Amsterdam has an efficient and modern public transportation system that makes it easy to discover the city and its attractions.
The narrow streets and canals of Amsterdam’s historic city centre leave little room for car traffic. Instead, the city has long relied on an efficient and attractive public transport system, which is well suited for both residents and visitors.
Save time and stress by choosing the right ticket before you travel. The city is too beautiful to waste much time in Amsterdam on fare systems and ticket purchases.
This guide provides you with helpful information, such as route network maps, ticket prices for 2026 and practical tips.
Amsterdam has a very good local transport system – ideal for discovering the city.
Whether single ride via e-purse, also referred to as OV-card, all-day ticket, “I Amsterdam Card”, or “Amsterdam Travel Card”, you will find detailed information for all, as well as current fares here.
It allows you to quickly and easily find the right ticket option for your stay in Amsterdam. Researching all options upfront and knowing which ticket option works best for you, will save you money and time after arrival and prevent stressful situations.
Single-day and multi-day tickets for Amsterdam’s public transport system are usually the best option for visitors.
Convenience:
You can purchase these tickets online before your trip at no additional cost 👉 via the website of the authorised GVB ticket seller – click here –. You will not have to deal with ticket machines or the tariff system upon your arrival.
This means you won’t have to deal with ticket machines or fare systems after arrival. Your ticket will already be available on your smartphone.This saves time and reduces stress, allowing you to focus on enjoying your stay in Amsterdam.
Parking in the city center is expensive. In 2026, the “Q-Park Amsterdam Centraal” car park has a daily rate of €65.
Sights and museums are easily accessible by subway, tram or bus. Public transport is therefore very popular with tourists and visitors to the city.
A typical street in Amsterdam’s canal belt. Driving a car and looking for a parking space is no fun here. By public transport, you can reach your destination faster and easier.
Amsterdam’s old town, where most of the sights are located, consists of a system of canals. A lot of the original buildings are still there. The streets and alleys are narrow, and were not planned for car traffic in the 17th century.
Because Amsterdam and car traffic do not go together, the city relied on bicycles and modern local transport early on. With the metro, trams and buses, you can get around the city quickly and easily.
Public transport in Amsterdam is operated by the municipal public transport company GVB.
2026 Amsterdam has 5 metro lines, 15 tram lines, 34 bus lines and 9 ferry lines.
We show you here in a short overview for which purposes you can best use metro, tram, bus or ferry.
Details such as route maps or timetables for the individual means of transport can be found on the respective page on this topic.
Amsterdam has a modern public transportation system that makes it easy to discover the city and its attractions.
The metro in Amsterdam is relatively new and therefore modern and efficient. The first two metro lines were opened in 1977. Today, 5 metro lines are operated by the municipal public transport company GVB.
A major step in 2018 was the construction of the new metro line 52, which involved tunneling under the IJ estuary for the first time. This connects the north of Amsterdam to the metro network.
If you want to cover a long distance quickly, the metro is a good means of transport. In the city centre, most of the lines are underground. Therefore, it is not suitable for sightseeing.
➡️More information in this travel guide:
Metro / Subway in Amsterdam. Route map and practical tips
The metro takes you quickly through the city – in the city centre underground – in the outer districts mostly above ground (Image: M. Coghlan, CC 2.0 licence)
In 2026, 33 GVB bus lines will be operating in Amsterdam. They form the backbone of the local transport system and serve the areas that are not served by the tram.
The blue and white GVB buses form the backbone of Amsterdam’s public transport system.
Amsterdam Centraal station is the heart of the city’s public transport network. Directly connected to the station building is a modern central bus station, which now serves as the main hub for bus services.
The bus station is a stopping point for:
All bus stops that were previously spread around the station have been brought together in one central location, making it much easier for travellers to find their way around.
One of its most distinctive features is the striking glass roof. The word “Amsterdam” is clearly integrated into the coloured glass panels, which is why the bus station has also become a popular photo spot.
The front and back of Amsterdam Centraal station. The station is the central hub for local transportation. Here you can change between international trains, metro, streetcar, bus and ferry. The central hub for local transport is Amsterdam Centraal station. The city’s central bus station is attached directly to the station. The glass roof with the “Amsterdam” lettering is a landmark of the city.
Bus services to the surrounding towns and cities are not operated by the city’s public transport company, GVB. Private bus operators such as Connexxion, Keolis /Syntus or EBS are active here. Many of the GVB local transport tickets are not valid on these buses.
➡️More information in this guide:
Local transport tickets Amsterdam: How to find the right ticket
Local transport to the surrounding towns is provided by buses. These are operated by private companies.
The popular shuttle bus 397 to Schiphol Airport is not operated by the municipal public transport company GVB, but by Connexxion.
➡️More information in this guide:
Airport bus 397 – info, tickets, route, stops
There are currently 15 tram lines in Amsterdam. The tram lines also run through the narrow streets of the canal belt. The tram is popular with tourists. It allows you to move quickly through the old town and see a lot of the city.
Sightseeing by local transport. As the tram in Amsterdam also travels in the canal belt, it is popular with visitors to the city.
The tram line 2 is popular for sightseeing. The line takes you to the Flower Market, the Palace on the Dam, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum and passes all the canals of Amsterdam’s famous canal belt.
➡️More information in this travel guide:
Tram / Tramway in Amsterdam. Route map, map and practical tips
Amsterdam is situated on a former inlet of the Zuiderzee (IJ). Therefore, the 8 ferry lines are an important part of the local transport system.
The ferries are an important part of the local transport system in Amsterdam.
The use of the GVB ferries is free for pedestrians, cyclists and moped riders. That’s why the ferries are also popular for a free harbour tour.
➡️More information in this travel guide:
Ferries in Amsterdam. Route map, map, sightseeing tour and practical tips.
Whether single ride via e-purse, also referred to as OV-card, all-day ticket, “I Amsterdam Card”, or “Amsterdam Travel Card”, you will find detailed information for all, as well as current fares here.
It allows you to quickly and easily find the right ticket option for your stay in Amsterdam. Researching all options upfront and knowing which ticket option works best for you, will save you money and time after arrival and prevent stressful situations.
Single-day and multi-day tickets for Amsterdam’s public transport system are usually the best option for visitors.
Convenience:
You can purchase these tickets online before your trip at no additional cost 👉 via the website of the authorised GVB ticket seller – click here –. You will not have to deal with ticket machines or the tariff system upon your arrival.
This means you won’t have to deal with ticket machines or fare systems after arrival. Your ticket will already be available on your smartphone.This saves time and reduces stress, allowing you to focus on enjoying your stay in Amsterdam.
We have a lot of experience traveling with baby carriages. In Amsterdam, it works quite well to travel with a wheelchair or baby carriage on local transport.
On trams and buses, the wheelchair space is also the stroller space. Wheelchair users have priority over a stroller.
Amsterdam has a modern and well-developed public transport system. The narrow streets and canals of the historic city centre, which is well worth seeing, are not made for the cars of residents and visitors. Parking spaces are very expensive and rare. Therefore, the city makes great efforts to provide efficient and cheap local transport.
There are tram lines and ferries that are popular for sightseeing. More information in our travel guide
Amsterdam wants to be as car-free as possible. That’s why Amsterdam has a well-functioning and modern public transport system. With the right ticket, using local transport is easy and cheap.
In our travel guide you will find tips and information on how to discover Amsterdam by public transport. You can save time and money with our tips on buying tickets.
In Amsterdam, it works quite well to travel on public transport with a wheelchair or baby carriage.
You can find more information on this topic in our free online travel guide.