| Check out the following list of ways to get around | | | | central areas of Amsterdam where there is little need |
| Amsterdam. | | | | for buses. If you are staying outside the centre, |
| 1)By foot | | | | however, the buses in Amsterdam are fairly frequent, |
| As Amsterdam is extremely flat and laid out in a grid | | | | although you may be subjected to long traffic jams if |
| formation, it is perfectly suited to those who want to | | | | you travel at peak times. You can currently pay your |
| get around by foot. As long as you have a good map | | | | bus fair with OV-chipkaarts, day passes or |
| and don't mind a bit of walking, you can reach almost | | | | strippenkaarts. |
| all of the city's main attractions this way. If you are | | | | 5)By train and metro |
| staying in an Amsterdam hotel in the centre of town, | | | | There are four metro lines in Amsterdam and a small |
| getting around by foot is a relaxed and easy way to | | | | portion of underground network. The metro is the first |
| take in the city's sights. | | | | area of Amsterdam's public transport system to move |
| 2)By bicycle | | | | exclusively onto the OV-chipkaart system and |
| Hiring bicycles is one of the most popular options for | | | | passengers must pay for their journey per kilometre |
| people visiting Amsterdam, and many of the locals also | | | | and touch in and out at either end. Trains are normally |
| get around using pedal-power. If you are travelling from | | | | the best option if you plan to travel outside the city. |
| one of the Amsterdam hotels on the city's outskirts | | | | You can buy tickets over the counter, but they are |
| into the centre, you will no doubt have the pleasure of | | | | cheaper from the self-service machines. Fines of |
| a designated bike lane all the way. This may not | | | | 35 are issued immediately to anyone caught |
| continue throughout the whole of the city centre, but | | | | without a ticket. |
| bicycles have the right of way and drivers are more | | | | 6)By car |
| than used to accounting for wobbly tourists on bikes. | | | | It is possible to hire cars in Amsterdam but if you plan |
| 3)By tram | | | | to get around the central areas this way, you may find |
| There are no less than 18 tram lines in Amsterdam | | | | it more trouble than it's worth. The streets are very |
| and trams are the main form of transport in the city | | | | narrow in Central Amsterdam and traffic is dense with |
| centre. Nearly all of Amsterdam's main attractions and | | | | trams, cyclist and pedestrians all constantly crossing |
| museums have a tram stop right outside and the | | | | your path. Gas is also pretty expensive and parking is |
| routes are easy to work out. All stops have a map of | | | | hard to find. Many people with cars in Amsterdam |
| the city's system and most trams also have a small | | | | choose to park outside the city centre and then |
| conductor's office on board where you can ask | | | | commute in by tram, which sort of defeats the point. |
| questions if you need to. Amsterdam is currently in the | | | | 7)By taxi |
| process of converting its public transport payment | | | | Taxis in Amsterdam can be hailed from the pavement |
| system, but you can currently use strippenkaarts, day | | | | but they are quite an expensive way to get around. |
| passes or OV-chipkaarts on trams. This is likely to | | | | Most taxis are metered but it can be a trial to |
| change to OV-chipkaarts only in the near future. | | | | persuade your driver to put it on, especially if you get |
| 4)By bus | | | | picked up from Centraal Station. The government has, |
| There are dozens of bus routes that run from the | | | | however, brought in a new and fairer scheme with a |
| neighbourhoods around Amsterdam into the city | | | | set price of 7,50 for the first two kilometres. |
| centre. Buses are normally used by local commuters | | | | Whether you're driver will abide by this or not is |
| rather than tourists as the latter tend to stay in the | | | | another matter. |