Amsterdam Airport to City Travel Options (Schiphol)

Take a look at all the best ways to get from Schiphol Airport to the heart of Amsterdam, including licensed cabs, rental cars and the express train.

By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak
Published: July 18, 2024
Plane at Amsterdam airport

It’s the dream trip you’ve waited for all these months… a few days in Amsterdam, city of canals, cobbles, culture and more. Whether you’re here to ogle classic Rembrandts, Vermeers and van Goghs at the Rijksmuseum, to pay your respects at Ann Frank House, or simply to sample the famously, ahem, laid back café culture, you’ll want to get to the heart of the action fast. Chances are you’ll be arriving by plane, so we’ve put together a quick guide to the travel options that will get you from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to the city center in a heartbeat. Read on for the gen…

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in Brief

Couple running through the airport to catch a flight

There’s only one international airport in Amsterdam which, if nothing else, should minimize the chances of getting lost, or of pitching up at the wrong city airport on your return leg. The name Schiphol is said to derive from the wetlands on which the airport now stands, where – as lore would have it – many ships were once lost (the literal English translation is ‘ship hole’), though there’s no actual evidence to support such wild claims. In any case, it’s pronounced (roughly) as ‘shipple’. You’ll likely get funny looks from Dutch cabbies if you ask them to drive you to ‘ship hole’.

The airport lies around 9km south-west of Amsterdam city center in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer and is one of the busiest on the planet, thanks to its convenient location for connecting flights in and out of Europe. After clearing passport control and grabbing your bags, you can reach the city center in under 20 minutes. How? Here’s how.

Amsterdam Airport to City by Public Transport

By Train

Train pulling into Amsterdam Centraal Station

Arguably the very best way to get to Amsterdam from Schiphol Airport, the fast train can cost as little as €4.90 one way and will hurtle you straight into Amsterdam Centraal Station in 17 minutes or less. Make your way through Arrivals and down under the terminal to the station, where Sprinter and Intercity trains depart every 4-10 minutes between 5.30AM and midnight, with a smattering of services continuing through the wee small hours to boot.

Book tickets online in advance to nab that bargain sub-€5 price. You can then print your ticket or store it on your phone or in the NS travel app for convenience. Alternatively, a single use OV-chipkaart costs €5.90 from the ticket counters and machines on Schiphol Plaza, one floor above the station.

By Bus

Schiphol is also very well served by bus services though, peculiarly, you’ll have to shell out a little more than you would if you caught the train instead. It’s €6.50 for the 27-minute (traffic permitting) ride from Schiphol Plaza to Leidseplein aboard the Connexxion Amsterdam Airport Express Bus 397. Tickets can be purchased online, on the bus or at various ticket points throughout the terminal.

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

Top Tip

If you plan to use public transport a fair bit while you’re in town, an OV-Chipkaart is good for use on trams, buses, trains and the subway. Minimum top-up is €20, but you’ll save overall if you’re transport-hopping enough of the time. OV-Chipkaarts are available to buy online and at ticket offices and yellow vending machines in the airport.

Similarly, the Amsterdam Travel Ticket gives you unlimited use of Amsterdam’s public transport network, with 1-, 2- and 3-day passes available at €18, €24 and €30 respectively. It even includes the Connexxion Amsterdam Airport Express Bus 397. Buy yours online, at airport Connexion counters and from the Holland Tourist Desk at Schiphol Plaza.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to City by Private Transfer

Traveler looking at flight timetable in the airport

Tickets schmickets. If you really can’t be bothered negotiating public transport or simply fancy gliding up to your holiday digs in style, perhaps a cab may be the travel option for you. Make a beeline for the Taxistandplaats (or plain taxi stand to you and me) just outside Schiphol Plaza. It’s well signposted and anyway you can’t really miss the lit taxi signs atop the city’s licensed cabs with their distinctive blue plates. Any cab without these, a company logo and a clearly displayed list of tariffs is likely an unlicensed scammer looking to fleece you for twice (or more) what you’ll pay for a taxi from the official stand. Avoid these dodgy dealers at all costs.

Chances are you’ll have to wait in line at peak times, but you should be able to pick up a cab at any time of night or day, reassuring if you’re arriving on the redeye.

Amsterdam Airport taxis are metered, but you can also agree a price with your driver before setting off. Note also that it isn’t essential to take the first cab in the line. If you have a preferred licensed company, just look for their logo and head to the first of their cars that you can see on the rank.

The cab ride can take anything from 15-40 minutes depending on what time of day you’re traveling and how busy the roads are.

