Amsterdam cruise terminal: getting to central Amsterdam after midnight
Cruise ships in Amsterdam usually sail in the evening, so most passengers do not need a late return. If you do, the walk back along the IJ takes about 15 minutes and is flat and follows the water. The taxi stand in front of the terminal is the fallback. NS night trains run through Amsterdam Centraal every night, about hourly, if you are heading on to Schiphol afterwards. Always confirm the all-aboard time on your cruise line app and allow at least 30 minutes before it.
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Tram 26 (IJtram) to Centraal is the best value: €2.80 for the group, about 18 min.
Bus
Tram 26 (IJtram) to Centraal
18 min
For the group€2.80estimate
Tram 26 (IJtram) to Centraal
GVB · one stop, about 3 min
- Per person
- €1.40
- Door to door
- 18 min
- Runs
- -
- Frequency
- about every 10 min
- Board at
- Muziekgebouw / Bimhuis tram stop on Piet Heinkade
- Suitcases
- Fine
Taxi
Taxi from the terminal rank
15 min
For the group€7.50–€12.50estimate
Taxi from the terminal rank
Licensed taxis · metered
- Per person
- €7.50–€12.50 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 15 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Rank in front of the terminal
- Board at
- Taxi stand in front of the terminal
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Private car
Pre-booked private car
20 min
For the group€35estimateCheck price
Pre-booked private car
Meet at the terminal · price fixed when you book
- Per person
- €35 per vehicle
- Door to door
- 20 min
- Runs
- 24 hours
- Frequency
- Pre-booked
- Board at
- Driver waits at the terminal
- Suitcases
- Carried for you
Every option in detail
BusTram 26 (IJtram) to Centraal
- €1.40 (estimate)
- 18 min
- → Amsterdam Centraal, front left side of the station
Tram 26 towards IJburg leaves from the front left side of Centraal, and the terminal itself describes Muziekgebouw / Bimhuis as the first stop. Going back to the station, board there for the short ride. Tap a contactless card on the reader when you board and again when you get off. GVB charges a base rate of 1.16 euros plus 0.217 euros per kilometre in 2026, so expect about 1.40 euros, which is our calculation and not a published fare. A GVB 1 hour ticket is 3.40 euros if you prefer a fixed price. Last-tram times were not available to confirm, so check the GVB planner for your return.
TaxiTaxi from the terminal rank
- €7.50–€12.50 per vehicle (estimate)
- 15 min
- 24 hours
- → Amsterdam Centraal or any address
The taxi stand is directly in front of the terminal, and you can queue or pre-book. Cruise Port Amsterdam says a ride to the station should cost between 7.50 and 12.50 euros, which is a guide for a metered fare and not a fixed price. If you are asked for much more, report it to the terminal team. The ride takes about 8 to 10 minutes, but on a busy turnaround day the queue can be longer than the ride.
Private carPre-booked private car
- €35 per vehicle (estimate)
- 20 min
- 24 hours
- → Your hotel door
A pre-booked sedan for up to three passengers starts at roughly 35 euros for a short city-centre run, which is an estimate. A car makes sense mainly when you are leaving the city, for example to Schiphol. A sedan to the airport typically starts in the low 50s, and the terminal's own guide puts a metered taxi to Schiphol at 40 to 60 euros.
Practical tips
- Walk if you can. The terminal says it is about 15 minutes to Centraal: leave the station on the IJ side, turn right and head east. The entrance is next to the Movenpick hotel.
- Tram 26 towards IJburg leaves from the front left side of Centraal, and the first stop, Muziekgebouw / Bimhuis, is the one for the terminal.
- Sea cruise calls continue in 2026 under a cap of about 100 a year and one ship a day. A reported proposal would phase out ocean-going cruise calls by 2035, and we could not find a final decision, so check your ticket for the terminal name.
- If your ship uses the Felison Terminal in IJmuiden, expect 60 to 75 minutes to Amsterdam by public transport. The terminal also lists a direct transfer bus to De Ruijterkade Oost near Centraal, sold in packages from about 40 to 49 euros with a canal cruise or hop-on hop-off bus, and taxis at 125 to 150 euros.
- Going to Schiphol from the terminal: walk or tram to Centraal, then the NS train to Schiphol at 5.50 euros, 17 minutes, up to eight an hour. A taxi is 40 to 60 euros by the terminal's guide.
- Passengers arriving on a Rotterdam call are more than 70 km away and need a train from Rotterdam Centraal. Budget at least two hours to the Amsterdam centre.
Questions travellers ask
Amsterdam cruise terminal at 00:30: what still runs?
Every option on this page runs at 00:30: Tram 26 (IJtram) to Centraal (€1.40 per person, 18 min); Taxi from the terminal rank (€7.50–€12.50 per vehicle, 15 min); Pre-booked private car (€35 per vehicle, 20 min). Fares are per person unless marked per vehicle.
Amsterdam cruise terminal: what is the cheapest way after midnight?
The cheapest option running at 00:30 is Tram 26 (IJtram) to Centraal: €1.40 per person, about 18 min door to door.
Amsterdam cruise terminal: how much is a taxi at night?
Taxi from the terminal rank: €7.50–€12.50 per vehicle, counted for up to 4 people, about 15 min door to door. The price is an estimate. Pre-booked private car: €35 per vehicle.
Amsterdam cruise terminal: what is the best option for two people with two bags at 00:30?
Tram 26 (IJtram) to Centraal is the best value: €2.80 for the group, about 18 min.
Amsterdam cruise terminal: where do these prices and times come from?
Prices and times were checked on October 4, 2026 against Cruise Port Amsterdam, linked in the list of options on this page.
