Transportation in Amsterdam
A semi-circle of four major canals ring Amsterdam’s centre, with the Dam square at its heart. Explore it on foot or by bike, hopping on a tram for longer journeys. The central canal belt is Amsterdam’s picture-perfect hub, with gabled houses and bridges lit at night. Within this area, Centraal Station and Dam mark the northern edge of the city centre for most visitors. East of the Dam is the notorious red-light district. East, west and north of Centraal Station, the Waterfront of the old harbour, along the IJ channel, is steadily opening up to development.On the southern side of the canal belt, Leidseplein is a tourist hub, with the Vondelpark and Museumplein nearby. East, De Pijp is a vibrant mixed neighbourhood teeming with restaurants and markets. West, the hip Jordaan area starts just beyond the Prinsengracht, the outermost major canal.
Read more about transport from and to the airport
Tram
Generally quicker than the bus, the extensive tram network is the ideal way of getting around Amsterdam, especially in the city centre. Many trams travel close to points of interest and so are good for sightseeing. Tickets are sold on board or from newsagents and stations.
Foot
Amsterdam is a great city for walking around. The Centrum district is remarkably compact and easy to get around. Beyond the old centre, in the Oost, Zuid and Noord districts, and in the suburbs, it's better to use public transport as points of interest are spread over a large area.
Bus
Amsterdam's buses reach many places that are not served by trams - only buses currently serve Amsterdam North. In most cases, however, the tram is a better choice for getting around the city centre. A few bus services operate through the night.
Taxi
Amsterdam's taxis are easily recognisable by their blue licence plates and rooftop signs. Catch them at railway stations and taxi ranks dotted around the city or outside major hotels. Hail one from the street if the sign is lit to show that it's available for hire. Among the best taxi companies is Taxi Centrale Amsterdam
Boat
Amsterdam has plenty of water so getting around by boat is a good touring option. In addition to an extensive range of canal cruises, there are scheduled services like the Canal Bus, the Hop on hop off Museum Line and the VIP Watertaxi Amsterdam.
Metro
Amsterdam's metro network is currently designed to serve the suburbs and is not very useful for getting around the city centre, with the exception of Centraal Station, Nieuwmarkt and Waterlooplein. The north-south Metro line, due to open in 2015, should change this.
Rent your car
Amsterdam’s traffic flows along the right side of the canals. Watch out for cyclists and strict parking regulations; it costs €150 to retrieve a towed car. The best policy is to look for roadside parking signs, which provide real-time numbers of spaces, and always display a pre-paid parking ticket.
Transportation Tips
Use the plastic electronic OV-chipkaart , which comes in several versions, and the fare on public transport is automatically deducted. Until the OV-chipkaart system is fully operational, the old paper strippenkaarten system is still in use. These work on a zone system, using a strip for the ride and one for each zone travelled through. Driving in Amsterdam is not recommended. Street parking is in short supply, parking charges are high, parking regulations are vigorously enforced and the fines for violations are high.
Special Transportation
Bicycle
Amsterdam is mostly flat, and cyclists rule. You can hire bicycles by the day or for longer periods. It’s easy and fun – but beware thieves.
