Train from Amsterdam Airport to City Centre
Train from Amsterdam Airport to City Centre
Travel time: 20 min. to Central Station
Price: € 18 p.p. roundtrip
Availability: daytime (6 AM – 12 AM): 4-6 times per hour; nighttime (12 AM – 6 AM): once per hour
Roundtrip Train Ticket:
Airport – City – Airport
Price: € 18 p.p.
Includes:
- roundtrip transfer airport – city – airport
- online ticket
- free City Guide App (100+ highlights)
Amsterdam Airport Train – Pros and Cons
- Fastest option to Amsterdam Central Station
- Economical
- Eco-friendly
- Frequent service between 6 AM and 12 AM
- Walk or transfer to reach your final destination
- Not ideal with a lot of luggage
- Rush hours can be busy
- Beware of pickpockets and luggage thieves
Train from Amsterdam Airport to City Center
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport boasts excellent train connections to the City of Amsterdam. All trains departing from the airport to Amsterdam are operated by NS, the government-owned Dutch Railways. They adhere to international standards and perform well on cleanliness, safety, reliability, and punctuality.
Purchase Your Train Tickets Online
You can buy your train ticket at Schiphol Plaza from a yellow-and-blue ticket vending machine or at the NS (Dutch Railways) service counter. However, it’s much more convenient to purchase your ticket online (see below). Then you will receive the ticket (plus a free City Guide App with 100+ highlights) via E-Mail. So you can directly hop on the train, skipping the waiting lines and without having to search for and deal with a vending machine or the railway service counter.
The NS (Dutch Railways) have two classes: 1st class and 2nd class (economy class). Since the journey by train takes only 10-20 minutes, the vast majority of travelers is satisfied with 2nd class.
Roundtrip Train Ticket:
Airport – City – Airport
Price: € 18 p.p.
Includes:
- roundtrip transfer airport – city – airport
- online ticket
- free City Guide App (100+ highlights)
Getting from the Gate to Schiphol Airport Train Station
At Schiphol Airport, arrivals are located on the ground floor. After collecting your luggage and passing through customs, you can reach the train station in a few minutes. Just follow the yellow ‘Trains’ signs.
The entrance to the train station is conveniently situated in the middle of the covered Schiphol Plaza. To get to the underground train platforms, you can either take the moving walkway or the elevator.
Please note that you may access the train terminal only with a valid ticket. So make sure to purchase your train ticket in advance.
Entrance Underground Train Platform
Train Amsterdam Airport to City
Combining the Airport Train with other Public Transport or a Rental Bike
For the last mile from the train station to your final destination and for getting around during your stay, there are several options. Walking will suffice if you travel light and intend to stay within the city center.
However, more convenient and faster ways of getting around in and out of the city center are by renting a bike and by using public transport. Amsterdam is probably one of the best cities in the world to explore by bike, and the public transport network is excellent. Therefore, you might consider renting a bike from Central Station or upgrading your airport transfer by train to an all-inclusive Public Transport Pass.
All-in Public Transport Pass
- 1-day pass: € 18 p.p.
- 2-day pass: € 24 p.p.
- 3-day pass: € 30 p.p.
Includes:
- airport transfer by public transport
- all GVB public transport: bus, tram, metro, ferry, night bus
- free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance
Amsterdam Airport to City – Boarding the Right Train
Trains to Amsterdam usually depart from train tracks 1, 2 or 3. The City of Amsterdam has about a dozen train stations (see map below), of which most can be reached directly from Schiphol Airport without any transfers.
The vast majority of travelers head from the airport to the city’s main train station: “Amsterdam Centraal“. From there, you can easily walk into the old city center. And there are numerous connections to other modes of public transportation for the final leg of your journey: local buses, trams, metros, and also ferries to the North of Amsterdam.
However, “Amsterdam Centraal” is not always your best option:
- For the western part of the city, it might be more practical to disembark at an earlier train station: Amsterdam Lelylaan, or Amsterdam Sloterdijk;
- For the southern part of the city you might arrive more quickly by taking a different train and getting off at Amsterdam Zuid or Amsterdam RAI;
- For the eastern part of the city you might arrive more quickly by taking a different train and getting off at Amsterdam Amstel, Amsterdam Muiderpoort or Amsterdam Science Park;
- For the south-eastern area you might arrive more quickly by taking a different train and getting off at Duivendrecht, Amsterdam Bijlmer Arena, Amsterdam Holendrecht, or Weesp.
Amsterdam Train Stations