Amsterdam / The verdict
Schiphol airport to Amsterdam: which way?
Take the NS train for most trips: NS lists 17 minutes to Amsterdam and e-tickets from EUR 5.50. Bus 397 is the better pick if you are staying near Museumplein or Leidseplein.
By The Real Traveler Experiences team. We earn a commission if you book through our links. It never changes a verdict.
The Amsterdam story
Amsterdam is built for wandering: canal rings that look painted, gabled houses and bikes everywhere, with a world-class museum haul packed into a centre crossed on foot in half an hour. The Jordaan's cafes and the canal belt's quiet streets are as much the attraction as the Rijksmuseum, and the city is easy to love in almost any weather.
The verdict in 30 seconds
Our pick: NS train to Amsterdam Centraal (runner-up: Bus 397 Amsterdam Airport Express)
Take the NS train for most trips: NS lists 17 minutes to Amsterdam and e-tickets from EUR 5.50. Bus 397 is the better pick if you are staying near Museumplein or Leidseplein.
Go if
- You are arriving at Schiphol and staying in central Amsterdam
- You want to compare the train, bus 397 and a taxi before you land
Skip if
- You are flying into another Dutch airport such as Rotterdam The Hague or Eindhoven
- Your hotel already includes an airport shuttle you plan to use
The options
NS train to Amsterdam Centraal Go
Most travelers, especially those staying near Amsterdam Centraal or anywhere reachable by tram or metro from the station.
Good
- NS lists a journey of 17 minutes and 145 trains a day on the route.
- NS lists e-tickets from EUR 5.50, and NS says you can check in with a contactless debit card, credit card or phone instead of buying a ticket.
- Travelers who used it describe finding the station and tapping in with a card as quick and easy, and one found the double-decker uncrowded on a morning arrival.
- During the September 2026 national transport strike, the airport sprinter was the one train service still running, per news coverage.
Watch out
- Paper tickets from NS machines or the service desk carry a EUR 1.60 surcharge.
- The check-in poles sit before the escalators down to the platform, and a conductor told one couple who missed them that this is a common visitor mistake.
- Disruptions happen: a June 2025 cable fire, January 2026 snow and a June 2025 rail strike each left travelers without airport trains.
NS train, Schiphol Airport to AmsterdamCheck in with a contactless card (NS)
Bus 397 Amsterdam Airport Express It depends
Travelers staying near Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum or Leidseplein, where the bus stops without a change.
Good
- Connexxion lists a EUR 6.50 single and a EUR 11.75 return, with departures every 10 minutes from stop B17.
- Stops at Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum and Leidseplein without changing, and the ticket is also valid on the N97 night bus.
- A Dutch local who makes the airport trip regularly calls it the direct option for the museum district.
Watch out
- Its single fare is higher than the lowest train e-ticket, and Connexxion does not publish a journey time.
- Drivers take cards only; Connexxion says cash is not accepted, and the city tourism site says only one person per card can check in.
- It does not serve Amsterdam Centraal, so travelers staying there are better off on the train.
Amsterdam Airport Express bus 397 (Connexxion)See ticket optionspartner site
Taxi or pre-booked transfer It depends
Groups of three or four splitting the fare, travelers with limited mobility or heavy luggage, and late arrivals who want to go door to door.
Good
- Door to door from the official taxi rank with no booking needed, according to the city tourism site.
- Taxis on the rank must stay within the national maximum tariffs, and any fixed price must be agreed before the ride starts.
- A Dutch local who makes the trip regularly prefers a pre-booked driver after a long flight with luggage.
Watch out
- The city tourism site puts a standard ride to the center at 35 to 55 EUR, rising to around 75 EUR on the meter, against 5.50 EUR by train.
- Meter fares grow with distance and time, so traffic adds to the price.
- Rides can be hard to get when trains stop: two travelers landing during a rail strike found no app ride available and had a taxi drop them at the wrong hotel first.
Official 2026 taxi maximum fares (Dutch government)See private transfer optionspartner site
Drivers offering rides inside the terminal Skip
No one; the city tourism site advises against these rides.
Good
- None beyond not having to find the rank.
Watch out
- The city tourism site says drivers soliciting inside the airport are not officially approved taxi drivers.
- Without the official rank there is no assurance the maximum tariffs or a metered fare apply.
| Criterion | NS train to Amsterdam Centraal | Bus 397 Amsterdam Airport Express | Taxi or pre-booked transfer | Drivers offering rides inside the terminal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official price | From EUR 5.50 e-ticket per person | EUR 6.50 single, EUR 11.75 return per person | Typically 35 to 55 EUR per the city tourism site; metered within national maximums | Not published |
| Official journey time | 17 minutes to Amsterdam | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Departures | 145 trains a day | Every 10 minutes; N97 night bus once an hour | Official rank, no booking needed | Unpredictable |
| Where it drops you | Amsterdam Centraal or other Amsterdam stations | Museumplein, Rijksmuseum or Leidseplein | Door to door | Door to door, without official approval |
| How to pay | E-ticket online, NS machine (EUR 1.60 paper surcharge) or a contactless card | E-ticket, card on board (no cash) or a contactless card | Meter, or a fixed price agreed before the ride | Not published |
What it costs
- NS train e-ticket, Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam: €5.50 (lowest e-ticket price NS lists for the route). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- NS paper ticket surcharge (machine or service desk): €1.60 (not charged on e-tickets). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Amsterdam Airport Express bus 397, single: €6.50 (also valid on the N97 night bus). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Amsterdam Airport Express bus 397, return: €11.75. Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Taxi maximum start fare (up to 4 passengers): €4.31 (2026 national maximum for taxis from a rank; EUR 8.77 for 5 to 8 seat vehicles). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Taxi maximum per kilometer (up to 4 passengers): €3.17 (EUR 4.00 for 5 to 8 seat vehicles). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Taxi maximum per minute (up to 4 passengers): €0.52 (EUR 0.59 for 5 to 8 seat vehicles). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
- Taxi, Schiphol to the city center (typical low end): €35 (the city tourism site lists 35 to 55 EUR for a standard ride, with meter prices rising to around 75 EUR). Official source, checked Oct 2026.
