Centraal Station
Centraal Station
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksArchitectural BuildingsPublic Transportation Systems
About
Completed in 1889 and located in the heart of town, this neo-Renaissance rail station was designed by P.J.H. Cuypers, the same person who designed the famous Rijksmuseum.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Centrum
Amsterdam’s buzzing hub, with its sprawling network of tram rails and a seemingly constant flow of tourists and commuters, yields convenient access to some of the best sightseeing, shopping, and street life in Europe. Closest at hand are the Royal Palace, the quaint shops of Haalremmerdijk, the pedestrianized zones Kalverstraat and Dam Square with popular neighborhoods such as the Red Light District, and the Canal Ring hardly more than a moment’s stroll away. With the well-connected Centraal Station as Centrum’s base, it's easy to travel farther afield via one of the city’s iconic trams.
How to get there
- Amsterdam Centraal • 2 min walk
- Amsterdam Centraal Station • 2 min walk
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Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
3,778 within 3 miles
Attractions
1,061 within 6 miles
See what travellers are saying
- craig1086Atlanta, Georgia920 contributionsGround Zero for AmsterdamAmsterdam Centraal is the travel hub of Amsterdam. Here is a good place to base or use as a meeting point, because so many trains, trams, and buses come in at Centraal station. At minimum, you can take the NS intercity train from Schiphol airport to here. It’s a beautifully designed building with two floors, and it is easy to find your way around. Staff at the card machines helped us find our way when we got turned around. There are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and little shops inside where you can grab food & drinks as you’re traveling through. Taxis & Uber can be received on the bottom floor by the ferry dock, and the GVB trams are available as you exit the facility.Visited March 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 27 March 2023
- Adrian MNorthwood, New Hampshire32 contributionsThe StationCentrally located in the downtown section of Amsterdam great location to book a hotel nearby to access this station for local and regional public transport. Lots of small shops and food places in it as well. Can be a bit confusing because of the 3-4 different types of transport but overall convenient and easy enough to use with a little patience .Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 23 April 2023
- FamilyW149Manchester, United Kingdom29 contributionsBig, busy, but very user-friendlyThis is how a capital city's main station should be! Fully integrated (trains, ferries, trams and buses all very close together), plenty of food options if you need them, a big left luggage area (admittedly expensive), well signposted and staff on-hand to help if you need it. All my journeys into and out of the station this weekend (and there were lots!) were precisely on time tooVisited April 2023Written 1 May 2023
- docrogers423Cleveland, Tennessee21 contributionsCluster of modes of transporationFirst of all, be careful and stay out of the bicycle paths - you will get hit. What a great way to experience city living than utilizing Centraal Station. Travel by Ferry, Bicycle, Tram, train or subway. Everything in one place. Confusing at first but does get easier.Visited May 2023Written 19 May 2023
- John HRegina, Canada3 contributionsInteresting place to visitThe rail system is very efficient and fast. Central Station is the hub for Amsterdam and works very well. It would have been nice to have more maps of the shops, facilities, services and platforms posted in the station. It is large enough to make it difficult to find where things are if one is not a local.Visited May 2023Written 27 May 2023
- LeonhknyHong Kong, China14,495 contributionsEncompassing central stationThe huge, encompassing central station of Amsterdam is the transport hub and de facto center of the Dutch capital. The building itself is lovely and well-maintained. It is also the terminus of most trams lines and train routes. Easy to navigate and convenient for tourists.Visited June 2023Written 4 June 2023
- JaakkoTapioHelsinki, Finland657 contributionsOld & modern ticket tecnicsAs located in historical place & building, it's nice to have a modern technology by tickets (self service or service office). They use RFID- tech based tickets and automatic controls. Easy to find right directions towards public transports.Visited March 2023Travelled on businessWritten 6 June 2023
- BillCooperstown, New York183 contributionsCentral To Public TransportCatch the tram or train or ferry from Central Ststion to all points. Within this vast transport center lives a multi shop mall. Trams to various routes in the city accept prepaid cards purchased at kiosks, or swipe your credit card as you enter the chosen team BUT don’t forget to swipe again as you step off. Clear signs and maps and Dutch/English audio announcements on the trams ensure you’ll know your stop.Visited May 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 6 June 2023
- Amy TBridgeport, West Virginia518 contributionsGreat starting point for AmsterdamThis is a great place to start your visit of Amsterdam. The free ferry which takes you to the North side of the city is located here, as well as a location where the trams start and stop. Centrally located and easy to navigate.Visited May 2023Travelled soloWritten 3 July 2023
- Xamot TomaxFort Wayne, Indiana6,058 contributionsEasily travelableIf you’re in Amsterdam, most likely you’ll stop in Central Station. This is a heavily used station transporting the masses on either domestic or international trains. It’s very easy to navigate through. If you do have an issue, there are information booths that can answer your questions and direct you to where you need to go. They have several small restaurants and convenient stores.Visited December 2022Travelled as a coupleWritten 4 July 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
17,840 reviews
Excellent
8,326
Very good
7,212
Average
1,930
Poor
244
Terrible
128
Yilei2014
Tucson, AZ71 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
We got there pretty late in the afternoon. It was dark already when we took a train from airport hotel to downtown. We can feel the Christmas atmosphere. Tourist boat in the canal is running. A public event was ongoing near the Centraal on Palestine human right. It is such a vibrant city.
