Travelling options

Amsterdam is a world-class international transport hub and there are countless ways of getting into the city. Many travellers fly into the award-winning Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, while hopping on a train is also a great option – convenient and cost effective, the rail network in the Netherlands is second to none. And of course the road network provides easy access to Amsterdam for those keen to travel by car or coach.

By Plane

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is situated approximately 20 km south-west of Amsterdam. Schiphol is a national and international airport and handles over 48 million passengers a year traveling to 260 destinations worldwide. Schiphol is Europe’s fifth largest passenger airport.

One-stop shopping Schiphol is also a well-organised airport. The arrival and departure halls are located under the same roof as the shopping centre, Schiphol Plaza. Clear signage guides you easily to your destination. After passing customs, you will reach the shops and bars of Schiphol Plaza. From here you are offered a selection of transportation methods into Amsterdam.

From Schiphol into Amsterdam

By bus

Connexxion Amsterdam Round Trip Ticket [1] The Connexxion Amsterdam Round Trip Ticket costs €10 for a return journey. Departing from bus stop B9 every 15 minutes, the Amsterdam Airport Express (bus number 197) will take you directly to the city centre in about 30 minutes. The Amsterdam Round Trip Ticket allows two trips on the Amsterdam Airport Express (the trips don’t have to be on the same day). One-way tickets are also available for €5. E-tickets can be purchased in advance for this service. Visit the Connexxion website for more information and the bus schedule.

Connexxion Schiphol Hotel Shuttle [2] A hotel shuttle service enables you to travel to a number of large hotels that are situated in the airport area. The Connexxion Schiphol Hotel Shuttle connects Schiphol to over 170 hotels in Amsterdam.

By taxi

The taxi rank is located at the airport’s exit. Depending on traffic, a taxi can take you to the city centre in about half an hour. One ride will cost you approximately €40. It is strongly advised not to take rides from drivers soliciting within the airport. These are not officially approved taxi drivers.

By rail (recommended to get to Motel One hotel at RAI station)

Schiphol train station is located directly underneath the airport. From here, intercities and slower trains from the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways - NS) can take you to Amsterdam Central Station (city centre), Amsterdam Zuid (World Trade Center) and Amsterdam RAI (conference centre). Learn more about travelling by train in and around Amsterdam.

Train ticket sales Train tickets are available at the ticket office in the airport's main hall and from the yellow ticket machines. The latter are located near the baggage claims, shopping centre Schiphol Plaza and near the platforms. These machines accept international credit cards (€0.50 surcharge); Dutch cash cards and some also accept coins. At the ticket office, you can also purchase the Amsterdam Travel Ticket, which includes return train travel between Schiphol and Amsterdam, plus free public public transport in the city itself. Read more about the Amsterdam Travel Ticket.

Disabled travellers There is an elevator at Schiphol train station which can take you from the platform to the airport and vice versa. Call the Nederlandse Spoorwegen for help at the train station of your departure and arrival, telephone number +31 (0)30 230 5566. By doing so, it is possible to gain wheelchair access to trains.

The train timetable is detailed on the NS website [3] or see the Schiphol website for information on the airport [4].

By train

Travelling to and from and around Amsterdam by train is simple and quick. Learn more about tickets and travel here. The city has nine train stations. But where is the best place to go to get to your destination?

Amsterdam Centre

Amsterdam Central Station: 10 minutes walking distance from the Dam and Nieuwmarkt. Behind Central Station: Take the free ferries to Amsterdam Noord (Amsterdam North).

Amsterdam-Oost (Amsterdam East) and Watergraafsmeer

Amsterdam Muiderpoort Station: get off here for Amsterdam-Oost (Amsterdam East) and the Dappermarkt. Amsterdam Amstel Station: this station is located next to the Rembrandttoren. The Amstel river is a 10-minute walk away.

Amsterdam-West (Amsterdam West)

Amsterdam Sloterdijk Station: 5 minutes by tram/bus to the Bos en Lommer district. Amsterdam Lelylaan Station: get off here for Amsterdam West and Slotervaart/Overtoomse Veld districts.

Amsterdam-Zuid (Amsterdam South)

Amsterdam RAI Station: get off here for the RAI Convention Centre and the Rivierenbuurt. Amsterdam Zuid Station: get off here for the World Trade Center and Buitenveldert.

