Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) has its own railway station directly under the terminal, so the train is the obvious first choice. Bus 397 is the alternative for the museum district and Leidseplein.
Short answer: take the NS train from the station under Schiphol Plaza to Amsterdam Centraal: about 17 minutes, no change, with several trains an hour. A second-class single costs €5.50 when you check in with a bank card, plus €1.60 if you buy a paper ticket. For the Rijksmuseum, Museumplein or Leidseplein, bus 397 goes direct every 10 minutes for €6.50. By car it is 18 km, about 27 minutes without traffic. Our private transfer costs €65 per car (1–3 passengers) and €90 per van (4–8).
| Option | Travel time | Price | Changes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS train to Amsterdam Centraal | about 17 min | €5.50 (2nd class; +€1.60 for a paper ticket) | 0 | Most travellers, hotels near Centraal and Dam Square |
| Bus 397 (Amsterdam Airport Express) | varies with traffic | €6.50 single, €11.75 return | 0 | Museumplein, Rijksmuseum, Leidseplein |
| Night bus N97 (Niteliner) | varies | €6.50 single | 0 | Arrivals after the 397 stops running |
| Taxi from the rank (metered) | about 27 min without traffic | Meter, capped at €4.31 + €3.17/km + €0.52/min | 0 | Door to door without booking |
| ShuttleHero private transfer | about 27 min (longer at rush hour) | €65 per car (1–3), €90 per van (4–8) | 0 | Families, groups, luggage, canal-side hotels |
Schiphol's railway station sits directly below the terminal building, under Schiphol Plaza. NS puts the trip to Amsterdam Centraal at about 17 minutes; eight Sprinter trains an hour run via Sloterdijk and Lelylaan, and Intercity trains run on top of that. Trains to the city usually leave from platform 3, but check the departure boards. There are slightly fewer trains after 21:00, and NS night trains keep running roughly once an hour through the night.
The NS 2026 price list gives €5.50 for a second-class single over this distance. The simplest way to pay is to check in with a contactless bank card or phone at the card readers at Schiphol and check out at the gates in Amsterdam Centraal. A paper single from an NS ticket machine adds a €1.60 surcharge for the single-use card. Machines stand near the baggage belts and in Schiphol Plaza.
Bus 397, sold as the Amsterdam Airport Express, leaves from stop B17: walk out of Schiphol Plaza and turn right. It runs every 10 minutes in the daytime and goes without a change to Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum and Leidseplein, which suits hotels in the museum district and the southern Canal Ring better than the train. A single costs €6.50 and a return from €11.75. You can pay the driver by debit or credit card or check in and out with a contactless bank card; cash is not accepted. At night the N97 Niteliner covers the route once an hour on the same ticket. The bus uses the motorway and city streets, so its journey time depends on traffic.
There is a taxi rank outside the arrivals area. Taxis taken from a rank or hailed in the street in the Netherlands run on the meter, and the government sets a maximum fare for 2026: €4.31 to start, €3.17 per km and €0.52 per minute for a car with up to 4 passengers, or €8.77, €4.00 and €0.59 for a minibus with 5 to 8. A driver may offer a fixed price instead, but it must be agreed before the ride starts.
The road route is about 18 km via the A4 and the A10 ring and takes about 27 minutes without traffic. The A10 slows down a lot at weekday rush hours. Inside the canal belt many quays are narrow, one-way or closed to through traffic, so a car often stops on the nearest open street and the last few metres are on foot.
A private transfer Schiphol Airport → Amsterdam city centre costs €65 per car for 1–3 passengers and €90 per van for 4–8 passengers. The price is per vehicle, fixed and paid by card when you book, and luggage is included. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. A child seat costs +€10. The driver takes you to your hotel, or to the closest point a car may reach on a canal-side street.
Schiphol Airport → Amsterdam city centre
Car, 1–3 passengers: €65 · Van, 4–8 passengers: €90
Schiphol has one terminal building, and all arrivals halls lead out to Schiphol Plaza. Your driver waits just beyond baggage reclaim and the customs exit, on the Schiphol Plaza side, holding a sign with your name. We track your flight and you get 60 minutes of free waiting after landing.
The train is cheaper and quicker than any road option, and it is hard to beat for one or two people with normal luggage. Staying near the Rijksmuseum, Museumplein or Leidseplein: bus 397 drops you closer than Centraal. A private transfer makes sense for a family with children and suitcases, for a group of four to eight (one van at €90 in total), or for a canal-side hotel that is a long walk with bags from the nearest tram stop.
The NS train from the station under Schiphol Plaza reaches Amsterdam Centraal in about 17 minutes without a change. By car the trip takes about 27 minutes without traffic.
A second-class single costs €5.50 under the NS 2026 fares when you check in with a bank card. A paper ticket from the machine adds a €1.60 surcharge.
Yes. Bus 397 leaves from stop B17 every 10 minutes and goes direct to Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum and Leidseplein. A single costs €6.50, paid by card only.
Taxis from the rank run on the meter. The 2026 legal maximum for a car is €4.31 to start, €3.17 per km and €0.52 per minute; a fixed price must be agreed before departure.
Our transfer costs €65 per car for 1–3 passengers and €90 per van for 4–8 passengers, fixed when you book, luggage included.
Public transport times and fares were checked on 25 October 2026 on the operators' websites. Timetables and fares change, so check the operator before you travel.
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