A blue and white GVB tram in front of Amsterdam Centraal Station's brick towers
Photo: Rob Dammers / Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Essentials

Amsterdam Travel Tips: GVB Trams, Contactless Fares, the Schiphol Train and Bikes

Amsterdam travel tips for a first visit: the Schiphol train, paying for trams and the metro with a bank card, the free IJ ferry, bike lanes, booking ahead and the accommodation tax.

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The short answer. Take the train from Schiphol to Centraal Station, tap a contactless bank card or phone on trams, buses and the metro and tap out as well as in, stay out of the red bike lanes, and book the Anne Frank House and the big museums before you arrive. Most of the centre is walkable, and the ferry across the IJ is free.

Roam Amsterdam read 8 guides on this, in English. Seven warn about bike lanes and five say to pack for rain. Four tell you to book the big sights ahead, four say to take the train from Schiphol, and four mention the red-light district’s no-photo rule. Fares, ticket rules and the accommodation tax below come from the city’s tourism site, the operators and the municipality, not from the guides, because these change. Check the links. For where to base yourself, see where to stay in Amsterdam, and for the sights, the things to do in Amsterdam guide.

From Schiphol to the city

Train: named by 4 of 8 guides read.

The train is the quickest way in. The Amsterdam tourism site says trains run eight times an hour to Amsterdam Centraal in about 17 minutes, stopping at Sloterdijk and Lelylaan, and the other page on getting around gives 14 to 17 minutes. The same site lists the Airport Express bus 397, which goes to Museumplein, the Rijksmuseum and Leidseplein, runs every 10 minutes in the day and doesn’t accept cash. Taxis to the centre typically cost 35 to 55 euros, and the site strongly advises against rides offered by drivers who approach you inside the airport. One guide notes that some trains from the airport go elsewhere, so check the board for Amsterdam Centraal.

Yellow and blue NS check-in posts on the concourse of Schiphol Plaza
Photo: Josbert Lonnee / Flickr (Public Domain Mark 1.0)

Paying for trams, buses and the metro

Contactless: named by 2 of 8 guides read.

The tourism site says public transport in Amsterdam is cashless. You tap a contactless debit or credit card, or a phone or watch linked to one, when you board and again when you leave, with no separate app. GVB’s pay-as-you-go OVpay fares have a daily cap of 10.50 euros on GVB lines according to the site. GVB says to use the same card or device to check out as you used to check in. Tap out every time, because one guide says you’ll be charged as if you rode to the end of the line.

You can also buy a GVB day or multi-day ticket, which the site says works in your phone wallet, or a card that covers more. The tourism site’s City Card includes public transport for 24 to 120 hours plus museum entry, and the Amsterdam and Region Travel Ticket covers the wider area and activates when you first check in. Three guides say to compare a pass against what you’ll actually visit before buying one.

An OV-chipkaart, the older plastic card, is sold for 7.50 euros according to a guide and NS’s own visitor material. You’ll need credit on it, and you check in and out with it. A bank card is simpler for a short visit.

Trams, metro and the free ferry

The tourism site calls trams reliable and frequent, with most routes serving Centraal Station, and says you must check in and out again when you change. Four metro routes start at Centraal, and the stations have gates. The ferries across the IJ to Amsterdam Noord are free for pedestrians and cyclists, and the Centraal Station to Buiksloterweg crossing runs all night. After the trams stop, night buses take over, according to the site.

Bikes and walking

Bike lanes: named by 7 of 8 guides read.

The warning most guides repeat is to stay out of the bike lanes. They’re marked with bike symbols and red paving, and cyclists expect a clear path. Walking is the cheapest way to get around, the tourism site says, and the guides agree the centre is walkable. If you want to cycle, three guides say to rent only if you’re confident and to practise somewhere quiet such as Vondelpark first. Two others recommend renting one. Lock both the frame and a wheel.

Hundreds of bicycles parked at Amsterdam Centraal Station in front of its brick building
Photo: Fred Romero / Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Booking ahead

Named by 4 of 8 guides read.

The Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum are the ones guides tell you to book first. The Anne Frank House sells tickets only online and releases each day’s tickets six weeks ahead, every Tuesday at 10:00 CET, according to its ticket page. The Rijksmuseum says everyone needs a booked start time. The Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum guide has more. Guides add that some museums don’t allow large backpacks, so carry a small bag.

Money and the accommodation tax

Cards: named by 3 of 8 guides read.

Cards are widely taken, but three guides say to carry a backup, since some brown cafes and markets take cash or a specific debit card only. The municipality’s tourist tax page lists 12.5 percent of the overnight price, excluding VAT, so a booking site may show it separately from the room rate. Check the rate at booking.

Weather

Named by 5 of 8 guides read.

Pack a rain jacket and layers. Guides say rain and wind come at any time of year and that umbrellas often break in the wind.

Etiquette and safety

The red-light district. Named by 4 of 8 guides read. Don’t photograph the people in the windows. One guide adds that street drinking is banned in the district and police patrol it.

Coffee shops. Named by 4 of 8 guides read. A coffee shop sells cannabis. For coffee and alcohol, look for a cafe.

Pickpockets. Named by 3 of 8 guides read. One says Amsterdam is safe, and all three say pickpockets work crowded areas, so keep valuables close.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you pay for trams and the metro in Amsterdam?

Tap a contactless bank card or a phone wallet when you board and again when you leave, according to the tourism site. You don’t need an app or a separate card.

How long is the train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal?

About 14 to 17 minutes, with eight trains an hour, according to the tourism site.

Is the ferry to Noord free?

Yes for pedestrians and cyclists, and the Centraal Station to Buiksloterweg crossing runs all night, according to the tourism site.

Do you need an OV-chipkaart?

No, if you pay with a contactless card or phone. The card costs 7.50 euros and needs credit loaded, according to a guide and NS’s own visitor material.

Is there a tourist tax?

Yes. The municipality’s page lists 12.5 percent of the overnight price, excluding VAT.

Can you walk in the bike lane?

No. Seven of the 8 guides read warn against it.

Rest of the trip: best day trips from Amsterdam and the Haarlem day trip.

Sources: 8 guides in English, and 5 official pages

Guides in English

Official pages

Places in this guide

Photos show the actual places, licensed under Creative Commons and credited to their photographers.

EYE Filmmuseum, Noord EYE Filmmuseum Noord Photo: Fred Romero
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