Amsterdam Centraal Station: Arrival, Transport & Orientation Guide

How the station is laid out

Amsterdam Centraal is a stacked layout: trains arrive on the upper platforms, and everything else lives below and around them. There are 15 tracks across roughly 11 platforms, each numbered with a/b sections so two trains can use the same platform. From any platform you take an escalator, stairs or a lift down to one of the wide passages running under the tracks, then follow the signs to either exit.

Get the orientation right and the rest is easy. The city side (south) faces the canals and the tram square; the IJ side (north) faces the river. Walking toward lower platform numbers takes you toward the front (city-side) of the building. Note that part of the station is under renovation through to 2030, so signage and some routes shift — always follow the live signs rather than memory.

• Upper level: numbered tracks (sporen) with departure screens
• Middle, East and West tunnels need a valid ticket at the gates; the IJ passage is free to cross
• City-side exit (south): trams, the GVB ticket office, Damrak and the centre
• IJ-side exit (north): metro link, bus station, bike garages and the free ferries
• Cuyperspassage foot/cycle tunnel features the famous Delft Blue tile mural

Trams, metro, buses, ferries and taxis

Every onward connection is clustered at the two exits, so you rarely walk more than five minutes. Step out the city side onto Stationsplein and the tram stops are directly in front of you: seven GVB tram lines run from here, split into A stops (lines 2, 12, 13, 17, 26 heading south and east) and B stops (lines 4 and 14). Tram 2 to Museumplein is the classic route for the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum.

The metro is the hub of the whole network — lines 51, 52, 53 and 54 all converge here, with the deeper North/South line 52 reached from inside the passage. Most regional and night buses leave from the upper-level IJzijde bus station behind the building. The free GVB ferries to Amsterdam-Noord depart from the docks immediately behind the IJ-side exit — no ticket, bikes welcome. Official taxis rank on De Ruiterkade on the IJ waterfront.

• Trams: Stationsplein square, A stops (2/12/13/17/26) and B stops (4/14)
• Metro: lines 51, 52, 53, 54 from inside the central passage
• Buses: upper-level IJzijde station on the north (IJ) side
• Ferries: free GVB ferries (Buiksloterweg ~3 min, NDSM ~10 min), no ticket needed
• Taxis: official metered rank on De Ruiterkade, IJ side — avoid touts inside the hall

The train to and from Schiphol Airport

The direct NS train between Amsterdam Centraal and Schiphol Airport is the fastest, cheapest and most frequent connection: about 17–20 minutes, up to eight trains an hour from 05:30 to 01:00, with hourly night trains 02:00–05:00 (change at Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA). A single 2nd-class ticket is roughly €5.90–7.10, or about €11.50 in 1st class. The station sits directly under Schiphol Plaza, so there is no airport shuttle to catch.

You can buy from the yellow NS machines (card or coin, no banknotes), at the OV Service & Tickets desks, or simply tap a contactless bank card at the gate — paying contactless avoids the €1.60 single-use chip-card surcharge. Always tap in at the start and out at the end, and check the screens for the Schiphol Airport destination before boarding, as airport-bound trains use the through platforms.

Getting between the airport and the centre: train vs bus vs taxi

The NS train is almost always the right call, but the Airport Express bus 397 and a taxi each suit specific situations. Bus 397 (single €6.50, return €11.75) runs from Schiphol stop B17 every ~10 minutes and is handy if you are staying near Museumplein or Leidseplein rather than Centraal — its final stop, Elandsgracht, is about 2 km from the station and the bus is not covered by GVB tickets. A taxi or Bolt/Uber makes sense only with heavy luggage or late at night. The table below compares all four side by side.

Tickets and fares that make sense in 2026

For getting around Amsterdam, the GVB day ticket is the simplest value: €10 for one day, falling to about €6.15 per day on a 7-day pass (€43). A single 1-hour ride is €3.40; children 4–11 pay €5/day and under-4s travel free. If you would rather not buy anything, OVpay contactless costs €1.16 to board plus €0.217/km, with GVB Max capping the GVB daily total at €10.50 on the same card — just remember to tap in and out or you pay a €4 penalty.

For airport arrivals, the Amsterdam Travel Ticket bundles the Schiphol train, bus 397 and unlimited GVB from €23 (1 day) to €44 (3 days). The wider Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket (from ~€23) reaches Haarlem, Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Keukenhof and the beaches. Buy GVB day tickets at the office across the forecourt on the city side.

• GVB day passes: €10 (1d) · €16 (2d) · €21.50 (3d) · €43 (7d, ~€6.15/day)
• Single 1-hour GVB ride €3.40; night-bus single €5.70
• OVpay: €1.16 boarding + €0.217/km; GVB Max caps GVB at €10.50/day
• Amsterdam Travel Ticket (incl. airport): €23/€34/€44 for 1/2/3 days
• Note: the old 1.5-hour BTM ticket has been discontinued for 2026

Lockers, services and the I amsterdam City Card

Self-service luggage lockers inside the station run from €11 (small), €16 (large) and €26 (XL) for the first 24 hours, paid by card and accessible during concourse hours — useful before check-in or for a late flight. Around them you will find AH To Go and other supermarkets, a HEMA, a chemist, GWK Travelex, ATMs, paid Sanifair toilets, a 24-hour OV service desk on the IJ side and the historic 1e Klas grand café upstairs near platform 2a.

If you plan to sightsee hard, the I amsterdam City Card (24h €67, up to 120h €140, plus a new 2026 Explorer pass from €44 for 3 or 5 attractions) bundles 70+ museums, unlimited GVB transport, a 24h bike rental and a canal-cruise discount. It pays off at roughly three or more paid attractions per day. It does not cover the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House or the airport train, so plan those separately.

• Lockers: €11 small / €16 large / €26 XL per 24h, card payment
• Bike garages: 13,500+ spaces across four guarded facilities, free first 24h
• City Card includes 70+ museums + unlimited GVB; excludes Van Gogh, Anne Frank House, airport train
• Anne Frank House tickets sell only on the official site (timed entry, no resellers, not in any pass)

Walking into the historic centre and staying safe

To walk into the historic centre, leave by the city side and head straight down the Damrak: it is about 8–10 minutes to Dam Square, passing shops, the canals and the start of the old town. The Jordaan and the Anne Frank House sit a little to the west — an easy 15–20 minute stroll or a couple of tram stops. The free ferries behind the station also open up Amsterdam-Noord, the A’DAM Lookout and the Eye Film Museum in minutes.

Centraal is busy and well policed, but like any major hub it attracts pickpockets, especially during the weekday rushes (roughly 06:30–09:00 and 16:00–18:30) and around the gates. Keep bags zipped and in front of you, use the marked taxi rank rather than anyone approaching you, and allow 15–30 minutes before domestic departures or 30–45 minutes for the Eurostar and other international trains, which now leave from the eastern passage.