Amsterdam Transportation

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The heart of Amsterdam is fairly small. The land is almost flat, a good geological feature that allows tourists to easily get to many destinations on foot. Getting around the city on foot can give you a good vibe for its exceptional character.

But when you begin to feel tired and your feet start to complain, a reliable and easy-to-use option is to take a public transportation. Read on to know more about transportation in the Dutch capital.

Bike

A nice way to explore Amsterdam is by renting a bike. There are about 747,300 people living in the city and they own approximately 600,000 bicycles. The capital is a perfect place for bikers. There are lanes for bikes on many major streets.

Tram

The 18-line tram is the main form of transport system in Amsterdam’s central area. There are also numerous bus routes in the city. Arriva and Connexxion operate regional buses, as well as some suburban buses. All stops have a complete map of the tram system and the neighboring area.

Metro

Amsterdam has a 4-line metro, including an underground section in the center, serving the neighborhoods of the South East. From Waterlooplein or Centraal Station, it will take you about 15-20 minutes to reach the Bijlmer (Pathe Arena cinema and IMAX, Heineken Music Hall, and Amsterdam Arena stadium).

Taxis

There are countless of taxis in the city, but they are expensive. Hailing cabs on the city street is often a positive experience for tourists. However, there are some cases where shady taxi drivers cheat passengers. Some will refuse if you have short trip, or else these opportunistic drivers will quote insanely high fares, even if all taxis in Amsterdam are metered.

Ferry

There are a number of free ferry rides across the IJ river, which runs every 7 minutes or so. Ferries leave from a dock on Centraal Station’s northern side. The nicest ride is the 15-minute service to the funky, booming, industrial neighborhood of NDSM Werf. The place has an excellent restaurant (Noorderlicht), a lovely cafe-bar (IJkantine), and an indoor skateboard park.

Trains

For trips outside the Amsterdam, trains are often the best option. Nederlandse Spoorwegen operates most trains in the country. We recommend that you get your ticket on ticket machines. It will cost you 50 cents more if you buy one at ticket counters. There are usually long lines at these counters at Central Station.