Amsterdam City Guide - Getting Around

Amsterdam's integrated public transport system is run by the municipal transport company GVB (tel: 9292; website: www.gvb.nl), which has an information office at Centraal Station. The best way to get around the city is either on foot or by using the extensive tram, metro, bus and ferry networks. A map of all tram and bus routes in Amsterdam is available from tourist offices or the GVB office by Centraal Station.

Trams are a great way of getting around. Trams operate Monday to Friday from about 0600 to 2400 (Saturday from 0630 and Sunday from 0730). All trams leave from Centraal Station - trams 1 and 2 traverse the main canals, tram 17 provides a frequent, fast and dependable service, tram 16 takes a route to Museumplein and Concertgebouw, while trams 9 and 14 go to the Muziektheater and Waterlooplein market.

Amsterdam's four metro lines all start at Centraal Station and serve the southeastern business district and the suburbs. The trains run Monday to Friday from about 0600 to 2415 (Saturday from 0630 and Sunday from 0730). An extension south to the RAI is planned for completion in 2011.

The outlying areas of the city (mostly the suburbs that the trams do not reach) are served by more than 30 bus lines, which run until midnight. Night buses run from about 0030 to 0730, after the other services have stopped (numbered from 71 to 79).

A free ferry service provides cyclists and pedestrians with connections to Amsterdam Noord, the area across the IJ. The main ferry landing is on De Ruijterkade (behind the Centraal Station). Ferries are frequent and operate between about 0615 and 2100, with a limited service at the weekend (most ferries do not operate on Sunday). When taking a bicycle aboard, passengers should make sure to not break local etiquette and always go through the cyclist channel rather the pedestrian one. The Noord Canal across the IJ is a quiet and less-taxing cycle route for visitors who find navigating the busy city too traumatic.

For single rides, a strippenkaart can be used. This needs to be stamped every time a tram, bus or metro is boarded - each journey uses one strip, plus a strip for every zone travelled. Once stamped, a ticket is valid for an hour, regardless of how often a change of tram or bus is made. It is cheaper for one to buy a strippenkaart before boarding the public transport system than it is to pay a cash fare. Strippenkaarten are available from tourist offices, tobacconists and large hotels. Not having a valid ticket incurs a spot fine, plus the cost of the ticket; ticket inspections are common.

Visitors spending plenty of time travelling around the city are advised to buy a dagkaarten day pass, a two-day pass or a three-day one.

Water Travel
Not surprisingly, there are several modes of water travel in Amsterdam. In addition to public ferries, canal buses (tel: (020) 625 5574; website: www.canal.nl) travel between Centraal Station and the Rijksmuseum, every 25-45 minutes - fares vary between the different service providers.

Canal taxis, which can carry up to 40 passengers, are also available. They can either be hailed from the canal-side or ordered in advance daily from about 0800 to 0100, from Water Taxis (tel: (020) 535 6363; website: www.water-taxi.nl).

Alternatively, visitors can hire pedalos (also known as canal bikes) and boats to explore the canals. These are available from Canal Bike, Weteringschans 24 (tel: (020) 626 5574; website: www.canal.nl), who have 100 canal bikes. A deposit is required. Canal Bike also organises group tours of Amsterdam and Utrecht.

Rather than hailing a taxi in the street, it is more usual in Amsterdam for one to either order a taxi by phoning the Central Taxi Office (tel: (020) 677 7777) or pick one up at a taxi rank, which are located at Centraal Station, Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein. Taxis, which have an illuminated ‘taxi' sign on the roof, usually come quickly - unless it is raining or a Friday or Saturday night. Although they provide a good service, taxis are relatively expensive. A new system allows taxi drivers to set meters at different rates, so keep a keen eye on the rate in play.

Driving in Amsterdam is not recommended. Even for excursions outside the city, it is preferable to take the train. The city's streets are not big enough to accommodate the tens of thousands of cars owned by the city's residents, let alone the 500,000 tourists who annually arrive in their cars. As a result, parking spots are limited and expensive. Visitors are advised to park their car at a P+R (park and ride) lot, from where there are bus, tram and subway lines into the city centre. Motorists also need to watch out for cyclists and the special cycle lanes. Rush hours (0700-0900 and 1700-1900) are best avoided. Car headlights should be dimmed in built-up areas and it is illegal to use sidelights only.

Parking at the massive Arena P+R, reached by the A1, A2 and A9 into the city, or the Stadionplein P+R, situated next to the Olympisch Stadion, includes two free public transport tickets. In the city centre, cars must be parked in a designated parking space or in a car park. Parking meters can be recognised by a yellow sign with the letter ‘P' and charges are split into three zones. City centre parking spaces can be reserved in advance, by going online (website: www.parkeerlijn.nl). Parking regulations are quite strict and there are tough measures for violating the city's car-parking laws, with wheel clamping common. The car pound (tel: (020) 555 9833) is located at Cruquiuskade 25 in Havens Oost in the Eastern Harbour district.

Conditions of hire vary, although, in most cases, the driver will have to be 25 years old and have held a valid national licence for one year. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not needed, as long as a valid national licence is produced. Payment is usually made with a credit card bearing the name of the driver.

The major European firms are represented in Amsterdam. Cars are also available for hire through the airport and most hotels. The companies that have branches in the city centre include Avis, Nassaukade 380 (tel: (020) 683 6061; website: www.avis.com), Budget, Overtoom 121 (tel: (020) 612 6066; website: www.budget.com) and Hertz, Overtoom 333 (tel: (020) 612 2441; website: www.hertz.com).

Fare conditions vary and some companies have an additional mileage charge. Those hiring a car should always check that the rates include the minimum insurance cover required in Amsterdam.

There are bicycle lanes that are marked out by white lines but cyclists will still need to watch out for cars, trams and pedestrians. Bicycles can be hired from Bike City, Bloemgracht 68-70 in Westerkerk (tel: (020) 626 3721; website: www.bikecity.nl), Damstraat Rent-A-Bike, Damstraat 20-22 (tel: (020) 625 5029; website: www.bikes.nl) and Macbike Too, Marnixstraat 220 (tel: (020) 620 985; website: www.macbike.nl).

A deposit or a credit card imprint is usually required, along with an additional form of identification. Optional insurance, at around 50% of the hire charge, can also be taken.

When cycling around Amsterdam, cycling two abreast is illegal, as is a bicycle without reflector bands on both front and back wheels. Bikes should always be securely locked with two locks (one connecting the front wheel to a lamppost or railing and one securing the frame to something similarly as solid) as there is a thriving stolen bike market in the city.