What is the best way from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal?
Take the train, and pick the station before you land: Centraal for the old center and the northern canal belt, Zuid for De Pijp and the south. It runs from the station under Schiphol Plaza to Amsterdam Centraal in 17 minutes, eight times an hour, per NS, checked October 26, 2026. Take bus 397 when the hotel is on Museumplein or Leidseplein, and a taxi when you land late with heavy bags or the hotel is a long walk from any tram stop.
Search your exact hotel in the NS journey planner before you land: a train to Zuid or Lelylaan plus a short tram can beat riding past the hotel to Centraal.
How long does each option take, and what does it cost?
| Option | Time and frequency | Price | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train to Centraal | 17 minutes, eight trains an hour | NS lists €5.20 as the 2025 full single fare; the journey planner shows today's | Check in at the poles on the Schiphol platform and out at the Centraal gates |
| Night train | About once an hour after the last regular train, every night | Same ticket as the day train | No fixed times on the NS page, so check the planner before you land |
| Bus 397, Amsterdam Airport Express | Every 10 minutes from stop B17, out of Schiphol Plaza to the right | From €6.50 single, €11.75 return | Card or phone only, no cash. Night bus N97 runs once an hour on the same route |
| Taxi from the official rank | Door to door, no booking needed | Typically €35 to €55 to the center, up to about €75, per the city visitor site | Uber and Bolt use a separate pickup point; refuse drivers who approach you inside the terminal |
| Hotel car | Driver waits at arrivals | Ask the hotel for its price when you book | Worth it only for a late arrival, a group or a canal house hotel the taxi cannot reach easily |
Do you need to book the Schiphol train ahead?
No. Trains run all day without reservations. NS runs eight Sprinters an hour between Schiphol and Centraal through Sloterdijk and Lelylaan, and other Amsterdam stations such as Zuid and RAI have their own trains from the same platform hall. Check the live journey planner on travel day, because engineering work around Schiphol is common.
Check in at the poles on the Schiphol platform and check out through the gates at Centraal. For the plain Schiphol to Amsterdam ride, skip the Intercity Direct supplement, which is for other sections of that line.
When is bus 397 better than the train?
When the hotel is near Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum or Leidseplein. Bus 397 goes there without a change, so you skip riding to Centraal and back by tram.
It leaves from stop B17, out of Schiphol Plaza and to the right. Pay the driver by card or tap in with a contactless card or phone; the bus takes no cash. Check how far the hotel is from the stop before choosing it with big bags.
When is a taxi worth it from Schiphol?
For a group, a late arrival, mobility needs or a canal house hotel that would take two changes on public transport. Take one from the official rank outside Schiphol Plaza; Amsterdam's official visitor site puts a typical ride to the center at €35 to €55, and as much as about €75 by distance and time of day.
Central streets can be narrow or closed to cars, so ask the hotel for its best drop point. Refuse drivers who approach you inside the terminal.
Which station or option fits your hotel area?
| Hotel area | Usually easiest |
|---|---|
| Near Centraal or northern canal belt | Train to Amsterdam Centraal |
| De Pijp or near Zuid | Train to Amsterdam Zuid, then local transport |
| Museumplein or Leidseplein | Airport bus or train plus tram |
| Oost | Train to the most useful Amsterdam station, then tram |
| Group, late arrival or heavy luggage | Taxi |
What should you plan for the first hours?
Keep the arrival day free of scarce museum tickets. Drop bags, walk the nearest canal and eat in the hotel neighborhood. Flight delays and Schiphol operations make a rigid first afternoon unnecessary.
Then begin the three-day Amsterdam route with a full morning. Recheck NS service before leaving the airport and use the station that shortens the entire door-to-door trip.
For the first evening, a small canal boat is an easy start that needs no museum ticket; from late October to March, book one that is covered and heated. The Amsterdam guides cover the rest of the trip.