Getting Around Arnhem
Arnhem is a compact city on the Nederrijn river in the eastern Netherlands, and its centre is easy to explore on foot. For anything beyond the centre, the city has a well-developed public transport network anchored by its main railway station, Arnhem Centraal. The following guide covers the practical options a visitor is most likely to use.
Rail: The Backbone of the Network
Arnhem Centraal is the city's main station and the hub for almost all onward travel, whether by train, bus or trolleybus. It sits on the city side of the tracks, with a second entrance, Sonsbeekzijde, on the northwest side reached by an elevated walkway across the platforms. The Sonsbeekzijde exit is closest to Park Sonsbeek and also has a smaller bus halt where international coaches, most notably FlixBus, stop. The city-side exit has escalators and steps down to street level, along with on-the-go shops that tend to be pricier than their counterparts outside the station. The city centre is only a few minutes' walk away.
From Arnhem Centraal you can reach much of the Netherlands and beyond by train:
- International services include the InterCity Express (ICE) on the Amsterdam–Frankfurt line, and the RE 19 stopping train to Düsseldorf, operated by Abellio. The Deutschlandticket is valid on the RE 19 between Arnhem and North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Intercity and Sprinter trains connect to destinations including 's-Hertogenbosch, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Schiphol, Ede-Wageningen, Wijchen and Zutphen.
- Stoptreinen run by Arriva and Breng serve Doetinchem, Winterswijk and Tiel.
Arnhem also has three smaller stations serving more residential and urban parts of the city: Arnhem Zuid on the south bank of the Rhine, Arnhem Presikhaaf near the shopping centre of the same name, and Arnhem Velperpoort near the Steenstraat and the Klarendal Fashion Quarter. These are useful if your accommodation or destination lies away from the centre.
Arnhem does not have a metro or tram system. The city's urban rail-like service is the trolleybus network described below.
Buses and Trolleybuses
Arnhem is the only city in the Netherlands that uses trolleybuses as a means of public transport. The bus station is next to the train station in the city centre and is incorporated into the station itself, on the city side. From here you can pick up a fast and frequent trolleybus network, as well as local buses and regional services to nearby cities such as Apeldoorn (buses 91 and 231) and Nijmegen (bus 331, which stops only at the main stopping places, or bus 33, which takes a longer route).
Timetables and prices for these services can be found through the local transport operator's information channels. As a visitor, the practical approach is to buy your ticket or day pass at the station or via the operator's app before boarding, and to check the route number carefully, since the fast and slow options to the same destination can differ significantly in journey time.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Several taxi services operate in Arnhem. The most common is Taxi Arnhem, which can be reached around the clock at +31 26 260 26 26. Taxis can be found waiting near Arnhem Centraal. It is also possible to arrange for a taxi to pick you up from Schiphol Airport or Eindhoven Airport if you prefer a door-to-door transfer.
One important practical point: taxi drivers in Arnhem do not use Uber, Lyft or a similar ride-hailing service, so you will need to phone a taxi to book one rather than relying on an app.
Walking and Cycling
The city centre is a few minutes on foot from Arnhem Centraal, and the compact core makes walking a genuinely practical way to get between the main sights, shops and restaurants. Beyond the centre, the city spreads into surrounding districts and suburbs, so walking alone may not cover everything you want to see.
Cycling is a strong option. There is a bike rental at the Stationsplein (Station square) next to the station exit, reachable at +31 26 4421782. The rate is €5.20 per day, or €21 per week for five days or longer. A deposit of €25 per bicycle is required, and payment by credit card is accepted. Bicycle insurance is available at a premium of €0.50 per day per bike; if you decline the insurance, the deposit is doubled. Arnhem also lies on the EuroVelo 15 and LF-3 long-distance cycling routes, and the adjacent German section is covered by the Rhine Rad Weg.
Driving and Car Rental
Arnhem is connected by several highways: the A12 running west–east between The Hague and the German border (linking to the German Autobahn A3), the A50 running north–south between Eindhoven and Zwolle, and the A325 between Arnhem and Nijmegen. If you want a car for day trips into the surrounding region, several rental companies operate in the city:
- Europcar, Boulevard Heuvelink 5, +31 26 445 3701
- Hertz, Bergstraat 2, +31 26 351 3222
- KAV, Stieltjesweg 17, +31 26 351 5819
Getting from the Airport into Arnhem
Arnhem is served by several airports, each with different trade-offs between convenience, cost and connections.
- Amsterdam-Schiphol (AMS): The largest airport in the Netherlands and the fifth largest in Europe, about 110 km northwest of Arnhem. The train takes roughly 75 minutes and costs around €20.60 one way. Schiphol is served by most major carriers and has a very large number of flights, including over a hundred per day to the United States alone. By car, take the A12 to Utrecht, then the A2 towards Amsterdam and the A9 to Schiphol; expect 60–75 minutes in regular traffic.
- Weeze (NRN): About 80 km southeast of Arnhem, just across the German border near the village of Weeze. Ryanair is the biggest airline serving it, and it is marketed as Düsseldorf-Weeze even though Düsseldorf itself is far away. It serves over 30 destinations across Europe, Morocco and Turkey. By public transport, take a bus to Weeze train station, a train to Kleve, then a bus to Emmerich or Nijmegen, and finally a train to Arnhem; this can take between 2.5 and 3 hours.
- Eindhoven (EIN): About 85 km southwest of Arnhem. From the airport, take bus 401 to Eindhoven Central Station, then a train to 's-Hertogenbosch (also known as Den Bosch), change there and take the train to Arnhem. This takes roughly 100 minutes by public transport. By car, take the A50 (Zwolle–Eindhoven), which skirts the west of the metropolitan area to the Eindhoven ring road (A58/A2); the airport exit is exit 29 on the A2.
- Düsseldorf (DUS): About one-third the size of Schiphol, with plenty of international connections including to the US, and served by all the major European airlines. It is generally cheaper, less congested and less hassle than Amsterdam. From Arnhem Centraal, take the ICE to Düsseldorf Hbf (around 70 minutes), then the S1 to the airport terminal. Alternatively, there is a direct hourly RE 19 service from Arnhem Centraal to Flughafen Düsseldorf, operated by VIAS rail, taking around 99 minutes. From the Flughafen Düsseldorf railway station, a regular Sky Train runs to the terminals, taking about 7 minutes and departing every 5–7 minutes. Travellers with a Deutschland Ticket can use the RE 19 for the full journey, including the Sky Train.
Practical Summary
For most visitors, the simplest strategy is to arrive at Arnhem Centraal, walk into the centre if that is where you are staying, and use the trolleybus and bus network from the station for anything further afield. Buy your tickets or passes through the local operator before boarding. If you need a taxi, phone one rather than expecting a ride-hailing app to work. For day trips, the train network is fast and well connected, and a rental bike from the Stationsplein is a cheap and pleasant way to explore the city and its riverside and parkland surroundings.