Public transport in Amsterdam is generally efficient and convenient. The network of trams, metro, buses and ferries is used by commuters, locals and visitors alike to get around the city. Buy GVB 1-7 day tickets here, our top choice.
In this article we will provide an introductory overview to Amsterdam public transport – from the operating transport companies, the different modes of transport and a brief outline of ticket choices. For more info please refer to our in-depth guides mentioned.
Amsterdam Public Transport Companies
The following lists the principal companies that operate transportation services in Amsterdam.
GVB Amsterdam
GVB is the main Amsterdam transport company and has been running public transport in the city since 1900. GVB stands for Gemeente VervoerBedrijf Amsterdam – which literally means ‘municipal transport company Amsterdam’.
It works closely with the city council to offer safe, sustainable and accessible mobility for Amsterdam which continues to grow in size and population.
In 2024 there were 873,000 passenger rides per weekday on GVB Amsterdam and around 21.3 million passengers per month.
GVB currently runs the following transport services in Amsterdam:
- 5 metro lines with 39 stations and 43km track length
- 16 Amsterdam tram lines with 500 stops and a total track length of 200km
- 44 bus lines which includes 33 day lines and 11 night lines
- 10 ferry lines running over the IJ and North Sea canal
Its main hub is located around Amsterdam Central station.
Connexxion
Connexxion is a transport company which is majority owned by parent Transdev.
It operates the Amsterdam Airport Express 397 bus which runs from Amsterdam Schiphol airport to Amsterdam Elensgracht bus station. It also operates bus services from Amsterdam to Haarlem and Zandvoort beach.
EBS
EBS (MeerPlus) runs bus services from Amsterdam to the Waterland region which includes the historic villages of Volendam, Edam, Marken and Monnickendam. Other services can get you to the towns of Hoorn, Purmerend and Zaandam.
Buses run from Amsterdam Central and Amsterdam Noord stations.
Qbuzz
Transport company Qbuzz operates the seasonal KeukenhofBuzz 852 bus service which runs from Europaplein in Amsterdam to the Keukenhof spring gardens. It also runs the 858 service from Schiphol airport to Keukenhof.
NS
NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) is the Dutch national railway company. It runs domestic train services from Amsterdam to various Dutch cities. Amsterdam Central station is one of the main rail hubs of the country.
Modes of Public Transport in Amsterdam
Let’s take a look at the various types of transport available in Amsterdam.
Trams
Amsterdam’s iconic trams have been part of the city landscape since 1875. Trams are a fun and scenic way to get around the inner city.
Amsterdam’s tram system has 16 tram lines run by GVB which provide reasonable coverage of the city centre.
Tram 1: Osdorp De Aker to Muiderpoort Station
Tram 2: Amsterdam Centraal to Nieuw Sloten
Tram 3: F. Hendrikplantsoen to Flevopark
Tram 4: Amsterdam Centraal to Station RAI
Tram 5: Zoutkeetsgracht to Amstelveen Stadshart
Tram 7: Slotermeer to Azartplein
Tram 12: Amsterdam Centraal to Amstelstation
Tram 13: Van Hallstraat to Geuzenveld
Tram 14: Amsterdam Centraal to Muiderpoortstation
Tram 17: Amsterdam Centraal to Osdorp Dijkgraafplein
Tram 19: Sloterdijk Station to Diemen (Sniep)
Tram 23: Amstelstation to Drentepark
Tram 24: Fredericksplein to VUmc
Tram 25: Amsterdam Zuid Station to Uithoorn Centrum
Tram 26: Amsterdam Centraal to IJburg
Tram 27: Surinameplein to Osdorp Dijkgraafplein
GVB trams are normally in the distinctive blue and white colours though some trams are GVB/R-NET branded in silver-grey whilst others may have advertising.
Tram 2 has been listed by National Geographic as one of the top 10 ‘trolley’ (tram) rides in the world.
Trams run daily from around 6am (weekdays) and 7am (weekends) to just after midnight.
For more info on routes and how to use the trams please see: Trams in Amsterdam – Lines, Tickets, Info and Tips
Metro
The Amsterdam metro has 5 lines which can get you quickly down the spine of the city and also to the outer suburbs. The metro tracks in central Amsterdam are underground, but become overground rail further out.
The 5 lines in Amsterdam are:
M50: Isolatorweg – Gein
M51: Centraal Station – Isolatorweg
M52: Noord – Station Zuid
M53: Centraal Station – Gaasperplas
M54: Centraal Station – Gein
See our Amsterdam metro map and guide
Getting around by metro is generally faster than taking trams or buses. It is also good for travel with large groups. Note that the metro does not serve Amsterdam Schiphol airport.
