Flights to Amsterdam — What to Expect
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) is one of Europe's best-connected hub airports, sitting about 17km southwest of the city centre. Nearly every major carrier flies here, which keeps competition healthy and prices relatively reasonable for most of the year. From within Europe, you're looking at budget fares ranging from €25–€80 on a good day for short-haul routes, climbing to €150–€300+ during peak summer and tulip season. Transatlantic flights from New York (JFK or EWR) typically run €350–€700 return in economy, depending on the season and how far ahead you book. Flights to Amsterdam from London are so frequent — dozens daily — that last-minute deals still pop up regularly.
Budget carriers dominate the European short-haul market here. EasyJet flies to Schiphol from London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh and various European cities. Ryanair connects Amsterdam to a wide spread of secondary European airports. Transavia, KLM's low-cost arm, is excellent value from French and Spanish cities. For long-haul, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the home carrier and generally reliable, with good connections through Schiphol's single terminal. British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Delta, and United all serve Amsterdam well. One practical note: Schiphol is a single, well-signed terminal with efficient connections — arriving here is genuinely stress-free compared to Heathrow or CDG.
Best Time to Visit Amsterdam
The honest answer depends on what you're after. Spring (late March to May) is the most iconic window — tulips are in bloom at Keukenhof (open late March to mid-May), the canals look postcard-perfect, temperatures are mild around 54–60°F (12–16°C), and the city feels alive without the suffocating July crowds. That said, Amsterdam flight deals get harder to find during tulip season — book 2–3 months ahead minimum. April is the sweet spot: King's Day on April 27th turns the whole city orange and chaotic in the best possible way.
Summer (June–August) brings the warmest weather — highs around 68–71°F (20–22°C) — and the longest days, with light until nearly 10pm in June. The city is busy and prices reflect that. Museum queues for the Rijksmuseum and Anne Frank House can be brutal without advance booking. August hosts the Uitmarkt cultural festival and Amsterdam Pride (late July/early August), worth planning around. September and October are underrated — crowds thin out, prices drop, and the canal-side trees turn golden. Expect more rain and wind though. Winter (November–February) offers the cheapest flights to Amsterdam you'll find all year, but temperatures hover around 41–46°F (5–8°C) with short grey days. The Amsterdam Light Festival (December–January) is genuinely worth seeing and the city's Christmas markets are low-key but charming. January and February are the quietest and cheapest months overall — ideal if museums are your priority.
Getting Around Amsterdam
From Schiphol Airport, the Amsterdam Centraal train is the obvious move — trains run every 10–15 minutes, the journey takes about 17 minutes, and a single ticket costs around €5.40. Buy from the NS ticket machines or use a contactless bank card directly on the gate. Taxis are available but expensive (€40–€55 to the centre) and rarely worth it unless you're travelling in a group with heavy luggage. Uber operates here and tends to run €30–€45.
Inside the city, Amsterdam's GVB tram network is excellent and covers nearly everywhere tourists want to go. The OV-chipkaart (reloadable transit card) or the new contactless payment option on trams, buses and the metro makes it simple. Day passes run around €9.50. Honestly though, Amsterdam is one of Europe's most rewarding cities to explore on foot — most of the canal ring is compact and walkable. Cycling is the authentic Amsterdam way to get around: rental bikes are everywhere (MacBike, Star Bikes) for €10–€15 per day. Just follow the cycling rules, stay in bike lanes, and don't walk in them.
Where to Stay in Amsterdam
The Canal Ring (Grachtengordel) is the most atmospheric area to stay — you're in the heart of the UNESCO-listed canal district, close to everything. Expect to pay €150–€300+ per night for decent hotels here; boutique canal houses can run significantly higher. The Jordaan neighbourhood, just west of the main canals, is quieter, genuinely beautiful, and slightly better value — a favourite for repeat visitors. De Pijp, south of the centre, has an excellent local food scene around Albert Cuypmarkt and more affordable mid-range hotels (€90–€180). For budget travellers, the Oud-West area and hostels around Leidseplein offer decent prices without sacrificing location. Avoid booking the cheapest options near Amsterdam Centraal station — the area has improved but remains noisy and touristy.
