In a nutshell
- Amsterdam has excellent public transport, which makes your city trip to Amsterdam even easier.
- The transport company GVB offers various ticket options and it’s not easy to get your head around them.
- We’ll show you which tickets you need for public transport in Amsterdam and how everything works.
Overview: GVB Tickets for Public Transport in Amsterdam
To use buses and trams in Amsterdam, you will, of course, need a ticket. At first glance, the various options seem confusing.
But it’s actually quite simple. We bring clarity to the ticket system for you.
You have the following ticket options to travel with the GVB:
| Ticket | Price | Where best to buy? |
|---|---|---|
| Single Tickets with OVpay The simplest option. You don't buy a ticket at all, but simply pay for each journey with your credit card. | from 1.40 Euro per trip | You pay directly when boarding with your credit card |
| Single Tickets without OVpay Valid for 1 hour for any number of journeys. You can buy it at the ticket machine or on the tram. | 3.40 Euro | At the ticket machine or in the tram |
| Day and Multi-Day Tickets Available from 1 to 7 days and valid for any number of trips | 9 to 41 Euro | Online |
| Amsterdam Travel Ticket Ticket for 1 to 3 days including airport transfer | 14 to 30 Euro | Online |
| iAmsterdam Card With this card you can use public transport in Amsterdam for 1 to 5 days and get free or discounted admission to many attractions. | 60 to 125 Euro | Online |
Single Tickets with OVpay: Easy and Cheap
OVpay is the easiest and usually cheapest way to travel by public transport in Amsterdam.
Whether you’re traveling by metro, tram or bus, simply hold your credit card up to the card reader and travel.
When you get off, you hold your card up to the card reader again and that’s it. Depending on the distance, you will then simply be charged the correct fare.
This works with all Visa and Mastercards, as well as Maestro and V-Pay cards (formerly EC cards). If you use Apple Pay or Google Pay, this will also work.
Important to know: Each passenger must use their own credit card. It is not possible for two people to travel with the same credit card.
OVpay is the cheapest option for almost all travelers to use public transport in Amsterdam.
There are really only two reasons why OVpay is not the best option for you:
- Not everyone in your travel group has their own card to use for this. If you are traveling with children in Amsterdam, for example, you would have to use a different credit card for each child.
- You use public transport a lot, for example because you have a cheap hotel in Amsterdam that is a bit out of town. Then a day ticket or multi-day ticket could be cheaper.
Single Tickets without OVpay: 1-hour Ticket
If you don’t want to use OVpay and don’t want to buy a day or multi-day ticket, you can buy hourly tickets on site.
The ticket costs 3.40 euros. You can use all metro, tram and bus lines within one hour and of course, also change trains.
You can buy the ticket from the ticket machines at the metro stations or on the tram. There is a ticket booth in the middle of each tram where a conductor sells these tickets.
Important: You can only pay for tickets by card. Tickets are not sold on buses and if there is no conductor on the tram (e.g. late at night), you cannot buy tickets there either.
Day and Multi-Day Tickets: for Frequent Travelers
If you travel a lot by public transport in Amsterdam, it is worth buying a day or multi-day ticket.
These are the prices and options for multi-day tickets:
| What? | Price |
|---|---|
| 24 hours (1 day) | 9 Euro |
| 48 hours (2 days) | 15 Euro |
| 72 hours (3 days) | 21 Euro |
| 96 hours (4 days) | 26,50 Euro |
| 120 hours (5 days) | 33 Euro |
| 144 hours (6 days) | 37,50 Euro |
| 168 hours (7 days) | 41 Euro |
Buy multi-day tickets
We recommend that you buy tickets for 1 to 7 days online. When you buy the tickets, you will receive a QR code on your smartphone. This is then your ticket. So you hold your smartphone up to the card reader when boarding and alighting.
Buy multi-day tickets online here
You can also buy tickets on site. Tickets for up to 4 days are available from all ticket machines, 1-day tickets can also be purchased on the tram. Tickets for 5 days or more can only be purchased on site at the ticket counters in the larger stations.
