Haarlem is one of the easiest cities in the Netherlands to explore. Its compact historic centre is largely pedestrian-friendly, many of the main attractions are within walking distance, and excellent train, bus and cycling connections make travelling both within the city and beyond simple.
Better still, Haarlem is ideally situated just 15–20 minutes from Amsterdam, around 20 minutes from Schiphol Airport, and only 15 minutes from IJmuiden harbour, where the DFDS ferry from Newcastle docks. This makes Haarlem an excellent base for exploring the Netherlands without the crowds or high hotel prices of the capital.
Travelling from elsewhere in Europe? Haarlem is only around 20 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal Station, where high-speed international trains arrive from London, Paris, Brussels and many other European cities. Once you’ve reached the Netherlands, getting to Haarlem is quick, convenient and straightforward.
💡 Visit Haarlem Tip
Travelling by rail? Read our guide to top tips on travelling by train to the Netherlands for practical tips on international train travel from London, Paris, Belgium and Germany before you set off.
Whether you’re arriving by train, plane, ferry, coach or car, here’s everything you need to know.
❤️ At a Glance
| 🚆 Travelling from… | ⏱️ Approx. journey | ⭐ Best option |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam Centraal | 15–20 minutes | Train |
| Schiphol Airport | Around 20 minutes | Train or Bus 300 |
| IJmuiden Ferry Terminal | Around 30–40 minutes | Bus |
| Leiden | Around 20 minutes | Train |
| The Hague | Around 40 minutes | Train |
| Rotterdam | Around 1 hour | Train |
| Bloemendaal Beach | 15–20 minutes | Bike or bus |
| Zandvoort Beach | Around 10 minutes | Train |
🚆 Arriving by Train
Haarlem is ideally situated, being only 15 to 20 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal Station, where international high-speed trains arrive from cities throughout Europe. Whether you’re travelling from Paris, Brussels, London or elsewhere in the Netherlands, Haarlem is exceptionally easy to reach by rail.
Frequent trains run between Amsterdam Centraal and Haarlem throughout the day, usually departing from Platforms 1 or 2. If you’re unfamiliar with Amsterdam Centraal, this little tip can save you a surprising amount of time in one of the Netherlands’ busiest railway stations. (During engineering works or service disruptions the platform may occasionally change, so it’s always worth checking the departure boards before travelling.)
Haarlem actually has two railway stations:
🚉 Haarlem Centraal
🚉 Haarlem Spaarnwoude
If you’re visiting the historic city centre, museums, shopping streets or restaurants, you’ll almost always want to get off at Haarlem Centraal.
Dating from 1908, Haarlem Centraal Station is one of the finest examples of Dutch Art Nouveau architecture and is widely regarded as one of the country’s most beautiful railway stations. It’s well worth taking a few minutes to admire the building before heading into the city.
💡 Visit Haarlem Tip
Download the free NS app before you travel. It’s the easiest way to check live departures, delays, platform numbers and ticket prices.
Useful links
👉 Dutch Railways (NS)
👉 International train travel to the Netherlands
✈️ Arriving from Schiphol Airport
Schiphol Airport is only around 20 kilometres from Haarlem, making it one of the easiest Dutch cities to reach after landing.
The fastest, but not always the most convenient option, is usually the train. Depending on the time of day, there may be a direct service or you may need to make one easy change along the way, but journey times are generally around 20 minutes.
If you’re travelling with luggage, it’s worth checking both the train and Bus 300 before you leave the airport, as the bus may actually drop you closer to your accommodation.
💡 Visit Haarlem Tip
You no longer need to buy separate tickets for Dutch public transport. Simply tap your contactless debit card, credit card or phone when boarding and again when leaving trains and buses.
❤️ Bus 300 from Schiphol
This has been one of our favourite local tips for years.
Many visitors automatically head for the train after arriving at Schiphol Airport. However, if you’re staying in Haarlem’s historic centre, we often recommend taking the red R-net Bus 300 instead.
Although the journey takes a little longer (around 30–40 minutes), the bus uses dedicated bus lanes for much of the route, making journey times very reliable even during rush hour.
How to find Bus 300
The R-net buses are bright red with grey accents and white lettering, making them easy to spot outside Schiphol Plaza. Just look for the number 300 on the front of the bus.At the time of writing, Bus 300 usually departs every 6–10 minutes from platform D8, although departure platforms can occasionally change. Simply follow the bus signs after leaving Schiphol Plaza and check the electronic departure boards for the latest platform information before boarding.
You don’t need to buy a separate ticket in advance. Simply tap your contactless debit card, credit card or mobile phone when boarding and again when leaving the bus.
