Amsterdam Local Transportation

Public Transportation: GVB (☎020 460 6060; www.gvb.nl), on Stationspl. in front of Centraal Station. Open M-F 7am-9pm, Sa-Su 10am-6pm. Tram, metro, and bus lines radiate from Centraal Station. Trams are the most convenient for city-center travel; the metro leads into the area’s many outlying neighborhoods. Runs daily 6am-12:30am. Night buses traverse the complex city roads 12:30-7:30am; pick up a schedule and map at the GVB (€3 per trip). Two strips (€1.60) gets you to nearly every sight within the city center and includes unlimited transfers for 1hr.
Buses: Trains are much quicker, but the GVB will direct you to a bus stop for domestic destinations not included on a rail line. Muiderpoort (2 blocks east of Oosterpark) sends buses east; Marnixstation (at the corner of Marnixstr. and Kinkerstr.) west; and the Stationsplein head both north and south.
Bike Rental: Frédéric Rent a Bike, Brouwersgr. 78 (☎020 624 5509; www.frederic.nl), in the Scheepvaartbuurt. Bikes €10 per day, €40 per week. No deposit; leave passport or credit card. Lock and theft insurance included. Maps and advice are liberally dispensed by the attendants. Open daily 9am-6pm. Cash only. Bike City, Bloemgr. 68-70 (☎020 626 3721; www.bikecity.nl). €14.50 per 24hr. €45 per 5 days. Bring a government-issued ID. Deposit €25. Open daily 9am-6pm.

Bike The Dikes Or Row, Row, Row Your Boat. The best way to get around Amsterdam is by bike. Get a single-speed bike that has lights in the front and back—you can be ticketed for not using both at night. Get 2 locks—one for each wheel—and secure your bike to something sturdy. You’ll inevitably see people biking down the wrong side of a street, running red lights, and playing chicken with trucks, but that doesn’t mean you should join in the fun. Always bike perpendicular to tram rails (so your wheels don’t get caught in them) and, finally, use hand signals. A great option for those looking to relax and experience the city without dodging angry cyclists and cars is by canal boat. Try taking advantage of the “Hop on, Hop off” tours where you can ride and check out different museums at the stops all day.

Getting Around

Tram, bus, and Metro lines extend from Centraal Station, and more trams and buses cross those routes perpendicularly or circumnavigate the canal rings. Trams are generally the fastest and easiest modes ...more

Bike Rentals

Bike City, Bloemgracht 68-70 (☎ 062 637 21; www.bikecity.nl), Rents a few different kinds of bikes. Tram #13, 14, or 17 to Westermarkt. Cross Prinsengracht, make a right, and then a left onto Bloemgracht ...more