Train or taxi from Schiphol Airport to central Amsterdam

If money is no object, take the taxi. If you are on a budget, take the train - it is a wonderful experience!!! I love riding the train in Europe!!!

Janet

The taxi is about 55 euros if there is no traffic. If there is heavy volume on the highway to the airport that fare can skyrocket quickly. A compromise would be to take the train to Centraal and a taxi from the train station to your B&B.

Or, you can take the train to Central Station, then a tram to your B&B. If you post your B&B's location, others can tell you the route to take (if it's not described on the B&B's website - these days, most places have directions about getting there from the airport and train station).

As to whether it's "worth the additional cost," that decision, like all such matters, is your call. If you're tired, if anyone has a mobility impairment, if you're packing heavy, if you have a poor sense of direction, or if you just like door to door service, it's worth it. Remember, you don't have to make a final decision until you arrive, so you can see how you feel then.

The train is easy and runs very frequently. Although most Dutch train stations don't take US magnetic-strip credit cards, the Schipol Airport station does take them at the ticket windows. Still, I'd plan to withdraw cash from the airport ATM and pay in cash for this small purchase, under 5 euros per person.

It was so, so easy to take the train. I wish NYC had a similar system! You don't have to worry about traffic, you're right downtown. I was able to walk to my hotel from the train. The trams seemed easy and it's always easy to get a taxi at a train station.

Pam

If you take the train to the Central Station (which I also think is the best idea), the taxis right in front of the station are more expensive (so I've been warned), and it's better to walk across the street and get a taxi a little farther on.

It looks to me like it's pretty well regulated, but that you have to insist on the metered fare and you had better know your route to the hotel or you may be taken for a ride. I would ask my B&B or Hotel for directions. Here's another site with the warnings that Chani is referring to. You're going to see that they too really advise the train and tram as the best way for tourists to travel. And if you want to get all the warnings go here. Taxi's are number 18. There is a wide range here. I can vouch for the steep stairway one!

Taxi scams in Amsterdam mostly happen late at night to dunk and high tourists trying to get back to their hotels when the trams stop running; it's easy pickings At the train station in the risk of a dishonest taxi in the middle of the day is low. While the tram network is excellent, it probably won't drop you off directly in front of your hotel and the circular street grid can be confusing. So for a first time visitor to Amsterdam taking a taxi to your lodging after a long flight where you're tired and disoriented is a reasonable thing to do.

Part of the amazing nature of the Netherlands-- that they have tamed the seas, are technologically savvy, forward thinking, rebels, is that they have a perfect infrastructure, including trains, trams, dedicated cycling routes. Use it. Admire it. Taking the train from Schipol, regardless of price, is an easy pleasure, and catching the correct tram from right out front of the Centraal Station in Amsterdam is also easy. People are friendly and helpful. One man even reminded me as I was exiting the tram to "tag off," meaning touch my ticket to the machine on my way out.

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