The Amsterdam metro runs daily from around 6am (weekdays), 6.30am (Saturday) and 7.30am (Sunday) to just after midnight. Line frequency varies at 4-12 services per hour depending on line and time of day.
Buses
Amsterdam has a reasonable bus network which complements the tram and metro network by providing extra coverage – particularly to outer suburbs and regional destinations.
GVB runs as total of 44 lines around Amsterdam, 11 of which run as ‘N’ night services. It has a fleet of 180 buses, some of which are electric.
Probably the most useful GVB bus service in the city is line 22 which runs between Amsterdam Sloterdijk and Amsterdam Muiderpoort stations via Amsterdam Central.
GVB also runs the 369 airport service between Amsterdam Sloterdijk and Schiphol Airport/Plaza.
As mentioned above, Connexxion/EBS/Qbuzz operate regional bus services to places of interest.
Further info: Amsterdam Bus – Lines, Tickets, Info and Tips
Ferries
The ferries are a fantastic way to travel to various points in north Amsterdam. You get some wonderful views of the waterfront and the best thing is the trip is free. No tickets required, just hop on board and away you go!
From the back of Amsterdam Central station you can take the ferry to Buiksloterweg, IJplein and NDSM-wahrf. Check out our ferry map of Amsterdam for other inner harbour routes.
GVB also runs 3 North Sea canal routes further out to the west which can also take vehicles.
Trains
Amsterdam has 13 train stations including ones at Amsterdam Central, Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam Bijlmer-ArenA and Amsterdam Zuid.
The train offers the quickest way to travel between Amsterdam Central and Amsterdam Sloterdijk – the journey takes just 6 minutes compared to the bus (24 mins) or the complete loop on the metro (30 mins).
Ticket Options and Travel Cards in Amsterdam
Our Amsterdam public transport tickets complete guide will give you a detailed run down of all available ticket options.
For public transport in Amsterdam, all passengers aged 4 or over require their own ticket. Tickets need to be touched/scanned against the barriers or card readers at the beginning and end of your journey.
Always make sure you have a valid ticket when using GVB transport. Teams of inspectors make routine spot checks and those without tickets could be fined €70.
Single Journeys (OVpay/Single ticket)
For someone making a single trip we recommend simply using OVpay – that is checking-in and out with your bank card or mobile payment. The standard distance-based fare will be charged to your account.
The distance fare in Amsterdam is based on a fixed boarding fee (€1.12) plus a tariff (€0.207) per km travelled.
If using OVpay do always check your bank account transaction statement to ensure you have paid the correct fare. Check-in and check-out cleanly and if you have multiple cards on you, do not hold more than 1 card against the reader.
Alternatively, there are single tickets (GVB 1 hour, €3.40) which can also be used but note they are not great value over very short journeys. For the longest trips however, they can be cheaper than the distance fare.
Amsterdam Fare Examples (2025)
| Route | Distance Fare | Single Fare |
| Amsterdam Centraal – Dam Square | €1.28 | €3.40 |
| Amsterdam Noord – Amsterdam Zuid | €3.09 | €3.40 |
| Amsterdam Centraal – Uithoorn Centrum | €5.59 | €3.40 |
We no longer recommend the OV-chipkaart for short-term visitors and tourists. This is a travel card (like London’s Oyster card) where you can load travel credit and pay the standard distance fare for each journey. However, the card costs a €7.50 fee to purchase and you also need to constantly monitor and top-up the balance.
However, if you are a resident then it may be worth getting a personal or anonymous OV-chipkaart.
Day and Multi-Day Tickets
For those who plan to use a lot of Amsterdam public transport during their visit, we absolutely recommend getting one of the multi-day tickets. If used well these day passes can offer excellent value, good flexibility and with a low cost-per-ride.
By careful planning the multi-day tickets can really enhance your trip to Amsterdam giving you the opportunity to visit various points-of-interest in a cost-effective manner.
There are a number of multi-day options for visitors:
GVB Multi-Day Ticket
GVB day tickets are valid from 1 to 7 days on a 24 hour basis and allow you unlimited travel on the GVB network (buses, metro, trams) in Amsterdam day and night. It is the best value ticket available for Amsterdam transport and is our recommended choice.
The price ranges from €9.50 (1 day) to €42.50 (7 days) with the latter offering a cost-per-day of just €6.07.
Buy your GVB tickets online here (from authorised seller GetYourGuide) – these can be instantly downloaded for mobile use using the GetYourGuide app.
The tickets can also be cancelled and refunded up to 24 hours before activation if needed.
A GVB child ticket (aged 4-11) costs €5.00 and is available at ticket desks/machines. You can also buy standard 1-7 day physical tickets (subject to availability) at GVB Ticket offices.
