Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Amsterdam, NL · 9 km (5.6 mi) southwest of Amsterdam
Getting to the city
| Mode | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bolt Rideshare · No scheduled frequency; Reddit users indicate typical wait times of 5–15 minutes when ordering from Schiphol during the day. | Travel time similar to other cars: about 25–45 minutes Schiphol–central Amsterdam in normal traffic. | User reports often show Bolt fares a few euros lower than Uber for Schiphol–central Amsterdam, typically around €30–45 when not surging. |
| Bus 197 Airport Express Bus · > not applicable | > not applicable | > not applicable |
| Bus 300 R-net Bus · Commuters describe daytime frequencies of roughly every 7–10 minutes, dropping to every 15–30 minutes late evening and overnight. | Traveler reports mention approximately 35–45 minutes Schiphol–Haarlem on bus 300 in normal traffic. | Users report Schiphol–Haarlem on bus 300 as around €3–5 when paid via OV-chip/contactless, depending on distance. |
| Bus 397 Schiphol Airport Express Bus · Reddit discussions describe daytime frequency about every 7–10 minutes, dropping to every 15–20 minutes in late evening; overnight service continues as N97 with lower frequency. | Typical user‑reported runtime 30–40 minutes Schiphol–Leidseplein in light traffic, up to 45–60 minutes in rush hour. | User reports quote standard regional bus fares; Schiphol–Leidseplein/Museumplein on 397 around €6–7 single when paid normally, with special tourist tickets costing more. |
Insider notes
If you have a tight connection between Schengen and non-Schengen flights, use the lounge level stairs to bypass crowded central checkpoints.
Grab snacks and essentials at the HEMA in Schiphol Plaza to avoid airside markups.
Note that all smoking rooms are closed; plan accordingly if you’re a smoker.
Live departures
Full board →| Flight | To | Sched | Est | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA1626 | PHL | 10:55 | 10:00 | Cancelled |
| IB4620 | PHL | 10:55 | 10:00 | Cancelled |
| AA203 | PHL | 10:55 | 10:00 | Cancelled |
| AY3792 | PHL | 10:55 | 10:00 | Cancelled |
| SV4472 | BOS | 11:25 | 14:22 | Departed |
Schiphol's one-terminal logic and the train station under your feet
Schiphol is a model of the single-terminal airport, and that design is the key to using it well. Everything sits under one roof: there is one terminal, divided into Departures Halls 1, 2, and 3 on the landside and a continuous run of piers (lettered concourses) on the airside. KLM and its partners anchor the operation, and because it is all one building, connections — even between distant piers — stay airside without shuttle buses.
Getting into Amsterdam and beyond
The best thing about Schiphol is the railway station directly beneath the terminal. Trains to Amsterdam Centraal run frequently and take only about 15 to 20 minutes, and the same station serves direct trains across the Netherlands and international high-speed services (Eurostar and others) toward Belgium, France, and Germany. You walk down from the arrivals hall to the platforms — no separate airport transfer required. For most travelers this makes a taxi unnecessary; the airport is about 9 km southwest of the city, but the train almost always wins on time and cost.
Connecting
The one-roof layout makes Schiphol one of the easier big European airports to transfer through. That said, it is very busy, and the shared passport control and central security can produce long queues at peak times — the airport has had well-publicised crowding in recent years. Give a short connection more room than the building’s compactness suggests, especially if you are changing between Schengen and non-Schengen piers, which requires passing through border control.
Worth knowing
Signage is clear and English is universal, so navigation is rarely the problem — queue length is. Arrive early for departures during the summer and holiday peaks, and if you are connecting, head straight to your onward gate and clear any border control before relaxing.
Other KLM hubs
Where is Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)?
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) is in Amsterdam, NL, a hub for KLM and easyJet.
How many terminals does Amsterdam Schiphol Airport have?
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has 1 terminal, handling around 61.9M passengers a year.
How do I get from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam?
Ground options include Bolt, Bus 197 Airport Express, Bus 300 R-net — Bolt takes about Travel time similar to other cars: about 25–45 minutes Schiphol–central Amsterdam in normal traffic. (User reports often show Bolt fares a few euros lower than Uber for Schiphol–central Amsterdam, typically around €30–45 when not surging.).