Taxi or train to Schiphol?
If you are travelling alone or with one other person from a city with good rail links, the train is almost always cheaper and often just as quick.
Last updated: 4 August 2026
When the train is the better choice
From a station with a direct or fast connection to Schiphol, the train is hard to beat on price. A single ticket usually costs between €5 and €20, compared with a fixed taxi price from €35. We sell taxi rides, but that remains true.
If one or two of you are travelling from, say, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden or Rotterdam, with normal hand luggage and one suitcase, the train is often the most sensible option, especially during the day, when trains run frequently. Current times and fares are on ns.nl.
When a taxi is the better choice
In these four situations, the door-to-door convenience and the fixed price outweigh the difference in price:
Very early or at night
Before about 06:00, trains are barely running, if at all. If you want to be in good time for a 07:00 flight, a taxi is often the only reliable option, at a fixed price, even in the middle of the night.
Three or more people
The fixed taxi price applies per ride, not per person. With three or four of you sharing one amount, the price per person soon comes close to the price of a train ticket, with no changes.
Lots of luggage or heavy bags
With suitcases, a pushchair or sports gear, platforms, stairs and changes are awkward. A taxi takes everything in one go from your front door to the departures hall.
No station nearby or an awkward change
If you don't live near a station, or the train journey involves two changes, the train's time advantage disappears and door-to-door travel at a fixed price becomes the more relaxed choice.
Taxi and train to Schiphol side by side
- Price (1 person)
- Train
- Usually €5–€20 single
- Taxi
- Fixed price from €35 per ride
- Price (3–4 people)
- Train
- Per person, adds up
- Taxi
- One fixed price, shared
- Door to door
- Train
- No, you still need to get to and from the station
- Taxi
- Yes, from your front door to the departures hall
- Changes
- Train
- Sometimes 1–2
- Taxi
- None
- At night / very early
- Train
- Limited or no service
- Taxi
- 24/7, same fixed price
- Luggage
- Train
- You carry it across platforms yourself
- Taxi
- In the car, with help from the driver
- Delayed flight (on your return)
- Train
- Buy a separate ticket
- Taxi
- 60 minutes free after landing, price stays fixed
Train fares are indicative and vary by route, time of day and discount pass. Check ns.nl for your exact journey. Taxi prices are fixed total prices per ride (not per person), including VAT, luggage and Schiphol parking charges. The exact taxi price for each municipality is in the price table by municipality. Prices as of 4 August 2026.
Questions about taxi or train to Schiphol
Is the train to Schiphol cheaper than a taxi?
From a city with a direct or fast rail connection, the train is almost always cheaper: a single ticket usually costs somewhere between €5 and €20, compared with a fixed taxi price from €35. If you are travelling alone or with one other person from, say, Amsterdam, Utrecht or Leiden, the train is the logical choice on price alone. A taxi only becomes competitive when more of you are travelling (you share one fixed price), you have a lot of luggage, you leave very early or at night, or there is no station near you.
When is a taxi to Schiphol smarter than the train?
In four situations: (1) very early or night-time departures, when trains are barely running, if at all; (2) travelling with three or more people, because the fixed taxi price applies per ride, not per person; (3) lots of luggage or heavy bags, when changing trains and dealing with platforms are a hassle; (4) no station near your address, or an awkward change along the way. In those cases the door-to-door convenience and the fixed price outweigh the difference in price.
What time is the first train to Schiphol?
It depends on the station. From Amsterdam and Utrecht, the first trains to Schiphol start running at roughly 05:00 to 06:00, with a limited night service on some routes. If you need to be at Schiphol before then (for example for a 07:00 flight when you want to arrive two hours early), a taxi is often the only reliable option. Check the exact times on ns.nl.
So what does a taxi to Schiphol cost?
A fixed total price per ride, from €35 for places close to Schiphol. The amount is fixed before you book and includes VAT, luggage and parking charges, with no night or weekend surcharge. You can find the exact price for your municipality in the price table, or work it out when you book.
Book your taxi to Schiphol
Your Schiphol taxi, fixed price upfront.
Enter your pickup address and choose your date and time. You see the fixed fare before you book.
Open the booking pageEnter your route to see your fixed fare. Open the booking page
