The airport is well connected to Amsterdam’s public transport network. As Schiphol Airport is only 18 km from Amsterdam city center, it is easy to plan your journey 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 2024).
The Amsterdam Airport Express Bus (Connexxion line 397) offers a cheap and direct connection from Schiphol Airport to the city center of Amsterdam.
A return ticket costs €11.75 (2024) and can also be purchased online before the trip. This will save you time and stress abroad.
The Amsterdam Airport Express Bus is very popular with visitors to the city, as it is an easy, cheap and fast way to get to the city centre.
The final stop in the city centre is the Elandsgracht bus station. This stop is on the edge of the canal belt. The Amsterdam Centraal train station is approximately 2 km away.
If you want to go directly from the airport to the station, we recommend you take the train (see below).
Tip: You can buy online tickets for the bus before you travel. This will save you time and stress during your trip.
→Online ticket for bus 397
– buy here
Most visitors use Amsterdam’s excellent public transport system to get around the city.
It’s easy with the Amsterdam Travel Ticket. This ticket includes a transfer on the 397 bus + a multi-day ticket for the metro, bus and tram. You can also buy the Amsterdam Travel Ticket online:
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)
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.
The train journey from the airport to Amsterdam Central Station in the city centre takes only 16-18 minutes. Amsterdam Central Station is a hub for local transport. From here you have many options for getting around, whether by metro, bus or ferry.
See our travel guide for tips on how to save time and money when buying train and public transport tickets.
→ More information about Schiphol station:
(travel times, connections, prices, …) and our tips for buying tickets can be found here.
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”.
Cabs 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 taxi online. This is usually cheaper and, unlike a taxi, offers a pre-arranged fixed price.
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 2024 will be €2.47 per kilometre travelled and €0.41 per minute of travel time. Surcharges may apply for groups or luggage.
The journey time by taxi to the airport depends on the traffic situation.
The aim is the same in both cases. Travelers will be directed from the legal cabs to illegal cabs. In most cases, the men who try to persuade you are only intermediaries and not the drivers. For passengers, an illegal cab can mean higher prices and no insurance cover.
Our tip:
Don’t take the bait offered by illegal taxis. Only use official taxis waiting at the taxi stand outside the arrivals area or book the cab ride online (see below). Do not get involved in a conversation with cab scammers.
Our tip: Only use official cabs or a shuttle booked online. Do not accept the bait offers of illegal cabs.
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:
→ 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)
There is currently 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 in public transport. This money will also be used to build metro line 52 to the airport. Completion is scheduled for 2030.
Duration of journey
Airport ↔ center
Operating hours
Price
Return ticket
Travel Ticket
(train/bus transfer
+day ticket
local transport)
→ More information:
“Amsterdam Travel Ticket” – Prices 2024 & alternatives
→ Download → Plan of Schiphol Airport Amsterdam incl. terminals (*.pdf)
Here is our interactive map. Zoom in to see all the shops, restaurants, piers and terminals at 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 marked.
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 (2024) 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 2024: €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 2024) can be found in our travel guide.