AMSTERDAM AIRPORT TO CITY CENTRE BY TRAIN: FIRST TIMERS STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE!

DISCOVER THE EASIEST & CHEAPEST WAY TO GET FROM AMSTERDAM AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTRE!

I don’t know about you, but I get this weird anxiety about the journey from the airport to a destination, and get all flustered about it. So I always research, extensively.

Same as me? Fluster no more, I’ve now put together this visual step-by-step “Amsterdam airport to the city by train” guide (with my own photos) to put your mind at ease.

We’ve just spent an amazing 3 days in Amsterdam, and can vouch Amsterdam’s Sprinter train is the easiest, most convenient and cheapest way to get from Amsterdam airport to the city centre – in just 17 minutes!

If I’ve done my job right, you’ll get déjà vu and feel like you’ve already done the journey when you do arrive! 😝

Planning your trip to Amsterdam?
Start here:

Skyscanner ↗ to find the best flights to Amsterdam Schipol (AMS).
Booking.com ↗ to browse the best places to stay in Amsterdam.
Psst! Stay at Hotel Jakarta Amsterdam for a 5* tropical oasis in the city!

🎟️ Viator.com ↗ to book unforgettable tours, from canal cruises to windmills.
🛡️ Staysure ↗ for easy, reliable travel insurance (UK travellers only).

FROM ARRIVALS TO SCHIPHOL TRAIN STATION

Schiphol Airport (AMS) is Amsterdam’s main international airport, just 12km (8 miles) from the city centre. By car or bus, expect a minimum of 30 minutes, if there’s no traffic.

By Sprinter train? It’s direct, takes 17 minutes and leaves straight from the airport. The train service you want is the one to Amsterdam Centraal, Amsterdam’s main train station in the heart of the city.

A close up of a bright yellow and blue Sprinter train stationery in the underground platform at Amsterdam Schipol Airport — A close up of the Sprinter train that takes you from Amsterdam airport to the city. *Photograph taken by Jordie.*

Getting from Amsterdam Airport to the city’s Centraal Station was actually much easier than I expected, but I still took plenty of photos to show you exactly what it’s like. Let’s start walking through it together:

AT ARRIVALS
Exit baggage claim and walk out into the Arrivals hall. Immediately you’ll see this large yellow sign straight in front of you, telling you to walk left for “Trains”.

A bright yellow illuminated sign in Amsterdam Schipol airport arrival hall. — This large yellow sign is directly in front of you coming out from baggage claim. Follow the “Trains” direction. *Photograph by Jordie.*

Follow this signs and in literally no time at all, you’ll reach the large open space of Schiphol Plaza, this is where the railway station is.

amsterdam-airport-to-city-centre-by-sprinter-train — Under here for Schiphol Plaza, and all the departure boards and ticket machines. *Photograph by Jordie.*

Planning your Amsterdam trip? Start here:

🌷 Visiting in spring? See Amsterdam’s tulips ↗
🌴 Want to stay somewhere unique? Hotel Jakarta Amsterdam ↗

BUYING A SPRINTER TRAIN TICKET AT SCHIPHOL

Before you go anywhere, let’s get you a ticket first!

USING THE TICKET MACHINES
The quickest way to get a Sprinter ticket is at any of their physical ticket machines. Being bright yellow, donning a Sprinter logo and in big clusters of 4, they’re hard to miss! Take a look:

Buying a one-way ticket using these machines is quite straightforward, and you can switch the instructions to English or Dutch. You’ll get a physical paper ticket. Keep this safe, you’ll need it to exit the Amsterdam Centraal barriers!

Other options include pre-purchasing e-tickets via the NS website or Trainline, or head to the NS Service Desk in the Plaza for in-person assistance buying your ticket.

AMSTERDAM AIRPORT TO THE CITY COSTS LESS THAN €7 BY TRAIN!

BUYING A TICKET
A single adult ticket for the Sprinter train from Amsterdam Schiphol to Centraal Station costs just €6.70, around £5.60 or $7.25 USD. No cash is accepted here (including coins or notes). You pay with a contactless debit or credit card.

A close up photograph of a bright yellow and dark blue Sprinter train ticket machine in Amsterdam Centraal station. Particularly focusing on showing how easy the screen interface is, with English instructions — I actually took this Sprinter ticket machine photo at Amsterdam Centraal (identical to the ones at Schiphol airport) to show how user-friendly it is. *Photo by Jordie.*

A close up of the physical paper train ticket you get for the Sprinter train journey from Amsterdam airport to the city. Background is the modern Amsterdam Centraal station's mirrored feature ceiling. — The physical paper ticket you get. Keep it safe, you’ll need it to exit the Amsterdam Centraal barriers! *Photo by Jordie.*

GLASS ELEVATORS TAKE YOU DOWN TO ALL SCHIPHOL’S TRAIN PLATFORMS

GO DOWN TO THE PLATFORMS
In Schiphol Plaza, you’ll spot plenty of departure boards and ticket machines… but not a single train! (This confused me SO MUCH 🤣)

Turns out, they’re all directly below you, accessed via the glass elevators spaced around the hall. Each one goes down to a different set of platforms, (e.g. Platform 5/6), and are clearly signposted above the elevator doors.