For more ideas, here are 21 places to go in Amsterdam with a GVB day pass.
Amsterdam Travel Ticket
This ticket includes a 1, 2 or 3 day GVB unlimited travel card plus travel between Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam – valid on NS airport trains or 397 Amsterdam Airport Express bus.
It also offers unlimited travel on trains between any Amsterdam stations.
Because this is a combined GVB and NS ticket it is only currently available in physical (not digital) format. Also note, this ticket is used on a calendar day basis, not 24 hours.
Prices are €18.00 (1 day), €24.00 (2 days) and €30.00 (3 days).
Buy your Amsterdam Travel Ticket in advance here – you can pick-up the ticket at Schiphol airport, Amsterdam Central station.
Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket
This ticket is valid for all transport in the Amsterdam city and region on a 1, 2 or 3 calendar day basis.
It includes NS trains (2nd class), all regional buses (Connexxion, EBS and Qbuzz Keukenhof services) and all GVB Amsterdam buses, metro and trams.
Again, as this is a combined GVB and NS ticket it is only currently available in physical (not digital) format.
Prices are €21.00 (1 day), €31.50 (2 days) and €40.50 (3 days).
This ticket is recommended if you plan to make side trips to various places of interest around the greater Amsterdam region.
Buy your Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket online here – you can pick-up the ticket at Schiphol airport, Amsterdam Central station.
I amsterdam City Card (Transport + Attractions)
This is a city card which combines free entry into a raft of Amsterdam museums and attractions along with a GVB multi-day ticket.
It is very handy for those looking for a convenient all-in-one ticket solution. Check out our I amsterdam city card guide here
The I amsterdam city card is valid on a 1-5 day (24 hours) basis with costs as follows: €65 (24 hours), €90 (48 hours), €108 (72 hours), €123 (96 hours) and €5 (120 hours).
You can book the I amsterdam City Card online here
Accessibility on Amsterdam Transport
GVB offers accessible public transport services with all vehicles having places for wheelchairs and buggies.
Trams and metro carriages can take some mobility scooters.
You can use GVB’s travel planner and toggle on ‘Accessible Journey’ under extra options. This will tell you the best way to make your journey using only accessible transport vehicles and stops.
Transport Tips for Tourists and Locals
Travel Planners and apps
In addition to GVB’s travel planner and app you can also use 9292, Citymapper or Google Maps/Apple Maps for live transport route info.
GVB paper maps
You can also ask for paper maps at one of the GVB Service desks which are located at Amsterdam Central, Bijlmer-ArenA, Noord and Zuid stations.
GVB has one ‘Amsterdam city map’ which shows the transport lines and a more detailed ‘Amsterdam Tram Bus Metro Ferry’ which has the entire network.
Note, the desk at Amsterdam Central often has limited supplies of the latter map (sometimes they seem a bit reluctant to hand out the map!)
GVB Amsterdam Ticket Offices
Where can I buy GVB tickets in Amsterdam?
GVB has 4 ticket and service offices at major stations in Amsterdam. You can get advice on routes, tickets and maps. You can purchase any tickets or pick-up pre-ordered online tickets. You can pay by cash, debit or credit card (Visa/Mastercard).
GVB Amsterdam Centraal Station
The “GVB Tram Bus Metro Ferry” Service & Tickets office at Stationsplein is located outside Amsterdam Central station (city side) just past the A tram stop. Opening hours are daily 08:30-19:00.
GVB Amsterdam Bijlmer-ArenA
The GVB Service & Tickets desk at Amsterdam Bijlmer-ArenA can be found in the main station hall. Opening hours are 08:30-19:00 Mon-Fri, 10:00-18:00 Sat-Sun/holidays.
GVB Amsterdam Zuid
The GVB Service & Tickets desk at Amsterdam Zuid station is found in the tunnel concourse underneath the station platforms. Opening hours are 08:30-19:00 Mon-Fri, 10:00-18:00 Sat-Sun/holidays.
GVB Amsterdam Noord
The GVB Service & Tickets desk at Station Noord is at the western side of the main hall. Opening hours are 08:30-18:00 Mon-Fri, 10:00-18:00 Sat-Sun/holidays.
Some limited GVB tickets can also be purchased over-the-counter at GVB service points at various shops/newsagents (inlcuding Primera stores). You can find a full listing in the GVB app which also shows ticket machine locations.
Amsterdam Transportation: Summary
This overview has shown you how to get around Amsterdam using all public transport options available. We have listed the various Amsterdam transport companies, the different modes of transport in Amsterdam and taken a look at the best tickets for Amsterdam travel.
We’ve mentioned useful apps to plan your journey and the GVB ticket desks in Amsterdam. We always recommend visitors get the GVB 1-7 day tickets for best value and validity.
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