Written 5 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David S
Geneva, Switzerland7 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
It's good to visit with friends. It's looks beautiful in the night as the lights reflect off the water. The air is also fresh and refreshing alongside the river. You can visit with friends at night and have drinks along side the shore.
Written 4 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cara Hall
Birmingham, UK14 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
Easily the most beautiful train station we’ve ever seen, it was the most impressive building in Amsterdam! The transport there is also really good, all trains labelled on a screen and on time.
Written 2 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Swedishtomcat
Diss, UK3,566 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
Looks mightily impressive with its long and arched roof, but from a passenger’s perspective it isn’t user-friendly. There doesn’t seem to be much train information displayed. There are bottlenecks getting off the platform to the concourse with escalators not always working. If you like filthy train exteriors then this is a dirty train spotters paradise.
Written 29 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harrison D
4 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
Really pretty railway station, steeped in history. Great for the history nerd, train spotter or anyone who is fascinated in architecture. Has an array of shops, toilets, and the concourse is busy but always moving due to the open space
Written 27 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Haris
406 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
The building is so nice and old as many others in Amsterdam. As other big cities the central station has shops, restaurants, supermarkets and if you want to go to Rotterdam, Maastricht, Delft etc you will go there for sure.
Written 9 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Odyseey
New York City, NY53 contributions
Feb 2024 • Business
Magnificent building at the heart of Amsterdam you can walk right out to the busiest parts of Amsterdam where pot or weed is prevalent
Written 1 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
abigael2028
Brussels, Belgium11 contributions
Jan 2024 • Solo
The most rude, lacking empathy, unhelpful and unprofessional personnel I ever had the misfortune to interact with at a railway station. And to the personnel at the International Desk: resign and go find a job you might actually like or at least be passably good at!
Written 27 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia26,794 contributions
May 2023 • Solo
On this visit, like the previous one, I went straight from the train station to the Rijksmuseum and experienced deja vu. These buildings are so similar. This is not surprising, because they were built by one architect Pierre Cuypers, and in parallel. The municipality chose the places for construction from two options. The second was Leidenplein. The current building, built in 1889, separated the city from the harbor, which many did not like, because it contradicted the history and spirit of Amsterdam. Now, instead of ships from the Dutch West Indies, America and Japan, trains arrived here. At the same time, the station itself was built on an artificial island of 8,700 piles, which is not surprising for the Netherlands. There are 6 platforms at the station from which 150 thousand passengers leave and arrive daily (in 2019 there were 213 thousand). At the same time, Amsterdam station is only the second in the country in terms of traffic, second only to Utrecht. Needless to say, the station is very convenient inside: cafes, shops, escalators. Everything is like at all major railway stations in the country. ..
Written 24 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tezpil
Portsmouth, UK4,651 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Lovely iconic building in central Amsterdam. A good point for bus and train connections. Nice to view across the water. There's plenty of shops, eateries and luggage storage and plenty of information boards. A modern hub in an old shell.
Written 16 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Praveen D
Poland
Im planning to visit amsterdam. My stay is at Zaandam for 3 days. Is it better to have a multi-day GVB ticket? Is Zaandam-Amsterdam central route part of the day tickets?