Check the departure boards for the next train to ‘Amsterdam Centraal’ and head to the glass elevator for that platform. (Ours left from Platform 4, but definitely double-check the boards for the most up-to-date info).

The elevators are large, and their doors open both sides!

Scene of a very busy Amsterdam Schiphol Railway station, lots of people on the ground, many with suitcases, ready to travel from Amsterdam airport to the city. A glass elevator is in the centre and the focus of the image. — An example of one of many glass elevators dotted around Schiphol Railway Station. Each elevator takes you down one level to a specific platform. Signage is above the doors to tell you which. The elevators are large, and doors open both sides! *Photograph taken by Jordie.*

AMSTERDAM’S SPRINTER TRAINS ARE FREQUENT, WITH ONLY 3 STOPS

Sprinter trains from Amsterdam airport to the city are frequent, with up to 8 services per hour during peak times especially.

So don’t panic if you miss one, there’ll be another one soon!

These Sprinter services actually terminate at Amsterdam Centraal too, making just two intermediate stops at “Lelylaan” and “Sloterdijk” in between. This makes it easier as it’ll say “Amsterdam Centraal” on the board. Like this:

A close up photograph of the digital screen showing the next train service to Amsterdam Centraal from the airport. — Standing at Platform 4 waiting for the Sprinter train to take us from Amsterdam airport to the city centre. This gives you an idea of what you’ll see on the departure board. *Photograph by Jordie.*

THE SPRINTER TRAINS ARE MODERN, CLEAN AND COMFORTABLE

We were pleasantly surprised with Amsterdam’s Sprinter trains. They felt spacious, clean, modern with neon blue downlighters and had very comfortable blue leather seats.

There’s no assigned seating, you sit where you want – apart from designated priority seats for those who need them.

There’s also luggage areas and step-free access available.

A candid photograph on board one of Amsterdam's Sprinter trains, servicing Amsterdam Airport to the city up to 8 times an hour during peak times! — A candid photo onboard the Sprinter train that took us from Amsterdam airport to the city. It felt very modern and clean! *Photograph by Jordie.*

We accidentally caught the Friday rush hour of commuters on arrival, so had to stand up with the pram. On the way back we travelled off-peak, and got a seat easily.

ARRIVE AT AMSTERDAM CENTRAAL STATION

Hop off the Sprinter train and follow the Exit signs to the barriers. When we went the elevator wasn’t working, so we had to carry the pram down the stairs.

Go through the barriers and you’ll step out into Amsterdam’s super modern Centraal Station (we loved the mirrored ceiling). It’s a long station, more stretched out than deep.

Looking back at the ticket barriers at Amsterdam Centraal station — Amsterdam Centraal station ticket barriers. *Photograph by Jordie.*

A woman walking through Amsterdam Centraal station. The station is clean with a glass elevator in the forefront and a modern mirrored feature ceiling. — Amsterdam Centraal station after going through the ticket barriers. Riverside exit is to the right of the glass elevator.

Depending on which direction you now need to go, there’s two exits to choose from:

1. Straight ahead of you is the Riverside exit – ideal if you’re catching a ferry or taking a tram heading away from the city. It’s worth a look at the waterside views, though not the best route for the inner city as you’d have to walk all the way round the station.

2. Or walk about halfway down the station to find the “IJ Passage“ – a pedestrianised underground passageway lined with boutique shops and cafés.

It easily connects you straight to the city side of the station without passing through ticket barriers, where you can hop on a tram or just walk straight into the centre.

A photograph of the River IJ in Amsterdam, after just emerging from Amsterdam Centraal station. The water and sky above is blue as it's a beautiful sunny day, a few people sitting on the concrete steps along the waters edge. — Views coming out of the Riverside Entrance of Amsterdam Centraal station. Not bad, ey? *Photograph by Jordie.*

A photo of Amsterdam Centraal station from the outside. The architecture is grand, bright orange brick and ornate detailing. — A photo of Amsterdam Centraal station from the outside. On another note, congrats! You’ve finished the route from Amsterdam airport to the city. *Photo by Jordie.*

CONCLUSION: AMSTERDAM AIRPORT TO THE CITY CENTRE BY SPRINTER TRAIN

And there you have it! The quickest, most convenient and budget-friendly way of getting from Amsterdam Airport to the city centre.

The fact a single ticket cost the equivalent of just over £5 GBP and only takes 17 minutes was mind-blowing to us!

Likewise, with the train station being so well-signposted and physically AT the airport, the transition from Arrivals to the station was pretty seamless.

From personal experience, we found Amsterdam’s Sprinter trains to be very clean, modern and spacious with ample seating and standing space. Overall, the journey for us was pretty enjoyable.

Just try to avoid morning rush hour, it can get pretty busy then and you might not get a seat!!

We truly hope this visual step-by-step guide has been helpful for you and gets rid of any initial worries or queries you may have had.

Have the most AMAZING time visiting Amsterdam! 🌷🌷🌷

We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback on this blog! Feel free to email us at hello@theflainstravel.com.

A photo of Jordie, the author of this specific blog post and owner of the wesbite.

This blog post was written by Jordie Flain!

Founder of TheFlainsTravel.com

A travel-obsessed Sagittarius creating honest, easy-to-follow guides. Powered by tea, chocolate and a slightly concerning amount of tomato ketchup.

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