Amsterdam (Rough Guide) - Martin Dunford [8]
Eurolines’ (see "By bus") long-distance, international buses arrive at Amstel Station, about 3.5km to the southeast of Centraal Station. The metro journey to Centraal Station takes about ten minutes.
Getting around
Almost all of Amsterdam’s leading attractions are clustered in or near the city centre, within easy walking – and even easier cycling – distance of each other. For longer jaunts, the city has a first-rate public transport system run by the GVB, comprising trams, buses, a smallish metro system and four passenger ferries across the River IJ to the northern suburbs (see "Amsterdam Noord"). Centraal Station is the hub of the system with a multitude of trams and buses departing from outside on Stationsplein, which is also the location of a metro station and a GVB public transport information office.
Getting around |
Tickets
The most common type of ticket, valid for all forms of GVB transport, is the strippenkaart, a card divided into strips: fold your strippenkaart over to expose the number of strips required for your journey and then insert it into the on-board franking machine or get it stamped by the conductor (located in a booth at the rear on most trams). Amsterdam’s public transport system is divided into zones, and one person making a journey within one zone costs two strips. The “Centre” zone covers the city centre and its immediate surroundings (well beyond Singelgracht), and thus two strips will cover more or less every journey you’re likely to make. If you travel into an additional zone, it costs three strips, and so on. More than one person can use the same strippenkaart, as long as the requisite number of strips is stamped. After franking, you can use any GVB tram, bus and the metro for up to one hour. At the time of writing, a two-strip strippenkaart cost €1.60 and a three-strip €2.40; you can buy these on the bus or tram. However, you’re better off buying tickets in advance, from tobacconists, magazine stores like Bruna or AKO (both located on Centraal Station), the GVB, the VVV and metro stations; a fifteen-strip costs €7.30 and a 45-strip €21.60. If you’re over 65 you can buy a reduced strippenkaart for €4.80. Alternatively, you can opt for a dagkaart (day ticket), which gives unlimited access to the GVB system for up to a maximum of three days. Prices are €7 for 24 hours, €11.50 for 48 hours and €15 for 72 hours.
At the time of writing, the OV-Chipkaart was being introduced – a rechargeable payment card which you can buy at the station and use on all forms of public transport – to eventually replace the strippenkaart completely. From August 2009 only the OV-Chipkaart will be accepted on the metro. Check www.ov-chipkaart.nl for more information.
Finally, note that the GVB tries hard to keep fare-dodging to a minimum, and wherever you’re travelling, and at whatever time of day, there’s a reasonable chance you’ll have your ticket checked. If you are caught without a valid ticket, you risk an on-the-spot fine of €35.
Getting around | Tickets |
Water transport
Cruising along Amsterdam’s canals might not be the fastest way of getting from A to B – but it’s certainly picturesque. The following options give you the freedom to hop on and off as you please; see "Guided tours" for further details.
Canal Bus (020/623 9886, www.canal.nl) operates on three circular routes – coloured