Flying from Schiphol Airport
Schiphol is by far the largest airport in the Netherlands and one of the best-connected hubs in Europe. From here you fly direct to hundreds of destinations on almost every continent, from a weekend in Barcelona to a long-haul trip to Asia or America.
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Quick answer: Schiphol is the largest airport in the Netherlands with direct connections to hundreds of destinations worldwide. KLM, Transavia and easyJet are the three main airlines; for long-haul travel, Schiphol is often your only option with a direct flight from the Netherlands.
Direct destinations from Schiphol
Schiphol is the home base of KLM and partner airlines, plus low-cost players like Transavia and easyJet. You fly direct to almost every European capital such as Paris, London, Rome and Barcelona, but also intercontinental to New York, Dubai, Bangkok and Cape Town. For long-haul trips, Schiphol is often your only option with a direct flight from the Netherlands.
Schiphol has three departure halls (1, 2 and 3): your check-in desk and departure hall are on your boarding pass. KLM, Transavia and Air France check in at departure hall 1; easyJet, Ryanair and British Airways typically at departure hall 2; Emirates and many intercontinental airlines at departure hall 3. Follow the signs from the station or main hall to your departure hall.
Cheapest destinations from Schiphol
For sharp prices look at Transavia and easyJet on European routes; KLM is strong on long-haul but rarely the cheapest. A return to Lisbon, Budapest or Prague can be around €80-120 outside peak season. Popular cheap routes from Schiphol:
- Lisbon (LIS) - Transavia direct, return from approx. €70 off-peak
- Barcelona (BCN) - Transavia/Vueling direct, return from approx. €80
- Budapest (BUD) - Ryanair/Wizz Air direct, return from approx. €60
- Prague (PRG) - Transavia/easyJet direct, return from approx. €65
- Valencia (VLC) - Transavia direct, return from approx. €80
- Marrakech (RAK) - Transavia direct, return from approx. €90
Far destinations are best value when booked 4 to 6 months ahead. Put your destination into the trip planner with Amsterdam (AMS) as departure to see the live price.
When to book for the best price
Book European city breaks 6 to 12 weeks ahead and long-haul 4 to 6 months in advance. On the busy KLM hub, prices swing strongly with demand, so price alerts pay off. More in our guide on when to book flights.
Parking at Schiphol
Schiphol parking is pricey at the barrier; booking online in advance saves significantly. P1 and P2 are directly at the terminal (covered, no shuttle) and most expensive. P3 long-stay with shuttle is noticeably cheaper. The best value are private car parks with shuttle around the airport (ParkCare, Green Parking etc.).
Tip: for trips shorter than 4 nights, taking the train is almost always cheaper than airport parking.
Getting to Schiphol by train
Schiphol Airport has its own NS station directly below the departure halls. Trains run every 15 minutes during the day. Indicative journey times and fares (off-peak 2026):
- Amsterdam Centraal: approx. 17 min, approx. €5.50 (train every 7-8 min)
- Rotterdam Centraal: approx. 25 min (IC Direct, supplement), approx. €16-18
- Den Haag Centraal: approx. 35-40 min, approx. €13-16
- Utrecht Centraal: approx. 30-32 min, approx. €10-12
- Eindhoven: approx. 1 hour 30 min (direct IC), approx. €22-27
- Tilburg / Breda: approx. 50-60 min via Rotterdam or Utrecht, approx. €17-19
Check NS.nl for current fares and timetables.
How early should you arrive?
For European flights be there 2 hours before departure, for intercontinental 3 hours. Schiphol is large and during peak holidays the security and passport queues can build up considerably. Allow extra time if you check in luggage or fly outside Schengen.
Hand luggage per airline
KLM is more generous than the low-cost carriers: with KLM a cabin bag plus a small personal item is usually free, while Transavia and easyJet often charge for a trolley. Always check your fare. Exact sizes and weights are in our hand luggage guide.
Ready to plan?
Know where you want to go? Open the trip planner, pick Amsterdam (AMS) as your departure point and get a complete trip plan with live flight and hotel prices in 30 seconds. Need inspiration? Browse our destinations.
Want to know what your trip would cost? CheapTrips builds a complete proposal in seconds, with a flight from the Netherlands, a hotel and the total price per person.
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Which airlines fly from Schiphol?
Schiphol is the home of KLM and SkyTeam partners, plus Transavia, easyJet and virtually all major international airlines. That gives it the most direct destinations of any Dutch airport, including long-haul.
How early should I be at Schiphol?
Be there 2 hours before a European flight and 3 hours before an intercontinental flight. During peak holidays the security and passport-control queues can build up considerably.
What does parking cost at Schiphol?
Booking online in advance is much cheaper than on the spot. P3 long-stay with shuttle and private car parks around the airport are the best value; P1/P2 by the terminal are the most expensive.
Is Schiphol more expensive than Eindhoven?
For low-cost city breaks Eindhoven is often cheaper, but for long-haul and many direct connections Schiphol is your best option. Always compare both departure points in the trip planner.
How many departure halls does Schiphol have?
Schiphol has 1 terminal with three departure halls (1, 2 and 3). Which hall you use is printed on your boarding pass. From the station, allow 10-15 minutes to reach gates in piers B, C or D, and a bit longer for the more distant piers E and F.