How to use public transport in Amsterdam? How to pay for tram in Amsterdam? Where to buy tram, metro, bus tickets and how much do they cost? Here is our complete guide to using public transport in Amsterdam.
How to get around in Amsterdam?
That’s easy! The Glimble public transport journey planner will help you find out which tram, bus, metro line or shared transport is the best for you. Just fill in your departure point and destination, and the app will show you the best root, travelling time and schedule.
And here you can find an interactive Amsterdam trams, metro and bus map.
Public Transport Prices in Amsterdam & Types of Tickets
Important: starting from 20 June 2023 the drivers do not sell tickets in the GVB buses and trams. In the tram, you can only buy a ticket from the conductor. There is no conductor in tram lines 4, 19, and 24, also not in buses (and night buses). It is better to be prepared for your trip by buying your ticket or travel product in advance or paying with your bank card.
News:
- On 8 December 2023 a new 30 km/h speed limit has come into effect in Amsterdam. This will affect travel times and operation of some bus/tram lines in general.
Types of tickets:
- GVB tickets and daily passes
- I amsterdam City Card
- Amsterdam Travel Ticket
- Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket
- OV-chipcard
- OV-pay
1. GVB (Amsterdam tram, metro, bus) tickets
Amsterdam city transport is operated by the GVB (Gemeentelijk Vervoers Bedrijf) company. You can buy single, day or multi-day tickets from GVB vending machines or online. GVB tram/ bus/ metro tickets prices in 2024 are:
| Ticket valid in the GVB tram, bus, metro for | Price | Cost per day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | € 3,40 | N/A |
| 1 day – 24 hours | € 9,00 | € 9,00 |
| 2 days – 48 hours | € 15,00 | € 7,50 |
| 3 days – 72 hours | € 21,00 | € 7,00 |
| 4 days – 96 hours | € 26,50 | € 6,63 |
| 5 days – 120 hours | € 33,00 | € 6,60 |
| 6 days – 144 hours | € 37,50 | € 6,25 |
| 7 days – 168 hours | € 41,00 | € 5,86 |
While using the public transport in Amsterdam you have to check-in and check-out (present your ticket to a validator on board).
The ticket becomes valid the first time you check-in. For the duration of your GVB ticket, you can make an unlimited amount of trips buy GVB tram, metro, bus, including the night buses.
Children up to 4 years old travel for free. A ticket for children aged 4 – 11 in 2024 costs € 4,50 per day. The child day ticket works just like a normal day ticket. It is valid in all GVB trams, buses and metro lines in Amsterdam starting from the time your first check in.
Where to buy GVB tickets? You can purchase the tickets at GVB service points, vending machines and info counters.
You can also order GVB public transport tickets for 1 – 7 day online >> You can use these tickets directly, as an e-ticket, through the GetYourGuide app.
Please note that GVB ticket is not valid in the trains to Amsterdam from Schiphol. You need to buy a train ticket separately.
2. I Amsterdam City Card
Alternatively you can order I Amsterdam City Card for 24 – 120 hours, which gives free admission to museums and attractions in Amsterdam and free unlitimed rides by the GVB trams, buses & metro for the duration of your card.
I amsterdam City Card prices in 2024:
| ard valid for | Price | Cost per day | Book the card online |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 hours | € 60 | € 60 | Book online >> |
| 48 hours | € 85 | € 42,50 | Book online >> |
| 72 hours | € 100 | € 33,3 | Book online >> |
| 96 hours | € 115 | € 28,75 | Book online >> |
| 120 hours | € 125 | € 25 | Book online >> |
The City Card contains two elements – one for the GVB public transport, the other one for museums, attractions and a canal cruise. They are both activated automatically: the transport element at the moment you first use tram, bus or metro. The museum element – the first time you visit museum, attraction or take a canal cruise.
Order I Amsterdam City card online >>
3. Amsterdam Travel Ticket
Amsterdam Travel Ticket is 1-day, 2-day, or 3-day travel pass valid in:
- GVB public transport
- bus line 397 from Schiphol airport to Amsterdam
- train from Schiphol to Amsterdam
Amsterdam Travel ticket is valid from the first time you check-in for the first time until 04:00 the morning after. So the earlier you check-in, the more you can benefit from this ticket.
