Amsterdam Centraal

"Amsterdam Central was absolutely wonderful! The bustling atmosphere, vibrant energy, and stunning architecture made it a memorable experience. From the historic train station to the charming canals, every corner was filled with beauty and excitement. Definitely a must-visit destination!" 🥰🫶

Amsterdam Centraal Station is the primary railway hub of Amsterdam, Netherlands, and one of the busiest transportation hubs in Europe. Opened in 1889, the station was designed by architect Pierre Cuypers and civil engineer Adolf Leonard van Gendt, who also designed the Rijksmuseum. Its design reflects the neo-Renaissance style, featuring ornate facades and an impressive roof structure. Located on the IJ waterfront, the station serves as a gateway to the city for millions of travelers annually. It connects Amsterdam with major domestic destinations and international cities, including Paris, Brussels, and Berlin. The station's central location makes it a crucial link for commuters, tourists, and long-distance travelers alike. Amsterdam Centraal has undergone several renovations to accommodate growing passenger numbers and modernize its facilities. The station includes multiple platforms and tracks, ensuring efficient handling of the high volume of trains. Amenities such as shops, restaurants, and waiting areas provide convenience and comfort for passengers. One of the notable features of Amsterdam Centraal is its integration with various modes of transportation. It houses a major tram hub and is a key point for bus services, taxis, and ferries, facilitating seamless connections across the city and beyond. The recent addition of the North-South metro line further enhances its accessibility, linking northern and southern parts of Amsterdam. The station's historical significance and architectural beauty make it not only a functional transit point but also a landmark in Amsterdam. Its iconic clock towers and detailed facades are emblematic of the city's rich cultural heritage. As both a transportation hub and a historical site, Amsterdam Centraal Station continues to play a vital role in the life of the city and its visitors.

I'd like to think the Dutch could do better. They're tall. They're handsome. If Rotterdam is any indication, they know a thing or two about design and architecture, but their Centraal Station makes me think the person in charge has a sinecure they received from their uncle Jan. The signage is a nightmare. Good luck finding a WC, and once you do have your .70 euro ready. Not sure where that money goes. Maybe it's Jan's side hustle. The building is grand. The touts and thieves from the 80s and 90s are gone, so that's a second star. Perhaps it is a way to be humble, but getting through this station is not the fluid poetic experience I've come to expect. Does anyone actually buy things at the Victoria's Secret here? Hard to believe you'll have a helpful conversation talking to the easy to miss information stick. I'd rather have an actual human make me feel dumb.

The railway and bus system is very easy to system, you just have to keep your head up and eyes open. Great wayfinding and signage for you to easily navigate. Felt safe. Love the art, restoration and architecture.

Beautiful building. Has a lot of detail, however is lacking information, some culture aspects of it. In a practical side it as connection with : subway, tram, train, bus and ferry.

It was a memorable experience that we've been there. A Lots of foods, groceries nearby, souvenir items and lovely people. We got the chance to take photos together with doves. I enjoy the place hope to visit the next time.

Amsterdam is a must visit place due to its Quite surroundings, mindblowing views from just outside the Amsterdam Centraal, Amazing Architecture, clear skies, pollutionless environment, Bike rides, and much more.

One of the coolest train stations I've ever seen. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but it's impressive, clean and safe. You won't even get on the platform without a ticket.

This place is huge and so busy. This former shipyard was transformed into Amsterdams transportation hub... with ferries leaving every 4-6 minutes it takes people, bikes and mopeds all over the river. For being so large it seems to run very smoothly. With so many restaurants and different shops they have you covered. It reminds me of being in grand central station.

Before the construction that started a year ago and will go on another three or four years, this was an amazing European train station. It reminded me of the Harry Potter movies and rightfully so, it is very old and original. It is quintessential Europe in the heart of Amsterdam. It's "sister city" Haarlem has a smaller version and just as beautiful. Platform 1 & 2 were the first built, traveling out to Haarlem, and Zandvoort, and they still are. This platform was recently rebuilt, but many portions are still closed. There will be some growing pains with the construction the next few years, and eventually this will become the second busiest train station in the city, Amsterdam Zuid will move more passengers. Either way, it's still as super cool station and I'm always excited whenever I travel through this, even though I now live here!

