Getting to Groningen

Travel by air

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

The Netherlands' main airport is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol: https://www.schiphol.nl/en/. There is a direct connection between Schiphol Airport railway station (at walking distance from customs / luggage claim areas) and Groningen railway station. Travel time is slighty more than 2 hours.

Groningen Airport Eelde

Groningen Airport Eelde: https://www.groningenairport.nl/en/ is situated around 15 kilometres from Groningen city center, and offers connections between selected European cities including Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, and London, as well as US destinations San Francisco and Boston. Groningen Airport Eelde is easy accessible by bus. Shuttle bus service 100 will operate between Groningen Airport Eelde and Groningen city center. This bus service connects departing and arriving flights from and to London, Copenhagen and Gdansk. Bus stops include: Groningen Central Station, Zuiderdiep and Grote Markt.

Eindhoven Airport

Eindhoven Airport: https://www.eindhovenairport.nl/en/ is situated in the south of the Netherlands, but only 3 hours by train to Groningen. Eindhoven Airport offers connections between cities in Austria, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Sweden, amongst others. Eindhoven Central railway station is connected to Eindhoven Airport by bus 400 and 401. A changeover at Utrecht Centrail railway station is required to get to Groningen.

Travel by train

Train Tickets

Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS): http://www.ns.nl/en/ is the principal passenger railway operator in the Netherlands. Train tickets may be obtained by purchasing a single-use chip card, sold at the ticket machines scattered throughout the railway stations or the NS-service desks. At Schiphol airport, the service desk and many blue and yellow ticket-vending machines are located in the main entrance hall. Ticket-vending machines may also be found in the luggage claim hall and at every entrance to the train terminal. You can purchase tickets from the machines only by Credit Card or Debit Card with the Maestro logo only. The vending machines do not take Credit Cards or American Debit Cards.

If you use a chip card, make sure to check in and out before and after the journey by holding your card against the NS card reader near the gates or at the free-standing posts.

You may also buy and print your ticket online beforehand. With this ticket, you can board board the train straight away.

Planning your journey in the Netherlands

You might find the website https://9292.nl/en very useful for planning your travels within the Netherlands. This journey planner combines all available public transportation - trains, buses, trams, metro, and boats - to provide an optimal route. It also informs you real-time about current delays and disruptions in public transportation.

Travel by car

Please note that car traffic in Groningen city center is restricted and street parking is very limited. Also be aware of the numerous cyclists who may not exactly follow traffic regulations. There are ten parking garages located near the center. More information on car parking in Groningen, including the street parking regulations, may be found here: here.

Taxis in Groningen:
Taxi Groningen: +31 (0)50 541 8452
Taxi Noord: +31 (0)50 549 4940
Taxi VTG: +31 (0)50 535 0088