Amsterdam has one of the easiest airport-to-city journeys in Europe and one of the hardest last hundred metres. Getting the first part right is simple; getting the second part right is what makes arrival civilised.
The train, which is almost always the answer
Schiphol's station sits directly beneath the terminal — no shuttle, no transfer bus. Intercity and Sprinter services run to Amsterdam Centraal several times an hour, including through the night at reduced frequency, and the journey takes roughly fifteen to twenty minutes. Buy from the yellow NS machines or tap a contactless card at the gates; check whether your card is accepted before you queue.
From Centraal, all five hotels in this collection are reachable in under twenty minutes. The Krasnapolsky is a ten-minute walk down the Damrak. De L'Europe is fifteen minutes on foot or two tram stops. The Pulitzer and Waldorf Astoria are best reached by tram to Westermarkt or Keizersgracht respectively. The Conservatorium is a tram ride to Museumplein or Van Baerlestraat.
Taxis and private transfer
A licensed taxi from Schiphol to the centre typically runs 25 to 45 minutes depending on traffic and costs substantially more than the train. It is the right choice with three or more suitcases, with small children, after a long-haul arrival, or when your hotel is on a canal where the nearest tram stop still leaves a five-minute walk over bridges. Most of the five hotels will arrange a car in advance; the surcharge usually buys you a driver who knows which side of the canal your door is on.
The water option
Water taxis operate within the city rather than from the airport, but they are a genuinely useful final leg. De L'Europe and the Pulitzer both sit on navigable water, and arriving by boat with luggage is easier than dragging a case across cobbles. Arrange it through the hotel; expect a premium.
Transfer comparison
| Mode | Time to centre | Indicative cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| NS train to Centraal | 15–20 min | €5–7 per person | Almost everyone |
| Licensed taxi | 25–45 min | €45–70 | Heavy luggage, families |
| Private car via hotel | 25–45 min | €80–140 | Door-to-door certainty |
| Airport bus / shuttle | 30–50 min | €6–20 | Museum Quarter hotels |
| Water taxi (city leg) | 10–20 min | From €60 | Canal-front arrivals |
The staircase problem
Canal houses were built tall and narrow because plot frontage was taxed. Their staircases are correspondingly steep, and protection rules limit how much can be altered. Modern canal-house hotels have inserted lifts wherever structurally possible, but at the Pulitzer in particular the route from reception to your room may cross several buildings and include short flights of steps.
Three practical responses: travel with one medium case rather than two large ones; tell the hotel in advance if stairs are an issue so you are placed in a lift-served house; and accept help with bags — the staff know the route and you do not.
Arrival notes by hotel
- Anantara Krasnapolsky — walk from Centraal in ten minutes; taxi drop-off on Dam Square can be slow at weekends.
- De L'Europe — tram to Rokin, then two minutes. Taxis can pull up on Nieuwe Doelenstraat.
- Pulitzer — tram to Westermarkt, then five minutes along Prinsengracht. Confirm which entrance to use.
- Waldorf Astoria — cars enter through the gated courtyard off Herengracht; simplest arrival of the five.
- Conservatorium — tram to Van Baerlestraat; step-free from the pavement.
Sources and further reading
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol — official site
- NS — Dutch Railways timetables and tickets
- GVB — Amsterdam trams, buses and metro
- I amsterdam — official visitor information
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