Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal: Train, Bus and Taxi Compared
Schiphol is the rare airport whose train station is in the terminal: the NS platforms are directly beneath Schiphol Plaza, the landside hall, so the walk from any arrivals exit to a train is a few minutes with no shuttle in between. That shapes everything below.
The train
Trains to Amsterdam Centraal take about 15 to 20 minutes and run several times an hour through the day; an hourly night train links Schiphol with Amsterdam through the small hours, so even a midnight arrival has a rail option. Tap in at the gates with a contactless bank card, phone or OV-chipkaart and tap out at Centraal; a single fare is a few euros, and the yellow machines in the Plaza sell tickets for anyone who prefers paper. Amsterdam Zuid, for the business district, and Amsterdam Sloterdijk are on other lines from the same platforms. Our train guide to The Hague, Utrecht, Leiden and Rotterdam covers the rest of the country.
Buses
Bus 397, the Amsterdam Airport Express, leaves from the bus station outside the Plaza for Leidseplein and the museum quarter in about 30 minutes, useful if your hotel is near the Rijksmuseum or Vondelpark rather than Centraal; night bus N97 takes over late. Regional buses also serve Hoofddorp, Haarlem and Amstelveen. Tickets are sold on board or by tapping a bank card.
Taxi and ride-hailing
The official taxi rank is outside Schiphol Plaza; a ride to the centre takes 20 to 30 minutes and costs roughly €45 to €60 depending on traffic and destination. Ride-hailing apps operate from the marked pick-up points. Never accept a ride offered inside the terminal.
Getting to the hotels in this guide
The three walkway hotels need no transport at all: the Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel is two minutes from the Plaza, the Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol five to seven, and citizenM Schiphol Airport four minutes from Arrivals 4. The Hoofddorp hotels use the same train the other way, one stop: the Novotel Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Hampton by Hilton and Holiday Inn Express are all a short walk from Hoofddorp station. Every other hotel here sends a shuttle to the Hotel Shuttle stop at bays A9 to A13 outside the Plaza; our walkway, shuttle or train guide lists which are free and when they run.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal?
About 15 to 20 minutes, from the platforms directly under Schiphol Plaza, with trains several times an hour through the day and an hourly night service. Tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone; no paper ticket is needed.
How much is a taxi from Schiphol to central Amsterdam?
Expect roughly €45 to €60 for the 20-to-30-minute drive, more in traffic. Use the official taxi rank outside Schiphol Plaza and ignore anyone offering rides inside the terminal.
Is there a bus from Schiphol to Amsterdam?
Yes. Bus 397 runs to Leidseplein and the museum quarter in about 30 minutes, and night bus N97 covers the same route after the day service ends. For Centraal the train is quicker and cheaper.
Information last verified: September 4, 2026