Schiphol Airport (AMS) is 15km from Amsterdam city center. Here are all your transport options ranked by value, speed, and convenience — with real prices and honest pros/cons.
Quick Summary
Fastest: NS Train (15-20 min, $5-6)
Cheapest: NS Train (15-20 min, $5-6)
Best overall: NS Train (15-20 min, $5-6) — best balance of speed, cost, and convenience.
All Transport Options
NS Train — 15-20 min, ~$5-6
Pros: Fast, frequent (every 10min), reliable, direct to Centraal
Cons: Crowded, not great for heavy luggage, need OV-chipkaart
Bus 397 (Amsterdam Express) — 30-40 min, ~$7.50
Pros: Goes to Rijksmuseum/Leidseplein area direct
Cons: Stuck in traffic, less frequent than train, limited luggage
Taxi — 20-35 min, ~$50-65
Pros: Door-to-door, comfortable, available 24/7
Cons: Very expensive, traffic, fixed prices only to certain zones
Uber — 20-35 min, ~$35-50
Pros: Cheaper than taxi, app convenience
Cons: Surge at peak, pickup can be tricky at Schiphol
Tips for Arriving at Schiphol Airport
SIM card: Buy one at the airport arrivals hall before heading to the city. You’ll need data for maps and ride-hailing apps.
Currency: Withdraw cash from an ATM inside the terminal (better rates than exchange booths). You’ll need local currency for public transport.
Late night arrivals: Public transport stops around midnight in most cities. If arriving late, pre-book a transfer or use ride-hailing apps.
FAQ
How far is Schiphol Airport from Amsterdam center?
Schiphol Airport (AMS) is approximately 15km from Amsterdam city center. Travel time ranges from 15-20 to 20-35 minutes depending on transport and traffic.
What’s the cheapest way to get from AMS to Amsterdam?
The cheapest option is NS Train at $5-6, taking approximately 15-20 minutes.
Should I pre-book a transfer from Schiphol Airport?
Pre-booking is worth it if you’re arriving late at night, have heavy luggage, or want zero stress after a long flight. Otherwise, public transport or ride-hailing apps work perfectly well.
Every Way to Get From Schiphol to the City: Costs and Times Compared
Schiphol sits just nine miles southwest of central Amsterdam, and the train wins for almost everyone. Here is the full rundown, with mid-2026 prices (€1 ≈ $1.14):
- NS train (the smart default): Runs directly from the platforms beneath Schiphol Plaza to Amsterdam Centraal in 16–17 minutes, up to 8 times an hour from roughly 05:30 to 01:00. A single second-class fare is €5.50 (~$6.30) as an e-ticket, or €7.10 (~$8.10) on a disposable chip card. Pros: fastest, cheapest, immune to traffic. Cons: stairs/escalators with luggage, and Centraal is a 10–25 minute tram ride from many hotels.
- Amsterdam Airport Express bus 397: €6.50 (~$7.40) single, €11.75 return, every 7–8 minutes from stand B17. Takes ~30+ minutes to Museumplein, Leidseplein and its Elandsgracht terminus. Pros: drops you in the Museum Quarter, no platform changes. Cons: slower, traffic-dependent, and the daytime 397 ends at Elandsgracht rather than Centraal (the hourly N97 night bus serves Centraal from 01:00–05:00).
- GVB bus 369: ~€3.40 (~$3.90), but only to Sloterdijk — a budget connector, not a city-center ride.
- Taxi / fixed-rate transfer: €50–€80 (~$57–$91), 25–45 minutes.
- Uber / Bolt: UberX around €39 (~$44); Bolt €37–€64 (~$42–$73).
My Recommendation by Traveler Type
There is no single “best” — it depends on who you are and where you’re sleeping.
- Solo traveler or couple heading to the center: Take the train to Centraal. At ~$6.30 a head and 17 minutes, nothing else competes on speed-per-dollar. Tap in and out and you’re done.
- Staying near the Museum Quarter, Vondelpark or Leidseplein: The 397 bus drops you on your doorstep and saves you a tram transfer from Centraal — worth the extra few minutes.
- Group of 3–4 with luggage, or arriving late at night: A taxi or Uber splits to roughly $15–$23 per person, door-to-door, no stairs. At that point it rivals the train on real cost.
- Tourists planning heavy city sightseeing: Buy the Amsterdam Travel Ticket (€20/€27/€34 ≈ $23/$31/$39 for 1/2/3 days). It bundles your Schiphol train or 397 bus transfer with unlimited GVB trams, buses and metros — it pays for itself fast.
- Families: Train wins — children 4–11 ride for €2.50/day on a Railrunner ticket, and under-4s are free.
Booking the Right Way — and the Scams to Skip
The mechanics trip up more visitors than the prices do. Get these right:
- Easiest payment for the train: just tap a contactless credit/debit card or phone at the gate via OVpay — no ticket needed, and it charges the correct fare automatically. A physical OV-chipkaart costs €7.50 plus a €20 minimum load to ride the train, so skip it for a single trip.
- Buy train e-tickets on the NS app/website or at the yellow machines in Schiphol Plaza (cards and coins only — no banknotes). Disposable paper tickets carry a surcharge, so contactless or e-ticket is cheaper.
- Bus 397 and GVB are card-only — tap your contactless card boarding and again when you leave. No cash accepted.
- Don’t buy a 397 ticket if you’re going to Centraal by day — the daytime route ends at Elandsgracht; take the train instead.
Scams and mistakes to avoid: Use only the official taxi rank (lane A1) outside Arrivals; ignore anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering a “taxi” — these touts charge double or triple. For ride-hail, meet your driver at the designated App pick-up point, not curbside. Watch your bags on the train — the airport route is a known pickpocket target. And if you buy a multi-day Travel Ticket, remember it expires at 04:00 the morning after its last calendar day, so don’t count on it for a pre-dawn return flight.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.