Amsterdam buses
Guide to using the Amsterdam buses to explore the city
Amsterdam buses are run by three main bus companies. GVB which also runs the trams and metro service in Amsterdam, Connexxion which is part of Transdev Netherlands and EBS.
Many of the routes around Amsterdam originate from Centraal Station and if you are using GVB buses you will be able to use the day tickets that give you access to all of GVB’s public transport service. These range from one-day to 7-days in length, so you can cover all your needs with one ticket.
As a lot of visitors choose to explore Amsterdam on foot, by bike or using the canals, the buses may not be high on the list for getting around Amsterdam. There are though options to buy a ticket from the driver, so for those journey’s which are a little further or when you’ve already spent all day on your feet, a bus ride can be a welcome break.
Learn about all the public transport ticket options in Amsterdam with our specialist page.
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Amsterdam Region Travel ticket for Amsterdam buses
The Amsterdam Region Travel ticket so you can explore further outside the city too. These are valid on GVB, EBS and Connexxion services. If you have a public transport chip card (OV-chipkaart) you can also save money on GVB services as your only charged the distance you travel.
We have more details about ticket choices on our dedicated Amsterdam public transport tickets page.
GVB Tickets
€3.40 for an hour ticket with unlimited rides or buy the 24-hour ticket from the driver for €9.
Amsterdam tram and bus network 2024
In 2018 there were changes to the tram and bus network in Amsterdam aimed at improving the public transport experience. This involved changing some of the routes, replacing services and making the whole service more integrated.
You can explore the 2024 GVB bus network using the GVB interactive map. You can also use the 9292 website or app to help plan your journey and check fares.
Can you buy tickets on the bus in Amsterdam
You can buy the GVB 1-hour and 24-hr tickets on the bus from the driver but you cannot use cash on GVB buses. A debit/credit card is the only way to buy a ticket on the bus itself. You can now also use a contactless card/phone to pay for your one-off journey’s. The one-hour ticket allows you to make multiple journey’s in that timescale across the GVB network, except the night bus. The 24-hr ticket will include the night bus.
To buy the popular GVB Day tickets you can either buy them online before your visit or purchase them at a variety of outlets in Amsterdam including hotels, GVB ticket vending machines, campsites, Tours and Tickets and AKO bookstores.
If you have an OV-chipkaart you can add these tickets onto your card for the duration of your stay.
How do you pay for buses in Amsterdam
You can pay the driver for your ticket but be aware that cash is not accepted on GVB buses or the night bus. You can pay for your 1-hr ticket or 24-hr ticket with a debit/contactless card.
GVB offers other ticket options that must be purchased in advance. These are the 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour and 96-hour paper tickets that give you access to all of GVB’s public transport network for the set amount of time on the ticket.
You just touch these tickets to the card reader upon entry and exit for each transport you use. You can have unlimited rides through the ticket’s validity.
An OV-Chipkaart is another option for buying tickets, but as a visitor, you would need to look at the anonymous version, for which you have to pay an upfront fee. If you intend to travel on GVB buses outside Amsterdam, this might be worth considering and you can find out more on our Amsterdam public transport tickets page. If you intend to just stay in Amsterdam, then the daily tickets provided by GVB above are good value and very practical.
There are two other options for using the buses as part of your travel around Amsterdam. The Iamsterdam city card gives you unlimited access to public transport as well as allowing you to visit many attractions for free or at a discount. If you intend to visit lots of attractions during your stay this card can save you a lot of money.
Another option is the Amsterdam Travel ticket. This includes transfer from Schiphol Airport using bus or train. You gain unlimited travel on NS Railway, can use the Amsterdam Airport Express bus (397) and Niteliner N97 from Connexxion. You then also get unlimited travel on all GVB’s public transport during your day in Amsterdam. These tickets come in 1, 2 and 3-day varieties.
How do you take the bus in Amsterdam
When catching a bus in Amsterdam, have your card ready and enter at the front. You’ll see the OV-chipkaart reader by the door, just present your card to this until it beeps and flashes green. That’s it, you’ve started your journey and checked in. Find a seat, being sure to avoid the special seats reserved for those who need them, unless of course you do.
When you are ready to get off, you leave at the rear of the bus. Remember though you must now check out by placing your card to the reader once again and waiting for the beep.
In the centre of Amsterdam, you are more likely to use a tram but there are popular bus routes across the city as well as the well used night bus for those trying to get home or back to their hotel after a late night out. Use this map to explore the Amsterdam bus routes.
How much are buses in Amsterdam
€3.40 for an hour ticket with unlimited rides or buy the 24-hour ticket from the driver for €9.
Is Amsterdam public transport 24-hrs
GVB which runs the public transport network in Amsterdam operates services 24-hrs a day. There is a network of night buses which once the standard daytime services have stopped at around 12.30 am, take over to cover the rest of the night.
Amsterdam Night bus
In the small hours of the night, Amsterdam is served by a network of night buses that cover the whole of the city. The tickets for the Amsterdam night buses are included within the GVB day tickets but you can also buy a GVB Night bus 1 ride ticket which gives you unlimited travel on GVB night buses for 1.5hrs. This ticket costs €5.40.
Although unlikely of much use for the short break visitor to Amsterdam, there is also a GVB Night bus 12 rides ticket which saves you considerably on buying tickets individually.
These buses go once an hour and start and end at Centraal Station, some going through Leidseplein or Rembrandtplein.
Coaches from Amsterdam
If you are looking to go further from Amsterdam using a bus, then Flixbus offer a multitude of routes from Amsterdam to nearby major cities and those much further afield.
These routes include Amsterdam to The Hague, Amsterdam to Rotterdam, Amsterdam to London, Amsterdam to Paris and so on.
