Guide to Amsterdam Public Transport
How to get around Amsterdam using public transport
Amsterdam is a very compact city that most visitors will find a joy to get around on foot, by canal or by bike. However, there are plenty of times when public transport will get you to places quicker and with less effort. Amsterdam is also blessed to have an underground (metro), buses, trains and the famous trams available to help make your journey as easy as possible.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to companies and services we trust. If you purchase something after clicking any link, then we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you (policy page).
Public Transport Tickets in Amsterdam
Amsterdam has a very simple ticket system for public transport. Contactless payment was only recently introduced because of the pandemic and GVB is now a cashless system, additionally a mobile app payment method started being introduced in 2021, the aim being for it to work across the whole network. You can download the GVB app for iphone and android. There are also other choices of tickets that are worth understanding especially for the visitor:
GVB 1-HOUR, DAY AND MULTI-DAY PASS FOR AMSTERDAM
GVB who run the public transport service in Amsterdam, have tickets that cover the use of all the public transport including buses, trams and metro.
These passes give you an unlimited amount of travel across the whole public transport network for a set time period. The tickets are not based on journey length but rather on time only.
For example, you can buy a one-hour ticket for a tram and so long as your journey is not over an hour, you can change multiple times to get to your destination.
OV-CHIPKAART IN AMSTERDAM
This is in essence a contactless form of payment card. Just like an Oyster card in London, it is pre-loaded with money and then money is taken off for each journey you make. You don’t have to worry about card clash, which often occurs in London when accidentally using different cards for entry and exit, as you have only one payment method.
The OV-chipkaart can have other products loaded onto it, so if you are a regular traveller you can load season tickets, monthly passes or discount products.
For the visitor to Amsterdam, there is the Anonymous OV-Chipkaart. The anonymous OV-chipkaart works in the same way as the OV-chipkaart, but you have to pay a fee to buy it. This is currently €7.50. You then have to add money to the card itself before you can start travelling.
Visit our tickets page for full details of the Amsterdam Public Transport Tickets
There is a third option:
I AMSTERDAM CITY CARD
This is the tourist pass that also includes free or heavily discounted entry to over 70 attractions, so is understandably popular. From an Amsterdam public transport perspective, it gives you unlimited travel in Amsterdam on the GVB public transport network for the duration of the pass you choose – buses, trams and the metro are all included. Plus a canal cruise is included too.
The card comes in 24-hr, 48-hr, 72-hr, 96-hr and 120-hr versions so should cover most of your needs for a short break in Amsterdam. Omissions of note include Anne Frank House and no transfer to/from Schiphol Airport.
Learn more and buy your I Amsterdam City Card.
Amsterdam Trams, Public Transport
The Amsterdam trams are run by GVB, the same company responsible for the metro and buses in Amsterdam. The most common form of payment used is the OV-chipkaart which is a plastic wallet style chip card that you add funds onto. You can also use the GVB Travel tickets which gives you a set length of time per ticket.
Amsterdam trams are one of the quickest and most enjoyable ways to travel through the city. The trams have a distinctive blue and white colour and you’ll hear their bells ringing out throughout the day. There are currently 15 tram lines weaving their way across the city.
Amsterdam line 2 is a world-famous tram line and is known as one of the top 10 tram rides in the world.
Learn more about Using Amsterdam Trams on our specialist page.
Metro in Amsterdam
The Amsterdam metro makes up a major part of the public transport network, including the trams, buses and ferries. There are five lines defined by numbers. 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54. There are 54 stations in all, although 19 are part of the light rail so strictly speaking there are only 39 metro stations.
Each line has it’s own colour so it is easy to navigate using the map. The Amsterdam Metro is modern and clean and often very quiet. This is due to all the other ways available to get around the city. You will find it an enjoyable and quick ride outside of rush hours and as it is run by GVB it has the same tickets structure too.
Trains in Amsterdam
Amsterdam Centraal station is the main rail hub of Amsterdam. If you are coming into Amsterdam from Schiphol Airport, it is quite likely that you will use the rail connection to Centraal Station. If you are using the Eurostar this now terminates at Centraal Station.
Within Holland, you can use the trains from Amsterdam Centraal Station to visit Rotterdam, Utrecht, Schagen, Arnhem, The Hague, Maastricht, Delft and Leiden among others. Internationally, Amsterdam Centraal Station can get you to London, Paris, Eindhoven, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Brussels, Antwerp and more.
Learn all about Amsterdam Trains.
Much like trains in the rest of the world, you can just turn up at the station, buy your ticket and get on the next train. It is possible to book tickets in advance and recommended for the best fares available.
For a full timetable of trains from Amsterdam visit the NS website.
Buses in Amsterdam
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.
In the centre of Amsterdam, you are more likely to use a tram, but there are popular bus routes across the city and the popular night bus for those trying to get home or back to their hotel after a late night out.
Ferries in Amsterdam
The Amsterdam ferries are run by GVB as part of the public transport network of Amsterdam. They have the same blue and white paint work you’ll see on the trams in the city centre.
The most popular ferry crossing is from the rear of Amsterdam Centraal where you’ll be able to cross the water to Amsterdam Noord. This service is free for foot passengers, bikes and mopeds and takes you to some great Amsterdam attractions such as A’dam Lookout, Eye FilmMuseum and pretty villages nearby.
You can use the ferry to get further afield too such NDSM Wharf which hosts many cultural events and festivals and is a creative hub of Amsterdam.