Mentally, this station reminded me a ton of Union Station in Washington, DC. Except the latter feels more majestic. This one just has many trains come and go. I also do not appreciate hiding the bathrooms away from passengers. When you do find it, you actually have to pay for it, which I find increasingly frustrating. It is not a bad station, aesthetically speaking it is splendid and gorgeous, a welcoming beacon of light on the city. Inside feels like an eyesore that dimly reminds me of Penn Station in New York. Take what you want out of the last paragraph. It is just how I feel.

I spent a lot of days traveling through this major city hub while visiting Amsterdam. I took both the Metro and the Tram here. Everything was labeled perfectly and very easy to navigate at this station.

It is confusing but there are friendly staff wearing yellow vests that will help you. The station has trains that will take you to other countries like Belgium and Germany. Purchasing international train tickets can be confusing but you can buy the tickets directly from the counter of NS international located outside of the building I took a star off cuz sometimes the Escalator will stop working and sometimes, when the designated platform for your train changed, the screen just turned white. I wish they would state it on the screen

Station Amsterdam Centraal has the bustle and hustle that you'd expect, with the ambience of the shopping and services that are totally unexpected. In need of a new outfit? You'll find everything from pretty lingerie, to some pretty cool outfits. In need of a quick haircut, there are plenty of choices with salons. In need of a quick gift? Tons of great gift stores. It's pretty easy to get caught up in the stores, the services, and even the restaurants. There are tons of food choices from coffee shops to full sit down dining experiences. Is that what we were really here for? Absolutely not. We were here like most people to be able to hop on the bus Gus and head to a day of fun. If you haven't pre-booked your ticket, there are plenty of opportunities and offices throughout the entire building where you can book both long and short distance trips. This place almost feels like an underground city and yet everything seems to move fairly seamlessly. Its clean. Things move quickly. It's seamless.

Station Amsterdam Centraal is how I arrived in the city from from the airport and how I left to go to Brussels. This massive station is surrounded by beautiful city scapes, a view of the water, and plenty of hotels to stay at making it pretty dang convenient of a location overall. When you enter the terminal here you have a ton of food options to choose from like sit down restaurants like Wagamama and Brew Dog to quick fast spots like New York Pizzeria and even a vending establishment. Although one thing I didn't see a lot of was staff, the terminal is fairly easy to maneuver once you figure out where you want to go and can head pretty much anywhere. On top of being easy to get around, this station is so much cleaner than some of the ones you'll find in the United States or Canada which is obviously a good thing as well. Overall, Station Amsterdam Centraal is a great place to travel in and out of and super conveniently located. Whether it was arriving, taking a train to Alkmaar, or leaving for good, this place treated me well and I'm thankful for th

From the outside this has to be one of the prettiest train stations. The inside is a bit dark, gloomy and very crowded. On the plus side, its easy to navigate but all the boards are in Dutch, it's not difficult, but it may take a minute. We came into the station from Brussels and when we left we took the train directly to the airport. Both trips were easy and we were able to buy airport tickets directly from the machine in the terminal. . . There are a few places inside to grab something to eat. Just an FYI... you have to pay to use the bathroom. It's only 50 cents so make sure you have some Euro coins.

Clean efficient and 20-30 minutes from the airport to Centraal Station and downtown Amsterdam. One of the joys of flying through Schiphol Airport is the ease to get downtown. The ticketing and travel process has even improved over time. Bands of young friendly folk in bright yellow jackets are scattered around the station in case you get lost. BE SURE to buy your ticket at the airport and keep it handy for when you arrive at Centraal. You will need it to leave the train station and enter the city.

Amsterdam's free ferry system is an essential part of the city's transportation system, shuttling pedestrians, cyclists, and mopeds across the River to Amsterdam-Noord every day. There are two main routes: The most popular, to Buiksloterweg, takes less than five minutes and drops you practically at the foot of the A'DAM Tower and the architecturally striking EYE Film Institute. The other, a 15-minute journey, goes to NDSM, a former industrial shipyard that's been transformed into one of the city's trendiest areas. Ferries run approximately every 4 to 6 minutes, leaving from behind Centraal Station; there's a countdown clock right next to the dock that shows the next departures. It's all fairly straightforward, and an activity not to miss. We got off the Eurostar here & dragged our luggage through a huge station to a taxi stand. The station was very busy & filled with shops, restaurants & people. We had to scan out tickets to leave the train station.