Haris
406 contributions
Zaandam is about 9km out of Amsterdam central station and about 5€ ticket to Ams! I don’t know if there is a ticket for 3 days to Zaandam ! I bought a ticket for 5 days but only for inside Ams and is much cheaper! Otherwise you can use your bank card to go wherever you like👍😍
Can I use the GVB ticket for line 391 snd 394, or sprinter or intercity train. Because I want to go to Zaandam from Amsterdam Centraal.
JaakkoTapio
Helsinki, Finland657 contributions
Yes , You can, but take care of enough (time / date) in your ticket. As well as they are time (day) sensitive & have travel zone-limits, too. Also possible to pay by OV-card by using debit cards (European).
Safari732301
2 contributions
Hola, para el viaje Amsterdam-Bruselas, que equipaje puedo subir al tren?
Alfonsobrsp
Granada, Spain4 contributions
Me gustaría saber si en la Estación Central de trenes en Amsterdan, (junio 2023) están disponibles la consigna de equipajes. Si suelen tener sitio libre, o suelen estar muy ocupadas o averiadas. Gracias
José Alfonso G
2 contributions
No entiendo como hay personas que se dedican a contestar cosas de este tipo. Yo pregunto por algo muy concreto. Si no lo sabes, no es necesario contesar para decir que no lo sabe,,,,
Hola ! Queremos pasar la noche vieja en Ámsterdam pero no sabemos si el día 1 de enero hay tren para ir al aeropuerto. ¿ Alguien sabe que horario tiene ese día?
Gracias. Un saludo.
C W
Düsseldorf, Germany
My daughter will have to travel from Aalsmeer to Amsterdam Central Station and / or Weesperplein every day for 1 or 2 months until she finds accommodation in Amsterdam. What is the best ticket to buy which includes Sprinter and all buses, trams, etc when In Amsterdam? She is 19 and a student of UvA. Thank you for your help.
Isobel S
Ely, UK52 contributions
Sorry I was only in the city for a few days.
I am looking to come to Amsterdam and stay in a hotel near to Sloterdijk Station. What is the best ticket for 3 days of travel around Amsterdam? I have heard of the Iamsterdam card but am unable to find a list of stations I can travel to with this. Any help appreciated
Dzeny
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina589 contributions
Buy the GVB 72h / 3 days.
This product offers unlimited travel around Amsterdam - day and night - on bus, tram and metro for 72 hours from first check in.
Anderson M
Olimpia, SP2 contributions
Gostaria de saber se há local para guardar malas na estação, vou passar somente um dia na cidade.
Jozef
Knokke-Heist, Belgium488 contributions
Ja geen probleem.
can i use the GVB care from amsterdam central to hotel olympic?
David W
bristol, United Kingdom94 contributions
Sorry looked again at the map. Use Uber it was nonesense to suggest to walk.
Callum Andrew
Celbridge, Ireland3 contributions
I could buy food on the train
rodri
Madrid, Spain98 contributions
No food in the train. You can grab something at the airport or at central Amsterdam right before boarding the train or after leaving it.
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Claim your listingCENTRAAL STATION: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Centraal Station
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Centraal Station:
- Amsterdam Highlights Bike Tour With Optional Canal Cruise (From £26.35)
- Amsterdam Windmill Tour Including Volendam, Marken (From £32.94)
- Private Amsterdam Red Light District and Food Tour (From £89.58)
- Amsterdam Classic Boat Cruise with Live Guide, Drinks and Cheese (From £29.81)
- Private Jordaan walking tour (From £97.91)
- Hotels near Centraal Station:
- (0.23 mi) Eric Vokel Boutique Apartments - Amsterdam Suites
- (0.26 mi) Mauro Mansion
- (0.26 mi) art'otel Amsterdam, Powered by Radisson Hotels
- (0.25 mi) Park Plaza Victoria Amsterdam
- (0.23 mi) DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station
- Restaurants near Centraal Station:
- (0.03 mi) Saigon Caphe CS
- (0.03 mi) Kyoto Sushi & Grill
- (0.05 mi) Burgerij Amsterdam CS
- (0.11 mi) Grand Cafe-Restaurant 1e klas
- (0.17 mi) Grand Cafe 1884
- Attractions near Centraal Station:
- (0.02 mi) Pontus
- (0.06 mi) Dutch Tours
- (0.12 mi) Sarah's Tours Amsterdam
- (0.13 mi) Wetlands Safari
- (0.09 mi) Amsterdam at 15:15