Amsterdam Airport to City by Rental Vehicle

Tulips and windmills at Zaanse Schans in the Netherlands

Hertz, Alamo, Enterprise, Sixt, Avis… you’ll find all the usual suspects and more at Schiphol. Prices are competitive due to the proliferation of options, and driving in and around Amsterdam is fairly straightforward and generally stress-free although, like anywhere, the streets and ring road around the city center tend to get somewhat congested at peak times.

Central Amsterdam is easy to navigate on foot (or by bike! Or by canal boat!) so a car is certainly far from essential. But if you want to get out of town while you’re here, having your own vehicle does give you the freedom to take day trips on your own timetable. Hit up the likes of medieval Utrecht, the windmills of Zaanse Schans, or Keukenhof’s 79 kaleidoscopic acres of vibrant Dutch blooms for the win.

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Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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Rijksmuseum reflected on calm water
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Amsterdam in August

You’d be hard pressed to find the Dutch capital thriving more than it does in August. Seeing its largest annual throughput of tourists, the city brims with life in every way, from its bustling nightlife scene to its busy squares and huge selection of events and festivals. If you can put up with busier attractions during this time, then you’re bound to find a trip to Amsterdam in August beyond rewarding. Visiting Amsterdam in August Average Temperature: 54 - 70°F • Average Rainfall: 11 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 6 hours/day There are few periods busier for Amsterdam than summer, and August truly takes the cake. At the height of peak season, you can expect the city to be packed with families and summer vacationers, resulting in busy attractions and high accommodation prices. However, that also means you’ll get to experience the Dutch capital at its best, with its veritably electric summertime atmosphere. Upholding the seasonal climate established in July, Amsterdam typically experiences bright, mild days throughout August. While you shouldn’t expect the heatwaves of more southern European destinations, you’re likely to spend some very pleasant days in August, ideal for exploring its iconic streets, squares and open spaces. That being said, it’s always smart to pack an umbrella, as rainfall is never unlikely in the Netherlands. Things to Do in August No matter the time of year, any trip to Amsterdam would be incomplete without discovering at least some of its famous cultural hubs. Taking precedence is the emblematic Rijksmuseum towering over the Museumplein, housing a vast collection of renowned artworks and historical artifacts. Where historical insight is concerned, the Anne Frank House stands as the most potent recounting of life in the Netherlands during the Second World War. As a city with more bicycles than people, there are few better ways to explore Amsterdam than on your very own pair of wheels. Over 470 miles of cycle paths make up the Amsterdam Bicycle Network, making for a fantastic excuse to take a more physically active approach to exploring the capital. Many bike rental stores offer daily rates somewhere in the region of €10. There’s no better time than summer to make the most of Amsterdam’s many sprawling green spaces. The weather in August offers a perfect opportunity to take a stroll among Vondelpark’s ancient trees and stunning lakes, and grab a seat at one of its many charming park cafés. Equally, why not have a picnic in Westerpark, make the most of its live summertime events and shows, or even catch a viewing at its very own arthouse cinema? Second only to cycling, Amsterdam’s emblematic waterways offer a uniquely alternative means of seeing the city. You can choose from a large variety of tour operators offering their own canal boat excursions, often including tours of the capital’s key landmarks accompanied by local insights into their cultural and historical significance. Amsterdam’s nightlife scene is never better than in summer, when you can expect most bars and clubs to be brimming with life. Popular venues can be found throughout the city, but as a general rule of thumb, the old area of Jordaan is typically very popular with young people for its trendy bars. Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein are particularly popular for their club offerings, while the street of Nes often attracts more of an intellectual theater crowd. Events in August Pluk de Nacht Film Festival Mid-August is prime time for sultry evenings beneath the stars, and the Pluk de Nacht (‘Seize the Night’) film festival aims to deliver just that. This event consists of an open-air cinema premiering acclaimed independent films never before released in the Netherlands. Film lovers can grab a lazy beach chair and enjoy an evening of cinema accompanied by warm blankets and cocktails. Grachtenfestival Amsterdam’s Grachtenfestival, or Canal Festival, is considered one of the country’s most charming cultural events. The event brings together talented classical musicians from both around the country and abroad to perform in a 10-day classical music marathon on the city’s world-renowned canal belt. Throughout the event, over 150 unique stages open up across private gardens, rooftop terraces, canal houses, cruise ships, hotel suites and tube tunnels. Visitors can enjoy classical music, jazz and world music concerts from international names, with many performances offered at very affordable prices or even free of charge. Amsterdam Pride As the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, nobody knows how to celebrate Pride more than the Netherlands. Now a multi-day festival, Amsterdam’s Pride Festival typically attracts around half a million visitors each year in late July in celebration of equality, diversity and personal identity. Should you happen to visit around this time, you’ll find local bars and clubs veritably thriving with festivity. Various street parties and events bring together thousands of revelers dressed in the full color spectrum to enjoy live music performances and Amsterdam’s famous Canal Parade, during which over 80 official vessels celebrate the past, present and future of the LGBT community. Uitmarkt Late August marks the opening of the Netherlands’ cultural season, with Uitmarkt standing as its opening act. The largest cultural festival in the country, Uitmarkt draws in over half a million visitors each year to appreciate a huge selection of performances taking place throughout the city. Over 2,000 of the Netherlands’ best performers, musicians, actors, orchestras and filmmakers come together to perform across more than 30 venues. The full program of events is offered free of charge to the public and includes everything from classical music performances to dance demonstrations and everything in between in a show of the country’s vast cultural wealth. De Parade Touring the country’s five largest cities, De Parade is a traveling theater festival that transforms the open spaces of its host cities into festival venues filled with colorful carnival tents, live entertainment acts, a carousel and a variety of family activities and food stands. Beginning in Eindhoven, the event also travels to Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht before arriving at its final destination in Amsterdam. The festival typically arrives in Amsterdam in August and offers locals and visitors alike the chance to revel in fun-filled performances and the jovial carnival atmosphere. Whether you’re a fan of theater and the circus or simply want to spend an evening exploring the event grounds accompanied by live music and delicious local delicacies, De Parade is well worth a visit.
Robert Heaney
Interior of the Rijksmuseum Research Library
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Indoor Activities in Amsterdam

