Travellers often mistakenly think it’s the only thing to see in the Netherlands. Sadly so. Even though you can spend a few lovely days in Amsterdam, there are other, more interesting places in the land of tulips. Before we get to those, though, we have to talk about how to get to the Netherlands.
By plane
The most comfortable is certainly flying. From Prague and Vienna direct services take roughly 2 hours. From Schiphol airport (about 30 km from the centre) you can reach the buzz of the city by public transport, taxi or on foot. That last option is for the hardened and the thrifty only. In other words, tailor-made for all fans of this fine blog. The advantage is that you’ll be walking on the flat almost the whole way.
If you’re not sure how to find cheap flights, visit our loaded guide to Skyscanner, the cheap flight search engine.
By car 🚗
Another option is driving. From Czechia you only pay for fuel. Motorways in Germany and the Netherlands are free. You do have to bear in mind that filling up at motorway services costs more. Everything is connected to everything, so it’s no surprise that fuel on the motorway is roughly 20 % pricier than off it. From the Prague area the drive via Plzeň, or via Cheb, takes roughly 9 hours with breaks, depending on when you set off. We’d recommend timing it so you avoid the morning rush around Amsterdam. Ideally arrive in Amsterdam before 7 in the morning.
Public transport 🚌🚅
The third option is public transport. There’s a direct RegioJet service from Prague, as well as its competitor FlixBus. If you buy tickets in advance, the “green one” comes to roughly 1,600-1,700 CZK. With the “yellow one” prices start from 1,200 CZK. Luckily both are direct and take just under 15 hours.
The second public transport tip is the train. Unfortunately there’s no direct connection. You have to change at least once. A one-way ticket comes to roughly 1,200 CZK.
The secret and slightly mad tip
The fourth, bonus way to get to the Netherlands is by boat. I have to admit, though, that I only mention this non-standard mode of transport as satire. Unfortunately it is a real option too. All it takes is finding a boat and a skipper. On the other hand, it takes the wind out of the sails of everyone who says travelling to western Europe isn’t an adventure.
Planning a trip to the Netherlands? Take a look at everything it offers in our Netherlands section.
