This post provides details about how to get from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam city centre, including information about various transfer services and opportunities to save money on this service.
TAKE THE TRAIN
The Dutch National Rail (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) offers trains from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Central Station in an average of 14-17 minutes.
This option will cost about €5.50 per person with a €1 surcharge for disposable tickets.
You can purchase admission at either a ticket machine or a ticket desk.
Of course, if you want to take all the guesswork out of it, you can also purchase an Amsterdam & Regional Travel Ticket.
This type of ticket is good for 1-3 days at a time, and it is valid across pretty much all public transportation in Amsterdam.
For more details, please read our post covering Amsterdam's public transport.
Alternatively, you can also purchase tickets here or learn more (Affiliate Disclosure).
You can also get a train ticket with at least one Amsterdam tourist pass, which we cover in our discounts section.
If you’re looking for a potentially cheaper alternative, consider taking the train from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Zuid station.
These tickets only cost €4 for second class (with €1 disposable ticket surcharge).
At Amsterdam Zuid, you can transfer onto the metro line M52 and head towards the city centre.
This option is also available if you get an Amsterdam & Regional Travel Ticket.
Each arrival point at Schiphol Airport is pretty close to the main station hall.
There are 6 underground platforms to depart from, but you should head to platforms 1, 2, or 3 to take a train to Amsterdam.
You can reach the underground platforms by escalator or stairs from the main station hall.
TAKE A SHUTTLE BUS
If you don’t mind a slightly longer wait, there is also a shuttle bus available from Connexxion for €6.50.
This option will take approximately 30-45 minutes depending on traffic and other factors.
The line which will take you to Amsterdam city centre is bus 397, and you’ll find it at the bus stop B15 just outside the main station hall at Schiphol Plaza.
One of the main advantages of this option is that the shuttle bus runs up to 8 times per hour between 5:00 am and 12:30 am, so you can usually rely on the bus to be there when you arrive.
Another bonus is that your ticket is good for 1 ½ hours and it can be used on all other public transport in Amsterdam.
Since the ride to the city centre usually only takes half an hour, that gives you plenty of time to use your transfer to reach another part of the city if needed.
Tickets can be purchased from the driver or at the Public Transport Service booth near stops B9-B15.
Alternatively, you can also purchase tickets online (Affiliate Disclosure) ahead of time to avoid worrying about paying fares on-site.
If you’re looking for an even cheaper option, you can also take bus 69, which will take you to the Sloterdijk station.
This service only requires a 1-hour ticket which is €3.20 per person.
This option will take 40 minutes, but you should have enough time to connect to bus 22 which will take you to Amsterdam Central.
Alternatively, you can also use your transfer to hop on tram 12, which will take you to the Museumplein area.
Even better, if you’re not interested in paying for individual tickets, you can also use a 1-7 day bus pass to hop on bus 69 and take your time travelling around the city.
Some of these day pass options are included with tourist passes, allowing you to save money on public transportation. For more details, please check our discount section.
TAKE A PRIVATE CAR OR VAN
There are several private shuttle services available in Amsterdam that offer transportation between Schiphol Airport and the city centre.
The most popular options are either by car or luxury van, and each of them provides door-to-door transfers from the airport to just about any destination in or around Amsterdam.
As if that weren’t good enough, these services are available pretty much 24 hours a day, so they’ll always be ready to pick you up no matter when you arrive.
- Private Car Shuttle | €44 per person (up to 3 people).
- Private Van Shuttle | €61 per person (up to 7 people).
Unfortunately, there are no discounts available on private airport transfers to Amsterdam city centre.
While this is a great option if you don’t feel like waiting for a bus or train and you want a break from the public, it’s worth noting that you’ll save a lot more money with another type of transfer service.
Most private shuttles will meet you at the airport and lead you in the direction of the vehicle, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost trying to find your shuttle!
TAKE THE HOTEL SHUTTLE MINIBUS
In addition to line 397, Connexxion also provides a minibus shuttle service from Schiphol Airport directly to your hotel.
If you’re looking for a transfer that will get you straight to the hotel, this is an excellent alternative to private shuttles.
The Connexxion Schiphol Hotel Shuttle departs every 30 minutes from 6:00 am - 21:30 (9:30 pm) and you can find the minibus at bay A7 outside the station hall.
These buses have around 8 seats, so they’re almost as good as a private car, and ticket prices are a little more reasonable as well.
Adult Prices
- €18.50/One Way
- €29.50/Return
Children Prices (4-14)
- €9.75/One Way
- €14.75/Return
- Free for kids under 4.
Discounts are available for groups of 3-8 people. The max discount available is for 8 people, and the total cost for this service is €76 one way and €128 for return tickets.
You can purchase tickets at the Connexxion desk in the Arrivals Hall 4.
Alternatively, you can also pay for this service separately at the I Amsterdam Visitor Centres or participating hotels.
TAKE A TAXI OR UBER
As with pretty much all airports, there are almost always taxis waiting at Schiphol to take you to your destination in Amsterdam.
Although this option isn’t usually the cheapest, taxis will usually cost about as much as a private car or van at an average rate of about €45-€50 for a trip to the city centre.
You’ll find taxis right outside the main station hall and to the left.
You can expect a trip to Amsterdam to take around 30-40 minutes on average, but it could be as quick as 20-25 minutes depending on traffic.
If you’re worried about taxi rates getting out of control due to heavy traffic, consider using Taxi-Electric.
This company exclusively uses electric cars and they offer a fixed price of €40 to central Amsterdam.
They also have a fixed rate of €30 to Amsterdam South – and city centre if they have a car nearby when you call from the airport! To request a Taxi-Electric ride, call +31(0)88-1004444.
Alternatively, you can also use the Uber service on your smartphone in order to get a rideshare from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam city centre.
Depending on which service you choose and where your destination is, you can expect rates between €30-€60.
DEALS AND DISCOUNTS
Tourist Passes
In addition to helping you save money on admission to dozens of attractions, tours, and other activities, tourist passes can also be used for discounts on shuttles from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Central.
There are currently two ways to save money on airport transfers in this city: either through a public transport pass or actual shuttle services included with various passes.
The following tourist passes include anywhere from a 1-5 day public transport pass or shuttle transfer at no additional cost:
Of course, tourist passes are valuable for more than just an airport shuttle.
Here are a few of the most popular tours, museums, and cultural landmarks included with the services we’ve listed above:
- Hop on Hop off Boat Tour | €26
- Hop on Hop off Bus Tour | €26
- Nemo Science Museum | €17.50
- Heineken Experience | €21
- Amsterdam Dungeon | €24
- Ripley’s Believe it or Not! | €21.50
- Madame Tussauds | €24.50
- Van Gogh Museum | €19
- Stedelijk Museum | €18.50
- Rijksmuseum | €20
Depending on which type of pass you choose, you should be able to save anywhere from 20% - 50% off general admission prices – or more!
For more details, please read our post covering Amsterdam tourist passes.
Discount Sites
If all else fails, you can always check sites such as Groupon to see if they’re currently offering any deals on shuttles or car rentals from Schiphol airport.
These services usually provide discounts on various transportation options, and they also frequently offer additional coupon codes for an extra 10% - 20% off.
Before you make a purchase, check both the top and bottom of the page for any banners which may include a coupon you can use to save even more money.