I really enjoyed my time at Central Station; it's more than just a train station. There are plenty of food options and shops, along with a doctor's office for tourists and a pharmacy offering beauty products with testers. I was pleased to find brands I recognized from back in NY. Plus, it's conveniently located right next to the free ferry that takes you to a rooftop building with stunning views of all of Amsterdam. Definitely worth a visit!

Well organized train station Simple to navigate Very pleased with the process 3 hour train ride from Amsterdam to Paris

We traveled from Amsterdam Central Station to Paris (1st time in Amsterdam) and it was pretty simple!

I arrived at the station from Paris and I was surprised at how clean it was. There were no homeless people from what I saw. I had to get from the train platform to the upper level where the buses were and that was not too bad trying to figure out. However, when arriving from the bus stop to getting on the train platform was a whole different story ahaha. There were signs in dutch and english but it was still a little confusing until we asked someone that worked there and they were very kind as to physically walk us to where we needed to be. It is big and can get confusing but just ask for help. The outside architecture is beautiful and it's located right next to the water. Very nice to feel that breeze on a warm day but when I visited is was still winter. On our departure from the city I needed to mail out some postcards and I was happy to find one at the ground floor of the central. There are lots of other shops and restaurants here so dont worry if you forgot to eat because you find what your looking for. Both times we came here it was not very crowded and we felt safe at all times. Me and my friend did end up almost missing our train by a few minutes but thankfully we had caught it just in time.

I just stayed about a 20 minute walk from the station for a week and it was incredibly convenient. It is very sensual and easy to spot. The space itself is huge and busy. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés nearby so that you can grab a quick drink or a bite to eat as well. They also have a drugstore and a small grocery store market. The tickets are pretty easy to understand and purchase. Definitely a few sketchy characters. Watch your belongings at all times of course. That's kind of to be expected at the train station. Also, everything leaves on time so definitely don't be late. Nearby to the water, so it gets pretty windy and cold, but you can catch a boat nearby.

I visited Amsterdam over the summer as I was traveling for business and extended to spend a long weekend in the city. The transportation in Amsterdam and surrounding areas is unmatched to the standard of travel compared to the US. I love that they have the trains, metro and trams to get around the city easily and efficiently. The train station was clean and easy to navigate. It also had a lot of souvenir shops if you need to pick up any gifts. The train also travels directly under the airport- so it's also very easy to get to and from the airport. Overall, I would highly recommend a visit and would love to return!

Centraal Station in Amsterdam is one of the hubs for transportation all around Amsterdam. The metro is beneath the building and there are busses and trams within the vicinity to get you to just about anywhere in Amsterdam and beyond. The building itself is a beautiful structure and worth seeing for its amazing architecture and fantastically intricate decor.

Centraal Station Amsterdam is a breeze to get to from Schiphol Airport. All the Tram LRVs outside the Centraal Station have Even or Odd numbers to make it easier. The odd trams are located to the east and the even trams are to the west (see map photos). I have attached a Tram LRV Map to this review, to simplify it for those unfamiliar with their setup. The Tram LRV drivers btw are generally very friendly. BUT because of Dutch Time-Tables, they do not have time to explain their Route or Stops to boarding passengers. So become familiar with the Map and what Tram you want BEFORE getting onboard. Also, if you are taking a Viking or another liner's Cruise, the docks are about a tenth of a mile east of Centraal Station (see photos). Easy. Peasy.

