Getting around · Amsterdam · Netherlands
Getting around Amsterdam
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Elekes Andor, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Central Amsterdam is compact: Centraal Station to Museumplein is about 30 minutes on foot. GVB trams, Metro, buses and free ferries cover the rest, and you can tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone. Cycling is the local way to get around, though busy bike lanes take some confidence. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Tram
- Airports
- AMS
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- GVB day tickets
Ways to get around
Tram
Trams are the main way around the centre, with lines from Centraal Station to Dam, Leidseplein, Museumplein and De Pijp. Tap your card on the reader when boarding and again when leaving.
Always check out when leaving; if you forget, you are charged a higher fare.
Metro
The North–South line (52) runs underground from Noord through Centraal Station and De Pijp to Zuid, much faster than the tram on those routes.
Cycling
Rental bikes are easy to find, and red bike lanes reach every part of the flat city, though traffic in the centre is intense.
Use hand signals, lock the bike to a fixed rack, and cross tram tracks at an angle so your wheel does not catch.
Walking
Walking is the best way to see the canal ring and the Jordaan; distances are short, but look out for bikes at every crossing.
Ferry
Free GVB ferries leave from behind Centraal Station for Buiksloterweg (for the A'DAM Tower and the EYE) and for NDSM, running frequently.
Train
NS trains from Centraal Station reach Schiphol, Haarlem, Utrecht, Zaandijk and other day-trip towns.
Taxi
Taxis are expensive; licensed taxis have blue number plates and a meter.
Use official ranks or apps rather than drivers touting near nightlife areas.
Tickets and passes
GVB day tickets
Unlimited travel on GVB trams, buses, Metro and night buses for one to seven days.
Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket
Covers GVB transport plus regional buses and the train to and from Schiphol for one to three days, useful for Zaanse Schans or Volendam trips.
I amsterdam City Card
Free entry to many museums, a canal cruise and unlimited GVB transport for one to five days; check which museums are included and still need a reservation.
From the airport
Direct NS trains run from the station beneath Schiphol's terminal to Amsterdam Centraal in about 15–20 minutes, several times an hour and hourly through the night. Bus 397 runs to Museumplein and Leidseplein, and taxis take about 25–30 minutes to the centre.
Do you need a car?
No. The centre is designed for bikes, trams and walking, and parking is very expensive. A car only helps for exploring the countryside beyond the day trips.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Haarlem | About 15 minutes by train | NS train from Centraal Station |
| Zaanse Schans | About 20 minutes by train plus a short walk | NS train to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans |
| Keukenhof | About 1 hour by bus | Seasonal Keukenhof express bus from Schiphol or Leiden |
| Volendam and Marken | About 30 minutes by bus | Bus from Centraal Station, with a seasonal ferry between the two villages |
| Utrecht | About 30 minutes by train | NS train from Centraal Station |
| Delft | About 1 hour by train | NS train from Centraal Station |
| Rotterdam | About 40 minutes by high-speed train | Intercity Direct from Centraal Station |
| The Hague | About 50 minutes by train | NS Intercity from Centraal Station |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Amsterdam?
No. The centre is designed for bikes, trams and walking, and parking is very expensive. A car only helps for exploring the countryside beyond the day trips.
+How do you get from the airport to Amsterdam?
Direct NS trains run from the station beneath Schiphol's terminal to Amsterdam Centraal in about 15–20 minutes, several times an hour and hourly through the night. Bus 397 runs to Museumplein and Leidseplein, and taxis take about 25–30 minutes to the centre.
+What is the best way to get around Amsterdam?
Tram: Trams are the main way around the centre, with lines from Centraal Station to Dam, Leidseplein, Museumplein and De Pijp. Tap your card on the reader when boarding and again when leaving.