Prices in 2024:
| ATT ticket valid for | Price | Cost per day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | € 18 | € 18 |
| 2 days | € 24 | € 12 |
| 3 days | € 30 | € 10 |
Good to know!
- You can use ATT ticket in all public transport in Amsterdam, including night buses.
- ATT ticket is valid for unlimited travel by Amsterdam Airport Express (bus 397) and Night bus N97 from Schiphol.
- With Amsterdam Travel ticket you travel by train between Schiphol airport and any of the following train stations in Amsterdam: Amstel, Bijlmer Arena, Amsterdam Central Station, Holendrecht, Lelylaan, Muiderpoort, RAI, Sciencepark, Sloterdijk, Zuid and Duivendrecht. Tip! You can also use this ticket to travel between these stations.
4. Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket
Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket is valid for 1-3 days of unlimited travel by bus, tram, metro and train in Amsterdam and surrounding areas (including Schiphol airport, Volendam, Edam, Marken, Zaanse Schans, Haarlem, Zandvoort beach and Keukenhof).
We definitely recommend this ticket if you’re planning to visit the places in the area, included in the card:
Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket map in 2024. You can find a full-size image at Iamsterdam.com official website.
Prices in 2024:
| ARTT ticket valid for | Price | Cost per day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | € 21,00 | € 21,00 |
| 2 days | € 31,50 | € 15,75 |
| 3 days | € 40,50 | € 13,50 |
This travel pass offers a really great value for the price. For example, only a separate return ticket from Amsterdam to Zandvoort beach costs € 14, and a separate return ticket from Amsterdam to Keukenhof costs € 17. Both of these tickets (and much more) are included into the ARTT pass.
The Amsterdam & Region Travel ticket is valid from the first time you check in until 04:00 hours after the last valid day.
During the Keukenhof opening season the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket is also valid in bus lines:
Is buying Amsterdam & Region Travel ticket worth it? If you’re planning to visit the most popular places in the Amsterdam area, the Amsterdam & Reigon Travel ticket can save you lots of money. For example, if you buy separate tickets, in 2024 they will cost:
- 3 days ticket for public transport in Amsterdam – € 21
- return bus ticket from Amsterdam RAI to Keukenhof – € 17
- return train ticket from Amsterdam to Zandvoort – € 14
- return bus ticket to the Zaanse Schans – € 11,50
- return train ticket from and to the Schiphol airport – € 5,90 x 2
Total: € 75,30 without ARTT. With ARTT you will pay € 40,50 for three days – it’s two times cheaper.
Order Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket >>
5. OV-chipkaart
Another option is to buy an anonymous OV-chipkaart – a contactless rechargable card used for all public transport in the Netherlands. The card itself costs € 7,50. In order to travel with an OV-chipkaart, the card must contain enough credit to complete a single journey: for the bus or tram journey you need to have a minimum of € 4 credit on the card before checking in. For traveling with NS trains a minimum of € 20.
Want to see the best of Amsterdam? Explore the city with a local >>
An anonymous OV-card can be purchased at GVB offices, at the stations, in newsagents, in supermarkets.
6. OV-pay
OV-pay is a new way to check-in and out in public transport (bus, tram, metro and train) in the Netherlands with your contactless debit card, credit card or mobile.
Advantage of OV-pay: you don’t need to bother buying transport tickets. You pay the same amount as with an OV-chipkaart. When you check-in at the bus, tram or metro, you pay a boarding fee of € 1,08 + travel fare for every kilometer (€ 0,196 p/km). You will see the costs in your bank transfer statement the next day.
Disadvantages of OV-pay:
- if you have a non-euro debit or credit card, it can happen that you actually pay more because of an unfavourable currency exchange rate.
- you pay standard fares, and if you travel a lot you might pay way more than with unlimited multi-day passes (GVB, ARTT, I amsterdam city card) described above.
Please note that GVB (tram, metro, bus) tickets are NOT valid:
- In public transport operated by other companies (Arriva, EBS, Connexion etc. Usually these are buses that run from Amsterdam to other cities, like Volendam and Zaanse Schans). If you need to find out which transport company operates on your celected route, check 9292.nl website (the name of the company is indicated in the line with the bus number – it’s EBS company in the example below).
- In the train from Schiphol airport to Amsterdam. You will need to buy a separate train ticket. Alternatively you can buy Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket.
