Quick answer: The train is the answer at Schiphol: the station sits directly beneath the terminal, trains to Amsterdam Centraal run every few minutes around the clock, and the ride costs about €6 and takes 15–20 minutes. Almost nothing else in European airport transit is this easy.
Your options compared
| Option | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Train to Centraal | 15–20 min | ~€6 |
| Bus 397 (Airport Express) | ~30 min | ~€7 |
| Taxi (official rank) | 20–30 min | €45–55 |
| Uber/Bolt | 20–30 min | €35–50 |
Taking the train, step by step
Follow the signs down from arrivals (one escalator: you cannot get lost), tap a contactless bank card or phone at the gates (OVpay), board any train showing Amsterdam Centraal: intercity and sprinter both work. Tap out at Centraal or you will be charged the maximum fare. No ticket machine queue needed unless you want a paper ticket.
Arriving at night
Trains run all night: every 15 minutes by day, hourly between roughly 1am and 5am: so a red-eye never strands you. The 397 bus stops overnight; the night bus N97 partially covers it. Taxis at the official rank outside arrivals are metered and safe at any hour.
Tips & common mistakes
Ignore anyone offering a “taxi” inside the terminal: use the official rank or an app. Do not buy the more expensive Intercity Direct supplement by accident: standard trains need no supplement. If your hotel is near Museumplein or Leidseplein, bus 397 may drop you closer than the train. Keep your tap-in card handy: inspectors do check.
FAQ
Cheapest way from Schiphol to Amsterdam? The train: about €6, 15–20 minutes to Centraal.
Do trains run at night? Yes: roughly hourly through the night, so late arrivals are fine.
Where is the train station at Schiphol? Directly beneath the terminal: one escalator down from arrivals.
Is Uber cheaper than a taxi at Schiphol? Usually slightly: €35–50 depending on time, vs €45–55 at the rank.
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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.