The ticket is activated as soon as you use it for the first time. It is always valid for a certain number of hours, not for full days.
For example, if you use a 48-hour ticket for the first time on a Tuesday at 12:00, it is valid until Thursday at 11:59.
Amsterdam Travel Ticket: Especially for Tourists
The Amsterdam Travel Ticket is a special offer for tourists. It is a normal 1 to 3 day ticket, with the difference that the airport transfer and the Dutch Railways trains within Amsterdam are still included.
In addition to all GVB transportation, you can use the Airport Express bus line 397 and the local train from the airport to Amsterdam Centraal station with the Travel Ticket. These are the two fastest options for transferring from Schiphol Airport to the city.
You can find more information about this in our detailed article about airport transfers in Amsterdam.
Important: Unlike the multi-day tickets, the Amsterdam Travel Ticket is only valid for full days. So if you use your 2-day ticket for the first time on Tuesday at 6 pm, for example, it is still only valid until Wednesday at 11:59 pm. This is a disadvantage compared to the normal multi-day tickets.
These are the prices for the Amsterdam Travel Ticket:
| What? | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 day | 18 Euro |
| 2 days | 24 Euro |
| 3 days | 30 Euro |
Buy Amsterdam Travel Ticket
You can buy the Amsterdam Travel Ticket online. Unfortunately, the ticket is not available digitally, but only as a paper ticket.
You will receive a QR code after purchase. At Schiphol Airport, you will find special machines where you can scan this QR code and get your paper ticket.
Buy the Amsterdam Travel Ticket here
I Amsterdam City Card: More Than Just Public Transport
If you are planning very intensive sightseeing in Amsterdam, the I Amsterdam Card could be worthwhile for you.
The I Amsterdam City Card is a city pass. In addition to your ticket for public transport in Amsterdam, it gives you free entry to many sights and museums in Amsterdam.
Read more about the I Amsterdam City Card
These are the prices for the I Amsterdam City Card:
| What? | Price |
|---|---|
| 24 hours (1 day) | 60 Euro |
| 48 hours (2 days) | 85 Euro |
| 72 hours (3 days) | 100 Euro |
| 96 hours (4 days) | 115 Euro |
| 120 hours (5 days) | 125 Euro |
Although the prices are significantly higher than for normal local transport tickets, it can still be worth it. For example, the I Amsterdam Card gives you free admission to the A’dam Lookout, the Rijksmuseum, the Moco Museum, the Nemo Science Museum and the Rembrandt House.
As the individual tickets for these attractions often cost 20 euros or more, this can quickly add up.
Buy the I Amsterdam Card
You can buy the I Amsterdam Card online. The card is completely digital. After purchasing, you need to install the I Amsterdam City Card app. Your card will then be displayed there.
Means of Transport in Amsterdam: Overview
Public transport in Amsterdam is excellent and gets you everywhere quickly and cheaply.
Most of Amsterdam’s sights are within walking distance of the city center. However, for some attractions or if your hotel in Amsterdam is a little out of town, you will definitely need public transport.
We will now show you which means of transport are available and what you need to look out for.
Metro or Subway in Amsterdam
The metro in Amsterdam runs on 5 lines with the numbers M50 to M54. The metro is very modern and reliable.
There are barriers at the entrance to the metro stations. There you have to scan your ticket or credit card. When you leave the station, you also have to scan your ticket.
Trams and Buses in Amsterdam
The tram system in Amsterdam has a total of 14 lines, many of which run in the city center. More than 50 bus lines take you to your destination, especially outside the city center.
On trams and buses, you will find scanners at all doors where you have to scan your ticket or credit card when getting on and off.
Our tip: you don’t have to wait until the last moment before scanning your ticket when getting off. As soon as the bus or tram has left the stop before your desired station, you can already check out. This is especially handy with children or if you have several tickets on one smartphone.
Ferries in Amsterdam
The GVB operates a total of 10 ferries. The connections from Centraal station to Amsterdam Noord are particularly interesting for tourists.
If you want to go to the A’dam Lookout or the NDSM shipyard, for example, the ferry is the best means of transportation.
