Netherlands · AMS
Flights to Amsterdam
One airport, a train underneath it, and a city you can cross on foot
Amsterdam is one of the easiest European cities to arrive into. Schiphol operates as a single terminal, the railway station sits directly beneath it, and you can be in the centre within twenty minutes of collecting your bag. Few capitals make it that simple.
The city itself is small, which is the thing most visitors underestimate in the other direction. Central Amsterdam is walkable end to end, and booking a hotel further out to save money often costs more in trams than it saves in room rate.
Getting to Amsterdam
Airports
Schiphol (AMS) is the only airport and works as one building with piers rather than separate terminals. That single fact makes it one of the most reliable European hubs for a short connection.
Flight time
Roughly 7h 45m non-stop from New York, around 7h 25m from Boston, about 8h 45m from Chicago, near 9h 45m from Miami, and approximately 11h 25m to 11h 40m from the west coast.
Into the city
Trains run from the station directly beneath the terminal to Amsterdam Centraal in fifteen to twenty minutes, very frequently and through much of the night. There is no shuttle and no separate airport rail premium — an escalator down from arrivals puts you on the platform.
When to go
Demand rather than price is described here on purpose. Any fare we show you comes from a live search on your own dates, so a fixed figure on this page would be out of date before you read it.
Busiest
April to May, and July to August
Tulip season pulls a large crowd in spring, and midsummer brings long days and the highest hotel prices of the year. Both are lovely and neither is quiet.
Best balance
September to October
Mild, considerably less crowded than summer, and the light on the canals is at its best. This is the window regular visitors tend to pick.
Quietest
November to March
Cold, grey and dark early, with the lowest demand of the year outside the Christmas and New Year window. The museums are the point in these months, and they are excellent.
Good to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Dutch; English is spoken almost universally
- Time zone
- CET, or CEST from late March to late October
- Power
- Type F plug, 230V
- Entry for US passports
- Short visits are visa-free, but the EU is introducing an electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors. Confirm the current requirement with Dutch or EU authorities before you fly.
Entry requirements change and we are not an immigration authority. Always confirm the current rules for your nationality with the relevant government before you book or travel.
Worth sorting before you fly
Stay central, the city is small
Central Amsterdam is walkable end to end in well under an hour. A cheaper hotel two tram rides out usually costs more in fares and time than it saves on the room.
Book the major museums ahead
The Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum sell timed entry that regularly goes weeks in advance. Turning up on the day is not a plan for either.
Take the cyclists seriously
Bike lanes are roadways, not decorative paths, and cyclists have priority and will not slow down. Standing in one to take a photograph is the classic visitor mistake.
Amsterdam is not the only stop
Rotterdam, Utrecht, Haarlem and Delft are all within an hour by train from Centraal. On a trip of four days or more, one of them is worth a day.
Other destinations
FAQ
Amsterdam — common questions
Airports, timing, and when it is worth talking to an agent.
How do I get from Schiphol into Amsterdam?
Take the train from the station directly beneath the terminal. It reaches Amsterdam Centraal in fifteen to twenty minutes, runs very frequently including overnight, and costs a fraction of a taxi. Unlike most European capitals there is no shuttle bus and no separate airport rail premium — the platform is one escalator down from the arrivals hall.
When is the best time to visit Amsterdam?
September and October offer the best balance: mild weather, far fewer visitors than summer, and excellent light. Spring is beautiful because of the tulips but genuinely crowded, and midsummer brings the highest prices. Winter is quiet and cheap, with short grey days that suit a museum-focused trip.
How many days do you need in Amsterdam?
Three days covers the main museums and the central canals at a comfortable pace. The city is compact enough that a fourth day is better spent on a train to Rotterdam, Utrecht or Haarlem than on more of the centre, all of which are within about an hour.
Is Amsterdam a good place to connect?
It is one of the best in Europe. Schiphol operates as a single terminal with piers rather than separate buildings, so there is no inter-terminal shuttle to miss. A tight connection here is a considerably safer bet than the same connection at Paris, London or Frankfurt.
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