Getting There By Air

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Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Tel: (020) 794 0800.
Website: www.schiphol.nl

Schiphol, located 15km (9 miles) southwest of Amsterdam, is the fourth largest airport in Europe (after London Heathrow, Frankfurt and Paris Charles de Gaulle), and has repeatedly been voted ‘Best Airport in Europe' in numerous magazines and newspapers.

Airport facilities
Facilities at Schiphol are first rate, with bureaux de change, currency exchange machines, restaurants, duty-free shops, left-luggage, tour operators, a hotel reservation service and Wi-Fi hotspots. Schiphol also has great business facilities and a press centre. Departure lounges have funky chairs and plenty of space to relax before flying. Car hire companies include Avis, Budget, Hertz, National and Sixt.

Transport to the city
Schiphol Sternet (tel: 0900 9292; www.schipholsternet.com) operates regular shuttle bus services to the city centre (journey time - 30 minutes). The stop is located at Schiphol Plaza, directly in front of the Arrival and Departure Halls.

Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) (tel: 0900 202 1163; www.ns.nl) trains run regularly and daily between the airport and Amsterdam's Centraal Station. There is also a direct link between Schiphol and Amsterdam's RAI Congress Centre. Schiphol station is situated directly below the airport.

Official airport taxis pick up passengers from outside the arrivals hall. The journey takes about 20 minutes. Book in advance online (www.schipholtaxi.nl).

Approximate flight times to Amsterdam
From London is 1 hour 20 minutes; from New York is 7 hours 10 minutes; from Los Angeles is 11 hours; from Toronto is 7 hours; and from Sydney is 21 hours 20 minutes.