Is there a bus from Amsterdam airport to the city? (2024)

Is there a bus from Amsterdam airport to the city?

Hop on a bus

Catch the train at Schiphol to travel directly to many destinations in The Netherlands. The NS train station is located directly below the terminal building. Take the escalator or lift downstairs and board the train. The train gets you for instance to Amsterdam Central Station in 14-17 minutes.

The Amsterdam Airport Express (bus 397) has a fast and direct connection to Amsterdam. At night, take bus N97 (Niteliner). Please visit 9292.nl to learn more about bus lines and departure times.

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.

By Train. The train from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal Station is the fastest and cheapest way to the city center. The train runs 24 hours a day, with departures scheduled for every 10–15 minutes between the hours of 6 a.m. and 1 a.m. (they depart every hour during other times).

The fastest route to the city centre is by hiring an Amsterdam airport taxi. Though it will cost approximately 39€, it will only take 15-20 minutes to reach your destination. The quickest method of public transportation is the train. Train tickets cost 5.40€ and it takes around 20 minutes to reach the downtown area.

Uber from Amsterdam Airport to the City Centre

Like in almost all the airports in the world, even Amsterdam Airport faces the classic conflict between official taxis and private transfers. Regarding Uber's rates, a run from Amsterdam Airport to Amsterdam Central costs about €30-40.

At the airport, buses depart right in front of Schiphol Plaza – a few minutes' walk from the arrival hall. You can take the bus to various places, including Amsterdam, Leiden, Lisse, Haarlem and Noordwijk.

Booking options at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

SIXT offers you a variety of Amsterdam airport shuttle options, from our budget-friendly sedans to the luxurious First-Class service. For larger groups and families, SIXT offers a van service with both Standard and Business Class options.

How to get from Amsterdam airport to hotel?

A hotel shuttle service enables you to travel to a number of large hotels that are situated in the airport area. The Connexxion Schiphol Travel Taxi connects Schiphol to over 170 hotels in Amsterdam.

Should you tip taxi drivers in Amsterdam? Similarly to most services in Amsterdam, you're not expected to tip taxi drivers. However, if you are using Uber in the Dutch capital, they do give you the choice to tip your driver if you are particularly happy with the service.

If you are going to travel by train, bus, tram or metro just once, you can buy a ticket at Schiphol or pay on public transport with your bank card, credit card or mobile.

Bus routes and tickets

Payment by debit or credit card is possible, as well as your public transport chip card. The Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket is also excellent value if you plan to explore the region.

Where to buy tickets? The 1-hour ticket and 24-hour ticket are available in the tram and bus, or from Ticket Vending Machines  at all metro stations. All other travel cards - like multi-day tickets, the child ticket, and OV-chipkaart - can only be purchased at: GVB Service Points 

Although a public transport pass is included, the connection between Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Station is not included. To cover this journey you will have to buy a separate ticket for the NS train or the Airport Express bus.

Boasting a whole range of transport opportunities, Amsterdam can take you where you need to go via a boat, bike, train, tram or bus. The cheapest way to travel around Amsterdam is walking but if you need to get somewhere fast, the use of an OV chip card is the answer.

It takes an average of 15m to travel from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam-Centraal by train, over a distance of around 8 miles (12 km). There are normally 117 trains per day travelling from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam-Centraal and tickets for this journey start from £5.51 when you book in advance.

Taxi price from Amsterdam Airport to the city centre

Prices for a transfer from the airport to the city center range from € 35 to approx. € 46.75. In contrast, a metered fare can be as high as € 75.

Is there a direct train from Amsterdam airport to Central Station?

There are 145 direct trains from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam-Centraal each day.

The driver should give you a receipt at the end of the ride. Taxis usually accept the payment of the fare by credit card, but it's better to ask the driver before you get in. It's not common to give a tip to the taxi driver, but you can round the bill up if you're happy with the service.

You can of course compare cost of Uber vs public transport before deciding. How much would a normal taxi cost for the journey that I intend on doing while out in Amsterdam? About €25 each way. UberX about €15 each way.

The cheapest way to travel around Amsterdam is walking but if you need to get somewhere fast, the use of an OV chip card is the answer. Being used on trams, buses and metros, the OV chip card (OV-chipkaart) is the easiest way to pay for all your travel about town.