Public transportation
in Amsterdam
Public transportation
in Amsterdam
How to get around
Public transportation Amsterdam
In a foreign city, the public transport offer can be a little confusing at first glance. This is also the case in Amsterdam. How long am I allowed to travel where and with what?
Here is some information that will help you find your way around.
WHAT YOU ABSOLUTELY
SHOULD KNOW!
- Amsterdam has a well-developed public transport network. This allows you to get from A to B in a time-saving, comfortable and, above all, dry way.
- There are three major providers. The "GVB" is the most important one for you: they operate metro, tram, ferries and buses in the city area. "Conexxion is a regional bus line and NS stands for Nederlandse Spoorwegen and is the train company in the Netherlands.
- Metros, trams, ferries, buses and trains generally run from 6.00 a.m. to 0.30 a.m. at night. At night, night buses, taxis or Uber drive.
- To find the best connection for you, it is best to use the 9292.nl website or app.
- Attention: Unofficial "taxis", especially at the airport, should not be used under any circumstances.
- Amsterdam is a cycling city: watch out for cycle paths! Don't get knocked down by a bike during your holiday!
Online Ticket
Options
PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN AMSTERDAM
AN OVERVIEW
More about
Tickets & Prices
You can buy single tickets, day tickets and multi-day tickets from the individual providers on site (only card, no cash). Or you can buy a combination ticket and then use the complete range of local and regional public transport services spontaneously and without having to think about it.
Please note: The combination tickets and offers tailored to tourists can be bought here before your arrival, but also at excellent vending machines, e.g. at railway stations and tourist information offices.
1. If you plan to stay in Amsterdam and explore the city, a GVB ticket is all you need. A single ticket, which allows you to travel for one hour and change buses as often as you like, costs EUR 3.20. A day ticket costs EUR 9. Single tickets are available directly on the tram or bus.
Nice to know: The Amsterdam residents use the OV Chip Card. This universal plastic card works like a prepaid mobile phone and is valid for five years. You too can buy it at all ticket machines, service points at stations and stops, visitor centres, but also in supermarkets and various kiosks. But it isn’t really the best way for you because: you cannot withdraw your credit at the end of your stay.
2. If you also want to explore the surrounding area, you should consider buying the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket. This covers all local transport, as the buses of the Conexxion company are included. This way you can get to the blooming tulip fields of Keukenhof, Muiderslot Castle and the museums in beautiful Haarlem. The day ticket is available for EUR 21.
Tip: One offer for air travellers is the Amsterdam Travel Ticket. It includes a ride from Schiphol Airport and a GVB day ticket and costs from €18.
Important: To start a journey, you have to hold your ticket or card up to a reader that you will find in the entrance area of the buses and trams or at the entrances of the stations. An acoustic signal sounds, and you are successfully checked in. At the end of your journey, repeat the process to check out.
MORE ABOUT THE
AMSTERDAM CITY CARD
The I Amsterdam City Card is an all-round carefree package. From EUR 65 to EUR 130, you can not only use all GVB transport, but also have access to 70 museums, experience special activities, rent a bike and take a canal tour. But only you can decide whether you will use the offer so intensively during your stay that the price is worth it.
MORE ABOUT THE
BUSES IN AMSTERDAM
GVB and Conexxion buses connect Amsterdam with its outlying areas and surrounding towns and villages. You rarely see buses in the city centre. Except after midnight, when night buses take over. If you have bought a day ticket, you’ll have to pay extra for the night bus.
The two largest bus stations are Amsterdam Centraal and Amsterdam Sloterdijk, from which FlixBus long-distance buses also depart.
If you arrive by plane, the bus line 397/N97 from platform B15-19 of the company Conexxion connects Schiphol with the city centre. The journey takes about 40 minutes. Tickets cost EUR 6.50, a return ticket is available for EUR 11.25. An alternative is bus 69 of the GVB from Schiphol Plaza to the terminus Sloterdijk. To get to the city centre, you have to change buses here.
If you have time to visit the surrounding area of Amsterdam, I recommend the open-air museum Zaanse Schans, only 40 minutes away. From Amsterdam Centraal you can take bus number 391 operated by Conexxion.