"There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a 12-foot mountain troll is one of them." - Harry Potter Harry Potter in Amsterdam? I'll explain, but first, The Dutch National Rail (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) offers trains from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal Station in an average of 15-20 minutes. Decent at €4.70 euros per ticket with a €1 surcharge for disposable tickets. I really wanted to review the actual Train company however I couldn't locate it under search (too lazy to create new listing lol), so instead will review the most popular route. The Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal Station is convenient and safe! Just look for a bright yellow kiosk pay the reasonable fare and you're good to go! Note: directions are offered in many languages, or heck just learn Dutch on the fly like yours truly! ;) Important you choose the correct destination as well. Most tourists are headed to Amsterdam Centraal for all the museums and historical sites. Amsterdam Centraal Station opened in 1889 and was designed by Dutch architect, Pierre Cuypers, best known for his work on the Rijksmuseum. The Gothic, Renaissance Revival building, with interior inspired by Medieval Cathedrals reminds me of the magical Train Station in the Harry Potter series! If you plan on staying for an extended time I would suggest: Amsterdam Travel Ticket - 1/2/3 day card (€17/€22.50/€28) combines airport train/bus journey with unlimited use of GVB transport in Amsterdam. Purchase online or the ticket counter. The Iamsterdam City Card is also a great option! Dutch Tip: If you feel lost. You probably are lost. Just ask the Information Desk for guidance. You don't want to board the wrong Train at Centraal since it consist of 15 tracks! The signage is easy to read tho! For me, I was okay paying on the fly since it was affordable enough and I really didn't have a set itinerary. Plus, I was staying in Zaandam a city in the province of North Holland, Netherlands. I got to Zaandam also by train via Amsterdam Centraal. Expecto Patronum! Ah yes! Amsterdam Centraal Station transports me back to Harry Potter! I highly recommend using the The Dutch National Rail (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) or other public transportation in Amsterdam. In fact, I prefer using the Trains here over a car or taxi! It's hella a lot cheaper... only thing cheaper is riding a bicycle:D

My local friend said Amsterdam Central is like Grand Central in NYC. I am not sure about that but it is an ideal location when you are trying to get to city centre and a beautiful building. Big props to the lady who worked here and was on her way out but still took her time to help me find the train and platform that I needed to take.

Probably I think that this station is the biggest station in the Netherlands. It is easy to access by train to the Dutch international airport, Schiphol Airport. For the Japanese, this station looks like the Building of Tokyo station. For example, it is brick's color and station entrance structure and so on. I visited the station on New Year's Eve. Amsterdam citizens gather at Dam Square close to Amsterdam centraal station on New Year's Eve. I arrived at bus terminal in Amsterdam from Antwerp in Belgium by Bus on 20;00pm. From the bus terminal, I transferred from the bus terminal to train station, and came to the Amsterdam central station. On New Year's Eve, almost of all Amsterdam train operations is closed by 21;00pm on New Year's Eve. So I managed to catch the last train to Amsterdam Central station. According to Wikipedia, Amsterdam Centraal was designed by Dutch architect, Pierre Cuypers and opened in 1889. It features a Gothic, Renaissance Revival station building and a cast iron platform roof spanning approximately 40 meters.

Amsterdam Centraal Station is one of the most beautiful and iconic buildings in Amsterdam, it's a huge, instantly recognisable, grand train station, right in the centre of the city, opposite the water and served by tram, train, bus, metro and even IJ river boats it's well connected to take you around The Netherlands, and even further afield to London, Brussels and Paris via train, or into Schipol Airport, where the world's your oyster. The station dates back to 1889 and is the second busiest train station in the country, after Ulretch Centraal. It can be quite hard to navigate the station once inside, due to the size, multiple passageways and ticket gates, but it is easy to get used to, but for tourists only staying in Amsterdam, for a couple of days you may find it tricky, and the platforms seem to be so far away from the entrance. I did find the staff members in the station to be very rude and lack any sort of sympathy or understanding, I had an issue using the NS Mobile app, which led to my purchasing tickets to travel to Rotterdam Centraal is the wrong day, they forced me to purchase a new ticket and given me false advice to contact customer services, just to get me away from the counter, despite being very calm through a frustrating process. It also appears to be quite difficult to get out of the station using Eurostar tickets, the Eurostar QR codes are supposed to work but always seem so troublesome on the NS barriers - that being sad, I did also find this to be an issue at other stations, including Rotterdam Centraal. Inside the station, there is a good number of facilities including convenience stores (try to avoid them if possible - they are quite expensive) as well as places to grab coffee or food. Brands include Albert Heijn, Starbucks and Wagamama. There are also some general retail stores and household brands including LUSH. As well as the iconic grand design of the building from the outside, I also like the newer, open, airy glass walkway near the boats, and the coloured glass roof of the bus station, which is up the stairs from the main station. All in all it's a stunning station, but having used this station for Eurostar and NS services, it requires quite a few changes to make the journey easier, quicker and more efficient for the passenger side of things. 4*

Very clean. Tourist friendly. Lots of eating options have some money ready if you want to use the bathroom.

