As Amsterdam is Holland’s capital and biggest city, its infrastructure is well managed. The city is easily accessible by train, bus, plane or car. Compared to other capitals around in Europe, Amsterdam is very small. Compared to Amsterdam, London is eight times larger and over ten times more populous. This results in a city where you can easily move around by public transport (trams, subway, and buses), by bicycle, or even on foot. From Dam Square, 90% of the city’s highlights are within a 30-minute walk or a 15-minute bike ride. Thus, public transport in Amsterdam is easy and accessible.
If you need a day or several-day ticket for all trams, buses, ferries, or the metro, our advice is to get a day ticket. GetYourGuide.com offers all the official GVB tickets online.
Travelling within Amsterdam
As stated before, moving around in Amsterdam is as simple as distances are fairly short. Most highlights are within walking distance, at least when you consider a fifteen-minute walk walking distance. If you don’t feel like walking, there’s usually a tram stop within reach. Most trams leave on a regular base, so we recommend using trams for travelling in Amsterdam.
Public Transport
If you plan to stay in the city centre, the tram will be your first choice for transportation. Scattered across the city are many tram stops, with trams leaving regularly. If you have some more distance to cover, the subway and buses will come in handy as well. If you plan on using public transport a lot, keep in mind that:
- Buying a loose ticket every time you get on the bus or in the tram is expensive. The tram will cost you €2,90 regardless of the distance, and the bus up to €5,-. If you take a tram more than twice a day, there are cheaper options, such as buying a day ticket or an anonymous card that you can charge with a credit card.
- If you have internet on your smartphone, remember 9292. Bookmark the website or download the app to get real-time travel advice for public transport.
- Just like any other big city, public transport is popular with pickpockets. They have an extra eye out for unaware tourists.
Looking for GVB tickets right now? Get your GVB tickets for 1 – 7 days via getyourguide.com.
For more in-depth information on public transport, also visit our page on public transport in Amsterdam.
Taxi
In Amsterdam, you’ll find plenty of taxis on the streets. You can simply walk up to them at a taxi stand or wave to stop them. The regular taxi tariffs, however, are among the highest in Europe. If you can’t find a taxi, we can recommend using an on-demand taxi app such as Uber or BOLT, which is usually also a slightly cheaper.
Bike
Amsterdam is known for its many bikes. In fact, the city counts more bikes than residents. Cycling in Amsterdam can be a practical and enjoyable experience. But please be aware that the bicycle lanes are crowded, as they are the locals’ first mode of transport. For locals in their daily grind, inexperienced tourists on rental bikes can be a nuisance. So please take notice of the rules before getting on a bike. If you have never ridden a bike before, Amsterdam is just not the right city to learn. If you will rent a bike in Amsterdam, please take notice of the following tips and beware that you are vulnerable on a bike:
- Obey the rules and watch out for traffic that doesn’t
- Sign when turning left or right
- Look behind your back before you make a stop
- Make way for other traffic, don’t block the streets
- Use the bicycle lanes
- Cross the streets at designated areas
- Watch out for tram tracks, they’ll easily make you fall when crossed at an angle less than 90 degrees
- Use the lights on your bike as soon as the sun sets
- Don’t rush, you’re on holiday
- Do not DUI (drive under the influence), it’s illegal and dangerous, especially on a bike
- Lock your bike properly, even if it’s just for a few minutes
- Make sure you have a city map in case you get lost
Keep these tips in mind and drive safely! For more info, also see our bike rental Amsterdam page.
Getting to/from Amsterdam
Amsterdam is easy to reach by any means of transportation. Amsterdam has good connections with other major European cities and capitals. Are you looking for more detailed information on how to get from/to Amsterdam to a specific destination? Check out our following extensive guides;