The most useful stops for visitors are:
🚏 Haarlem Centraal Station
🚏 Centrum / Verwulft (our favourite stop for the Grote Markt, boutique hotels and the historic city centre)
🚏 Europaweg
🚏 Schalkwijk Centrum
If your accommodation is in the old city, getting off at Centrum / Verwulft can actually save you a 10-minute walk from Haarlem Centraal Station—a little local secret that many visitors don’t discover until their second trip.
Travelling late? The route continues overnight as night bus N30, making Haarlem easy to reach even after many train services have finished.
💡 Visit Haarlem Tip
If you’re staying near the Grote Markt, we almost always recommend Bus 300 over the train. It may take a few minutes longer, but you’ll often arrive much closer to your hotel. Our favourite stop is Centrum / Verwulft, just a short walk from the Grote Markt and many of Haarlem’s boutique hotels.
⛴️ Arriving by Ferry
If you’re travelling from Newcastle to the Netherlands on the overnight DFDS ferry to IJmuiden, Haarlem is only around 30 minutes away by public transport.
The old Bus 75 no longer operates, but Haarlem is still very easy to reach. The quickest route is usually via R-net bus 385 towards Haarlem, although services occasionally change.
Rather than memorising bus numbers, we recommend checking the latest journey using 9292, the Netherlands’ excellent public transport journey planner.
🚌 Arriving by Coach
International coach companies such as FlixBus now operate affordable services between Amsterdam Sloterdijk and cities throughout Europe.
If you’re arriving by FlixBus, simply take the train from Amsterdam Sloterdijk to Haarlem Centraal. It’s only one stop away and takes around 10 minutes, making this an excellent budget-friendly option for reaching Haarlem.
🚲 Cycling
Like the rest of the Netherlands, Haarlem is made for cycling.
With its excellent network of dedicated cycle paths, cycling is often the quickest and most enjoyable way to explore both the city and its surroundings. Within 20 minutes you can cycle to Bloemendaal Beach, while longer rides take you through the beautiful Zuid-Kennemerland National Park or the famous flower fields in spring.
Don’t have your own bike? No problem. Several bike rental shops are located close to Haarlem Centraal Station, offering everything from traditional Dutch bikes to electric bicycles. Our favourite is Green Bikes, super friendly service, convenient opening times and just steps away from Haarlem Station.
If you’re travelling by train, you can also bring your own bicycle outside peak hours (additional charges apply), making it easy to combine cycling and rail travel.
Another popular option is the OV-fiets (Dutch Railways bicycle). These bright blue bikes can be hired directly from many larger railway stations, including Haarlem Centraal, and are ideal if you’re making a day trip by train. See Nederlandse Spoorwegen
💡 Visit Haarlem Tip
If you’re planning to visit the flower fields or the beach, hiring a bike is one of the best ways to experience the Dutch countryside. Many of the prettiest places simply can’t be reached by car.
Combine with…
🌊 Bloemendaal Beach
🌷 Keukenhof & the Flower Fields
🚴 Travelling by Bike between Amsterdam and Haarlem
🚶 Exploring Haarlem on Foot
One of Haarlem’s greatest pleasures is simply wandering.
Unlike Amsterdam, where attractions are spread over a much larger area, Haarlem’s historic centre is wonderfully compact. The Grote Markt, Teylers Museum, Frans Hals Museum, the Golden Streets and many of the city’s best cafés are all within a comfortable walk of one another.
Leave yourself plenty of time to explore the narrow side streets and hidden hofjes (historic almshouses). Some of Haarlem’s biggest surprises are found away from the main squares.
🚶 Walking times from Haarlem Centraal Station
| 📍 Destination | 🚶 Walking time |
|---|---|
| Grote Markt | 8 minutes |
| Golden Streets | 8 minutes |
| Teylers Museum | 12 minutes |
| Frans Hals Museum | 15 minutes |
| Windmill De Adriaan | 15 minutes |
💡 Visit Haarlem Tip
If you’re visiting Haarlem as a day trip from Amsterdam, don’t rush back after dinner. Once many of the day visitors have gone home, the city becomes wonderfully peaceful. The beautifully illuminated streets, canals and Grote Markt make the evening one of the most atmospheric times to explore Haarlem.
🚗 Arriving by Car
Of course you can visit Haarlem by car, but we’ll be honest—it probably isn’t the easiest way to explore the city.
Parking in the historic centre isn’t cheap, and many residential streets require a residents’ parking permit (parkeervergunning). Unless you’re planning to explore the surrounding countryside, we generally recommend leaving the car once you’ve arrived and discovering Haarlem on foot or by bicycle.