Top Things to Do in Amsterdam
- Rijksmuseum: The national museum houses Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid — pre-book timed entry tickets online (€22.50) and arrive first thing. Worth every minute.
- Anne Frank House: Book tickets online weeks ahead — they frequently sell out. The experience is moving and thoughtfully curated. Allow 90 minutes.
- Keukenhof Gardens: If you're visiting late March to mid-May, a day trip to Keukenhof (45 minutes by bus from Schiphol) to see 7 million tulips in bloom is non-negotiable.
- Canal Boat Tour: A 75-minute hop-on hop-off canal cruise gives you proper context for the city's layout. Blue Boat and Lovers are reliable operators; prices around €16–€25.
- Vondelpark and the Museumplein: Free, beautiful, and central. The park is where Amsterdam actually relaxes. The Museumplein square connects the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk modern art museum.
- Albert Cuypmarkt in De Pijp: Amsterdam's best street market — open Monday to Saturday. Try a stroopwafel fresh off the iron or raw herring from a street cart. Genuinely local, no tourist theatre.
Practical Travel Tips
Visa: EU passport holders need nothing beyond a valid ID. UK citizens (post-Brexit) can visit visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period — no e-gate access at Dutch passport control, but queues move reasonably fast. US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders are also visa-free for 90 days within the Schengen zone. Currency: The Netherlands uses the Euro (€). Card payments are widely accepted — contactless is the norm, even at market stalls. ATMs (called geldautomaten) are widely available; use bank-affiliated machines to avoid high third-party fees. Tipping: Not obligatory but appreciated. Rounding up the bill or leaving 5–10% at sit-down restaurants is standard. Cafés and bars don't expect tips. Safety: Amsterdam is generally very safe. The main irritants are pickpockets in tourist-heavy areas (Centraal station, Dam Square, busy trams) and cycling — pay attention crossing bike lanes or you will get a bell and a glare at minimum.
FAQ — Flights to Amsterdam
How much do flights to Amsterdam cost?
From within Europe, short-haul Amsterdam flight deals start around €25–€50 one way on budget carriers in the off-season, rising to €80–€200 during peak summer and tulip season. From the UK, return fares of €60–€150 are common with EasyJet and British Airways outside of peak periods. Long-haul from the US runs €350–€700 return in economy depending on season and booking lead time. January through March consistently offers the lowest fares across all routes.
Which airlines fly to Amsterdam?
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the home carrier with the widest route network and strong long-haul connections. Within Europe, EasyJet, Ryanair, Transavia, Vueling, Wizz Air, and Jet2 all serve Schiphol regularly. For transatlantic routes, Delta, United, American Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, and British Airways all operate flights to Amsterdam. Schiphol's size and status as a major hub means the airline choice is genuinely competitive.
What is the cheapest month to fly to Amsterdam?
January and February are consistently the cheapest months for flights to Amsterdam — demand is low, the weather is cold but manageable, and fares across European routes can drop to remarkable levels. November is also good value. Avoid booking for late March through August if price is your priority; that window covers both tulip season and summer, which drives fares up significantly. If you want shoulder season with decent weather, September offers a good balance of lower prices and tolerable conditions.
How long is the flight to Amsterdam from London?
Flights from London to Amsterdam (any London airport to Schiphol) take approximately 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes in the air. From Paris CDG it's around 1 hour 20 minutes. From Frankfurt, roughly 1 hour 10 minutes. From Madrid, expect 2 hours 40 minutes. From New York JFK, non-stop flights run about 7 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours. Note that with trains, the Eurostar London St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal service takes around 3 hours 52 minutes direct and is worth considering as an alternative if you're travelling light.