Our travelguide gives you all the information you need, such as departure times, journey times, stops and our tips on buying tickets. We also present alternative options for airport transfers by bus as well as current prices for 2026.
Airport Express Bus 397: Fast and cheap connection to the city center
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 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.
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.
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.
⬇️Download: Timetable line 397 from stop “Schiphol Airport”
⬇️Download: Timetable line N97 (Niteliner) 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.
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.
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.
Purchasing your ticket in advance offers clear advantages:
After landing, it is convenient to continue your journey straight away without having to deal with ticket purchases or fare systems.
The bus ticket for a one-way trip on the express bus 397 / N97 costs €6.50 (2026). With an online ticket, you don’t have to buy a ticket from a machine after the flight. This saves time and stress.
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.
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
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.
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.
The Amstelveenseweg stop in Amsterdam is a major transport hub and offers a wide range of public transport connections.
The Amstelveenseweg stop offers connections to the underground and trams (Image: ©graeme8665)
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.
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)
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.
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.
Our interactive city map allows you to quickly find stops and their proximity to hotels or attractions.
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:
Besides the Airport Express Bus, there are other transfer options:
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)
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.
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.
The Amsterdam Airport Express Bus 397 offers a cheap and direct connection from Schiphol Airport to the city centre of Amsterdam.
Currently, (2026) 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.
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 (2026) and tips on buying tickets.
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.