Why fly from Amsterdam?
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) is a monster of an airport — the third busiest in Europe — and that competition means excellent prices for weekend travellers. KLM's home base gives you access to their entire European network, while Transavia (their low-cost arm), easyJet, and Vueling fill in the gaps with budget routes.Schiphol is stupidly convenient. It sits directly below a major train station. Jump on any intercity train from Amsterdam Centraal and you're at your gate in 20 minutes, cost: €4.80. No airport bus drama, no €50 taxi. You can literally leave your house at 6am and be wheels-up by 7:30.
The airport is single-terminal, so transfers and navigation are straightforward. Lounge access via Priority Pass is available at multiple locations. And the airport library — yes, library — is a free quiet zone airside if your flight is delayed.
Best weekend routes from Amsterdam
London, Barcelona, Rome, Lisbon — Transavia and easyJet dogfight on price. Sub-€50 returns are routine
Brussels (50 min), Paris (1h10), London (1h) — practically commuter routes with commuter prices
Malaga, Nice, Split, Dubrovnik — Transavia runs seasonal sun routes at aggressive prices
Budapest, Kraków, Bucharest, Sofia — KLM's network reaches places budget airlines don't
When to fly from Amsterdam
Summer (Jun–Aug): Mediterranean routes fill up fast. Book 6+ weeks ahead for Greece and Croatia. Transavia releases summer schedules in October — early bookers get the best fares.
Autumn (Sep–Nov): Best value season. Fewer Dutch holidaymakers means emptier planes. Southern European destinations are still warm through October. Rome and Lisbon weekends from €40 return.
Winter (Dec–Feb): City break season. London, Paris, Barcelona weekends are cheapest now (excluding Christmas/NYE). Try reykjavik for northern lights — Transavia runs seasonal routes.
Spring (Mar–May): Tulip season brings tourists IN but doesn't affect outbound prices much. King's Day (Apr 27) inflates inbound fares but outbound stays normal. April/May are sweet spots for Mediterranean weekends.
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Airport insider tip
Schiphol has a train station underneath it. If you land late on Sunday, the last trains to Amsterdam Centraal run past midnight. For early Monday flights, the first train from Centraal departs at 5:00am — perfectly timed for 7am departures.
Frequently asked questions
Is Schiphol the only airport near Amsterdam?
For commercial flights, yes. Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) is 80km south and has some Transavia routes, but Schiphol dominates. Eindhoven Airport (EIN) is 120km away and has Ryanair/Wizz Air — sometimes worth checking if you're in the south of the Netherlands.
What airlines fly from Amsterdam Schiphol?
KLM (home base), Transavia (KLM's low-cost carrier), easyJet, Vueling, Ryanair, and dozens more. KLM covers the widest European network. Transavia competes on leisure routes. easyJet is strong on UK and southern European routes.
How do I get from Amsterdam Centraal to Schiphol?
Direct train, every 10 minutes, takes 15–17 minutes, costs €4.80 with OV-chipkaart. No booking needed — just tap in and go. It's the fastest and cheapest airport transfer in Europe.
When are Amsterdam flights cheapest?
January and November are the cheapest months. Avoid school holidays (late July/August) and King's Day week. Tuesday and Wednesday departures save 10–20% vs Friday evening.