Getting Around Amsterdam: Trams, Metro And The OV-Chipkaart

Amsterdam runs on rails and water. The city’s GVB network covers trams, metro, buses and ferries. Walking can be simplest for nearby central sights; for longer journeys, the useful questions are which operator serves your route and which ticket or payment method covers it.

This guide covers GVB tickets, contactless OVpay, the changing OV-chipkaart system and Schiphol connections. Prices below are the operators’ published 2026 fares at this check; use the current journey planner and selected ticket conditions before travel.

How Do You Pay For Trams And Metro In Amsterdam?

Use a compatible contactless bank card or device with OVpay, or a valid GVB ticket. GVB’s 2026 distance fare is €1.16 plus €0.217 per kilometre. A one-hour ticket costs €3.40 and excludes night buses. Check in and out on every tram, bus and metro journey; the free IJ ferries need neither a ticket nor a tap.

Use exactly the same card or device to check in and out, and wait for the reader’s confirmation. A phone and its physical bank card count as different payment methods even when linked to one account. Each traveller needs their own valid ticket or payment method; missed checkouts need correcting rather than assuming the day cap fixes them.

Paper tickets remain available at GVB machines, service points and selected shops. The tram conductor sells one-hour and day tickets with card payment; GVB bus and tram drivers do not sell tickets. You can also buy barcode tickets in the GVB app. Follow the instructions for the actual product you choose.

The OV-chipkaart is being replaced by OVpay and the new OV-pas. GVB says anonymous OV-chipkaart sales ended on 1 July 2026. Existing cards can still be used while the system remains supported; travellers without a suitable bank card can compare an OV-pas or separate tickets. You do not need to buy an old chipkaart simply to make ordinary contactless journeys.

A valid ticket or successful check-in is required when travelling. Inspectors can check it, so resolve a failed scan before continuing and keep the correct ticket available. See GVB’s payment instructions for the current methods.

What Do GVB Tickets And Day Passes Cost?

GVB’s adult 24-hour ticket costs €10, with a €5 child version for ages 4–11. Adult multi-day tickets cost €16 for 48 hours, €21.50 for 72, €27.50 for 96, €34 for 120, €39 for 144 and €43 for 168. These cover GVB services, including night buses, rather than NS trains or other bus operators.

GVB Max limits eligible OVpay travel to €10.50 per day when complete journeys use the same payment method. It excludes old OV-chipkaarten, GVB night buses and other operators. A few short rides can cost less. Compare your actual travel window with a time-based pass; there is no universal three-ride break-even, and a pass still requires check-in and checkout.

The Amsterdam Travel Ticket combines GVB with specified Schiphol rail and Airport Express journeys, at €20/€27/€34 for one/two/three days. The Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket costs €23/€34/€44 and extends to listed regional routes, including Haarlem and Zaandijk Zaanse Schans. These use calendar-day validity ending at 04:00 after the final day, rather than rolling 24-hour periods. Check the route map and voucher-redemption instructions; transport to an attraction does not include entry.

If you are still weighing up how many days to give the city and how much transport you will realistically use, our one-day Amsterdam plan shows how few rides a compact centre actually demands.

Is The I Amsterdam City Card's Transport A Good Deal?

The I amsterdam City Card Total Experience includes GVB transport; the Explorer version selects 3, 5 or 7 activities and excludes public transport. Neither replaces a separate NS airport train ticket. For transport alone, compare GVB or OVpay first. A City Card becomes a separate value decision when you also want its included attractions.

The Total Experience transport benefit covers GVB, including its night buses, but not NS or Connexxion. Do not assume a pass works on a service simply because it travels inside Amsterdam. The regular IJ ferries are already free. Check the City Card transport conditions before relying on a bundled benefit.

For the attraction part, count only places you intend to visit and check their own booking rules. Rijksmuseum and NEMO participate; Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House are separate. Read our City Card value guide alongside current prices and your age or concession eligibility.

If a Total Experience card covers part of your stay, avoid buying a duplicate GVB ticket for the same hours. Use OVpay or another ticket for uncovered journeys only after checking the operator and timing.

How Do You Get From Schiphol Airport To The City Centre?

NS trains connect Schiphol with Amsterdam Centraal in about 17 minutes on the usual service; check the current timetable and fare for your journey. Airport Express 397 serves Museumplein, Rijksmuseum and Leidseplein, with a single ticket listed at €6.50. Choose the route nearest your destination, and allow for walking, waiting and disruption.

