Schiphol Airport
If you travel from or to the Netherlands by plane, you will probably enter the country via Schiphol Airport. Schiphol Airport is located a few kilometers outside the city centre of Amsterdam with excellent public transport connections to the Amsterdam centre. More information can be found on: https://www.schiphol.nl/en/page/transportation-from-schiphol/
To/from airport by train – Schiphol train station is situated directly below the airport. Trains to Amsterdam Central Station (Amsterdam CS) leave approximately every 10-15 minutes from platform 1 or 2. Traveling takes around 15 minutes and costs €4.70 one–way.
You can travel on NS (the Dutch Railways) with either an OV-chipkaart (more information see below) or tapping directly your bank card with contactless features. Remember to tap to check in and to check out, to pay the right amount. For more information please check the NS website: www.ns.nl/en.
You can also buy tickets for the Dutch Railway directly on the NS app using your credit card. Details here: https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/ns-on-your-mobile/ns-app.html
Amsterdam Centraal Station
There are also trains from several European cities to Amsterdam. You can check if this is an option for you, looking at the Amsterdam Central Station as your final destination.
Amsterdam Central Station main train station is the real heart of the city: central not only by the name, but also as the biggest public transport transfer spot, serving not only visitors to Amsterdam, but also city inhabitants. Every day 250,000 people go through the Amsterdam Central Station (Dutch: Amsterdam Centraal or shortly: CS; code: Asd).
Final stops of several lines of city trams and buses are here, as well as waterfront stations of city ferry lines taking cars and passengers to Amsterdam North (Amsterdam Noord). It is also here, that a main Amsterdam Tourist Office is based, as well as departure quays for the tourist boats cruising around the city canals.
Within Amsterdam
Public Transport
Amsterdam has a good public transport system with trains, trams, buses and ferries. You can check how to move around Amsterdam using the 9292 website: https://9292.nl/en
If you download the 9292 app, you can also buy your tickets for your itinerary directly, using your home credit card. You can also tap your contactless bank card to check in and out of all buses and trams.
You can specify Amsterdam Science Park as your final destination. There is a train station "Amsterdam Science Park" which is 2 stations away/10 min from Amsterdam Central station. There are also buses that go near Science Park, and a tram line that gets you reasonably close if you are willing to walk a bit more.
Cycling
Cycling is by far the easiest and fastest way to get around in Amsterdam.
There are many places in Amsterdam where you can rent a bicylce:
- at train stations (OV Fiets)
- at bicycle rental companies (the biggest are: MacBike, Amsterdam Black Bikes and Yellow Bike)
- at cycle shops (there are more than 150 of them)
- at the hotel
Renting a bicycle costs about 8 to 10 euros for a single day. The rate is lower if you rent it for a couple of days.
Important notes:
- Before you leave the place where you rented the bicycle check that the lights work (back and front). You need them when it is dark outside.
- Before you start riding the bicycle be aware whether you rented one with hand brake or pedal brake. Occasionally a short response time is advantageous. Then it is good to know where the brakes are.
- Always lock your bike in Amsterdam when not in use, even for a short period of time
