GVB tickets in Amsterdam 2026 (Essential Guide)

Searching for GVB tickets for Amsterdam public transport? In this guide we will highlight all GVB ticket options with fares and prices for 2026.

GVB (Gemeente VervoerBedrijf) is Amsterdam’s public transport company which runs buses, trams, ferries and the metro. Amsterdam GVB passes are valid on all modes of GVB transport with transfers possible within the time validity.

[1] GVB Distance Fare (pay-as-you-go)

The pay-as-you-go distance fare from GVB is a good option for those just making occasional trips.

• Fare depends on distance travelled, calculated per stop.
• For short trips it is cheaper than the 1 hour GVB ticket.
• There is a fixed boarding fee of €1.16. You then pay €0.217 (21.7 euro cents) per km.
  
• Available with OVpay – check-in/-out with your contactless payment option (debit/credit card/mobile payment).
• For OVpay you get billed once daily – your total daily fare is capped at €10.50 (GVB Max) as long as you use the same payment card.
• Or use either a personal/anonymous OV-chip card or an OV-pas – these are smart transport cards which use stored E-purse credit balance or are invoiced.

There is an age-based discount rate of €0.77 boarding fee + €0.143 per km. This is only available to registered local residents – children 4-11 and people aged 65+.

A minimum of €4 E-purse credit is required to travel on GVB with the OV-chip card/OV-pas. If you fail to check-out you will be charged the €4 deposit-penalty fare (also if using OVpay).

GVB Night Buses are more expensive with a single ride costing €5.70.

[2] GVB 1 Hour Single Ticket

The GVB 1 hour ticket is valid for 60 minutes on all GVB transport (bus/metro/tram) in Amsterdam, including any transfers. It costs €3.40 and is activated on first check-in.

The 1 hour ticket is only good value for relatively long journeys – don’t use it for short trips.

Most trips will be cheaper when applying the distance fare used by OVpay and the OV-chipcard/OV-pas – or when using better value multiday cards.

Note, this ticket is not valid on GVB night buses.

Taking a bike? You need a bike supplement of €2.30 – this is only valid on tram 26 or the Amsterdam metro at off-peak times (weekdays 07:00-09:00 and 16:00-18:30 are prohibited).

GVB 1 Hour Ticket vs Distance Fares (2026)

For the 1 hour ticket you should check-in and check-out using the card readers – including when making a transfer to another GVB vehicle or another form of GVB transport.

[3] GVB Day/MultiDay Tickets

RECOMMENDED: Best Value & Validity

GVB multiday tickets are the best value tickets for public transport in Amsterdam.

• They are valid from 1 to 7 days on a 24 hourly basis.
• Use paper chip tickets or buy mobile tickets online here
• They are activated on first check-in (note the exact time you do so).
• Allows you unlimited travel on the entire GVB network in Amsterdam day and night – valid on GVB buses, GVB trams and the Amsterdam metro (GVB ferries are free).
• GVB tickets are NOT valid on: airport train/397 airport bus/any NS train/any Connexxion/EBS/Qbuzz regional bus services.
• You cannot travel with a GVB ticket to other Dutch cities like Haarlem, Den Haag etc.

Because the GVB multiday tickets are vaild on a 24 hours basis it means you can handily use them over 2 consecutive calendar days within the 24 hour period.

Example: Activate a 48 hour card at 10:00 on Wednesday, it will be valid until 10:00 on the Friday.

GVB MultiDay Ticket Amsterdam Prices (2026)

Current prices of the GVB day passes available, with a cost per day as low as €6.14 for the 7 day ticket:

Purchase GVB tickets online here which can be used as a mobile QR code via an app. Buying in advance online saves the inconvenience of navigating desk queues or ticket machines on arrival in Amsterdam.

You simply need to specify a start time and date.

GVB Children’s Tickets

The GVB Child Day Ticket is only available as a paper chip card ticket from GVB ticket desks, it is not available for advance purchase online.

