What if you have a few hours to kill at Schiphol airport and you consider spending those hours in Amsterdam? Impossible? Over complicated? Not that crazy an idea actually, for Amsterdam is very close to Schiphol airport and trains run frequently. If in doubt, let me tell you a bit about how to get from the airport to the city, how long it’ll take and where to go. And who knows, dear traveller, you’ll be enjoying your mini-citytrip instead of hanging around in a Starbucks for hours. Yup, a few hours in Amsterdam even beats your spiced pumkin soy latte.
Choo-choo
If you want a quick and easy way to head to the city, you should totally go by train. Forget those over-priced cabs and slow buses. The train will get you there. It’ll take sixteen minutes from Schiphol to Amsterdam central station. And the train’s platforms are right underneath the arrivals
hall of Schiphol, closer than the taxi pick up point. That’s why cabdrivers are in the arrival’s hall trying to get customers: 50 feet further the trains take tourists right to town, at a fare that’s 10% of what the cab driver will charge you.
Getting a ticket
You can’t buy a ticket on the train, so buy one in advance. On Schiphol from the machine, the NS-service desk (NS stands for National Railway, ‘Nationale Spoorwegen’), or online, right here on the NS website. You can pay with Ideal. A same-day return ticket costs only €4,40. Trains to Schiphol leave Amsterdam every 15 minutes, check the national railway’s website for timetables.
What about your luggage?
If you have handluggage, and you don’t want to drag it into Amsterdam, you’ve got some options. You can leave it at Schiphol, ofcourse. There are lockers for hire. Want some info? Here is the website. Amsterdam central station also provides lockers for travelers. This is the website for the station lockers. Be aware: the lockers at the central station are not open 24/7, also the rates may vary a bit at the larger stations.
Where to go when in Amsterdam
Plenty to do while you arrive. Considering you don’t have a whole day and are not in the mood for anything fussy: I will give you some tips that are in walking distance. Check out my blog on 10 nice places to visit within 15 minutes walk from the station here!
Prefer hanging around at the airport or heading to town? Let me know in the comments!
