Public Transport in Amsterdam: Trams, Metro, Buses and Ferries Guide

Trams, metro lines, buses, ferries, and trains are all part of Amsterdam’s public transportation system. When I visited the city, it was very easy to switch between these different ways to get around. Let me show you how the system works in a way that is useful and easy to understand, and I’ll give you some personal tips along the way.

Different kinds of public transportation

Trams

Trams are probably the most common way to get around Amsterdam. The tram system goes through a lot of the city center and past a lot of the city’s main attractions, like museums, big squares, and shopping streets. Trams are very useful for tourists because they save a lot of walking.

When I was in Amsterdam, I took trams almost every day to get around the center. They come a lot, and it’s easy to understand how the system works. Most of the time, you can easily see the tram number and the direction it is going, which makes getting around very easy.

Here are a few things I saw about trams:

They stop a lot in the central districts.
You can usually get in through a few doors.
Tram stops are close to many important places to see.

Tram line 2 is a line that a lot of people talk about. It goes by a lot of famous places and is often called one of the most beautiful tram lines in the world.

There is a good chance that you will use trams almost every day if your hotel or other place to stay is close to the historic center.

Metro

In general, the metro is faster than the trams and better for longer trips. There are a number of metro lines in Amsterdam that connect different parts of the city, such as the north, south, east, and southeast. The metro is usually the fastest way to get between major transportation hubs.

Some important stations that are connected by metro lines are:

Amsterdam Central
Amsterdam South
Arena in Bijlmer
The Noord area

The Noord/Zuid line is one metro route that I found very helpful. It connects the north and south parts of Amsterdam, as the name suggests, and it can save you a lot of time compared to other forms of transportation.

You usually have to go through ticket gates at the station when you take the metro. You have to scan your ticket or card both when you get there and when you leave.

Buses

Buses are also part of the city’s transportation system, but tourists may not use them as much as trams. They are very useful when you need to get to places that trams or metro lines don’t go. This includes some neighborhoods where people live and places that are farther away from the main tourist areas.

For instance, buses can take you to places like

Amsterdam North
Suburbs that are not in the central areas
Some routes went to Schiphol Airport.

The night bus service is one thing that can be helpful for tourists. Most trams and metro lines don’t run after midnight. Night buses run until the early morning, which is helpful if you are coming home late from dinner, nightlife, or events.

Ferries

The ferry service is one part of Amsterdam’s transportation system that surprised me at first. Ferries cross the IJ River behind Amsterdam Centraal Station on a regular basis. They connect Amsterdam Noord with the city center.

The best part is that these ferries are free for people to ride. This is very strange because in many cities, even short ferry rides need a ticket.

The crossing itself doesn’t take long, usually only a few minutes. Still, it’s a nice ride, and you can see the water and the skyline around the harbor from the boat.

You will most likely take one of these ferries if you want to see things in Amsterdam Noord.

Trains

People mostly use trains to travel outside of the city. The Dutch train system connects Amsterdam to many other places in the Netherlands. Some common routes are:

Schiphol Airport
Rotterdam Utrecht
The Hague and other big Dutch cities

The main train station is Amsterdam Centraal Station, and trains leave there often during the day. I thought the train system was very useful, especially for getting from Schiphol Airport to the city center or to other cities in the country.

How to pay for public transportation

The payment system is probably the most confusing part for people who are visiting for the first time.

OV-chipkaart

The OV-chipkaart, a contactless smart card that works on all buses, trams, metros, and trains in the Netherlands, has been the most common way to pay for a long time.

You must do the following to use it:

When you get into a car or train, check in.
When you leave, check out

IMPORTANT: The system might charge you more if you forget to check out.

This card works all over the country, so a lot of people in the area use it. But tourists sometimes find it annoying because they have to buy the card and put money on it.

Payment without contact (OVpay)

With the new system OVpay, you can just tap your debit card, credit card, or phone when you get on and off public transportation. For most visitors, this is probably the easiest choice.

When you start your trip, just tap your phone or bank card on the reader. When you’re done, tap again. The fare is automatically figured out and charged later.

Passes for travel

You could also buy travel passes. Some of the most popular ones are:

GVB day passes let you ride trams, buses, and the metro as many times as you want. Tourists often choose between GVB tickets and the Amsterdam Card.
Amsterdam Travel Ticket (comes with a train to the airport)
Amsterdam and Region Travel Ticket (for cities nearby)

These passes let you travel as much as you want for a set amount of time, like 24, 48, or 72 hours. And they can help you save money if you plan to use public transportation a lot.

Important rules

When I use public transportation in Amsterdam, I always remember a few important rules.

Always check in and out: You have to scan your card or phone every time you get on or off public transportation. This rule still applies when you switch vehicles. The system may charge the highest fare if you forget to check out.
They don’t take cash very often: Most buses and trams no longer take cash. You should pay with a card, a mobile payment, or a ticket you bought ahead of time.
Be careful with transport operators: In the Netherlands, different businesses run different kinds of transportation. You might have to check out and check in again when you switch operators. When experienced travelers talk about how the system works, they often bring this up.

Is the public transportation in Amsterdam good?

In my experience, Amsterdam’s public transportation system is dependable and easy to use. The city isn’t very big, and the network is easy to get around. You can get to almost any part of the city without a car by using trams, the metro, buses, ferries, and trains.

Some people still complain about delays or crowded vehicles, especially during busy times. But for people who stay in the city center, public transportation usually works well.

Last thoughts

I suggest that you learn the basics of the public transportation system before you go to Amsterdam for the first time.

The main things I always remember are:

For the city center, trams are best.
For long distances, the metro is faster.
Buses can get to places that trams can’t.
Ferries that cross the IJ River are free.
Always check in and out

It’s very easy to get around Amsterdam once you know these basics. In fact, after only a short time in the city, I figured out that Amsterdam’s public transportation system is one of the easiest for tourists to use.