Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Guide (AMS)
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the main airport for the Netherlands and is one of Europe's main air transport hubs. Our guide to the airport includes all the important contact details as well as information relating to terminal facilities, public transport access and nearby accommodation options.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is undergoing a large €500 million expansion; a new pier, terminal expansion and parking garage are to be completed in 2023.
Information desks can be found around the airport (tel: +31 900 7244 7465). Transfer desks in the concourses offer information on transfers and connecting flights. Touch screen kiosks provide general airport information and are located throughout the terminal.
There is just one terminal complex with eight concourses: B, C, D, E, F, G, H and M. The terminal has four Departure areas: 1A, 1, 2 and 3.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is situated off the A4 highway which links Amsterdam to The Hague. From Amsterdam, take the A10 ring road and merge onto the A4 in the direction of The Hague. The exit to the airport is clearly signposted from this route.
Public Transport
Rail: One of the best ways to get to Amsterdam Centraal Station is to take the train (journey time: 15 to 20 minutes; fare: €5.50). There is a railway station in the terminal's central hall, under Schiphol Plaza.
Apart from Amsterdam Centraal Station, direct trains also connect the airport to various destinations across the country, including Utrecht, Leiden, The Hague, Delft and Rotterdam. Meanwhile, the reservation-only, high-speed Thalys train serves major European cities.
Ticket machines and desks are located in Schiphol Plaza. Further rail information is available from Nederlandse Spoorwegen (tel: +31 30 751 5155; www.ns.nl/en).
Bus: Public buses (tel: +31 900 266 6399) run regularly to Amsterdam and other cities. The Amsterdam Airport Express (bus 397) and Niteliner (bus N97) go to Amsterdam city centre. Buses depart from stops B15-19 at Schiphol Airport. Full details of routes can be found on the airport website.
Shuttles: Many hotels offer a free airport shuttle service to guests. The Connexxion Schiphol Hotel Service (tel: +31 88 339 4741; www.airporthotelshuttle.nl) is a daily hotel shuttle service running from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to more than 100 hotels in and around Amsterdam; purchase tickets at the Connexxion desk in Arrival hall 4 (opposite Starbucks).
Taxi: Metered taxis are available from outside Schiphol Plaza. The journey to central Amsterdam is approximately 15 minutes.
Terminal facilities
There are numerous banks, ATMs, currency exchange machines and bureaux de change kiosks at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Free Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout Amsterdam Schipol Airport for four hours, and PCs are available in the KPN Internet Centres dotted around the airport including the Plaza before security and lounges 1, 2 and 3 after security. There is a postal service at the Service Point in Schiphol Plaza. Mobile telephone hire is available at the Airport Telecom in Schiphol Plaza. Specialist multimedia telephone units, which can be used for telephoning, internet access and SMS services, are situated throughout the airport.
Schiphol Airport prides itself on its culinary offerings and boasts a broad range of bars, cafés, restaurants and brasseries, which serve anything from seafood and grilled meat to Dutch pancakes and fast-food. These eateries are situated throughout the terminal, both landside and airside.
There is a large choice of shops at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, including a duty-free outlet and a supermarket at Schiphol Plaza pre-security and various clothing shops, newsagents and gift retailers post-security.
Luggage lockers are situated throughout the terminal where passengers can store bags for up to 168 hours. There is also a baggage depot (tel: +31 20 795 2843), which will store bags for up to 30 days. Open all day every day, it can be found before security in the baggage basement or after security in lounges 1, 2 and 3 as well as Holland Boulevard. Lost items can be reported to the dedicated lost and found help desks around the airport or the telephone line (tel: +31 20 333 0333). Passengers can also fill out lost and found forms on the airport website. If luggage is found, passengers can opt to have their items shipped back to them via post.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has a medical centre, 24-hour emergency medical services and a pharmacy. There is a fully equipped baby room and children’s play area on Holland Boulevard and baby-change facilities are provided in the toilets. Showers can be found at the on-site Hotel Mercure Schiphol Terminal Hotel (tel: +31 20 604 1339; www.accorhotels.com) or YotelAIR (tel: +31 20 206 5782; www.yotel.com). A massage parlour, hairdresser and prayer room are also located in the terminal. There are dedicated smoking cabins scattered throughout the terminal.
Airport facilities
There is a large range of dedicated business facilities both landside and airside at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Café Chocolat (tel: +31 20 603 4603) has a private meeting space for up to 12 guests. The nearby Regus Schiphol Airport Meeting Centre (tel: +31 20 654 1600) has office space equipped with fax, PC and telephone facilities, as well as a secretarial service and a conference room. The meeting rooms hold up to 40 people.
Facilities for disabled passengers include automatic doors, toilets and lifts between all floors of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Wheelchairs are available for visitors – passengers requiring wheelchairs and special assistance should inform their airline prior to travel.
Disabled parking is available in car parks P1, P3 and P4.
P1 short-term is a few minutes’ walk to the Departures and Arrivals areas. The P1 holiday parking area offers a sheltered walk to Departures and Arrivals. Long-term parking (P3) offers uncovered and covered parking; a free 24-hour shuttle bus links this car park to the terminal. A VIP valet service is also available at P6 and Terminal Valet car park (reservations are required: tel: +31 20 601 3483 and +31 20 406 7890 respectively).
Car hire companies at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol include: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt. Desks for these operators are located in Schiphol Plaza. To rent a car, either pre-book on the rental companies’ website or see what is available upon arrival.
The luxury option at the airport, Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Hotel is a short walk through a covered walkway from the terminal. The hotel has a range of dining options and provides extensive business facilities, as well as a foreign currency exchange.
Boasting a restaurant, café and bar, the Sheraton is located within the airport site and has direct access to the Departures and Arrivals areas. Meeting space is available for those on business.
Offering over 350 modern boutique style rooms at the airport, citizenM Schiphol Amsterdam Airport houses a bar and café and is one of the more affordable options in the area.
Mercure Schiphol Terminal Hotel is located within the terminal building, beyond customs. The hotel offers shower facilities 24 hours a day, as well as day rooms and overnight facilities.
Located in the transit area of departure lounge 2, YotelAIR provides modern, small rooms (called ‘cabins’) at an affordable price. Free Wi-Fi is available for use by guests.
Do you have any Feedback about this page?
© 2024 Columbus Travel Media Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced without our written permission, click here for information on Columbus Content Solutions.