Planning a trip to Amsterdam? Welcome to our online city guide! Here you will find brief practical information about Amsterdam and tips that will make your visit pleasant and enjoyable. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask in comments. You will get an answer from locals within 2-3 hours.
Travel to Amsterdam
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) is one of the major European airports. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Delta Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Malaysia Airlines have a significant presence here. Low-cost airlines, including airBaltic, Easyjet, Transavia also have direct flights to Amsterdam Schiphol. You can book ticket directly on vendor’s websites or use price comparison websites like Skyscanner or Expedia to check for all flight options.
If you are making European tour and fly to another city (Paris, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Berlin, etc.) you can easily get to Amsterdam by train. Check NS International website to order your train tickets online.
Travel from Schiphol to Amsterdam
Amsterdam Central train station is only 17 minutes away from Schiphol. A single train ticket costs €5,10. Alternatively you can take bus 197 (€5) that will take you from Schiphol Plaza to Leidseplein and Museum Square in 30 minutes.
Holland train journey planner. Check ns.nl for train schedules from/to airport and through the Netherlands.
Public transport journey planner. Check 9292.nl to plan your door-to-door trips by bus, tram, metro and train in the Netherlands.
Taxi ride from Schiphol to Amsterdam center will cost you from €40 to €50.
Hotels in Amsterdam
A 5-star hotel, cosy B&B, or a privately owned apartment – what would you prefer? Check 1100+ accommodations in Amsterdam, choose the one and book it online. We recommend you to book a hotel in Amsterdam as soon as you start planning your trip, as Amsterdam is a very popular destination amongst travellers.
Hostels in Amsterdam
For budget and adventurous travellers Amsterdam offers a variety of hostels. Some of them are conveniently located in the center of the city (Leidseplein, Red light district, Damrak, Herengracht) and offer an attractive price to the travellers.
Museums in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a home of over 40 different museums, from the world-famous Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum, to Museum of Bags & Purses, the Erotic Museum and Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum. To avoid long waiting lines at the entrance we highly recommend you ordering tickets to Amsterdam museums online.
You can also consider buying IAmsterdam City Card valid for 24/48/72 hours (€55/€65/€75) which gives free admission to dozens of museums and attractions in Amsterdam and works as your travel pass in Amsterdam city transport (GVB bus, tram, metro).
Transport in Amsterdam
Amsterdam city transport is operated by GVB company. You can get tickets from GVB machines or from the driver. GVB prices in 2015 are:
| Ticket valid for | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 hour | € 2,90 |
| 1 day – 24 hours | € 7,50 |
| 2 days – 48 hours | € 12,00 |
| 3 days – 72 hours | € 16,50 |
| 4 days – 96 hours | € 21,00 |
| 5 days – 120 hours | € 26,00 |
| 6 days – 144 hours | € 29,50 |
| 7 days – 168 hours | € 32,00 |
Children up to 4 y.o. travel for free. Ticket for children aged 4-11 costs € 2,50 per day. Please note that GVB tickets are not valid in transport operated by other companies (Arriva, Connexion etc.).
Amsterdam by bike
Renting a bike in Amsterdam costs on average from €6,50 to €13 a day, depending on the type of bike. You will find numerous bike rentals (MacBike, Yellow Bike, Black Bikes etc.) in the center of Amsterdam, next to Amsterdam Central Station. Be prepared to show your ID and leave a cash deposit (from €50 per bike).
Trips and tours from Amsterdam
Want to see more of the Netherlands? Head to Zandvoort aan Zee (30 minutes by train) and enjoy the North Sea. Explore the Dutch countryside in Vollendam fishing village. Visit old cities of Delft and the Hague. Or simply ask us for advice in comments and we will recommend you the places in the Netherlands that will definitely impress you.
More traveller’s tips about visiting the Netherlands – Holland-Explorer.com!