Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left
Bicyles secured in a bike rack
Right
Trams
Getting Around
Trams
The tram is Amster-
dam's most popular
mode of transport. Trams
run from 6am (6:30am on
Saturday and Sunday) till
midnight. Most start at
Centraal Station. For
routes, see the map on
the back cover of this
book. You can buy tickets
in advance from the GVB
(see below)
, or on board
the tram itself - from the
driver, the conductor or a
ticket machine.
metro is to buy a
strippenkaart
(ticket strip
available in multiples of
15), a
dagkaart
(day ticket),
or a
sterabonnement
(season ticket) - all sold
by the public transport
authority, the GVB
(Gemeente Vervoer
Bedrijf)
, tourist offices,
post offices and some
newsagents.
d
GVB:
Stationsplein 14
•
Map P1
•
0900 9292
cyclists: Bike City,
Holland Rent-a-Bike
and Take-a-Bike are all
conveniently central. Bike
theft is rife, so secure
your bike carefully when
you park it. d
Bike City:
Bloemgracht 70. Map K2.
020 626 3721
•
Holland
Rent-a-Bike · Damrak 247 ·
Map N2 · 020 622 3207
•
Macbike: Stationsplein 12.
Map P1. 020 620 0905
Canal Bikes
If you are fit, these
two- or four-person
pedaloes provide a fun -
if laborious - way of
getting around. There are
four moorings in central
Amsterdam, where you
can collect or leave the
bikes all year round.
d
Canal Bike: Weteringschans
24
•
Map D5
•
020 626
5574
•
www.canal.nl
Trains
Nederlandse Spoor-
wegen, the Dutch national
rail company, is renowned
for its clean, punctual
trains and reasonable
fares. Contact the OVR
(Openbaar Vervoer
Reisinformatie) for
information.
d
OVR: 0900
9292
•
www.ns.nl
Taxis
You cannot hail taxis
in the street, but finding
one in the centre is
usually easy, as there are
plenty of taxi ranks: at
Centraal Station, Dam
Square, Elandsgracht,
Leidseplein, Muziek-
theater, Nieuwmarkt and
Rembrantsplein. There is
also a 24-hour phone
service, Taxicentrale.
d
Taxicentrale: 020 677 7777
Buses
Like trams, most
buses start at Centraal
Station. A few follow
similar routes, but buses
also go to areas not
covered by the tram
network; again, see the
map on the back cover.
Buses have the same
ticketing system as
trams. A limited night
bus service runs from
midnight to 4am.
Driving
The city centre has a
complex one-way
system, its roads are
dominated by trams and
cyclists, and parking is
limited - and expensive.
All of these are good
reasons to avoid driving.
If you have to, park in a
car park
(see p133)
or on
a meter (most allow you
up to two hours). If you
overstay your time, your
car might be clamped or
towed away.
Metro
Serving more
remote parts of the city,
the metro has only four
lines, all terminating at
Centraal Station. There
are four other stations in
the central area: Amster-
dam CS, Nieuwmarkt,
Waterlooplein and
Weesperplein. It is best
to avoid taking the metro
at night, when the
stations are haunts of
unsavoury characters.
Walking
Amsterdam is a
great city for walking
(see pp64-5)
. The main
pedestrian hazards are
bicycles, trams and
cobbled streets, so keep
clear of cycle lanes, take
care crossing tram tracks,
and wear comfortable,
flat shoes.
Bicycle Hire
You will never be
very far from a bicycle
hire shop in this city of
Tickets
The cheapest way to
travel by tram, bus or
For a tram or bus journey within one zone, you must use two
strips of a
strippenkaart
per person. Two zones require three strips.
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