Amsterdam’s main train station and biggest public transport transfer spot, Amsterdam Centraal Railway Station serves over 250,000 visitors and locals daily. Many of the local transportation lines, trams, and buses have a final stop here in addition to ferry lines that transport passengers to Amsterdam North.
Local trains connect from the station to the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport daily, departing every ten minutes. Visitors must purchase specific tickets for their trip and need to validate this ticket during entry to the platform area and at the end of a trip. A 24-hour luggage storage service is available, along with a convenient information desk to answer any queries and the city’s main Amsterdam Tourist Office to help arrange any travel-related bookings. Travellers can purchase international train tickets at the Service Centre, as the station services destinations like Brussels, Paris and Cologne. While visitors wait for their departure train, they can explore the open shopping centre or dine in one of the many cafes and fast food restaurants. Bicycle storage is available, in addition to a bike rental and repair shop on-site. Visitors staying in Amsterdam overnight will range of hotels, from 5-star luxury to budget-friendly, based at Amsterdam Centraal Railway Station or within a convenient walking distance.
The most convenient way to access the station is by tram or on foot. Those who are travelling by car will find underground parking facilities, while a variety of departure quays for many of the boats that tourists hop on to explore the city’s canals are based here. Taxis can be found at the station’s waterside area Ij-zijde, while buses and trams are found on both sides of the station.
The station boasts three tunnels under its platforms that are separated into two directions, to the Amsterdam Centre side and the Amsterdam North side, divided into Eastern, Main and Western areas that connect directly to the railway platforms. Those who plan to travel by city ferry to the north or by bus should exit the Amsterdam North side, while those who need to catch a city bus, tram and metro will find the Amsterdam Centre exit more appropriate.