In this guide
💡 The Short Version: The NS Sprinter train takes 17 minutes to Amsterdam Centraal, runs 8 times an hour from platform 3 under the terminal, and goes straight to Centraal, for the Dam, the canals and the Eurostar. Bus 397, the Amsterdam Airport Express, runs without a change to Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum and Leidseplein for €6.50 single or €11.75 return, every 10 minutes by day. An official taxi typically costs €35 to €55. Pay the train with a contactless bank card or a ticket from the NS machines and site; the fare is not shown at the gate. Facts from the operators, 1 October 2026. Or book a ticket ahead: GetYourGuide sells the Airport Express bus transferad from £5.55 (4.4 stars from 5,012 reviews).
The options, compared
| Option | Runs | Fare | Where it drops you |
|---|---|---|---|
| NS Sprinter train | 8 an hour, 17 minutes | Shown in the NS planner and at the machines | Amsterdam Centraal, via Sloterdijk and Lelylaan |
| Bus 397, Amsterdam Airport Express | Every 10 minutes by day | €6.50 single, €11.75 return | Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum, Leidseplein |
| Niteliner N97 | Once an hour at night | Same tickets as bus 397 | The same stops as bus 397 |
| Official taxi | At the rank, no booking | Metered: typically €35 to €55, up to about €75 | Your door |
| Uber or Bolt | The App pick-up point | Priced in the app | Your door |
| Schiphol Travel Taxi | Booked ahead, up to 8 people | Priced when you book | Your door, shared vans stop for others |
The train station is directly under the terminal.
The train
8 an hour · 17 minutes · platform 3 · Amsterdam Centraal
Eight Sprinter trains an hour run between Schiphol and Amsterdam Centraal, stopping at Sloterdijk and Lelylaan, and the journey takes 17 minutes. Trains leave from platform 3, but always check the boards (NS, 1 October 2026).
- To pay: buy a ticket online without booking fees or at the NS ticket machines, or check in with a contactless debit card, credit card or phone. Check in at the poles at Schiphol and out at the gates at Amsterdam Centraal. With a card you do not see the fare at the gate: it appears afterwards (NS, 1 October 2026).
- The fare: NS shows it in the planner and on the machines. NS raised its fares on 1 January 2026, so read the current figure there.
- To Sloterdijk or Zuid: Sloterdijk is the stop before Centraal. Trains to Amsterdam Zuid also run from Schiphol: check the NS planner for the one you need. Where to stay in Amsterdam lists the hotels at each.
- Works: engineering work around Schiphol is regular, so check the NS planner on the day you fly.
Bus 397: the Amsterdam Airport Express
€6.50 single · €11.75 return · every 10 minutes by day
Bus 397 takes you to Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum and Leidseplein without a change, and Connexxion says the bus passes the tourist highlights, so you have a short walk to the hotel (Connexxion, 1 October 2026). It is the only option here that reaches the Museum Quarter without a change: hotels near the Rijksmuseum lists the hotels there, and the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are on the same square.
- Where it leaves: Connexxion gives bus stop B17: leave Schiphol Plaza and walk to the right. The bus station is being renovated and some buses use temporary stops, so follow the signs.
- Tickets: order the e-ticket online (€6.50 single, €11.75 return), pay the driver with a debit or credit card (no cash), or check in and out with a contactless card. Only one person per card can check in.
- At night: the Niteliner N97 runs once an hour, on the same tickets.
- Booked ahead: GetYourGuide’s Airport Express bus transferad is from £5.55 (4.4 stars from 5,012 reviews, read 1 October 2026), and its Schiphol train transferad from £5.38 (4.5 stars from 5,185 reviews).
Taxis
Typically €35 to €55 · metered · official rank
Taxis wait at the official rank, so you need not book. A standard ride to the city centre typically costs €35 to €55, and the meter can reach about €75 depending on distance and time of day (I amsterdam, 1 October 2026). Check there is a meter, pay what it shows, and do not accept rides from drivers who approach you inside the airport.
- Uber and Bolt: use the App pick-up point at Schiphol, which is signposted in the terminal.
- Schiphol Travel Taxi: pre-booked vans for up to 8 people. Shared vans stop to collect and drop others, so the ride is slower, but the cost is shared (Schiphol Travel Taxi).
Rotterdam and Eindhoven airports
- Rotterdam The Hague Airport: take bus 33 from Rotterdam Central, which the airport says takes within 30 minutes, then a train to Amsterdam (Rotterdam The Hague Airport, 1 October 2026).
- Eindhoven Airport: buses 400 and 401 run from Eindhoven Centraal to the terminal several times an hour, and the airport lists a direct Flixbus to Amsterdam of about 2 hours (Eindhoven Airport, 1 October 2026).
Strikes
A 24-hour strike on 9 September 2026 stopped NS trains, Connexxion buses and the GVB ferries (Rodi). If another strike is called, the planner and the GVB app show it, and a taxi is the fallback. The I amsterdam City Card covers neither the train nor bus 397.
After you arrive
If you are joining a cruise, Amsterdam cruise terminal to the city centre has the way from Centraal to the terminal.
Amsterdam public transport explains the GVB fares, the day ticket and paying with OVpay. Where to stay in Amsterdam compares the areas by how you reach them from the airport: the Museum Quarter by bus 397, Centrum and the Canal Ring by train to Centraal. Hotels near the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam hotels in canal houses list hotels with their addresses. For what to book before you fly, see what to book before you go in Amsterdam. To plan the days, see 3 days in Amsterdam and Amsterdam in one day. Most day trips start at Centraal, 17 minutes from the airport: day trips from Amsterdam compares them, and Haarlem, Delft and The Hague and Rotterdam are trains with nothing to book.
Common questions
How do I get from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam city centre?
The NS Sprinter train to Amsterdam Centraal takes 17 minutes and runs 8 times an hour from platform 3 under the terminal. Bus 397 runs without a change to Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum and Leidseplein, and an official taxi typically costs €35 to €55.
How much is the bus from Schiphol to Amsterdam?
The Amsterdam Airport Express, bus 397, is €6.50 single and €11.75 return as an e-ticket. It leaves every 10 minutes by day from outside Schiphol Plaza, and the Niteliner N97 runs once an hour at night. You can pay the driver by debit or credit card, but not in cash.
How much is a taxi from Schiphol to central Amsterdam?
The city's tourist board says a standard ride typically costs between €35 and €55, and the meter can reach about €75 depending on distance and time of day. Use the official taxi rank, pay what the meter shows, and refuse touts inside the airport.
Which bus goes from Schiphol to the Rijksmuseum?
Bus 397, the Amsterdam Airport Express. It stops at Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum and Leidseplein without a change, so a hotel in the Museum Quarter is one bus ride from the airport.