The ferries are completely free. You can simply hop on and ride along.
Frequently Asked Questions about Public Transport in Amsterdam
Which public transport ticket do you recommend?
We can’t say that across the board, but our rule of thumb is:
- If you only travel occasionally, use OVpay.
- If you use public transport a lot, buy a multi-day ticket.
- If you want to visit a lot of paid attractions, get the I Amsterdam Card.
Are there reduced-price GVB tickets for children?
Children up to the age of 3 travel free of charge.
From the age of 4, children need their own ticket. Unfortunately, it’s not quite so easy with the discounted tickets.
Multi-day tickets and travel tickets are only available at full price.
However, there is a discounted 24-hour ticket for children aged 4 to 11. This costs 4.50 euros, half the price of a normal day ticket.
However, you can only buy this ticket at GVB sales counters in the major stations, not online and not from ticket machines.
OVpay offers the option of registering a credit card for children and paying a reduced price with it. However, this is quite time-consuming and not worthwhile for a short stay.
You need to install the OVpay app, register the credit cards for the children and upload photos. Once all this has been done, a reduced price will always be charged for this credit card.
Does every card really work with OVpay?
We tried it with various cards and they all worked. According to the GVB, OVpay works with all foreign (i.e. non-Dutch) Master Card and Visa cards, as well as with V-Pay and Maestro cards, i.e. the former EC cards.
Unfortunately, only American Express cards do not work.
How do I know how much a journey costs with OVpay?
The price for each journey depends on which means of transport you use and how far you travel with it.
You can enter where you want to travel from on the GVB website or in the GVB app in the journey planner and you will then be shown the price for this journey.
Just have a look before your trip and enter the journey from your accommodation to the city. Then you’ll quickly get a feel for whether a multi-day ticket would be more worthwhile for you.
What happens if I forget to hold my card up to the card reader again before getting off?
You’d better not forget it. You can’t forget it on the subway as you have to present your card or smartphone at the barriers to get out of the station.
On the bus or streetcar, however, you can simply get off without checking out. In this case, you will be charged 4 euros for the journey within Amsterdam.
If you are charged more, you can request a refund on the OVpay website.
Which means of transport can I use with OVpay?
In Amsterdam, you can use OVpay for all GVB transportation, i.e. buses, trams and the metro.
You can also use OVpay for all Dutch Railways trains, e.g. for the train to transfer from Schiphol Airport to the city.
You can also use OVpay if you want to make trips from Amsterdam by train (e.g. to Zaanse Schans or Haarlem).
Is public transportation in Amsterdam barrier-free?
Transportation in Amsterdam is barrier-free. All metro stations are equipped with elevators. The streetcars and buses have no steps.
Can I take my bike on buses and trains in Amsterdam?
If you want to transport your bike by bus or train, this is sometimes possible.
Bicycles are permitted in metros and on tram line 26 outside rush hour (7:00 to 9:00 and 16:00 to 18:30). There are designated areas on the trams where you are allowed to transport your bike. You can recognize these by a sign on the door.
You are not allowed to take your bike on any other tram or buses.
To take your bike with you, you need an additional bike ticket for 2.20 euros. This can be purchased from ticket machines and on tram no. 26.
Bicycles are allowed on the ferries around the clock and are free of charge.
How do I get from the airport to the city?
A local train runs from the airport to Amsterdam Centraal station in 15 minutes. The Airport Express bus, number 397, also runs to 10 different stations in the city.
You can use both means of transport with OVPay or with the Amsterdam Travel Ticket. You can also buy separate tickets for each. Unfortunately, multi-day tickets are not valid.
You can find all the important information in our article on airport transfers in Amsterdam.
Are there hop-on hop-off buses in Amsterdam?
As in most major cities in Europe, there are hop-on hop-off buses in Amsterdam especially for tourists. However, public transport tickets are not valid on these buses.
Do you still have questions about public transportation in Amsterdam?
These were our tips on public transport in Amsterdam. We hope that we have brought some clarity to the fare jungle and that you can enjoy your city trip stress-free. Do you have any questions or comments? We look forward to your comment.