When in Europe, the best way to get around is by the train system. While in Amsterdam, we stayed outside of the city for business and used the trains to go into the city as we pleased. The trains are fast and come often. This station is also great to use when traveling to other countries. We travel to Brussels, Belgium from here and came back from London, England to Amsterdam. My only complaints are that bathrooms are hard to find and when traveling Eurostar, it can be difficult to "scan out" of the station. Almost everyone on our train had issues doing this and we had to call for assistance. One of the nicer train stations in Europe

In A Nutshell: -For such a busy train station, Amsterdam Centraal is easy to navigate. -There are also helpful employees that will assist you if you need help figuring out what platform to depart from. -As for arrivals, simply exit the train then walk towards towards the exits using the signs. -There are eateries and stores to grab food and goods if you need them. Overall, this is a safe, beautiful train station along the water, central to all things Amsterdam.

If you have a layover in Amsterdam, this central train station is only 15 minutes away. With regular trains to and from the airport, you can explore downtown Amsterdam, including the Anne Frank House. The train station itself is spacious, beautiful, and clean and comes wit restrooms, stores, cafes, etc.

Loved it. Beware, however, if you need taxi service to be careful of those without a meter in taxi. Ask for cost up front! I didn't and got taken. Guy's name is Subian. Download the Bolt app (similar to Uber) and take them. Cheaper and trustworthy.

What's not to like- the place has great signage, places to grab food, people to help and it's clean, very, very clean. You can basically get anywhere from here- great transportation hub. We come in from Paris on the high-speed train and it's such a relief not to fly. If you fly in a cheap trick is that you can grab the train from the airport skipping the expensive cab-ride into the city and given the traffic at peak times it is often much faster than a cab. Certainly much, much cheaper. A key part of exiting the station is to KEEP your ticket which you will need to get out of the station. Yes including the fast train - ask me how it was like to try to get out late at night on a train from Germany with no one to explain how it worked. Call it learning the hard way. Never made that mistake again- don't do my best problem solving coming off a late train - tired and hungry.

I love this train station as it was my go to spot to travel from different countries and cities via train. They have tons of staff available to assist you and everyone I encountered was very friendly and helpful. I used this central station to use Thalys trains travelling to and from Belgium and Paris. I used this station to and from the Amsterdam airport that is less than 30 minutes to get you directly in the airport. I also used this central station to get to other cities in the Netherlands like Rotterdam and Zaanse Schans with no difficulties. The station is very crowded and initially can be very intimidating. They have several shops for food and drinks. The bathrooms are clean as they should be since you have to pay almost 1 Euro to use. The architecture of the building is beautiful and is definitely picture worthy. There are different entries/exits from this station that can be confusing if you're looking for specific trams and/or busses when you exit. At the main entrance/exit, there's a tourist information shop right across the street that is very helpful. Definitely a resourceful station that can take you country hopping just a train ride away.

Flying into the Amsterdam airport, and having to catch a train, it was really cool to be able to catch the train right from the airport. It took a little while to figure out the ticket system, but after we figured it out, it was pretty easy. If you are staying longer than the day, I would buy a multiple day pass. Not only will it save you time, but money. I forgot to scan my ticket a couple of times...oops. But the times I did remember to scan my ticket, the ticket police came by, and asked for proof of purchase. Whew. Glad I remembered as they will fine you.

Great station that is easy to navigate through. You can get pretty much anywhere you want from here. Well organized.

