Survival Guide - Amsterdam - page 338

› Bicycles are permitted on all routes.

Taxi

Best for... Late-night travels; if you have lots of luggage.

› Find taxis at stands at Centraal Station, Leidseplein and a few hotels, or call one;
Taxicentrale Amsterdam (TCA;

777 77 77; www.tcataxi.nl ) is the most reliable.

› Fares are meter-based. The meter starts at €2.65, then it's €1.95 per km thereafter. A ride
from Leidseplein to the Dam runs about €12.

› A nice alternative when available are the open, three-wheeled scooters of TukTuk Com-
pany ( www.tuktukcompany.nl ; 10pm-3am Fri & Sat) and Bicycle Taxis ( www.fietstaxiamsterdam.nl ) .
They often have lower rates, and can be flagged down in the street, especially near
Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein.

Train

Best for... Trips beyond the city.

› Amsterdam has very convenient train connections with other European capitals.

› For national train schedules (including to/from Schiphol Airport), see NS ( www.ns.nl ) . For
international booking and information, see NS Hi- speed ( www.nshispeed.nl ) .

› There are ticket sales windows in Centraal Station (on the west side) for both national
and international destinations.

› Note you'll need cash to buy tickets unless you have a credit card with a chip.

Car & Motorcycle

› Parking is expensive and scarce.

› Street parking in the centre costs around €5/29 per hour/day.