+31 202 613 789
Guide
Chauffeur, taxi or Uber in Amsterdam
Four ways from Schiphol into the city, compared honestly
For one person with a small bag, the train is the cheapest and often the fastest way from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal, and a taxi or ride-hailing app is usually cheaper than our S-Class. A chauffeur makes sense when you want to be met inside the terminal, need a fixed price agreed in advance, or travel as a group with luggage: our V-Class costs €125 to the city centre for up to 7 people. Below is how the four options compare and when each one wins.
The four options side by side
| Option | Price to city centre | Booking | Meets you inside | Luggage & groups | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Lowest by far | Ticket or contactless card at the gate | No | Fine with a suitcase. Hard with lots of bags or small children | Solo travellers and couples staying near Centraal |
| Taxi from the official rank | Metered. Usually cheaper than our S-Class for one person | None, walk to the rank | No | Normal saloon or estate. Larger taxis are not always waiting | Spontaneous trips, one or two people |
| Ride-hailing app | Often the cheapest car option, but goes up with surge pricing | In the app, on arrival | No, you walk to the pick-up zone | Depends on the car you get | Price-conscious travellers at quiet times |
| Our chauffeur | Fixed: €135 S-Class, €125 V-Class, €260 Sprinter | In advance | Yes, with a name sign at the Meeting Point | S-Class 1–3, V-Class up to 7, Sprinter up to 16 | Business travel, families, groups, late arrivals |
We do not list euro amounts for the train, taxis or apps. Those fares change, and a number on this page would go out of date. Check the NS website or the app for the current price.
Train: cheap and quick to Centraal
The train station is directly under Schiphol Plaza. Trains to Amsterdam Centraal take about 15 minutes and run frequently during the day, and a reduced service continues through the night. You can pay by tapping a contactless bank card at the gate.
The catch is the last part of the trip. If your hotel is not near Centraal, you change to a tram or walk with your bags over cobbles and bridges. With two large suitcases and a child, that is where the train stops being easy.
Our honest advice: if you travel light and stay near Centraal, take the train.
Taxi from the Schiphol rank
The official taxi rank is outside the arrivals area, in front of Schiphol Plaza. Taxis there run on the meter. The Netherlands sets maximum taxi tariffs nationally, so a licensed taxi cannot charge more than that ceiling, though the final fare still depends on traffic and route.
For one or two people on a spontaneous trip, a taxi is the simple choice and usually cheaper than our S-Class. You do not need to book. The downsides: nobody meets you inside, the fare is only known at the end, and you get whichever car is next in line.
Use the official rank. Ignore anyone in the arrivals hall offering you a ride.
Uber and other ride-hailing apps
Ride-hailing pickups at Schiphol are in a designated pick-up zone, not at the arrival hall doors. The app shows where to go. You see a price before you confirm, and at quiet times it is often the cheapest car into the city.
At busy moments the picture changes. When a lot of flights land at once, or on a rainy Friday evening, surge pricing pushes the fare up, and you may wait for a driver to accept. You also need mobile data or Wi-Fi to book, which is not a given straight off a long-haul flight.
Private chauffeur: when it is worth paying for
Our Schiphol transfer costs more than a taxi for one person. What you get for the difference is specific:
- The chauffeur meets you at the Meeting Point in Schiphol Plaza with your name on a sign. See where to meet your driver at Schiphol.
- The price is fixed when you book. Traffic and flight delays do not change it.
- We follow your flight and include 60 minutes of free waiting after landing.
- You choose the vehicle size, so a family of six with luggage fits in one V-Class.
Groups are where the maths changes. Six people sharing a V-Class at €125 pay about €21 each, often less than two taxis. A team of 14 in the Sprinter pays €260 for the whole vehicle and arrives together.
All our route prices are on the prices page and on the Schiphol to city centre route page. For hourly hire and what changes a quote, read what a chauffeur costs in Amsterdam.
Which one to choose
- Travelling alone, light bag, hotel near Centraal: take the train.
- One or two people, no plans, daytime: a taxi from the rank or an app is fine.
- Arriving late at night, with children or with a lot of luggage: book a chauffeur so someone is waiting inside.
- Four to sixteen people: a V-Class or Sprinter costs about the same per person as several taxis, the price is fixed, and nobody gets split up.
- Business trip with a meeting straight after landing: a chauffeur, because the fixed price and the pickup are settled before you fly.
FAQ
Comparison questions
Is a taxi or an Uber cheaper than a chauffeur from Schiphol?
For one person, usually yes. For a group of five or more, a V-Class or Sprinter at a fixed price per vehicle costs about the same per person as two or three taxis, with one fixed price and everyone in the same vehicle.
Is the train from Schiphol to Amsterdam a good option?
Yes, for light travellers. Trains to Amsterdam Centraal take about 15 minutes and run frequently. It gets harder with a lot of luggage or if your hotel is far from the station.
Are taxi prices at Schiphol regulated?
The Netherlands sets maximum taxi tariffs. Licensed taxis at the official rank run on the meter and may not charge more than the maximum.
Does an Uber driver meet me inside the terminal?
No. Ride-hailing pickups at Schiphol are in a designated pick-up zone outside. A chauffeur meets you inside at the Meeting Point with a name sign.
Can I book a chauffeur at the last minute?
Often yes, depending on availability. Send your flight details and the address and we confirm a fixed price.
Guide
More guides
Need a chauffeur in Amsterdam?
Fixed prices from Schiphol, Mercedes S-Class, V-Class and Sprinter, 24/7.
Get a fixed-price quote