Semih
Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-06-04
Amsterdam is the place where the train almost always wins. From the airport to Central Station takes around fifteen minutes, and the platforms are directly beneath the arrivals hall.
Straight into town by train
Trains run very frequently, there’s no need to change, and in fifteen to twenty minutes you’re right in the middle of the city. It’s such a good option that every alternative has to justify itself. The only real downsides are the rush-hour crowds and travelling with lots of luggage, and if your hotel is outside the centre, you’ll need to add a tram or metro ride.
Private transfer: a fixed price and a driver who waits
A pre-booked private transfer means your driver knows your flight number, waits if you’re delayed, the price is fixed before you book, and luggage is included. It’s the best fit for late arrivals, families needing child seats, and anywhere farther out than the city centre. If you’re travelling light and want to stay flexible, you probably won’t need it.
Uber in Amsterdam: available around the clock
Uber is widely available in Amsterdam, including at the airport and late at night, with several vehicle categories. Another international app also has a strong presence, so it’s worth checking both. For trips into the narrow streets of the canal belt, the same rule applies as anywhere else: your driver may only be able to get you as far as the nearest bridge.
When a private transfer makes sense
If you’re travelling with family, arriving very early in the morning, or staying at a hotel in Haarlem, Zaandam or on the coast, a pre-booked driver is the most comfortable option. It’s also more predictable than the train for business travellers heading straight to a meeting after landing.
Hire car: the worst idea in Amsterdam
Parking in Amsterdam is exceptionally expensive, and on top of that there’s the low-emission zone and an enormous number of cyclists. For Keukenhof, the North Sea coast or Friesland, though, a hire car is practical, ideally picked up from a station on the edge of the city.
How Reisedrop handles the question after booking
After your hotel booking we do not ask whether you want to buy a transfer, we ask how you are getting to your accommodation in Amsterdam. You see two options side by side: a private transfer you lock in beforehand, and a direct link into the Uber app with your destination pre-filled if you would rather stay flexible. No flood of suppliers, no invented guide prices. Private transfers and rental cars are booked with external providers, and with Uber you are forwarded straight to Uber. Price, availability and booking sit with the respective provider. We are not a partner of Uber and deliberately show no Uber prices.
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