Flying from Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS): What you need to know
Johannesburg's main base, O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), is where many unforgettable trips begin. Explore the options for leaving from here when booking your flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS).
Around 11 hours 10 minutes is the usual time it takes for a direct Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol flight.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is located in Amsterdam. The city operates on the UTC+1 timezone and is one hour behind Johannesburg.
You can pick from 7 direct flights every week between O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). This is the most popular route, with KLM offering a 11:15pm departure from JNB to AMS.
To ensure you catch your flight from Johannesburg to AMS, leave enough time to check in and drop off your luggage. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
Delays at check-in and security are likely if you're heading away during high season, so allow some extra breathing room. The recommendation for peak times? Get there up to four hours ahead for international flights and at least two hours for domestic departures.
Airports in Johannesburg
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) makes it easy to travel directly to your destination. Nonstop flights from Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) leave from this terminal.
You'll find a direct flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol with KLM. This popular carrier operates services from JNB.
KLM is the most frequently booked airline offering flights from JNB to AMS.
KLM ranks as the top on-time carrier on this route, with 83.33% of services reaching their destination on schedule.
Think about adding a stopover to find cheap flights from Johannesburg to AMS. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). Break the trip up (and maybe score a better deal) by stopping at one of these popular options:
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Franz Josef Strauss Airport (MUC)
Zurich Airport (ZRH)
JNB is around 29 kilometres from central Johannesburg. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take you 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the travel time to be around 1 hour 10 minutes.
Booked an early flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and enjoy a few extra z's) by staying at one of these hotels near O.R. Tambo International Airport:
77.1% of flights taking off from O.R. Tambo International Airport make it to their destination on schedule.
Lanseria International Airport (HLA)
Break up your flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol with a stop at Cape Town International Airport (CPT). A main stopover between Lanseria International Airport and AMS, it's the perfect opportunity to enjoy some downtime before continuing your journey.
Depending on traffic conditions, you can drive to HLA from central Johannesburg in around 50 minutes. The airport is roughly 48 kilometres away.
Flying off with the first light? Think about checking in to one of these hotels near Lanseria International Airport the day before your Johannesburg to AMS flight:
About Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Consider staying in a hotel close to AMS if you have a late flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Settle into one of these accommodation options and call it a night faster:
Follow your own route with an Amsterdam Airport Schiphol rental car. Pick up your wheels from Green Motion, Keddy By Europcar or Alamo and venture far and wide through Amsterdam and beyond.
Booking your vehicle around four weeks in advance of your Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol flight can help you lock in a great deal.
Getting from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) to central Amsterdam
Central Amsterdam is roughly 13 kilometres from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Journey times by car hire or cab will vary depending on traffic conditions and time of day, so do a little research ahead of time.
It takes around 1 hour 5 minutes if you're travelling on public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
268 € is the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Return flights start from 487 €. These fares may change depending on availability.
Lock in cheap flights from Johannesburg to AMS by booking 11 months ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for landing a bargain.
Plan your trip for April. That's the best month for scoring a great bargain on Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol tickets. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across every month.
There's no need to check every day to find out if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll let you know the moment a lower fare pops up on plane tickets from Johannesburg to AMS.
Filters make it easier to find a bargain for your flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Choose the airlines, flight times and number of stops that work for you. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to zero in on the cheapest fare fast.
The best time to fly from Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
It's time to work out your travel dates for your flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS). June is the busiest month to visit Amsterdam. If you like things a bit more low-key, think about going in February.
The warmest month in Amsterdam is August, with temperatures ranging between 14ºC (57ºF) and 24ºC (75ºF). Book your Johannesburg to AMS plane ticket then if that's your definition of good weather.
For cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in February when temperatures are between 0ºC (32ºF) and 9ºC (48ºF).
More about Amsterdam
Start your Amsterdam trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. After booking your flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, browse our range of hotels including:
Your Amsterdam visit should come with a bit of sightseeing. Major attractions you can't miss include Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stichting Het Rijksmuseum.
Explore more of the Netherlands
Eindhoven is just one of the many places in the Netherlands waiting to be discovered once you've taken in the sights of Amsterdam. Around 113 kilometres away to the south-east, well-known attractions include Van Gogh - Roosegaarde Cycle Path, Taste Eindhoven Foodtours and Designhuis.
If you're eager to discover another major destination in the Netherlands, head for Groningen, roughly 161 kilometres north-east of Amsterdam. Noorderplantsoen, Noorderplantsoen Park and Martiniplaza are highlights.