Heading beyond the city by rail or coach. Book a train and bus ticket here.

Schiphol’s railway station is beneath the terminal plaza. Follow the station signs and check the departure boards; arrival walking time depends on where you emerge and your mobility. At Centraal you can connect to city transport and the ferries, though not every tram line serves the station. The NS journey planner gives the current route fare, and ordinary OVpay rail journeys are charged separately from GVB.

The Airport Express is particularly useful for destinations around Museumplein and Leidseplein. Its 397/N97 tickets do not include a reserved seat or hotel pickup. The operator lists Schiphol stop B17, but the airport bus station is being rebuilt, so check signs on the day. Use the Airport Express route information; the NS route link may redirect to its wider journey pages.

For the fuller picture, including where to buy tickets, what the station looks like and what to do with luggage, see our dedicated Schiphol to central Amsterdam guide.

Which Tram And Metro Lines Serve The Main Sights?

Use a current route planner for your exact starting point: metro 52 serves Rokin, Vijzelgracht and De Pijp, while trams connect many central streets and museum stops. Amsterdam Noord is a large district; Noord metro station is not the NDSM ferry landing or A’DAM Lookout. The stadium station is Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA.

Choose between walking, tram and metro by the actual route rather than assuming one mode is best. For Museumplein, compare a tram to a nearby stop with metro 52 to Vijzelgracht or De Pijp plus a walk. Step-free access, lift status and the final walking distance can matter more than the headline journey time.

For A’DAM Lookout, the free F3 ferry from Centraal to Buiksloterweg plus a short walk is usually the relevant crossing. NDSM has the separate F4 ferry. Metro 52 serves Noord and Noorderpark, which can be useful for other destinations, but neither should be treated as the wharf’s arrival point.

Roadworks and service changes can alter tram routes. Check GVB’s current planner and disruptions on your visit date, then allow a buffer before a timed museum booking. A ticket for a museum and a transport ticket remain separate purchases.

What About Ferries, Bikes And Walking?

Regular GVB IJ ferries are free for pedestrians and cyclists. F3 to Buiksloterweg runs day and night; check the separate F4 timetable for NDSM. Walking works well between nearby central sights. Hire a bike only if you can ride confidently and manage traffic, junctions and tram rails.

Board the regular IJ ferries without a ticket or tap, and leave room for people getting off. The NDSM crossing is longer than the short Buiksloterweg hop. Check the correct destination before boarding; the north-bank landings are not interchangeable. The city’s How to Amsterdam page gives broader visitor guidance.

Dam Square to Museumplein is roughly a half-hour walk for a brisk walker, longer with stops or a different route. Canals, bridges and uneven surfaces affect comfort and accessibility. Take a tram when it helps your energy or mobility; you do not have to walk every scenic section.

Cycling needs confidence, hand signals and care around rails, especially when wet. Our bike rental guide covers deposits, return times and route choices. City Card bike benefits apply only at participating providers under their current conditions, so check before separately booking a rental.

A sightseeing canal cruise is generally a round trip, not a substitute for a tram or airport transfer. Choose it as a separate activity if you want one; check the exact dock and return point. Walking beside the canals is a free alternative.

What Mistakes Cost Money On Amsterdam Transport?

Avoid missed checkouts, mixing a physical card with its phone version, paying twice for overlapping coverage, and assuming a GVB ticket includes NS trains or Airport Express 397. Before buying a pass, compare the journeys you will actually make. Free ferry rides do not count towards its value.

At metro gates, deliberately present your card or scan the appropriate barcode and wait for confirmation; walking through does not automatically validate it. When transferring between operators, check out with one and check in with the next. A rejected scan needs attention before you travel.

Two separate one-hour tickets total €6.80, but that is not the same calculation as two distance-based OVpay journeys. Compare your expected fares for the same person and travel period, including any night or non-GVB service. An airport return does not automatically make a GVB pass worthwhile.

Take the intended payment card out of your wallet before using a reader. If you travel with a barcode ticket, use the provider’s supported app and scanner instructions rather than accidentally presenting your bank card as well. The linked ticket requires the provider’s app and begins at the selected timeslot; do not substitute a screenshot or PDF.

Common Questions About Getting Around Amsterdam