Schiphol to Amsterdam: Train, Bus, Taxi or Uber – What to Actually Take

Schiphol has excellent connections partly because it was built with the train station directly beneath the terminal, so there is rarely a good reason to overpay for a transfer unless you are travelling with a lot of luggage, young children, or arriving very late at night; our Schiphol airport guide covers the terminal itself in more detail.

If you have not settled on lodging yet, our guide to where to stay in Amsterdam pairs well with this one, since your neighbourhood will determine which station or bus stop is most convenient on arrival.

The train: usually the best option

NS intercity and sprinter trains run from Schiphol Airport station to Amsterdam Centraal roughly every ten minutes for most of the day, with the journey taking around 15 to 20 minutes. Trains also stop at Amsterdam Zuid, Amsterdam Lelylaan and Amsterdam Sloterdijk, which can be more convenient depending on where you are staying.

You can pay with OVpay by tapping your contactless bank card or phone on the yellow readers at the gates before boarding and again when you leave your destination station. Buy a paper ticket from the yellow machines in the arrivals hall if you would rather not use contactless payment.

Which station: Centraal, Zuid or Lelylaan

Amsterdam Centraal is the right choice for most first-time visitors, since it sits at the edge of the historic centre and connects to most tram lines. Amsterdam Zuid is a smart alternative if you are staying near the RAI, the Zuidas business district, or south of the Museum Quarter, and it is also a stop on the North-South metro line.

Amsterdam Lelylaan and Sloterdijk are quieter options useful mainly if your accommodation is in the western or northwestern parts of the city; otherwise stick with Centraal or Zuid.

Bus: Amsterdam Express and night buses

Bus 397, marketed as the Amsterdam Express, runs from Schiphol to Amsterdam's Museum Quarter and on to Centraal, useful if your hotel is closer to the Rijksmuseum or Leidseplein than to the train stations. It takes a little longer than the train, generally 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic, since it uses the road rather than dedicated rail.

Night bus N97 covers the same broad route once trains become less frequent overnight. Fares work the same way as the rest of the city network, covered in our Amsterdam public transport guide, with OVpay tap in and out.

Taxi and Uber

A taxi from Schiphol into the centre typically costs somewhere around €50 to €65 depending on traffic and exact destination, and takes 20 to 35 minutes. Official taxis wait at a rank just outside the arrivals hall; agree on or check the fare basis before setting off if there is no visible meter running.

Uber operates from Schiphol too, generally at a similar or slightly lower price than a rank taxi, and can be worth it late at night, with heavy luggage, or if you are travelling in a group where the fare splits down to roughly the same as train tickets anyway.

Comparing your options

Luggage and OVpay at Schiphol

Trains and buses have limited dedicated luggage space, so a couple of suitcases per person is fine but expect to hold larger bags near you rather than store them separately. OVpay readers are clearly signed throughout Schiphol's arrivals and railway concourse area, and if your bank card does not support contactless tap in/out, the ticket machines accept most major cards.

Arriving late at night or very early

• Trains run through the night, though less frequently between roughly 1am and 5am.
• Night bus N97 is a backup if you land after the last convenient train.
• Taxis and Uber run 24 hours and are the most predictable option in the small hours.
• If you land early morning and your accommodation check-in is later, consider dropping bags and starting with the free things to do in Amsterdam guide while you wait.

Our recommendation

For most people with normal luggage arriving at a reasonable hour, the train is simply the easiest and cheapest way into the city, and it drops you within walking distance of much of the centre if you get off at Centraal. If you are flying out again, see how early to arrive at Schiphol for your return journey. Save the taxi or Uber for late-night arrivals, awkward luggage, or when travelling as a group where the cost per person evens out. Once you have dropped your bags, our 2-day itinerary is a good place to start planning the rest of the trip, and if the budget is on your mind, see our guide to is Amsterdam expensive.