AMS — Amsterdam (Schiphol) — Taxi Fare Guide
The official taxi rank is on the A7 lane at Schiphol Plaza, just outside Arrivals. Only board taxis from the marked airport rank or booked through the Schiphol taxi desk; these are licensed and government-regulated. Avoid drivers touting for business inside the terminal.
Unlike Rome or Madrid, Schiphol has no fixed flat airport fare. All fares are metered under nationally capped rates: a starting fee of about €3.60, roughly €2.10-€2.60 per kilometre, and about €0.50 per minute of waiting. A small airport pick-up surcharge of around €4 may apply. There is no separate night tariff on the meter, but slow traffic raises the metered total.
In practice a ride from Schiphol to the city centre (Amsterdam Centraal, Museum Quarter, Jordaan) costs roughly €45-€60 in normal daytime traffic and €65-€75 late at night or in congestion. Confirm the driver uses the meter; the price you pay is whatever the meter shows on arrival, and cards are widely accepted.
Uber and Bolt operate at Schiphol and are often cheaper than a street taxi, with pick-up at designated ride-hailing points. The train to Amsterdam Centraal (about €5-€6, 15-20 minutes) is much cheaper if you have little luggage.
| Destination | Approx. fare | Time |
| Amsterdam Centraal / centre | €45-€60 | 20-30 min |
| Museum Quarter / Zuid | €40-€55 | 20-25 min |
| RAI / Amsterdam-Zuid business area | €35-€50 | 15-20 min |
| Centre late night / heavy traffic | €65-€75 | 25-35 min |
Practical tips: Always check the meter is running, use only the official Schiphol Plaza rank or a booked taxi, and consider Uber/Bolt or the train to save money. Fares are approximate and depend on exact destination, traffic and time of day.
Other ways to the city
Schiphol has a railway station directly beneath the terminal, which is usually the quickest way into the city.
- NS train to Amsterdam Centraal - Direct trains run every few minutes, taking 15-20 minutes for around €5-€6. Trains also run through the night at reduced frequency.
- Trains to Zuid, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht - Amsterdam Zuid is 8 minutes away; Rotterdam and Utrecht are reachable in 25-45 minutes on intercity services.
- Amsterdam Airport Express bus 397 - Direct to Museumplein and Leidseplein in about 30 minutes for roughly €7.
- Night bus N97 - Runs to the city centre when trains are sparse, around €5-€7 and 30-40 minutes.
- Regional Connexxion and hotel shuttles - Serve Haarlem, Amstelveen and airport-area hotels; fares vary from free to around €10.
Amsterdam — Highlights in photos
Fares are researched from official and public sources and are approximate — always confirm the meter or fixed fare before you travel.