Amsterdam 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 of transport, going to all major points within the city center (except for the Oude Zijd and Red Light District, which have almost no public transport stops but are easily accessible by the stops on their northern or southern ends). Buses are good if you are going to more residential areas or spots outside of the center, though trams extend to farther distances as well. The Metro is rarely useful, as it only goes down the eastern side of the city and has few stops within the center.

Tickets and information can be found at GVB, on Stationsplein across from the eastern end of Centraal Station next to the VVV tourist office. (☎046 060 60 www.gvb.nl h Open M-F 7am-9pm, Sa-Su 10am-6pm.) The lines here can be long, but it's the easiest place to buy transport tickets. The OV-chipkaart has replaced the strippenkaart as the only type of ticket used on Amsterdam public transport. One-hour tickets can be purchased directly on trams and buses for €2.60. One- to seven-day tickets (valid also on night buses) cost €7-29. Otherwise, you can purchase an OV-chipkaart for €5 and add money to it as you need. (To add money with cash, you have to go to the GVB center; otherwise, there are many points throughout the city where you can add money with cards.) With the chipkaart, a ride on the bus, tram, or Metro costs €0.78 plus €0.10 per km. A ride pretty much anywhere in the city center will only cost you around €1. Most transport runs from about 5am-midnight; after that, there are 12 night bus lines that run once an hour (twice an hour on weekend nights). An ordinary chipkaart does not work on night buses; you have to buy special tickets, which cost €3.50 per ride or 12 for €25. Daily tickets (the one- to seven-day ones) do work on night buses without having to buy extra tickets. Make sure to both tap in and tap out with your chipkaart to avoid being charged for more than you actually travel.