Definitely one of my favorite train stations in Europe. It deserves 5 stars not due to it is any less confusing for foreign travelers, it's because you can always find friendly staff who speak excellent English willing to address your questions with a smile. Not only their English is fluent, they are also incredibly patient with you. I don't think you can really find the same level of impeccable customer service in other big cities like Paris or New York City. The station is huge. However, it is well organized. Intercity and sprinter for commuters are right in the center of the station. Bus hub is located in the back. Tram and metro are up front. Thalys train is typically on platform 15B. When you arrive and make it downstairs, make a right to exit. (To the left is the bus hub area, located in the back of the station.) If you have a printed Thalys ticket, scan the barcode located on the bottom right corner of your ticket to exit. It is easy to navigate, and you can confidently find your way around after a couple of times. Also, the station is very traveler friendly. It offers lockers and ticket vending machine practically everywhere. There are coffee shops before and after you swipe in. There is also a piano! (I don't know who came up with the idea first, Amsterdam or Paris.) If you are traveling with a U.S. credit card, it will not work on the ticket machines. You will need to go up to a ticket counter to buy tickets with your credit card. Be sure to present your driver's license with it. The reason is because you will need to sign your name on your receipts. I remember the days that the check in/out counter without any barriers. Back then, anyone without a ticket could get on the platform. You just have to be honest and swipe in/out on your own. Now they have add the barriers for the ticket swipes. Not sure why. On top of everything, the building itself is beautiful.

This is the main train station in and out of Amsterdam, so you sort of HAVE to give it 5 stars, right? Located at the northeastern end of the Damrak, it's pretty much the hub of the city. Picture a hand fan, with the train station being the part you hold in your hand, and the city fans out in an arc from it in a southwesterly direction. I didn't notice anything stellar about the building inside, as we were always off to somewhere else in the city and didn't really take the time to look around. However, from the outside, you can see just how huge and pretty it really is; the red bricks are visible from a long distance, and the building looks like it could be a palace, government building, or fancy museum. For as large as it is, it is pretty easy to navigate, it's just crowded. A lot. You become rather thankful for the numerous doors everywhere to get you outside. The Dutch certainly know how to do mass transit right, as the trains were on time, every time, with plenty of room for passengers and their luggage. Don't be surprised if you see dogs riding along too! Use this, or Dam Square, as city markers and you should be able to find your way around town fairly easy without getting lost. 17/2020

Very centrally located, spaced out, and easy to navigate for any tourist. The gentleman at the information booth was extremely helpful and there is a decent assortment of food for purchase. Only downside is the limited seating so please plan accordingly when coming for your train.

Built in 1889, this Gothic Renaissance Revival is one of two transport hubs in Amsterdam. The red brick Central Station is the arrival and launching point for trains, buses, trams and ferries. If you purchase an Amsterdam City Card, public transportation, museums and other activities are free. Central Station is within walking distance to many hotels and restaurants, as well as. museums. If you are driving a car there is a parking lot under the station. Shops of all kinds and restaurants are in the station. In the rear of the building, the waterfront side, are terminals for inter-city buses, the departures for tourist boats cruising around the canals and ferries. Taxis also wait on the waterfront side. On the city side you can pick-up a local bus which will take you to the Amsterdam Schipol airport. During the day they run every 10 minutes from platform 143 or platform 15. Trams are located on the city side is the Metro. Central has a tourist information office if you have any questions or are looking for suggestions. The toilets are clean but require a payment for their use. The arrival and departure of trains are very punctual. I found the station easy to navigate, Signage on the inside of the station is easy to follow. Their are plenty of kiosks for ticket purchases.Central Station offers an app. which is easy to use. It asks you where you are, where you want to go, then gives you a list of options to get you to your destination. It also allows you to buy an e-ticket through the app.. If you are taking a train it tells you what platform your train will be leaving from. If all else fails they have an information desk.

