Means of Transportation

Public transport is the perfect way to visit all attractions and explore the city of Amsterdam. Visitors who arrive by car are advised to park the car and use public transport systems as most places in the city have been designated paid parking places to ensure that Amsterdam’s city center remains attractive and easy to reach. With 17 tramlines, over 40 bus lines, 4 ferry connections and 4 underground/express tramlines you can’t go wrong. The most convenient transport ticket is a day pass or a pass for several days. These passes entitle holders to use all GVB lines, including night buses and are available from all Tourist Office outlets. Try some of the cities unusual means of transport such as horse and carriage, antique tram, English red-double decker bus, helicopter, aeroplane or hot air ballon.

Bikes

Do it the Dutch way and explore Amsterdam by rental bike. You can rent a bike at reasonable prices from these outlets Bike City, Holland Rent A Bike, Amstel Fietspoint or Mac Bike to name a few.

Drop down to your local Mac Bike Station, a well established bicycle hire operator with three shops around central Amsterdam. You can rent a cheap bike for a day, week or month if you have the time. The funniest, cheapest, easiest way to tour Amsterdam. Also a great way to visit the surrounding country. There are separate bicycle and walking lanes throughout the city, it’s super flat and user friendly.

Water Bikes

Try some pedal power in the water and hire funky pedal boats and discover Amsterdam from a different point of view, its maze of canals. The Canal Bike have four moorings right in the heart of the city center at Leidseplein, the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House and Keizersgracht/Leidsestraat. They are slow and can be tiring, so make sure you’re up for it.

Canal Buses

Canal buses provide ideal transport along Amsterdam’s 17th century canals. Canal Bus cruise along 3 routes with 14 stops near all main museums, main attractions and shopping areas. Well worth hopping on one as it gives you a great overview of the city. You may even like to spend the night on one of their Party Boats or Dinner Cruises, the boats run on eco-friendly natural gas which means no noise and no pollution!

Trams

The trams are the most important mode of public transport in Amsterdam. The tram network consists of 17 lines. Most tram routes start from the Centraal Station and spread out to the city areas in the east (Oost), south (Zuid) and west (West). The others mutually connect these city areas. An exception to all this is line 20, the Circle-tram. It runs through the city center with Centraal Station as both beginning and end of the line.