TRANSFER: BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT (TRAIN, BUS, METRO, CAB…) ↔  CITY CENTER & AREA AROUND AMSTERDAM

How do I get from Schiphol airport to Amsterdam city center?

The airport is well connected to the Amsterdam public transport network. Since Schiphol Airport is located only 18 km from Amsterdam city center, it is easy to plan your trip to and from the airport.

Here you will find the most important options for transfers to the city center and the surroundings of Amsterdam incl. travel times and current prices (as of 2023).

Contents

#1 Amsterdam Airport Express Bus 397

Airport Transfer City Center Bus

The Amsterdam Airport Express Bus (Connexxion line 397) offers a cheap and direct connection from Schiphol Airport to the city center of Amsterdam.

Round trip ticket costs €11.75 (2023) and can also be purchased online before the trip. This saves time and stress abroad.

Very popular with visitors to Amsterdam

The Amsterdam Airport Express Bus is very popular with visitors to the city, as it offers an uncomplicated, cheap and fast connection to the city center.

The final stop in the city centre is the bus station “Elandsgracht”. This stop is on the edge of the canal belt. The train station “Amsterdam Centraal” is approx. 2 km away.

If you want to go directly from the airport to the train station, we recommend taking the train (see below).

Save time with online tickets

Tip: You can buy online tickets for the bus before you travel. This saves time and stress during your trip.

Online ticket for bus 397 – buy here

or buy the bus ticket + a day or multi-day ticket for local transport in Amsterdam (metro, bus, tram):

Online ticket for bus 397 + day ticket or multi day ticket for local transport Amsterdam – buy here

The Airport Express Bus “Connexxion 397” offers a fast, cheap and reliable connection to the city center of Amsterdam. Online tickets save time & stress during your stay in Amsterdam. (Image: Jeroen pijper photography, CC 2.0 license)

#2 BY TRAIN FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER OF AMSTERDAM

Flughafen Transfer Innenstadt Zug Eisenbahn

Schiphol airport has its own train station (“Schiphol Airport”). It is located directly under the terminal building.

In addition to long-distance connections, the airport train station also offers a fast and direct train connection to Amsterdam Centraal station in the city center.

Transfer by train: 18 minutes to the city centre

The journey time from the airport to Amsterdam Centraal station in the city centre is only 16-18 minutes. Amsterdam Centraal station is a hub for local transport. Here you have many options for onward travel, whether by metro, bus or ferry.

In our travel guide you will also find tips on how to save time and money when buying tickets for train and local transport.

Directly under the terminal building is the train station “Schiphol Airport”. From here, in addition to long-distance trains, there is also a direct train connection to the central station “Amsterdam Centraal” (Image: Jeroen pijper photography, CC 2.0 license).

#3 BY CAB FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTER AND THE SURROUNDINGS OF AMSTERDAM

Cab Shuttle Amsterdam Schiphol AirportCabs wait for passengers right outside the terminal at all hours of the day and night. They are convenient to use, but also expensive. Alternatively, you can book a private shuttle cab online. This is usually cheaper and, unlike a cab, offers a pre-arranged fixed price.

How much does a cab ride from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam city center cost?

A cab ride costs at least the basic fee of €7.50. This basic fee includes the first 2 km of the trip.
After that, there are additional charges depending on the duration of the trip and the distance.

For example, a transfer to the city center costs between €40 and €60. Currently, there is a minimum charge for trips city center ↔ Schiphol Airport of €35.

The price in 2023 is €2.47 per kilometer travelled and €0.41 per minute of travel time. There may be surcharges for group travellers or luggage.

The journey time by taxi to the airport depends on the traffic situation.