• The GVB child day ticket costs €5.00 and is for children aged 4-11 only.
• It is only valid for 1 day (24 hours) – there are no children’s multiday tickets.
• Ticket is activated on first check-in (note the time).
• Children aged 0-3 travel free.
• Children 12 or over must use the standard adult tickets.

Note: Children aged 4-11 who live in Amsterdam can request free GVB travel using a personal OV-chip card with the ‘Kids Vrij’ product. This will be available until 3 Jan 2027 for travel 07:00 to 21:00 daily.

How To Use the GVB tickets on Amsterdam transport:

• Open the app and barcode ticket on your phone or have your paper ticket handy.
• Scan your code or tap your ticket at the start and end of your journey.
• For buses/trams use on-board card readers near the doors – wait for a single beep sound and green light (check-in) and double beep (check-out).
• For metro use the gate barriers to access and leave the stations.

Paper card versions of multiday tickets are for sale but note the following availability restrictions:

• All 1-7 day cards can be bought at GVB Ticket Offices
• 1-4 day cards only at metro station ticket machines (no 5-7 day cards)
• 1 day cards only from the tram conductor (no 2-7 day cards)

We therefore recommend purchasing online in advance to secure your choice of card – particularly if you want the better value cards with longer validity.

GVB MultiDay Ticket: Summary

The GVB multiday tickets offer really great value and allow visitors to move freely around the city. If you are looking for value metro tickets or tram tickets in Amsterdam then this should be your first choice.

Order GVB multiday tickets here

Other cards with GVB Multiday Ticket Component

The following 3 cards are essentially upgraded versions of the GVB multiday ticket with added features:

• Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket – includes unlimited travel on regional transport + GVB multiday
• Amsterdam Travel Ticket – includes airport train/bus + GVB multiday
• I amsterdam City Card – official pass which includes free entry into 70+ museums and attractions + GVB multiday. A great all-in-one choice.

Our complete guide to Amsterdam public transport tickets has more info on these tickets.

Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket	Amsterdam Travel Ticket	I amsterdam City Card
1-3 days	1-3 days	1-5 days
calendar day	calendar day	24 hours
€23-€44	€20-€34	€65-€135
Order	Order	Order

[4] GVB Group Ticket

This allows a group of up to 5 people to travel for 24 hours on the GVB network in Amsterdam. The GVB Group ticket costs €27.00.

Unfortunately this is a ‘restricted’ ticket in that it can only be bought and used via the GVB app.

The group must always travel together and each traveller has a unique barcode which always has to be managed via the purchaser’s phone – so checking-in and -out is a clunky affair of swiping and scanning.

We recommend sticking to the multiday tickets above.

[5] GVB Night Bus Tickets

GVB operates 11 night bus lines in Amsterdam which run through the night from around 00:30.

• A single ride on a GVB night bus costs €5.70.
• It can be bought from the GVB sales points as a paper chip card or a barcode ticket via the GVB app.
• The card is valid for 90 minutes and includes transfers to other GVB night buses.
• You can also use OVpay or an OV-chip card to pay the flat fare.
• Those with an OV-chip card can add the ‘Night Bus Saldo’ product which allows a free transfer without being charged again.
• Multiday tickets are valid for GVB night buses.

Where Can I Go in Amsterdam on a GVB Ticket?

A GVB ticket can get you to all the main sights in and around Amsterdam.

Here are 10 places of interest in Amsterdam with GVB lines to get there (T=Tram, M=Metro, B=Bus):

For more inspiration see our guide 21 Places To Go in Amsterdam using a GVB Multiday Ticket

The GVB Amsterdam multiday card is great for exploring around different neighbourhoods and will help you get around more easily – whether you have a carefully planned city itinerary or just travelling spontaneously.

GVB Amsterdam Tickets FAQ

This article was first published in 13 January 2026.

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