FAQ about public transport and tickets in Amsterdam
1. Is it cheaper to travel with OV-chipcard/ OV-pay or GVB tickets?
It depends on your plans. For example, if you need a short ride from Amsterdam Centraal station to Rembrandtplein, you will pay € 1,42 with OV-card or OV-pay. A single 1-hour GVB ticket will cost € 3,40.
At the same time, if you plan to use public transport a lot, buying a GVB multi-day ticket can be a cheaper option than OV-pay. If you buy a GVB ticket for 7 days, you’ll pay only € 5,86 a day for unlimited travel inside Amsterdam.
2. Where can I check the price of travelling with OV-card?
You can check it at 9292.nl.
3. Is public transport free in Amsterdam?
Metro, trams and buses are not free in Amsterdam. But ferries to and from Amsterdam Noord and NDSM, also operated by GVB company, are free indeed. You can find these blue-and-white ferries are directly behind Amsterdam Central Station. You don’t need a ticket to use these ferry boats.
4. What is a fine for travelling without ticket in Amsterdam?
The fine for travelling without a ticket valid ticket on public transport in Amsterdam is € 50 + to the cost of a travel ticket.
5. Are there senior discounts for public transport tickets in Amsterdam?
No, unfortunatelly not for the visitors. Senior 65+ discounts are only available for the residents.
6. Is my GVB ticket valid in night buses?
Yes, all GVB multi-day tickets are also valid in the night buses throughout the city. Otherwise, a single-ride ticket in a night bus costs € 5,40. It’s also possible to pay for the night bus with an OV-chipcard or OV-pay.
7. How does Amsterdam public transport work on New Year’s Eve?
Tip! Use the Glimble app to get the most up-to-date travel information:
On New Year’s Eve (31 December 2023) you can use all GVB buses, trams, metros and ferries in Amsterdam until 20.00.
On Sunday, 1 January 2024 the GVB timetable starts at 01:30. This applies to all GVB night buses, metro lines 52 and 54. A ticket for the night bus costs € 5,40. It is also included in GVB multi-day tickets. The timetable for Sundays and public holidays applies to all other GVB transport.
On New Year’s Eve (31 December 2023) there will also be no trains after 20:00. Train service will resume on New Year’s Day around 10:00.
On the Rotterdam-Schiphol-Amsterdam-Utrecht night network, a train will run every hour from 01:00 on New Year’s Day. And from 5:00 every half an hour. In 2024 also Haarlem will have a night train connection with Amsterdam on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Check the train departures times and plan your trip in advance! Happy holidays!
By the way, you can take canal cruises in Amsterdam both on 31 December 2023 (last departure at 15:15) and on 1 January 2024 (first departure on 10:00). Book tickets online to secure your spot.
Public transport in the Netherlands
Here you will find more detailed guides to travelling around the Netherlands by public transport:
- Travelling in the Netherlands by train
- Travelling from Schiphol airport to Amsterdam
- Travelling by international trains in the Netherlands
Read more:
- Amsterdam Light Festival 2023/2024
- 5 best places in Amsterdam for coffee with a view
- Things to do in Amsterdam with kids
- Amsterdam in one day: things to see and do
- Red Light District in Amsterdam
- Parking in Amsterdam
- Prices in Amsterdam: how expensive is Amsterdam?
- Lovers canal cruises in Amsterdam
About the author:
Last updated: 26 March 2024
why do you not mentiom senior citizen fares
There are no special senior citizen fares (or discounts) for non-resident visitors in public transport in the Netherlands.
You have to be very careful using the chipcards. I have just spent over E 20 because of confusing check in and check out gates.
Hi Noel, unfortunately those things happen indeed. It’s annoying but you can always get your money back.
Technically the problem here is a missed check out, so you can claim a refund here https://www.uitcheckgemist.nl/ or contact a transportation company’s customer service (this link is for NS –
https://www.ns.nl/en/customer-service/forgotten/check-in-or-out-forgotten.html). Good luck!
We are planning to visit Amsterdam in a couple of week. We will be going to Ann Frank’s house, Rijksmuseum, and Heineken Brewery, plus airport. What is the most inexpensive mode of transportation that will allow us to get to those locations? What is the estimated cost? Thank you.
It’s probably the best for you to get separate tickets for travelling from Schiphol airport and for transportation in Amsterdam (GVB tickets). Train tickets from the airport costs € 5,60 per person. You can check prices for GVB tickets in the article above. If you stay at a hotel in the city center, it can also be a good idea to get around by walking.
