Getting to and around Utrecht
Here is a quick guide to help you navigate your journey to and in Utrecht!
If you arrive at Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam), you can take a direct train to Utrecht Central Station. From Eindhoven Airport, take a bus to Eindhoven Central Station and then a train to Utrecht Central. From Rotterdam The Hague Airport, take bus 33 to Rotterdam Central Station, then a direct train to Utrecht.
Once at Utrecht Central, you can catch a bus, tram, or taxi to your accommodation.
You can pay for trains and buses with any contactless payment method by tapping your card/phone against the payment terminals in the train station or in the bus. If your international bank card doesn’t work, buy a paper ticket from a ticket machine or use the NS app or website to purchase tickets and plan your journey.
If you prefer taking a taxi, they are available at taxi stands at both airports and at Utrecht Central Station. You can also use apps like Uber or Bolt, or pre-book a taxi online.
Public transportation
All public transportation in the Netherlands can be accessed and paid for directly by using a contactless payment method (card or smartphone). Accepted cards include Maestro, V Pay, Mastercard and Visa. You must 'check in' and 'check out' when you enter and leave public transportation by tapping your card against the white payment terminals. Alternatively, you can:
- Buy train or tram tickets from station ticket machines using a non-contactless card, or;
- Buy a bus ticket from the driver using a non-contactless card.
You can also buy train tickets online via the NS app or website.
Once you have settled in, it might be useful to order a personal OV-chipkaart. This card is linked to your name and can be connected to your bank account. It’s needed if you want to use certain discounts or if you are an EU student who has met the conditions for the Dutch student travel product. You can also use it to rent public bikes (OV-fiets).
Getting an OV-chipkaart and choosing a suitable subscription can be a complicated process, especially for international students. That is why Student Mobility created the Student Mobility Card, a custom-made public transport card which offers discounts to international students. The Student Mobility Card grants you a 15% discount during weekends and weekday off-peak hours on all trains of the Dutch Railways, or Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS). Not only will you receive a travel card but also a digital ISIC student ID. This 12 month membership will be your ticket to the biggest network of global student benefits in the world.
The main form of public transport for longer distances is the train, allowing you to travel across the country with ease. While traveling in the Netherlands, you’ll encounter three types of trains: Sprinter, Intercity, and Intercity Direct. Intercity trains, operated by NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen), are faster than Sprinters as they make fewer stops.
In Utrecht, buses connect most parts of the city, and a tram line runs between Utrecht Central Station and Utrecht Science Park. There is no metro network in Utrecht, but other cities like Amsterdam and Rotterdam have one.
With your personal OV-chipkaart you can also rent a public bike (OV fiets) at 300 locations in the Netherlands, including train stations and bus and metro stops. Once you return the bike, you are charged for the number of days it was rented.