Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Train at Centraal Station
Right
Arriving by road
Arriving in Amsterdam
Schiphol Airport
Amsterdam's airport
(official name Amsterdam
Airport Schiphol) is
efficient, modern and
easy to use, with an
incredible range of
facilities from golf to
gambling. There is a
single terminal, with one
level for Arrivals and
another level for
Departures. Signs are
colour-coded: yellow for
transfer desks and gates,
green for amenities.
d
Flight information: 0900
7244 7465
•
www.schiphol.nl
Arriving by Train
Whether you are
travelling from Britain or
from mainland Europe,
you will arrive at Centraal
Station. Its best feature
is the Eerste Klas café
(see p51)
; otherwise, it's
crowded and prone to
pickpockets and drug
pushers, so head directly
for the main entrance
and Stationsplein. Here
you will find the Amster-
dam Tourist Board (VVV)
and tram stop to the left,
bus stops to the right. d
Eurostar enquiries and
reservations: 08705 186
186
•
www.eurostar.com
Arriving by Road
Drive on the right.
Speed limits are 100 kph
(60 mph) or 120 kph (75
mph) on motorways, 80
kph (50 mph) outside
cities, and 50 kph (30
mph) in built-up areas.
From the A10 ring road,
the S-routes (marked by
blue signs) take you to
the centre of Amsterdam.
(See Driving p132.)
Arriving by Ferry
From London, the
boat-train service offered
by Stena Line via Harwich
and the Hook of Holland
takes about 8 hours, and
you will end your journey
at Centraal Station. Other-
wise, P&O ferries cross
from Hull to Rotterdam
or Zeebrugge and Dover
to Calais.
d
P&O: 08705
202020
•
www.ponsf.com
•
Stena Line: 08705 707070
•
www.stenaline.com
Bus and Coach
The cheapest option,
but also the most tiring.
From London's Victoria
Coach Station, National
Express coaches go via
the Channel Tunnel or the
ferry, taking between 9
and 12 hours to reach
Amstel Station.
d
National
Express: 08705 143 219
•
www.nationalexpress.com
From Schiphol by
Train
The best and cheapest
method of getting from
the airport to the city is
by rail - access is by
escalator from the
shopping plaza where the
tickets are on sale. Trains
run direct to Centraal
Station every 15 minutes
from 6am to midnight,
then every hour. Journey
time is 20 minutes.
Car Hire
The major car hire
companies have both
airport and city-centre
offices. For the best
rates, try Dutch firms
such as Diks or Kuperus.
(See Driving p132.)
d
Diks: 020 662 3366
•
Kuperus: 020 668 3311
•
Budget: 020 612 6066
From Schiphol by
Bus
Instead of the train, you
can take the smart
Connexxion Airport-Hotel
Shuttle (www.airporthotel
shuttle.nl) from outside
the main exit. It stops at
over 50 hotels, leaving
every 30 minutes
between 6.30am and
8pm. You can also take
a taxi, but it's hardly
worth the expense,
considering the ease of
public transport.
Parking
Driving in Amsterdam
is best avoided. Stay in a
hotel with secure parking,
or leave your car in the
park-and-ride facility at
Amsterdam Arena, or in
a covered public car park
(indicated by a white P
on a blue background). d
Muziektheater Parking:
Waterlooplein. Map Q5
•
Byzantium: Tesselschade-
straat 19. Map C5
•
Europarking: Marnixstraat
250. Map J5
Left Luggage
Both Schiphol Airport
and Centraal Station have
facilities for left luggage.
At Schiphol there is a
staffed counter, open
from 6.15am-10.45pm,
as well as lockers. At
Centraal Station there
are 24-hour lockers.
133