#4 PRE-BOOKED SHUTTLE – A POPULAR ALTERNATIVE TO A CAB

If you want to fix the price of the ride in advance, then there is an interesting option. You can book a shuttle online before your trip. In addition to the destination, you can also specify, for example, the number of people. Before booking, you will be quoted a fixed price, including fees and taxes. This has several advantages:

  • The price is fixed. There are no surprises in the invoice amount.
  • The driver does not make detours to increase the cost of the trip. This can happen with a regular cab that charges by taximeter.
  • You get an invoice for the amount. This makes it easier to settle travel expenses.
  • In our experience, the shuttles booked online are cheaper than the local taxi.
  • You can also book special vehicles (e.g. minibus for groups).

Link: Website where you can easily compare and book different providers.

On this website you can simply type in the date of your arrival and you will get a clear list of all providers including prices.

Cabs are waiting directly in front of the terminal building. A convenient but also expensive way to get to your destination. A pre-booked shuttle is therefore a popular alternative. (Image: F.Heijnen, CC 2.0 license)

# 5 By metro to the airport – not until 2030

Currently there is no metro line to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. There are plans to extend line 52 of the Amsterdam Metro to the airport.
In November 2022, the Dutch cabinet decided to invest an additional 4 billion euros in local transport. This money is also to be used to build metro line 52 to the airport. Completion is planned for 2030.

Corona / Covid-19 Update

Corona Covid 19 UpdateThe worldwide corona pandemic has of course also affected Amsterdam travel.

Local traffic in Amsterdam: Since March 23, 2022, masks have no longer been compulsory in Amsterdam’s local transport system. Of course, you can decide for yourself whether you still want to wear a mask.

Museums / Sightseeing in Amsterdam:
Since 02/25/2022, a digital COVID certificate (EU DCC) is no longer required for entry into most museums. The mask requirement is also lifted. The museums welcome it if you continue to wear a mask. This makes other visitors feel safer.

Important attractions such as the Stedelijk Museum, Van Gogh Museum or the Rijksmuseum are open again as normal.

In order to control the number of visitors, only online tickets with a fixed date and time are usually offered.

Here is a page in English, which gives a good overview and a possibility to buy tickets online

Regulations and the situation in Amsterdam can change quickly.

Please always consider information from official sources, e.g. the current country-specific travel advice of your foreign ministry. The decision about the start of a journey and the behaviour on site is your sole responsibility.
Do not use information from this travel guide as a basis for health-related decisions. Always consult a doctor if you have any health-related questions.

INTERACTIVE MAP AND PLAN FOR DOWNLOAD

Schiphol Airport – Download map

 Download → Plan of Schiphol Airport Amsterdam incl. terminals (*.pdf))

Schiphol Airport – interactive map

Here you can find our interactive map. If you zoom in, you will find all the shops, restaurants, piers and terminals in the airport.

If you zoom out further, you can explore the area around the airport. For example, all stops of the Airport Express Bus 397 (shuttle bus to the city centre) are also marked.

Frequently asked questions in this guide – FAQ 2023

Schiphol Airport is only 18 km from the city centre of Amsterdam. That’s why the transfer to the airport is easy. The airport is well connected to Amsterdam’s public transport network.
In our travel guide you will find the different options (train, express bus, taxi …), with current prices (2023) and journey times. With our tips you can save time and money when buying tickets. 

A taxi ride from Amsterdam Airport costs at least the basic fee of €7.50. This basic charge includes the first 2 km of the journey. After that, charges are added depending on the duration of the journey and the distance travelled.
Amsterdam taxi fares 2023: €2.47 per kilometre driven and €0.41 per minute of travel time. There may also be surcharges for groups or luggage.

For example, a taxi ride to the city centre costs between €40 and €60. The minimum charge for a ride into the city centre is €35.

More information and tips on how to book a taxi online at a fixed price, for example, can be found in our travel guide.

Currently there is no metro line to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. There are plans to extend line 52 of the Amsterdam Metro to the airport. It is currently planned to be completed in 2030.

Today, people mainly use the Express Bus 397, taxis or the railway for transfers to the city centre.
More information on travel times and current prices (as of 2023) can be found in our travel guide.

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