Amsterdam Zuid-Oost (Amsterdam Southeast)

Duivendrecht Station: get off here for the north entrance to Amsterdam ArenA. Amsterdam Bijlmer Station: get off here for the south entrance to Amsterdam ArenA, Heineken Music Hall, Woonmall Villa Arena and Amsterdamse Poort shopping centre.

Useful links

Public transport planner for the Amsterdam area [5] Public Transport Travel Information: 0900 9292 (€ 0.70 per minute) NS website (national railway) [6]

By coach

Some of the main coach operators providing journeys to and from Amsterdam are Eurolines, Flixbus, iDBUS and Megabus.

Eurolines[7] is based at station Duivendrecht (Stationsplein 3). This is a major transport hub in the south-east of the city, with direct onward connections by train, metro, tram and bus. The Eurolines ticket office is open daily at this address from 07:00 to 23:00. There is also a booking centre at Rokin 38A (open Mon-Sat, 09:00-17:00).

Flixbus [8] operates frequent services between Amsterdam and a variety of German towns and cities. These services terminate at Amsterdam Sloterdijk. This transport hub is in the west of the city (only 5 minutes from Amsterdam Central Station by train). From Sloterdijk there are direct onward connections by train, metro, tram and bus. There are also many hotels in the vicinity.

iDBUS [9] is French operator that runs international services to and from Amsterdam, terminating at Amsterdam Sloterdijk. See above for onward travel tips.

Megabus [10] is an international coach operator offering low-cost fares to and from London (stopping in France and Belgium on the way). The ferry crossing to Great Britain is included in the ticket price. Coaches stop at Amsterdam Sloterdijk and P+R Zeeburg in the east of Amsterdam. The most popular public transport connection from P+R Zeeburg is tram 26, towards Amsterdam Central Station.

As well as the major coach parking areas at Amsterdam Sloterdijk, Amsterdam Amstel and P+R Zeeburg, many tour operators make use of coach parking or drop-off points in the city centre (such as Prins Hendikkade and Museumplein). As many of the spots in the city centre are limited to short drop-off periods, it is recommended that you request departure and arrival information directly from your operator or driver.

By car

For those wishing to navigate Amsterdam by car, the most important road to be familiar with is the A10 ring road, which loops around the city. This road is intersected by 18 S-routes, each offering a direct path into a separate district of the city. If you know which S-route to use, your journey is likely to be much more simple. Crowded city

When Amsterdam's streets and canals were built in the 17th century, they were obviously not created with the cars of residents, tourists and commuters in mind. In the popular central districts, it's also common to experience crowds on the streets, making driving conditions difficult for those new to the city. Livable and accessible city

In order to maintain the livability and accessibility in Amsterdam, the streets within the ring road A10 are all paid parking areas. The parking spaces in the city centre are the most expensive, since these spaces are the most scarce. These fees can be rather considerable, as are the fines if the rules are broken. What's more, it's simply not efficient to drive within central areas, as the narrow streets are too busy. Parking in the outskirts of Amsterdam

It is typically recommended to make use of the parking garages and park & ride facilities outside of the central area. These offer excellent public transport connections which enable you to reach your final destination quickly and efficiently. During your stay in Amsterdam, travelling by bike, tram, bus or metro is a relaxing option for wherever you have to go. Learn more about the parking options in Amsterdam [11]

By boat

The striking building, with an undulating wave-like roof, has all the conveniences of a modern port – with a 600-metre-long quay, large reception halls, a touring car terminal, offices, a convention centre and underground parking. Yet it’s serene and the glass façade has a magnificent view of the IJ-harbour and the city center. The PTA is a pleasant 15 minute walk along the waterside from Amsterdam’s Centraal Station. But if you are in a hurry the day your ship comes in, then take either Tram 26 from opposite the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ – located just to the right of the PTA – or Tram 25 – located to the left of the PTA. Alternatively, if you’re laden down with luggage, opt for a taxi from outside the building.

DFDS Seaways Ferry from Newcastle to IJmuiden [12]

Felison Terminal at the port of IJmuiden on the outskirts of Amsterdam is an ideal gateway to The Netherlands, especially from Scotland and the North-East of England. Two DFDS Seaways Cruise Ferries serve this port on a daily basis from Newcastle. It’s very quick and easy to reach Amsterdam from IJmuiden, and you can do so by car, bus, Fast Flying Ferry or taxi.

Stena Line Ferry from Harwich to Hoek van Holland [13]

Stena Line operates a ferry twice daily (day and overnight service) from Harwich to Hoek van Holland (Hook of Holland). From there it’s easy to reach Amsterdam by car or train.