When we are going on a trip, first of all, after buying a ticket, we start looking for transfer options from the airport to the city center, where, as a rule, almost all hotels and guest houses are located. And there are usually several ways to get to the city.
Schiphol Airport
It is one of the oldest in Europe. The distance from Amsterdam Airport to the center is approximately twenty kilometers. Schiphol began to function for a very long time, in 1916, therefore, for more than a century of history, it has acquired six runways to continuously receive and send aircraft to all points of the globe. There is another strip designed for small aircraft. At the airport there is a lounge and several terminals for the reception and departure of passengers. Moreover, tourists with a Schengen visa are provided with a separate lounge.
The comfort level at the airport can be equated to a luxury class. It has everything a traveler needs: a spa, beauty salon, gym and even a sauna! Free time can also be spent in the cafe, but after refreshments, go shopping. For religious citizens, a prayer room is provided. And in 2006, a marriage registration hall was opened at the airport. So if you met your fate along the way, welcome.
From the airport by train
One of the cheapest and fastest options to get from Schiphol Airport to the center of Amsterdam is by train or train. You will be in the city center in about twenty minutes.
To buy a train ticket, you need to go down to the lower level of the airport. It is where the railway ticket offices and ticket machines are located.
Before traveling to Amsterdam, check with your friends and acquaintances if any of them have visited the city. If so, maybe they still have a special transport card. The fact is that the price for travel with such a card will cost one euro cheaper than they sell at the box office. This is a kind of commission for cash desk services.
All ticket machines are in English. In addition, you must prepare a bank card in advance. If in Russia and the CIS banking card services are not widespread everywhere, in Amsterdam the opposite is true - cash is not accepted everywhere. And further. Keep in mind that when buying a ticket in the machine, payment must be made exclusively in coins, as the machines do not accept paper bills. Or use a credit card.
After buying a ticket, you can go to the platform. As a rule, the numbering of cars begins with the head of the train. Wagons are divided into classes: business and economy. But to be honest, there isn’t much difference: the distance between the seats is greater, respectively, the passengers in the car are quantitatively less. The ticket price is almost twice as high, 6.8 euros, while a regular ticket will cost 4 euros. Overpaying to get from Amsterdam Airport to the center does not make sense. Children under four years old travel for free; children from four to eleven years old receive a ticket for 2.5 euros.
Departure times and gates
Some tourists worry that they will not be able to navigate at the airport without knowledge of at least English. No panic. How to get from Amsterdam Airport to the center by train, prompt special boards. Usually they are yellow, paper or electronic. They indicate train schedules and the final arrival point. In the daytime, trains run to the center with an interval of 10 minutes, at night - every hour. Typically, trains leave from platform number 1, 2, 3 or 4. To find them, you need to go down to the lower level of the airport using an elevator or escalator. At the airport, they look like transfer ribbons for baggage claim, without steps.
Before you board the train, be sure to check the direction. This is usually indicated on the electronic display on the platform. If you confuse directions, you will have to get to the city center or central station for a few more hours.
Be sure to pay attention to special signs. There are wagons in which, for example, you can’t make loud noises, as they are designed for relaxation. Well, about the fact that smoking in public places and in transport is not allowed, everyone should already know.
Bus stops
The question of how to get from Amsterdam Airport to the center will never arise if you are used to using public transport. In Amsterdam, this type of communication is very developed and has a complex structure.
Two routes run from Schiphol to Amsterdam. One night - No. 97, the other - a specialized shuttle No. 397. Depending on congestion and traffic jams, travel time can take about half an hour. One-way fares are 6.5 euros. A ticket can also be bought from the driver, paying only with a credit card. A round-trip ticket can be bought online, its cost is 11.5 euros.
Finding a bus stop is easy. They are located directly at the exit of the airport building. On special displays at each stop you can see the route diagram and the final point of arrival.
GVB Transport
From Amsterdam Airport to the city center can be reached in another budget way - buy a GVB ticket. This is a single travel document for all types of public urban transport. The cost of a trip on such a card from the airport will be only 3.2 euros. The ticket is valid for about an hour, so it will be enough to make several transfers without additional charge. You can buy a children's ticket. It will cost four euros, but it will last a whole day.
Hotel bus
Here is another option for you, how to get from Amsterdam Airport to the center or, even better, immediately to the place of residence - hotel bus. For example, Schiphol Hotel Shuttle. These machines are designed for only eight seats, and their route runs through almost all hotels in the city. The ticket price for the transfer is 18.5 euros. A round-trip ticket will cost 29.5 euros. It is best to book such a transport in advance if you are traveling in a large company or family. Boarding such buses takes place on the A7 platform, it is several tens of meters from the exit from the airport.
If you come to rest in Amsterdam on a package tour, ask your tour operator if your hotel provides transfer services. Independently, this information can be viewed not only on the hotel’s website, but also on cards in search tourist systems.
Taxi service
How to get to the center of Amsterdam from Schiphol airport quickly and comfortably, taxi drivers know. The price for one taxi ride varies around 40-50 euros, but if you arrived by company, then this price is quite adequate, especially since getting in a taxi is much more pleasant and comfortable than using public transport or train.
However, you need to be careful and not fall for the tricks of taxi drivers who can increase the price several times, seeing that you arrived in the city for the first time and do not know either the distance or the rates. Be careful. It is best to pre-order a taxi through special online services with the calculation of time and price. You can also request a meeting service at the exit of the terminal, then you do not have to look for your car. A driver with a sign will meet you directly at the exit and lead you to the car.
Airport Hotels
If your flight occurred at night, then there are many options for how to get from Amsterdam Airport to the city center. However, it is worth remembering that nightly rates are several times more expensive than daytime rates. And besides, it is better not to take risks, moving around an unfamiliar city in the dark. If you do not have any early or urgent meetings, it is better to stay at the airport until the morning. Moreover, everything in it is arranged for a comfortable expectation: a cafe, massage chairs, lounges or a game library. There are on the territory of the airport and hotels. If you have small children in your arms, it is better to book a room and settle in it until the morning. In the morning, calmly pack up, build a further route and move on, exploring city landscapes along the way.