Everything in Amsterdam is old. After its restoration, this building shines and glows in the morning sun. Dutch people try to design with function in mind and the buildings are the better for it; this building is no exception to this logical rule. Signs abound in Dutch and English so that anyone can find their way. Designed by Pierre Cuypers and opened in 1889, it enjoys a 'rijksmonument' designation which means that its historical significance is highly valued. When you stand outside and spend more than a few minutes looking at it architecture, you understand the why. It has a gorgeous Gothic with Renaissance feel. Probably the inside design of the railway overhead was left to engineers -- it has a cast iron platform roof of more than 40 meters (120 feet) which requires solid engineering. It is the largest and busiest train station of Holland, with more than 170,000 passengers a day. When you visit Amsterdam, don't forget to check it out!

The train station that comes from the airport into the city with a short 20-minutes ride. Don't forget to get your ticket validated or else you might get fined. When you arrive to the station it is easy to navigate your way out of the station into the city.

With my first trip to Amsterdam, it only seemed fitting to enter the city by train. Besides, that's pretty much what everyone had recommended. Starting out at the Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA Station, I browsed around the area seeking information. Checked out and took pictures of the rail maps (just in case). Figured out the ticket pricing and directions via the kiosk, but to confirm I'm was heading in the right direction I went to the Information booth. They were totally helpful, and told me which line to hop on, figured out the fee, and I was on my way. This station makes for an easy point of reference. And the fact that it's in the heart of the city makes it even easier. From this station, you can almost go into every direction all around Amsterdam. The train cars seemed pretty clean, and the ride in general felt much smoother. In comparison to the noisy dirty crap that the Bay Area uses. The entrance/exit gates were easy to understand, and seeing all the bikes along the lengthy bike racks simply looked congested yet hilarious. I dig the old school historic look, mixed in with the modern trains. To me it kind of reminds me of Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, lol. I'll definitely plan my next trip by making Centraal Station my first stop into the city!

Centraal is a major transportation hub located near the center of Amsterdam. Buses, trams, trains, and the metro all have stops here. Ferries nearby. Direct routes to many important locations.

I used this station a lot to get around The Netherlands. This was the gateway to a lot of other cities around Amsterdam. It is not nearly as nice as some of the other train stations in Europe. This place is always bustling so make sure to keep an eye out for pick pockets and be careful with your belongings. I had a hard time getting around here at times since there were just many different options to get to and from Rotterdam and was rather expensive if you want to go on a direct NS Direct. People would stand in line to purchase tickets and then we find out that the ticket machine was out of service. No one would tell the rest of us that it was out of service, they would just walk away and have this long line of people figuring it out for themselves. I thought that was really inconsiderate. For a Central stop, you would think they would make it a bit easier for everyone to get around, but even the locals had a hard time with it and try to avoid using the machines there.

Huge station, but navigated effortlessly. Also, the staff was super friendly. There's plenty of restaurants with nice photo ops. The station was walking distance from The Red Light District and other areas we wanted to visit.

The station that defines busy Europe! You are bound to see it sooner rather than later if flying into Schipol airport and taking the train in (Recommended). It does not matter what time of day you visit Amsterdam Centraal, as it is always bustling! We arrived very late at night and it felt like mid day in terms of foot traffic. As always be aware of your surroundings as anytime of day there are pickpockets. This station also serves as a long journey hub if visiting any nearby cities or countries, so a huge plus if your hotel is nearby. Local tram stations galore as well, make sure which number and direction you need to go beforehand as it can be a tad confusing (review soon). As for things to do, this is the heart of the city with countless attractions, food, drinks, etc. nearby, so soak it up! This hub also has easy access to offices for long journey tickets and automated machines for short distance travels. While it may not be the cleanest station compared to some others in Europe, it does the job!

This is by far one of the coolest train stations I've ever been to. It's not particularly anything remarkable when you're navigating through the lower level of the station, but when you make your way up to the platform and come up the escalator to the upper level - wow. This is just so beautiful. There is a large glass ceiling that domes over the top of the platform. The architecture is amazing. And there is a giant word, I believe Amsterdam," built into the glass in large giant red letters. I took a walk around and admired the architecture. It was really beautiful. And the trains ran on time, the schedule was well-marked and the employees were pretty helpful in guiding us around. Perfect both times we came through during our trip, and really an amazing place to spend a few minutes.