If you do need to drive, several excellent parking garages are located around the edge of the city centre.
🅿️ Parking Garages
These are the parking garages we recommend most often:
| 🚗 Parking Garage | ❤️ Best for |
|---|---|
| De Appelaar | Grote Markt & historic city centre |
| Raaks | Shopping, museums & Patronaat |
| Houtplein | Vijfhoek & the Golden Streets |
| Stationsplein | Haarlem Centraal Station |
| De Kamp | Eastern side of the city centre |
For opening times and tarrifs, see the official Municipality of Haarlem site (in Dutch).
💡 Visit Haarlem Tip
De Appelaar is our favourite if you’re visiting Haarlem for the first time. It’s only a few minutes’ walk from the Grote Markt and puts you right in the heart of the historic centre.
🅿️ Park & Ride (P+R)
A great alternative is the free Park & Ride (P+R) at Haarlem Spaarnwoude, located behind IKEA.
Leave your car there and continue by train or bus. Haarlem Centraal is just one stop away by train, making this an inexpensive and stress-free way to visit the city centre. The car park is open 24 hours a day, although spaces are limited, so it’s best to arrive early on busy weekends.
💡 Visit Haarlem Tip
As with any public car park, don’t leave valuables visible in your vehicle.
🚖 Uber & Taxis
Uber operates throughout Haarlem and is widely available.
It’s particularly useful if you’re arriving late at night, travelling with heavy luggage or staying outside the historic centre.
Traditional taxis are also available outside Haarlem Centraal Station and at Schiphol Airport.
📱 Handy Travel Apps
Before you travel, we recommend downloading these free apps:
🚆 NS – Live train departures, platform numbers and tickets.
🚌 9292 – The Netherlands’ most comprehensive public transport journey planner.
🗺️ Google Maps – Excellent for walking and cycling routes throughout Haarlem.
Together these three apps make travelling around Haarlem incredibly easy.
❤️ Visit Haarlem Tip
Many visitors automatically book their hotel in Amsterdam and visit Haarlem as a day trip.
We actually recommend doing the opposite.
Haarlem is quieter, more relaxed, has fantastic restaurants, boutique hotels and a beautiful historic centre—and you’re still only 15 to 20 minutes from Amsterdam by train. If you’re planning to visit Keukenhof, the flower fields or the North Sea coast as well, Haarlem makes an even better base.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Haarlem walkable?
Absolutely. Haarlem is one of the most walkable cities in the Netherlands. The Grote Markt, Teylers Museum, Frans Hals Museum, the Golden Streets and many of Haarlem’s best cafés and restaurants are all within a comfortable walking distance of one another.
Do I need a car in Haarlem?
Not really. Most visitors find that walking, cycling and public transport are more convenient than driving. Parking in the historic centre can be expensive, while trains and buses connect Haarlem with Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport and many other Dutch cities.
How do I get from Amsterdam to Haarlem?
Frequent trains run between Amsterdam Centraal and Haarlem throughout the day and the journey usually takes 15 to 20 minutes. Trains generally depart from Platforms 1 or 2 at Amsterdam Centraal, although it’s always worth checking the departure boards before travelling.
How do I get from Schiphol Airport to Haarlem?
The quickest option is usually the train, taking around 20 minutes. However, if you’re staying in Haarlem’s historic city centre, R-net Bus 300 is often our favourite option because it stops at Centrum / Verwulft, just a short walk from the Grote Markt.
Is Bus 300 better than the train?
Sometimes, yes.
Although the journey is slightly longer, Bus 300 stops at several convenient locations throughout Haarlem, including Centrum / Verwulft, which is often much closer to hotels and apartments in the old city than Haarlem Centraal Station.
It’s one of our favourite local travel tips.
Can I cycle from Amsterdam to Haarlem?
Yes. Cycling between Amsterdam and Haarlem is very popular and covers approximately 20 kilometres. Many visitors cycle one way through the Dutch countryside before returning by train. Find out more about travelling to Haarlem by bike here.
Which is the best parking garage in Haarlem?
If you’re visiting Haarlem for the first time, we recommend De Appelaar. It’s only a few minutes’ walk from the Grote Markt and provides easy access to most of the city’s main attractions.
Is Haarlem a good base for visiting the Netherlands?
Definitely.
With excellent train connections to Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport, Leiden, The Hague and Rotterdam, Haarlem makes an ideal base for exploring the Netherlands. You’ll enjoy a more relaxed atmosphere while remaining close to many of the country’s biggest attractions.
❤️ Continue Exploring Haarlem
Planning your trip? You might also enjoy:
🚲 Travelling by Bike between Amsterdam and Haarlem