The Netherlands’ famous capital is lauded for its wealth of fantastic social and cultural hubs, its streets simply overflowing with individual character both inside and out. While you’re sure to find yourself wanting to explore each nook and cranny of Amsterdam’s canals and open squares, that’s only half the experience. You’ll find many of the city’s best attractions and activities hidden away indoors, often serving as the perfect escape from the country’s notorious weather. From retracing the steps of Dutch history to indulging in local delicacies, below are some of the best indoor activities in Amsterdam to throw into your itinerary. Museums Rijksmuseum Amsterdam’s famous Rijksmuseum is not only the largest museum in the city, but also one of the most important throughout both the Netherlands and Europe as a whole. Dominating the popular Museumplein area, the museum is easily one of the most recognizable monuments in the Dutch capital, most notably for its striking Renaissance- and Gothic-inspired architecture. The grand halls of the Rijksmuseum are home to a vast collection of art pieces and historical artifacts, illustrating the art and history of the Netherlands from the Dutch Golden Age to the present day. Among its more than 8,000-strong collection are priceless pieces from such renowned Dutch artists as Rembrandt and Vermeer, including the former’s famous Night Watch painting. Amsterdam Museum Combining both historical artifacts and striking artworks, the Amsterdam Museum stands as the Netherlands’ most complete public chronology of the Dutch capital’s history. The museum sits within the canal band, just a short walk from the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. The museum documents the city’s growth from a thirteenth-century settlement on the banks of the River Amstel to the thriving cultural center we know today. Everything from archeological finds and historical artifacts to the works of such Dutch masters as Rembrandt help to paint a picture of life in Amsterdam and the Low Countries as a whole throughout various periods in history. Anne Frank House Easily the most highly visited historical site in Amsterdam is the Anne Frank House. Once the original house in which the famous wartime diarist evaded German capture, the building now serves as a museum documenting her family’s more than two years in hiding, along with sobering insights into Jewish persecution under the Nazi regime throughout the Second World War. Located on the outer banks of Amsterdam’s canal band, visitors can explore the former premises of the Frank family business, most notably the original concealed annex in which the family remained in hiding. While the rooms of the property now sit empty of original furniture, they still breathe the chilling atmosphere of the period. Art Galleries Van Gogh Museum Having lived and worked in the Netherlands throughout his life, it’s only fitting that Amsterdam’s most significant art gallery be dedicated to the world’s most famous painter, Vincent Van Gogh. Just a brief walk from the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum stands as the most complete permanent collection of the Dutch painter’s works. Among the gallery’s vast collection of permanent exhibits are over 200 original paintings and 500 drawings from the Post-Impressionist artist, alongside exhibitions showcasing the works of his contemporaries. The museum is separated chronologically into five periods, each exploring a different key period in his life and work. MOCO Museum With Amsterdam’s vast wealth of impressive artworks dating back throughout the centuries, it’s easy to overlook the works of more modern visionaries. That’s exactly what the MOCO Museum aims to remedy. Short for Modern Contemporary Museum, this modern art hub sits just next door to the Van Gogh Museum, showcasing more modern media to parallel Amsterdam’s established masterpieces. The MOCO Museum showcases a wide range of contemporary media and artworks, allowing visitors to explore both modern master works and the talented pieces of upcoming artists. Popular among the museum’s collection are various interactive installations, an ever-changing sculpture garden and a number of iconic pieces from the likes of Banksy, Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons. Entertainment Heineken Experience Historic home to one of the world’s most iconic beer brands, Amsterdam’s Heineken Experience takes visitors on a unique behind-the-scenes