GVB
Stationsplein CS, Old Centre: New Side (0900 8011 premium rate/en.gvb.nl). Tram 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, 16, 17, 24, 25, 26. Open Phone enquiries 9am-7pm Mon-Sat. In person 9am-7pm Mon-Sat.
The GVB runs Amsterdam’s Metro, bus and tram services, and can also provide detailed information and departure and arrival times on all of them, as well as sell tickets.
Fares & tickets
An OV-chipkaart (‘chip card’) system operates across trams, buses and metros. An OV-chipkaart has a one-time cost of €7.50 and can be purchased at ticket vending machines at stations, various tobacco specialty shops, at many supermarkets and at GVB Tickets & Info. The card is valid for four to five years. You can load the card in the ticket vending machine, paying with cash or a cash card, and use it immediately. You can also load the card in a yellow add value machine you’ll find at tobacco specialty shops and various other shops. An unlimited 24-hour chip cards for one day cost €7.50. You can also buy unlimited 48-, 72-, 96-, 120-, 144- and 168-hour cards (ranging from €12 to €32). With any type of OV-chipkaart, you have to check in or check out when boarding or disembarking a tram, bus or metro, using the card readers in the trams and buses, at the entryway to metro stations or on the metro platform. Hold your card in front of the reader and wait for a beep and green light to flash. Follow the same procedure on the way out.
I Amsterdam City Card
An alternative to the OV-chipkaart is the I Amsterdam City Card, which includes unlimited use of the public transport system and free entrance to 38 museums and attractions. It can be purchased it at several shops and newsagents across Amsterdam, or at one of the Amsterdam Tourist Offices. Cost: €42 (24 hours), €52 (48 hours) or €62 72 hours). Don’t even think about travelling without a ticket: inspectors make regular checks, and passengers without tickets are hit with €35 on-the-spot fines.
Trams & buses
Trams run from 6am Mon-Fri, 6.30am Sat and 7.30am Sun. Night buses (numbered 348 to 369) take over later (1am-5am daily; 1am-6.30am Fri, Sat) and all go to Centraal Station, except 369 (Station Sloterdijk - Schiphol Airport).
Night bus stops are indicated by a black square with the bus number printed on it. During off-peak hours and at quiet stops, stick out your arm to let the driver know you want to get on. Signs at tram and bus stops show the name of the stop and line number, and boards indicate the full route.
Other road users must remember that a tram will only stop if absolutely necessary. Cyclists should listen for tram warning bells and cross tramlines at an angle that avoids the front wheel getting stuck. Motorists should avoid blocking tramlines: cars are allowed to venture on to them only if turning right.
Metro
The Metro uses the same ticket system as trams and buses (see above) and serves suburbs to the south and east. Three separate lines 51, 53 and 54, terminate at Centraal Station (sometimes abbreviated as CS), while line 50 connects West with South-East. Metro trains run from 6am Mon-Fri (6.30am Sat, 7.30am Sun) to around 12.15am on a daily basis.