What travelers report
Based on 9 traveler reports (Apr 2025 to Sep 2026) and the official sources linked on this page. 0 were negative.
What people like
- The train is quick and simple: travelers found the station fast and reached Centraal in about 15 to 17 minutes.
- Tapping in with a contactless card works, so there is no ticket to buy.
- Bus 397 is the direct option for the museum district, per a local who makes the trip regularly.
- The airport sprinter kept running during the September 2026 national transport strike.
What people complain about
- Disruptions can stop airport trains: a June 2025 cable fire, January 2026 snow and a June 2025 rail strike.
- First-timers miss the check-in poles before the platform escalators and board without a valid ticket.
- Peak-hour Sprinters get crowded, and travelers with luggage may have to stand.
- When trains stop, taxis and app rides get hard: two travelers found no app ride and their taxi went to the wrong hotel first.
How to do it right
- Follow the signs to Schiphol Plaza after baggage claim.
- For the train, buy an NS e-ticket or tap a contactless card at a check-in pole before you take the escalator down to the platform.
- Tap out at your arrival station with the same card.
- For bus 397, walk right out of Schiphol Plaza to stop B17 and pay by card, e-ticket or tap-in; cash is not accepted.
- For a taxi, use the official rank outside and turn down anyone offering a ride inside the terminal.
The trap to avoid
Going down to the train platform without checking in: the poles are before the escalators, and a conductor told one couple who missed them that it is a common visitor mistake.
Why this verdict
The train wins on the figures the official pages publish. NS lists 17 minutes from Schiphol to Amsterdam, 145 trains a day and e-tickets from EUR 5.50, and NS says a contactless debit card, credit card or phone works for check-in. The traveler reports agree: writers who arrived on morning and overnight flights describe finding the station quickly, tapping in, and stepping off at Centraal about a quarter of an hour later. The one recurring stumble is the check-in itself. The poles stand before the escalators down to the platform, and a conductor told one couple who missed them that it is a common visitor mistake.
The negatives about the train are about disruption rather than the everyday ride. News coverage describes a June 2025 cable fire that stopped trains between Amsterdam, Utrecht and Schiphol until evening, and January 2026 snow that cancelled trains in the Amsterdam area over two days. Two travelers who landed during a rail strike in June 2025 had no train, no app ride and a taxi that took them to the wrong hotel first. Strikes do not always stop the airport line, though: in the September 2026 national strike the airport sprinter was the one train still running. These are one-off events in the log, so they do not change the pick, but check the NS planner before you go down.
Crowding is the other caveat. A traveler who rode in November 2025 warns that peak-hour trains fill up enough that people with luggage stand, and a Dutch local flags the same luggage hassle.
Bus 397 is the runner-up for one group. If your hotel is near Museumplein or Leidseplein, the bus drops you there without a change, and the local who makes the trip regularly calls it the direct option for the museum district. For anyone staying near Centraal, the train is the cheaper fare.
The taxi is the costly choice. The city tourism site puts a standard ride at 35 to 55 EUR, against 5.50 EUR by train, so it makes most sense split between three or four people or with heavy bags. Use the official rank: the same site says drivers soliciting inside the airport are not officially approved.
Timing and tickets
Buy an NS e-ticket before you land, or tap a contactless card at a check-in pole and tap out at your arrival station. Paper tickets from machines cost EUR 1.60 more.
Book or check times
NS train, Schiphol Airport to AmsterdamCheck in with a contactless card (NS)Amsterdam Airport Express bus 397 (Connexxion)Official 2026 taxi maximum fares (Dutch government)
We earn a commission if you book through our links. It never changes a verdict. How this works
See private transfer optionspartner siteSee ticket optionspartner site
Questions
How long does the train from Schiphol to Amsterdam take?
NS lists 17 minutes from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam, with 145 trains a day on the route. Travelers who rode it report about 15 to 17 minutes to Centraal.
Can I just tap my bank card?
Yes. NS says you can check in and out with a contactless debit card, credit card or phone, and bus 397 accepts tap-in too. The city tourism site says only one person per card can check in on the bus.
How much is a taxi from Schiphol to the center?
The city tourism site puts a standard ride at 35 to 55 EUR, with meter prices rising to around 75 EUR. Taxis from the rank must stay within the 2026 national maximums of EUR 4.31 to start, EUR 3.17 per kilometer and EUR 0.52 per minute, and any fixed price must be agreed before the ride.
What if I land late at night?
Connexxion says the N97 night bus runs once an hour on the bus 397 route, and the Airport Express ticket is valid on it. The official taxi rank is the door-to-door option.
What happens if the trains are not running?
Check the NS journey planner before you go down. During a June 2025 cable fire the airport told travelers to use buses, cars or taxis, and the bus 397 route to Museumplein and Leidseplein is the public alternative.
Pack for it
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