journey through the production and history of the popular pilsner. The tour guides beer fans through various aspects of the brewing process, from product innovation to the brand’s light-hearted marketing efforts, before rounding off with a refreshing tasting session. De Hallen This multipurpose cultural and culinary center make for the perfect way to spend a day indoors in Amsterdam. Formerly a major tram depot, with the original rail tracks still intact, De Hallen now offers a vast array of activities, from a charming shopping arcade to a variety of trendy food outlets. The FoodHallen food court offers an impressive selection of dishes, from burgers to Dutch finger foods and a healthy selection of vegetarian alternatives. Most notable of the venue, however, is the FilmHallen cinema. Nine screens show a varied program of films, including Hollywood blockbusters, documentaries and award-winning art house showings. Screen 7 is easily the most striking in terms of aesthetics, housing the gorgeous art-deco interior of the original Cinema Parisien, first established in 1909. Specialty Bars & Cafés Few things complement a rainy day better than a steaming cup of coffee, a slice of homemade cake and an expansive collection of family favorite board games. That’s exactly the niche on which Checkpoint Charlie capitalizes. Its cozy aesthetic is bolstered by its sociable table layout, along with a variety of books and board games for customers to enjoy. The venue also hosts intimate gigs from international acts toward the end of the week. A number of venues throughout Amsterdam offer a similarly jovial atmosphere, with somewhat more of a specialty focus. Mooie Boules, for example, gives visitors the chance to sink a few beers and chat while watching or even playing a few games of classic French boules on the impressive sand pitch at its center. Retail Therapy Magna Plaza Housed within the elegant Neo-Gothic halls of a former nineteenth-century post office, the Magna Plaza is a relatively small shopping center oozing with character and class. Among its various outlets are a number of fashion retailers, along with places to buy unique souvenirs and a host of other miscellaneous vendors. The venue doubles as an exhibition space, with displays spanning its full four floors. Among these installations is a permanent exhibition celebrating all of the works of Rembrandt, remastered and reproduced in their original formats. The exhibition currently stands as the only place in the world where visitors can see copies of the Dutch painter’s works in one collection. Kalverpassage Standing as a commercial through route between Heiligeweg and Kalverstraat, the Kalverpassage offers a wholly modern shopping experience. Natural light flows from the glass ceilings throughout the mini mall, illuminating its many specialty boutiques, food outlets and art installations. The venue’s alluring design centers around its open and bright halls, offering avid shoppers a stimulating yet unimposing retail experience while also ensuring an entirely unobstructive passage between streets. Visitors can enjoy the space entirely at their leisure, without feeling either rushed through or forced to open up their wallets. De Bijenkorf At the beating heart of Amsterdam, De Bijenkorf – ‘The Beehive’ in English – is the Netherland’s most renowned premium department store. Established in 1870, the venue showcases the highest standard of quality throughout the stores in its roster. Luxury is the operative word here, with every outlet simply brimming with class and style. Five floors house an impressive variety of high-end retailers and exclusive designer brands for all manner of clothing. Culinary delights from around the globe offer the ideal complement to your shopping experience, and those looking for the utmost luxury can get pampered in the venue’s beauty treatment room, aided by products from top beauty brands.
Robert Heaney
Couple embracing in the rain in Amsterdam
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Things to do in Amsterdam when it Rains

Amsterdam is beautiful inside and out, meaning there’s still plenty of fun to be had when the heavens open and it’s just too damp to cruise the canals or whiz along slippery cobbled lanes on your bike. So don your wellies and mac and dive into our list of all the best things to do in Amsterdam when it rains…
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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