Getting There

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GETTING THERE

Amsterdam city centre is not easily accessible by car. Parking space is scarce and if you are lucky enough to find a space, parking is really expensive. A better way of moving about in the city centre is by public transport. You can also walk or use a bike because nowhere is very far apart in Amsterdam. This page contains a brief explanation of the public transport network in Amsterdam.

By tram
If you have to go anywhere in the city centre, the tram is the most convenient means of transport. Amsterdam has seventeen tram lines, most of which run from the Central Station to the neighborhoods in the east, south and west. The trams halt at many stops in the centre during this journey. The other tram lines primarily serve as transport between the neighbourhoods.

Note that you are expected to board the tram at the back. The conductor also travels on a number of tram lines.
Circle tram line 20
The circle tram line 20 is designed specifically for tourists and day trippers. It runs daily every ten minutes from 9.00 to 19.00. The last tram leaves at 18.00 from the Central Station. It is a hop-on-hop-off tram line running through Amsterdam city centre in both directions past most of the attractions and hotels. With the circle tram 20 it is easy to move from one attraction to another without having to change lines.

By bus
There are also thirty bus lines in the city. The bus is most suitable for travelling from the Central Station to neighbourhoods which are further from the city centre and to Amsterdam North. You board the bus at the front and show the driver your ticket. If you do not yet have a valid ticket, you can buy one from him.
Tickets for city and regional travel are always cheaper when bought in advance!

Night lines
Buses also run at night on nine different routes in the city, hourly during the week and half-hourly at the weekend. The night buses to and from the Zuidoost neighbourhood run half-hourly throughout the week. In addition to an ordinary strip ticket, you must also buy a supplement ticket for two guilders before travelling on the night bus.
All local night buses run from or via the Central Station. This is the central changing point. These take account of connections with other night lines of the GVB, night trains run by the NS (Dutch railways) and (night) regional transport. If possible the buses wait for buses on another night line arriving slightly later. Line 71 crosses a number of other night lines and is therefore a good one to use for changing from one line to another.

By metro
There are also four metro and fast tram lines in Amsterdam. The metro lines connect the Central Station quickly to the Zuidoost neighbourhood. The fast tram runs from the Central Station, via Buitenveldert to Amstelveen. The ring line runs from Amsterdam Sloterdijk station to Gein via the Zuid/WTC station.

Tickets
The tram or bus driver or the conductor sells 2, 3 and 8-strip tickets. You can buy cheaper (15) strip tickets at GVB sales points, supermarkets, tabacco or newspaper shops, and the Amsterdam tourist office. You can also use your hour network ticket or strip ticket in the metro or fast tram. If you do not have a ticket, you can buy one from the machine in the ticket hall of the metro stations.
At the GVB office opposite the Central Station and at the Amsterdam tourist office (VVV) You can also buy tickets there which are valid for several days, up to a maximum of nine days. A ticket for two days costs 15 guilders, for three days 19 guilders, and each extra day costs four guilders more. The ticket is valid once you have had it stamped by the conductor.

Public transport from Park & Ride facilities
On the Park & Ride page you will find the public transport options from the place where you have parked your car to the centre of Amsterdam.


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