash is accepted on the bus for security reasons. Therefore, it is convenient to have the right ticket already in your pocket.
The bus ticket for a one-way trip on the express bus 397 / N97 costs €6.50 (2025). With an online ticket, you don’t have to buy a ticket from a machine after the flight. This saves time and stress.
2 Combine ticket for bus 397 and ticket for local transport in Amsterdam
Most visitors use the well-developed public transport system in Amsterdam to discover the city.
It’s easy with the “Amsterdam Travel Ticket”. This ticket includes the transfer by bus 397 + multi-day ticket for metro, bus and tram. You can also buy the Amsterdam Travel Ticket online:
If you would like to use the well-functioning local transport during your stay, we recommend that you also purchase a day ticket for the metro, tram and city bus.
Airport bus 397: Stop plan & map
Here you can find all stops of the line 397, travel times may change slightly due to the traffic situation.
Many hotels and accommodations are close to the stops
Airport Express Bus 397 stops
In the map above, you can see the stops of the airport express bus.
Line 397 was planned for the transfer Schiphol Airport ↔ Amsterdam city center. That’s why many travel destinations and accommodations are located in the vicinity of the stops.
Schiphol Airport
You will find the stop directly in front of the central main entrance, “Schiphol Plaza”.
The bus stop has digital display panels that provide information about departure times, and covered waiting areas that provide protection from the weather.
The bus stop “Schiphol Airport” is located directly in front of the main entrance to the terminal.
The bus stop is well signed throughout the airport building and is therefore easy to find.
Amstelveenseweg
The Amstelveenseweg stop in Amsterdam is a major transport hub and offers a wide range of public transport connections.
- Line 50: Connects Isolatorweg with Gein, passing major stations such as Sloterdijk, Lelylaan, Zuid, RAI, Duivendrecht, Bijlmer ArenA and Holendrecht.
- Line 51: Runs from Isolatorweg via Sloterdijk, Lelylaan, Zuid, RAI, Amsterdam Amstel to Central Station.
- Line 24: runs from Central Station via Dam Square, Rokin, Vijzelstraat, Ferdinand Bolstraat, Ceintuurbaan, Roelof Hartstraat, Joh. M. Coenenstraat, Beethovenstraat, Stadionweg to Stadionplein.
The Amstelveenseweg stop offers connections to the underground and trams (Image: ©graeme8665)
Haarlemmermeerstation
Emmastraat
Emmastraat
Here you will find some popular hotels like Hilton Amsterdam, The Alfred Hotel or the Apple Inn Hotel.
Several important art museums are located around the spacious Museumplein.
Leidseplein is a central, famous square in the center of Amsterdam. It is a popular nightlife area with many restaurants, bars and cafés and the theatres “De Balie” and “Theater Bellevue”.
The “Leidseplein” stop is located in the city center of Amsterdam.
“Elandsgracht bus station” terminal stop
The Elandsgracht bus stop is a transfer hub for regional and local transport on the corner of Elandsgracht and Marnixstraat. It is located on the west side of the center of Amsterdam.
At the terminus you can change to numerous local transport services. If you have already bought the right ticket online, this will save you time and stress in Amsterdam. (Image: © The STB)
Wi-Fi, luggage, special rules …
Airport Express buses have free Wi-Fi and charging options for smartphones and more.
The buses have a deep entry. So you can easily take your luggage and possibly a pram with you on the bus.
Don’t forget to check in and out
There are scanners at the entrances and exits of the bus. These scanners check the validity of your ticket or the QR code on your cell phone when you get on and off.
Don’t forget to present your ticket at the scanner when boarding and alighting.
Tickets are checked by scanners on the bus. All passengers must present their ticket or smartphone QR code when boarding and alighting.
Amsterdam map with bus stops
Our interactive city map allows you to quickly find stops and their proximity to hotels or attractions.
Our tips for buying local transport tickets
1
Online tickets save time and stress
If you buy your ticket online before your trip, you save yourself the hassle of searching for the ticket machines, queuing and having to deal with foreign language problems.
You can buy your tickets for the Amsterdam Airport Express Bus 397 / N97 – at no extra charge – online via this website before your journey.
No cash is accepted on the bus for security reasons. Therefore, it is convenient to have the right ticket already in your pocket.
2 Combine ticket for bus 397 and ticket for local transport in Amsterdam
Most visitors use the well-developed public transport system in Amsterdam to discover the city.
It’s easy with the “Amsterdam Travel Ticket”. This ticket includes the transfer by bus 397 + multi-day ticket for metro, bus and tram. You can also buy the Amsterdam Travel Ticket online:
Alternatives to the bus 397 for the transfer airport ↔ city centre
Besides the Airport Express Bus, there are other transfer options:
- Train: Faster, especially if you want to go directly to the city center or to Central Station.
→ more information
- Taxi: More expensive, but comfortable for direct onward travel.
→ more information
For a detailed overview of prices and travel times of the alternatives, read our transfer guide Schiphol Airport ↔ Amsterdam city center.
The train transfer to the center of Amsterdam is a popular alternative to the 397 bus route and is often used by travelers who want to go directly to the city center. We have listed all transfer options with prices and travel times on a separate page. (see link above)
Frequently asked questions to our travel guide – FAQ 2025
Is there a bus connection from Schiphol Airport to the centre of Amsterdam?
Yes, the bus line “Connexxion 397” or also called “Amsterdam Airport Express Bus” offers a cheap and direct connection from Schiphol Airport to the city centre of Amsterdam.
You can find all the important information in our online travel guide, such as stops, departure times, journey times and our tips for buying tickets.
How often does the Amsterdam Airport Express Bus 397 run?
Bus 397 of the Connexxion bus company runs frequently:
During the day (5:30 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.), the bus runs every 7-15 minutes. This means only short waiting times at the bus stop.
At night (12:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m.), the N97 – Niteliner N97 bus takes over. It runs every 60 minutes and serves more stops. Therefore, the travel time is longer at night.
How much does a bus ticket from the airport to the centre of Amsterdam cost in 2025?
The Amsterdam Airport Express Bus 397 offers a cheap and direct connection from Schiphol Airport to the city centre of Amsterdam.
Currently, (2025) a one-way ticket costs €6.50. A return ticket costs €11.75. So you save €1.25 with this ticket compared to buying 2 one-way tickets.
For more tips on the Airport Express Bus and how to save time and money when buying tickets, see our travel guide.
Where are the stops of the Amsterdam Airport Express Bus 397?
The bus stop at the airport is directly in front of the central main entrance, “Schiphol Plaza”. In our travel guide, you will find a map with all the stops.
You will also find information on journey times, current ticket prices (2025) and tips on buying tickets.
How long does a bus ride from the airport to the city center of Amsterdam take?
The journey time with the Connexxion Airport Express Bus 397 from the airport to the city center is approx. 30 minutes.
You can find more information about stops and ticket prices in our Amsterdam online travel guide.
I was trying to buy a one-way ticket for bus 397 (airport to amsterdam city center) but the website link does not have that option. Only round trip tickets are available.
I bought tickets using vending machine at the airport and did not get the tickets only info to contact operator which was impossible to do so had to buy train tickets