Are you ready to explore Amsterdam? Good news: there are lots of options to move around the city! You can ride a bike like a real Dutchie, or take a tram, metro, a bus or a ferry and stay dry. We'd like to help you get on your way! Here's everything you need to know about public transport in Amsterdam.
OV-chipcard or tickets
Throughout the Netherlands, the public transport chip card (OV-chipkaart) is used to travel by public transport. If you're in Amsterdam for a longer period of time and use public transport regularly, buying an OV-chipkaart is the best way to go. If you are here for a short period and rarely use public transport, then it is better to use tickets.
There are 2 types of chip cards: the personal OV-chipkaart and the anonymous OV-chipkaart. With the personal card, you are the only one who can use it, your balance can load automatically, and you can combine it with subscriptions. The anonymous OV-chipkaart does not contain your personal information, so it is possible to lend it to a friend. It’s very easy - you can buy it, load it, and use it right away. Both cards cost €7.50. You can apply for the personal OV-chipkaart online and you can buy the anonymous card at the station's ticket machines, the public transport companies' service desk, or Albert Heijn, Primera, AKO, Readshop or Bruna.
If you prefer to use tickets, you can buy them on a bus or a tram using your debit or credit card, but it is cheaper to use the I amsterdam City Card or GVB day passes, for example.
On route
Before you hit the road, it is helpful to plan your route on 9292. Here you can plan your route from A to B and find all information about prices, transfer times, and strikes or delays.
Tram Using the tram is not only an excellent way to reach the whole city but is also the perfect way to see some of the city highlights. Did you know that tramline 2 was named one of the world's best tramlines by National Geographic? During this ride you'll see Museumplein, Leidseplein, The Royal Palace, Spui and cross several canals.
Metro Amsterdam has 5 metro lines: the Eastline to Gaasperplas and Gein (lines 53 and 54), the Ringlijn (lines 50 and 51), and the North/Southline (line 52). It's a great solution when you want to travel a little further. For example, to enjoy a sunny day at Gaasperplas.
Bus With at least 33 bus lines, the bus takes you everywhere. It's easy to use when you have to get outside of Amsterdam, like Schiphol or Haarlem.
Ferry The ferry takes you quickly to Amsterdam North. Even better: the ferry is free for both pedestrians and cyclists! It departs every 15 minutes from the Central Station.
How do you pay for public transport in Amsterdam? Public transport in Amsterdam is cashless.Simply check in with your Debit or Credit Card, or save money on travel with the I amsterdam City Card, which offers unlimited use of Amsterdam's public transport system for 24, 48 or 72 hours.
The cheapest way to travel around Amsterdam is walking but if you need to get somewhere fast, the use of an OV chip card is the answer. Being used on trams, buses and metros, the OV chip card (OV-chipkaart) is the easiest way to pay for all your travel about town.
Getting around Amsterdam is easy when you know how. You can hop on a tram, bus, or metro train, all operated by the city's primary travel operator, Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf (GVB). Or you can explore the city like the locals: on a bicycle.
OVpay: use your smartphone, debit card, or wearable to pay for public transport. For visitors to the Netherlands, OVpay is the best way to check in and out when travelling by public transport. You only need your debit or credit card to easily travel throughout the country by train, tram, bus or metro.
This one is pretty simple to answer – the Dutch do not have a tipping culture as strongly-ingrained as much of the English-speaking world. In a bar, restaurant, or private boat tour in Amsterdam, provided the service was good, a tip of around 10% is appreciated but not automatically expected.
You can travel easily with public transport using your contactless debit card, credit card, mobile phone or smartwatch. Would you like to know how OVpay works and how you travel with it? Or do you have a different question about checking in and checking out?
By Train. The train from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal Station is the fastest and cheapest way to the city center. The train runs 24 hours a day, with departures scheduled for every 5-10 minutes between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 1 a.m. (they depart every hour during other times).
Despite being home to a total of 3.1 million residents, the research discovered the city centre is eminently walkable, with plenty to see along the way. Amsterdam is perhaps best known for its proliferation of bicycles, but still came in 10th spot on the list, thanks to its easily-navigable canal walkways.
Consider Uber as an alternative to taxis when getting around Amsterdam. With Uber, you can trade flagging down cabs for requesting rides on demand, no matter the time of day. Request a ride from an airport to a hotel, head to a restaurant, or visit another place.
What is the best way to get around Amsterdam? The chances are, most people would be quick to answer “bicycle.” And while that's definitely not wrong, you may not know that there is just as good a case to be made for walking – yes walking – as the best way to see Amsterdam.
Where to buy tickets? The 1-hour ticket and 24-hour ticket are available in the tram and bus, or from Ticket Vending Machines at all metro stations. All other travel cards - like multi-day tickets, the child ticket, and OV-chipkaart - can only be purchased at: GVB Service Points
The Netherlands is a very modern country. You can pay with cash or a debit card, and often with your phone via NFC, Apple Pay, or Google Wallet. Not to mention the latest phenomenon, 'Tikkie', which is also being used more and more.
The most basic option is to use their metro service, which can get you around the city quickly and easily with stations at or around major locations. Alternatively, if you want to visit some of the less notable areas of Amsterdam, they also have buses, trams, and ferries you can use.
You can pay with cash or a debit card, and often with your phone via NFC (contactless payments), Apple Pay, or Google Wallet. But not everywhere! In the Netherlands, credit cards are not the most commonly used method for payments. In daily life, the Dutch hardly use them.
There are two main ways to pay while travelling by train in the Netherlands. You can either buy tickets online or from a ticket machine, or you can use your OV-chipkaart, or smartphone using OVPay. You can look up the NS Journey Planner to check timetables and plan your route.
You can now check in and check out of public transport the way you prefer with your contactless debit card, credit card or mobile phone (including Apple Pay or Google Wallet). This way, you will not need an anonymous or personal OV chip card.
Address: Suite 492 62479 Champlin Loop, South Catrice, MS 57271
Phone: +9663362133320
Job: District Sales Analyst
Hobby: Digital arts, Dance, Ghost hunting, Worldbuilding, Kayaking, Table tennis, 3D printing
Introduction: My name is Kieth Sipes, I am a zany, rich, courageous, powerful, faithful, jolly, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
