Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) Flights & Information

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the largest and busiest airport in the Netherlands and serves as a hub for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and its KLM Cityhopper affiliate. The facility is also a major connecting center for flights within Europe and beyond, and low-cost carriers EasyJet and Transavia are also big operators here. It’s one of the busiest airports in Europe, a sprawling complex that offers lots of amenities.

An important vocabulary word you’ll want to know when flying in and out of Schiphol: Schengen, which refers to the region that includes most European Union nations. The airport is divided into two areas: one for Schengen flights, and one for non-Schengen flights. These designations affect a variety of protocols, including customs and immigration processing.

How to travel between Schiphol airport and Amsterdam

There are several ways to travel to and from the airport, especially if you’re traveling to or from the city center.

Taking the train

As in many European cities, the train is one of the most efficient forms of ground transportationI’m a big fan of NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen, the Dutch railway), which operates from the train station located below the terminal. Train tickets are available for purchase in the train station or on the train.

If you’re planning to use mass transit regularly, I find it most economical to buy the Amsterdam Travel Ticket, which provides unlimited use of buses, trains and trams and is available for one-, two- and three-day time periods.

Rail service is excellent for reaching the center of Amsterdam, but if you’re traveling to other parts, the travel time will be greater and you’ll probably have to change trains or even modes of transportation; depending on your budget, you may be better off considering a taxi or Schiphol Travel Taxi for faster door-to-door service.

Taking a taxi

If you’re approached by supposed taxi drivers offering rides when exiting the arrivals area of the terminal, ignore them. They’re most likely not licensed and may charge exorbitant rates. Head to the official taxi stand in front of Schiphol Plaza, the airport’s ground transportation hub (when arriving by taxi, you’ll be dropped off right at the departure area).

Schiphol Travel Taxis, which provide shared, door-to-door van services to Amsterdam and other parts of the country, are a cheaper alternative. Plan on extra travel time if you choose this option.

Using Uber and other rideshare apps

In 2024, Schiphol debuted a new pickup location for Uber and other app-based services. It’s a short walk from Schiphol Plaza. If you take Uber to the airport, meanwhile, you’ll be dropped off at the terminal entrance.

Navigating Schiphol airport

Royal Schiphol Group, which owns and operates the airport, is in the midst of a three-billion-euro upgrade that will wrap up in 2027. As a result, depending on when you travel, you may find some parts of the airport have changed — in some cases, improvements may be complete, while in other cases you may need to walk around work sites. Renovations are slated for multiple gates and piers. In addition, the Schiphol Plaza bus station is being updated and will be complete by 2027.

Walking distances at Schiphol can be long and — due to the ever-growing number of flights — you may find yourself boarding or deplaning on a far-off corner of the tarmac rather than at a terminal gate, necessitating the need to take a bus to and from the terminal. Arrivals and departures may also require quite a bit of taxiing; the Polderbaan runway, for example, is so far from the terminal that taxiing takes at least 15 minutes.

Security lines for departing passengers have sometimes been long and understaffed at Schiphol; I’ve had varying luck with wait times. The airport promises that the recent addition of 53 new security scanners will help alleviate that.

Extra perks with Privium

If you fly regularly into and out of Schiphol and hold a valid passport from a European Union country (or from Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or Iceland), you may want to consider joining Privium, a service with three levels of annual memberships that provide expedited security and border clearance. The Privium Plus and Privium Partner levels also include access to the Privium Lounges, while the Plus level also includes Priority parking and access to the Privium Excellence Garage.

Making connections at Schiphol

The biggest lesson I’ve learned about making connections at Schiphol is that it’s good exercise. Schiphol is a massive terminal complex with three large departure halls. If you need assistance or extra time to walk, factor that into your plans. I’ve taken rather long hikes from the arrival gate to the immigration checkpoint, followed by additional long walks to the next gate for connecting flights.

Things to do at Schiphol airport

Schiphol offers lots of predictable duty-free shopping as well as food and beverage outlets, but it also has some unique features that I really like. Note, however, that the airport is big, and the further you walk out onto a concourse, the fewer the options in terms of food, drink, shopping and diversions — so check the directory and plan strategically.

The Schiphol app provides flight information and also allows you to order food. HEMA, a Dutch department store chain with a location before security, is good for travel essentials, as well as gifts and food at its reasonably priced cafe.

One of my favorite places to spend a long layover is the Panoramaterras (Panorama Terrace), an open-air observation area that — in addition to offering photo- and video-worthy tarmac views, has a decommissioned KLM Fokker 100 on display. The adjacent Panorama Restaurant and Spaces Lounge (which has meeting rooms for rent, in case you’re doing business) also offer great views.

Also worth a visit — especially if you’re changing planes and can’t actually head out of the airport — is Holland Boulevard, a space dedicated to shopping and attractions that showcase Dutch culture. It’s home to the Rijksmuseum Schiphol, a branch of Amsterdam’s legendary history and art museum, and the Airport Library, which stocks books by Dutch authors in multiple languages.

Airline lounges and alternatives at Schiphol

If you’re flying KLM in some fare classes or have upper-level elite frequent flyer status with the airline (or Elite Plus status with SkyTeam), you may have access to the carrier’s two airline lounges at Schiphol. Paid access is also available, if you have lower elite level status. The non-Schengen Crown Lounge offers the most amenities, including showers and — for an extra fee, payable in cash or frequent flyer miles — sleeping cabins where you can take a nap.

If you’re flying on a Star Alliance or oneworld airline, you may have access to their respective lounges, but note that the Star Alliance lounge is in the Schengen area, while the new oneworld Lounge is in the non-Schengen section, so depending on your travel plans you may only have access to one of them. The oneworld lounge — which opened in 2024 as the alliance’s first club in Europe — is especially well equipped, since it has showers.

The Privium lounges, meanwhile, are restricted to travelers who are Privium Plus and Privium Partner members; this is only practical if you plan to fly in and out of Amsterdam on a regular basis.

Regardless of what airline you’re traveling with or your frequent flyer status, you can access the airport’s two Aspire lounges for a fee; one is in the Schengen area and the other is in the non-Schengen area, and both offer free snacks and drinks.

Free alternatives to lounges

If you’re just looking for a quick clean-up during a long trip, headto the shower cabins at the EF Filter, located near the first aid clinic and Departure Lounge 2, after the security check. It’s free to use the showers, but you’ll have to bring your own towel.

The Baby Care Lounge at Schiphol also offers free access. Located between Departure Lounges 2 and 3 (and open only to non-Schengen passengers), it features multiple spaces for taking care of your little travel companions.

Luggage storage at Schiphol

Schiphol has five storage facilities outside of security and one inside. All locations offer 24-hour access and charge a fee based on the size of the item and length of time.

Hotels inside Schiphol airport

Schiphol makes it easy to get some rest in between connections. The airport is home to two hotels that are located after security, on the airside of the terminal. The Mercure Hotel Schiphol Terminal, in the transit area of Lounge 3, offers day and night room rentals, and the YOTELAIR Amsterdam Schiphol, located in the transit area of Lounge 2, offers rooms for a minimum four-hour stay.