Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The similar
Canal Bus
is actually a boat, offering 17 stops on three different boat routes
(€24/24-hour pass, departures daily 9:30-18:30, until 19:00 April-Oct, leaves near Central
Station and Rederij Lovers dock, tel. 020/623-9886,
www.canal.nl
)
.
Ifyou'resimplylookingforafloating,nonstoptour,theregularcanaltourboats(without
the stops) give more information, cover more ground, and cost less (see “Tours in Amster-
dam,” next page).
For do-it-yourself canal tours and lots of exercise, Canal Bus also rents “canal bikes”
(a.k.a. paddleboats) at several locations: near the AnneFrankHouse,near the Rijksmuseum,
near Leidseplein, and where Leidsestraat meets Keizersgracht (€8/hour per person, daily
July-Aug 10:00-22:00, Sept-June 10:00-18:00).
By Taxi
For short rides, Amsterdam is a bad town for taxis. Given the good tram system and ease of
biking, I use taxis less in Amsterdam than in just about any other city in Europe. The city's
taxis have a high drop charge (€7.50) for the first two kilometers (e.g., from Central Station
to the Mint Tower), after which it's €2.30 per kilometer (no extra fee for luggage; it's worth
trying to bargain a lower rate, as competition among cabbies is fierce). You can wave them
down, find a rare taxi stand, or call one (tel. 020/677-7777). You'll also see
bike taxis,
par-
ticularly near Dam Square and Leidseplein. Negotiate a rate for the trip before you board
(no meter), and they'll wheel you wherever you want to go (€1/3 minutes, no surcharge for
baggage or extra weight, sample fare from Leidseplein to Anne Frank House: about €6).
By Car
If you've got a car, park it—all you'll find are frustrating one-way streets, terrible parking,
and meter maids with a passion for booting cars parked incorrectly. You'll pay €60 a day to
park safely in a central garage. If you must bring a car to Amsterdam, it's best to leave it at
oneofthecity'ssupervisedpark-and-ridelots(follow
P&R
signsfromfreeway,€8/24hours,
includes round-trip transit into city center for up to five people, 4-day maximum).
To sightsee on your own, download my series of
free audio tours
that illuminate some of
Amsterdam's top neighborhoods: my Amsterdam City Walk, Red Light District Walk, and
Jordaan Walk (see sidebar on
here
for details).