MORE ABOUT THE
FERRIES IN AMSTERDAM
Taking a ferry is part of the daily routine for commuters in Amsterdam. You’ll find the pier on the north side of Amsterdam Centraal station. The journey takes between 5 and 14 minutes and the transport is free!
Display boards show you the waiting time until the next ferry and its destination. On board, there are special areas for pedestrians and bicycles/mopeds. Just follow the signs. Let the sea breeze blow around your nose and experience Amsterdam from a literally different side. Formerly an industrial area, the north is now developed as a residential area. Restaurants, breweries, the NXT Museum, Adams Lookout, Straat Museum, Eye Film museum, a marina and an artists’ colony, among others, await you on the waterfront.
In addition, concerts and festivals are regularly held on the premises of the NDSM shipyard. Holiday atmosphere guaranteed. And even if the weather doesn’t cooperate, a trip on the IJ is simply part of a visit to Amsterdam! Ahoy!
MORE ABOUT
METRO, TRAM & TRAIN IN AMSTERDAM
Metro & Tram
You can travel all over Amsterdam by rail. Five metro lines run every 10-15 minutes and connect the entire city.
If you prefer to travel above ground, hop on one of the trams. I recommend taking tram number 2, an unofficial sightseeing tour that, for just EUR 3.20. it takes you past many of the city’s sights, such as Museum Plein, Dam Square and the Flower Market, and finally ends in front of the impressive Central Station, Amsterdam Centraal.
Train
Whether you want to go to the airport, to The Hague or spontaneously to the coast in summer: from Amsterdam Centraal you can really get anywhere. There are two different trains: the Sprinter is the faster version. You can check the departure times and tracks on the display boards in the station and in the service centre.
The journey from Amsterdam Centraal to Schiphol Airport takes only 20 minutes.
After just 33 minutes, you arrive in Zandvoort and look out over the sea.
If you don’t want to miss “The Girl with the Pearl Earring” in the Mauritsthuis, you can reach The Hague in just one hour.
The trains are very clean and travelling is comfortable. So be spontaneous!
MORE ABOUT THE
TAXIS IN AMSTERDAM
You can recognise official taxis in Amsterdam by their blue number plates and a sign with the words TAXXXI on the roof. The three X’s stand for Amsterdam, and you will encounter them everywhere during your stay. Especially when it’s late, taxis are a good alternative to the night bus. As they are not allowed to stop everywhere, it is best to find out where the taxi stands are located. For example, you can get in touch with the Amsterdam taxi office TCA +31 (020) 777 7777 and via their app. The prices are fixed and must be marked. You will also receive a receipt at the end of the journey.
Attention: Unofficial “taxis”, especially at the airport, should not be used under any circumstances!
Uber is also available in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, especially at night, you sometimes wait in vain for the car you ordered. The drivers are usually located in the outskirts of the city and if a more lucrative opportunity arises on the way to you, many a ride is cancelled.
MORE ABOUT
CYCLING IN AMSTERDAM
Even though it’s not considered public transport, I don’t want to end this article without recommending that you definitely rent a bike. Because a visit to Amsterdam is incomplete without experiencing the city from the saddle. Holland style!
It is the number one means of transport. You can rent a bike anywhere in the city for as little as EUR 16.50 for 24 hours. Ask at your accommodation, as many hotels offer this service. When cycling, watch out for pedestrians, usually tourists, who suddenly appear on the road.
When you park your bike, lock it well. Especially in the evening, one or the other bike tends to change hands. An alternative to chaining your bike to the nearest fence are bicycle parking garages. Your bike is safe there, and they typically free of charge for the first 24 hours.
On Foot?
Conclusion
If, after reading this article, you still have a question or two about how best to get around the city, you can find help at the Visitor Centre just opposite Amsterdam Centraal station. It is easily recognisable with its historic façade and the red and white “I amsterdam” lettering. They will be happy to advise you and give you lots of ideas for your time in Amsterdam.
Conclusion: My tip!
Even though there are plenty of public transport options, the best way to experience the centre of Amsterdam is on foot. Let yourself drift through the narrow streets. Walk along the canals, go on a journey of discovery and let the city surprise you!
Yours Boris
Text and image rights: © Céline Mülich, 2021 – 2023
With the support of Boris Hermann