Destination guides > Europe > Netherlands > North Holland (Noord-Holland) > Amsterdam > Local transport

Amsterdam

Local transport

Amsterdam's transport network consists of trams, trains, buses and a metro, although it is a small city and you should be able to walk everywhere. If you are staying further from the centre (near Vondelpark, for instance) then if may be a good idea to buy a travel pass such as a strippenkaart or dagkaart.

 

Although it is relatively easy to travel around Amsterdam without a ticket, you risk an on the spot fine if you get caught by one of the uniformed ticket inspectors. Playing the dumb tourist doesn't work with these guys - they've heard every story about not knowing the system and are unlikely to let you off. The fine is around €45.

TRAMS

Trams are the most useful form of transport in Amsterdam with the majority of the 17 tram routes running past Centraal Station. The Circle Tram (line 20) is the most useful line, operating a circular route taking in Centraal Station and many of Amsterdam's major attractions.

METRO & SNELTRAM

Amsterdam's metro system is mainly used to get to the suburbs and is of limited use to most travellers. However the metro is the best way to get between Centraal and Amstel stations.

 

The metro consists of both regular metro trains (on lines 53 and 54) and the sneltram (operating on lines 50 and 51). The sneltram is like an express tram which runs on a dedicated track before entering the metro system and stopping at metro stations.

 

All metro lines run on the same track between Centraal and Amstel Stations. So you can hop on any train if you need to get to Amstel Station.

 

A new north-south metro line connecting Buikslotermeerplein in north Amsterdam with Centraal Station and Amsterdam Zuid/WTC (shown in blue on the map below) is under construction and should be completed by 2017.

FERRY

Amsterdam has a couple of ferry lines connecting the city centre with the suburbs in North Amsterdam. There is a free ferry across the IJ which departs from just behind Centraal Station - this ferry runs around every ten minutes and is a good free alternative to the more expensive and touristy canal cruises.

BUS

Buses are mainly used to get to suburbs that aren't served by trams or the metro. These are especially useful in North Amsterdam. Local buses are operated by GVB (Gemeentevervoerbedrijf Amsterdam) which also runs the city's tram, metro and ferry services. If you're heading to surrounding towns and cities in the Randstad region you might use the regional buses operated by Connexxion.

TRAIN

There are several suburban and urban train stations that can be used with your day ticket or strippenkaart. The most useful stations are Amsterdam Zuid/WTC, RAI and Amstel (although Amstel station is more frequently served by the metro).

FARES & TICKETS

There are a number of ticket options available, which include the strippenkaart and OV-chipkaart as well as day tickets. The best option for you depends a lot on how long you intend staying in Amsterdam and how far you will be staying from the centre. Because many of the hostels are conveniently located you may find that you don't even need to take public transport during your stay.

OV-chipkaart

The OV-chipkaart is a national travel ticket system similar to London's Oyster card.

 

There are several options for buying the OV-chipkaart, such as buying an OV-chipkaart and adding up to €30 of credit to calculate the fare based on the distance you travel. Alternatively you can also buy disposable OV-chipkaarts that are preloaded with just the credit for a single journey.

 

The anonymous OV-chipkaart costs €7.50 (€3 during the introduction period) plus the value of any added credit. There is also a personalised version of the card, which is aimed mostly at Dutch residents who are eligible for discounted travel. You can use one of these OV-chipkaarten to pay for travel at a base rate of 75c plus 10c per km.

 

However for most visitors to Amsterdam, a disposable OV-chipkaart is an easier option and often works out cheaper as you avoid the added expense of buying the card.

 

Disposable OV-chipkaarten are available for the following fares:

 

Disposable OV-chipkaarten fares

Travel product	Fare
GVB 1-hour ticket	€2.60
GVB 2 x 1-hour ticket	€5
GVB 24-hour ticket	€7
GVB 48-hour ticket	€11.50
GVB 72-hour ticket	€15
GVB 96-hour ticket	€18
1 x night bus ticket	€3.50
12 x night bus ticket	€25

 

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