Can I travel to Keukenhof with one day bus pass from Amsterdam city?
Hi! You cannot travel to Keukenhof with a day GVB (Amsterdam public transport) pass. But you can travel with a day Amsterdam & Region travel ticket.
If you are from Maasdam, how do you get access to these cards and can you just go to Amsterdam or are you allowed to go to Rotterdam as well? What will the total cost be for this. First time in the Netherlands. Thank you so very much.
Hi Binita, if you travel outside Amsterdam, you will need other types of tickets. You can use https://9292.nl/ journey planner to see what kind of transport you can use and what your journeys will cost.
Here is the article that explains how to buy train tickets in the Netherlands https://holland-explorer.com/holland-by-train/ If you travel by bus, you can buy tickets from the driver (no cash, cards only).
Have a nice visit to the Netherlands!
Does the Netherlands offer unlimited transportation tickets for people who live in the Netherlands? Bus/Rail/Boat ? I’m moving to the Netherlands for 18 months and would like to know which options makes the best sense.
Hi, you can buy subscriptions (also for unlimited travel) from different transportation companies:
For example,
– rail https://www.ns.nl/nsflex/webshop#/bestelling/producten,pppt
– public transport (bus/tram/metro) https://reisproducten.gvb.nl/nl/abonnementen
Most of this information is in Dutch, but I hope Google Translate helps.
And welcome to the Netherlands 🙂
Are there discounted prices for children?
Yes, a ticket for children 4 – 11 years old costs €4 a day.
Hi I am going to land at Schiphol airport and then am staying at an Airbnb in Haarlem for 5 days where I will be travelling to Amsterdam and back to Haarlem on each of those days, what ticket is recommended?
Hi! Amsterdam & Region travel ticket (for 3 + 2 days) is a good option, especially if you also plan to use public transport in Amsterdam.
If you need tickets only for commuting between Amsterdam and Haarlem + Schiphol, then you can buy usual single or return train ticket (better to do it online, it will save you 1 euro per ticket).
From 2023, you can use contactless payments on Dutch public transport: on all domestic trains, metros, trams and busses. You travel 2nd class, regular full price. The price is the same as using the anonymous ov-chipcard. For occasional travvelers, this is often the easiest and the cheapest solution. You do not have to register or signup to use this. Apple Pay, Google Pay and many contactless debit and creditcards are supported.
Travelling using contactless works as following: At the start of your journey, place your smartphone or bank card in front of the reader to check-in. At the end of your journey, or if you transfer, check-out at the same way. Remove your bank card from your wallet, to ensure that the system uses the right card. The costs will be in your bank transfer statement the next day, along with a website link and code to get your travel itinerary. For all details, see the official website at http://www.ovpay.nl.
Hope this helps anyone!
Hi Rogier, thanks for the update!
At the airport I bought a 1.5 hour ticket. I scanned in to a bus but didn’t know we were suppose to scan out . When I got on another an alarm went off and he told me I need to tap out going forward . Will I be charged a fee for not tapping out now? I purchased the only valid for 1.5 hours anyway so I’m not sure
In general you have to check in and out every time you use public transport in the Netherlands.
But I’m not sure I understood your question correctly – did you have a single 1,5 hours ticket? Then there’s no way you’ll be charged something extra afterwards.
You should mention the fact that you can only get on and off the tram using the front and rear doors. First time I tried to use one I stood by the middle door like an idiot until someone told me to go to the front door.
HI,
Please can you tell me what the public transport is like on Sundays- do they run less frequently or stop after a certain time?
I’m planning a trip to Amsterdam and found this blog post incredibly helpful in learning about the public transportation options in the city. It’s great to know that there are so many ways to get around without a car, especially since parking can be a hassle. I’m looking forward to trying out the trams and buses during my visit. Thanks for sharing this useful information!
Hi! We are coming to the Netherlands in April to visit Keukenhof. Can we get there by public transport?
Hi Sally! Yes, you can travel to Keukenhof from Amsterdam by public transport. It’s not operated by GVB company mentioned in the article above. But there is a special Keukenhof Express bus line 852 which operates during the Keukenhof opening season. You can travel directly from Amsterdam RAI to the Keukenhof entrance. Have a nice trip!