The central hub for public transportation and shopping. Walk out of train area and into an inside mall. This is good if you get into Amsterdam late and you want to venture out of your hotel room. Lots of stores, a couple of restaurants, and small convenient stores. You can look for the exit that faces the rest of the busy shopping area outside. The restrooms in this 'inside mall' cost .70 cents(euros).

Beware of the taxis at the taxi stand at Station Centraal. The best and safest way to ride in Amsterdam is by prearranging a taxi ride or ride-share such as Uber. Do not take the taxis with green signs!!! I was charged €72.60 for a 3.2 mile ride which lasted :14. They are scammers and thieves. I was told that the Amsterdam Police had a taxi fraud bureau because the taxis in Amsterdam are so bad and they have a well-known appalling reputation. The police no longer have funding and will only respond to taxi-related incidents if you are threatened with a weapon. If you are scammed, get a picture of the license plate and car. I was told just run. Report taxi scams to fraudhelpdesk.nl or taxiklacht.net

Amsterdam Centraal was SUPER easy to navigate and I had no issues, arriving from the airport, coming back to take a train to the hague, then coming back once more to catch a train back to the aiport again. When I tried to use my American credit card in one of the machines, it wouldn't go through, so i had to visit the ticketing office, but they were more than happy to help and assisted me in using my card with issues. The staff was also super helpful in directing me to the platform I needed to catch my train (that part I found a little tricky, aside from just walking the floors and looking at each screen by the platforms). There were plenty of food options and best of all.... WIFI! This was great since I needed some WIFI after flying to The Netherlands overnight (I didn't pay for an international plan). If you're visiting Amsterdam for the first time, definitely don't leave Amsterdam Centraal without getting a daily transit pass to get around the city (trust me, your feet will thank me later. You can't purchase those passes everywhere, so it's easiest to just get that pass at the station while you're there).

This is a very typical European train station. They have this awesome food vending machine with a live person behind it, I took a picture of it, I love those things. They put hot food that they are prepping inside of the little doors from the back and then you put coins in and get out what you want, hot and fresh. These are so fun. The train schedules are mostly easy to understand although you have to be careful because they change the tracks sometimes so the posted times and track numbers are not always correct. The security guards were friendly and helpful. There are good selection of food and shops for basic things. My biggest beef is that they close the bathrooms at 11:45 PM and if you want to use one you have to walk all the way out to the outside of the station and pay money to use the external bathroom which is kind of rude. All in all you don't have much of a choice if you're coming to Amsterdam by train you're going to come here so make sure you use the restroom before you get off the train if it's at night. The architecture is gorgeous on the outside and the location is excellent.

For many tourists visiting Amsterdam, the central station will be your most visited stop throughout your trip. At the central station you can literally catch a train going anywhere within the region as well as international trains traveling to Belgium, France or Germany. The central station like any main rail station in Europe is chaotic and very busy for much throughout the day during the week. Lots of people coming and going, you'll always feel like you are in someone's way or another. However the Dutch people while in an hurry are very helpful and polite people at helping you find your way, don't hesitate to ask anyone for help here. There are also plenty of ticket counters and machines to assist you with your ticketing. Tips for travelers (especially from America): Trains are relatively ON time, if you're late, you will most likely miss your train. There are several types of trains, some trains may be way quicker at getting you through your journey without as many stops. Always check Google Maps or the 9292 app. Ticketing machines DO NOT TAKE CARDS WITHOUT PINS. American credit cards do have chips now, but we don't use the chip and pin system like the rest of the world unfortunately. So your best bet is using a card without a chip or NFC (Apple Pay or Samsung Pay).  However, smaller stations do not have NFC yet at their ticket machines. Best bang for your buck for tourists staying the in the area is the "Amsterdam Regional Ticket". It gives you the option of 1,2,3,4 days flat rate on any train, bus, light rail or metro in the Amsterdam region and is a great deal. ALWAYS! Check in AND out at every station with your train ticket. Always. Always. Always. The view of Amsterdam right outside the central station is amazing, make sure to check it out.

Maybe the worst designed train station in Europe. Every single thing you need is behind a ticket gate. Once you scan in once you can't get back in. So forget using the luggage lockers, bathroom, cafes. You have to flag down an attendant every single time after that and they seem aware but apathetic to the problem.