Amsterdam Airport Express Bus 397
Direct from Schiphol to Museumplein, Leidseplein and Elandsgracht. Every 8-10 minutes, 25-30 minute ride, Wi-Fi and USB on board. Return ticket valid 14 days — book now, travel any time.
What's included — and what isn't
The full Connexxion 397 / N97 line. No GVB transport.
- Bus 397 Amsterdam Airport Express, Schiphol ↔ Elandsgracht
- All intermediate stops: Concertgebouw, Museumplein, Leidseplein
- Niteliner N97 (same line, hourly between 01:00 and 05:00)
- Wi-Fi and USB charging on board
- Low-floor boarding — keep your luggage with you
- Free cancellation up to 24h before travel
- GVB tram, bus, metro and ferry inside Amsterdam
- NS trains (including the direct Schiphol Centraal train)
- Other Connexxion lines, EBS, Arriva
- Amsterdam Centraal station (the line ends at Elandsgracht)
- Hotel pickup or door-to-door service
How it works
From booking to drop-off — 30 minutes after you exit the gate.
Book online before you fly
Pick single or return on GetYourGuide. You receive a mobile QR ticket by email and in the GetYourGuide app. No print needed. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your selected start date.
Walk to bus stop B17 at Schiphol
From arrivals, follow the "Buses" signs out of Schiphol Plaza. Stop B17 is about 100 metres out — bright "Amsterdam Airport Express" branding on the shelter. Buses depart every 8-10 minutes during the day, so there is rarely a long wait.
Scan the QR at the door
Open the ticket in the GetYourGuide app and hold the QR up to the reader at the front door. If the scanner hesitates (it happens), the driver will wave you on — they see this often. Take any seat. Wi-Fi connects automatically.
Get off at your stop
Stops in order: Amstelveenseweg, Olympic Stadion, Haarlemmermeerstation, Emmastraat, Concertgebouw, Museumplein (Rijksmuseum), Leidseplein, Elandsgracht. Screens on board show the next stop in English. For the return, the line runs in reverse from Elandsgracht.
Bus 397 vs NS train — which is right for you?
Two options to the city, two different best-case scenarios.
The honest answer is that Bus 397 wins for the south of the city, the train wins for the north and centre. The train is faster (19 vs 30 min) and slightly cheaper (€5.20 contactless vs €7 single). But the train ends at Centraal — if your hotel is at Museumplein, Vondelpark, Leidseplein or Concertgebouw, you would still need a tram from Centraal, which adds time and an extra €2.10 ride.
Pick Bus 397 if: your hotel is around Museumplein, Vondelpark, Leidseplein, De Pijp, Concertgebouw or Elandsgracht. The bus drops you within walking distance, no tram transfer.
Pick the NS train if: your hotel is near Centraal, Dam Square, the Jordaan, Red Light District or the IJ-side. The train is faster, cheaper, and ends right where you need to be. See the full Schiphol-to-Amsterdam comparison →
Is Bus 397 the right ticket for your trip?
Yes if you only need the airport ride. Here's when something else fits better.
Sub-scores: Guide 4.4/5 · Transfers 4.5/5 · Value for money 4.3/5. Travellers describe the bus as practical and good value, with regular departures and easy-to-find stops. The recurring criticism is that QR tickets on the GetYourGuide app sometimes do not scan on the first try.
"A good connection from the airport into the city. No need to search for the bus — it stands right outside the exit. Runs every 10 minutes."
"Quick and uncomplicated way to get into the city in about 30 minutes."
"Very simple system and very friendly drivers."
"Easy to find, fast transport to the centre, easy and uncomplicated."
"Practical transport to the centre. If your hotel isn't too far from a bus stop, highly recommended."
"Booking airport — city centre Amsterdam, Elandsgracht end stop, waiting time at the airport, ticket price (€7) October 2025 — all without problems. From there you can continue by tram, bus, or even on foot through the city, depending on where you need to go. A public transport planning tool would be nice."
Honest tips most other sites skip
- QR scanner sometimes hesitates. This is the most common reviewer complaint — the GetYourGuide QR doesn't always scan first time. Drivers are used to it; show your screen and they wave you on. The ticket is valid, the scanner is the issue. Have the QR open before you board so you're not fumbling with the app.
- Bus 397 does not stop at Amsterdam Centraal. The line ends at Elandsgracht (5-10 min walk to the centre). If your hotel is at Centraal or Dam Square, the NS train is the better pick — €5.20 contactless and you're at Centraal in 19 minutes.
- The return is open-ended (14 days). Once you book a return, you don't need to lock in the outbound and inbound dates as the same day. Use it whenever, in whichever direction, within 14 days of your first ride.
- Night-bus N97 runs hourly. Between 01:00 and 05:00 the same ticket covers the N97 (same stops, same route, just hourly). For a 05:00 flight, the N97 at 03:00 or 04:00 still gets you there — but check the schedule on the GetYourGuide voucher before you commit.
- If you also need city transport, the Travel Ticket beats this. A Bus 397 return (€11.75) plus a 1-day GVB pass (€10) = €21.75. A 1-day Travel Ticket is €20.00 and includes both directions on the train and the bus and city transport. Only book Bus 397 standalone if you're not using GVB inside the city.
- Kids 4-11 ride for €1. Buy the Kids Day Ticket from the driver, cash or card. Under-4s ride free.
FAQ
Every 8-10 minutes between 05:30 and 07:00, then 4-6 times per hour during the day into the evening. Service stops around midnight. The night-bus version N97 takes over with one departure per hour between 01:00 and 05:00 in both directions. Same ticket covers both.
From Schiphol B17, in order:
- Amstelveenseweg
- Olympic Stadion
- Haarlemmermeerstation
- Emmastraat
- Concertgebouw
- Museumplein (Rijksmuseum)
- Leidseplein
- Elandsgracht (end of the line)
It does not stop at Amsterdam Centraal. For Centraal, take the NS train instead.
If you plan to use Bus 397 in both directions, yes. The return is €11.75 vs €14 for two singles (€7 each), and it's valid 14 days — so the outbound and return don't have to be on the same trip day. If you might switch to the train on the way back (for a Centraal-area drop-off), buy two singles instead.
Bus stop B17 in front of Schiphol Plaza. From the arrivals hall, follow the "Buses" signs — the stop is about 100 metres outside the main terminal. Look for the bright "Amsterdam Airport Express" branding on the shelter. From the city back to Schiphol, the same line starts at Elandsgracht and runs in reverse.
Most of the time, yes. A handful of recent reviewers report the GetYourGuide QR doesn't always scan on the first try. Drivers see this often — show the QR on your phone screen and they wave you on. The ticket is valid; the scanner is the issue. To minimise hassle: open the GetYourGuide app and load the ticket before you board so you're not fumbling.
Yes — free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time via GetYourGuide. Book now, pay later is also available — you don't pay anything until 24h before the trip.
Book your Bus 397 ticket
Single from €6.50 · Return €11.75 (14 days valid) · Free cancellation up to 24h
Check availability on GetYourGuide