Getting Around Amsterdam
By Air
Amsterdam Luchthaven Schiphol (pronounced "Shh-kip-hole") (AMS) (17 km (11 mi) southwest of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands. 0900/0141, is the main passenger airport for Holland. With the annual number of passengers using Schiphol approaching 40 million, it is ranked among the world's top five best-connected airports. A hotel, a service to aid passengers with disabilities, parking lots, and a main office of The Netherlands tourist board (in Schiphol Plaza and known as "HTI" -- Holland Tourist Information) can prove most useful. The comprehensive Schiphol telephone service, charged at EUR.10 per minute, provides information about flight arrivals and departures as well as all transport and parking facilities.
Flying time to Amsterdam is 21½ hours from Auckland; 1 hour from London; 10½ hours from Los Angeles; 7 hours from New York; 20 hours from Sydney; and 8 hours from Toronto.
Metro
Amsterdam has a full-fledged subway system, the metro, but travelers will usually find trams and buses more convenient for getting around, as most metro stops are geared for city residents traveling to the outer suburbs. However, the Amsterdam metro can get you from Centraal Station (at the northern harbor edge of the city) to Amstel Station (a train station at the southeastern area of the city, with connections to many buses and trams) much faster than a tram, which makes many stops along the way.
Trams & Buses
Many tram and bus routes start from the hub at Centraal Station (Stationsplein, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Tel. 0900-9292 public transportation information).
A large bus depot is located on the Marnixstraat, across from the main police station, and there's another one at Harlemmermeer station in the Overtoomseveld neighborhood of western Amsterdam. Trams and buses run from about 6 AM to midnight daily. The tram routes, with a network of 130 km (80 mi) of track, make this characteristic form of transport more useful than the bus for most tourists. Night owls can make use of the hourly night-bus services, with double frequency on Friday and Saturday night, but routes are restricted.
Between stops, trams brake only when absolutely necessary, so listen for warning bells if you are walking or cycling near tram lines. Taxis use tram lines, but other cars are allowed to venture onto them only when turning right. The newer fleets of buses are cleaner, and therefore nicer to use, and bus lanes (shared only with taxis) remain uncongested, ensuring that you travel more swiftly than the rest of the traffic in rush hour. If the bus is very crowded, you may have to stand, so hold on to a handrail, as the buses can travel quite fast; to avoid rush hour, don't travel between 8 and 9 in the morning or between 4:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon. As with all urban systems of transportation, keep an eye out for pickpockets.
Ferries
Four ferry lines leave from Centraal Station, but only one is of any interest to tourists. The Buiksloterwegveer leaves from Pier 7 behind Centraal Station every 8 to 15 minutes, day and night. The ferry transports pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists across the IJ channel to North Amsterdam. There is no fee for the service. North Amsterdam may prove to be less interesting than the refreshing trip, which takes about five minutes.
Transfers Between the Airport and Town
If you wish to hop aboard a tram or bus to get to your hotel, go to one of the Gemeentevervoerbedrifj (GVB) Amsterdam Municipal Transport booths found in front of the Centraal Station. Here you can find directions, fare information, and schedules.
The KLM Hotel Bus shuttles between the airport and Amsterdam, serving 16 top hotels directly and many more that are close to these stops. Buses depart Schiphol Plaza every 20 minutes from 7am to 6pm and every 30 minutes from 6 to 9:30pm.
Bus no. 197 departs every half hour from in front of Schiphol Plaza for Amsterdam's downtown Marnixstraat bus station. This bus is much slower than both the train and the KLM Hotel Bus.
Taxis are expensive, but are the preferred choice when traveling with luggage, or if there are two or more people to share the cost. Taxi stands are located at both ends of the sidewalk in front of Schiphol Plaza. Taxis from the airport are all metered.
Walking
If you're going around on foot, remember that cars have the right of way when turning. When crossing a street, watch out for trams, buses, and bikes, too.
Use caution with children near the canals Protective fencing is rare, and the low metal railings won't prevent a fall into the water.
Biking
Almost everyone in Amsterdam rides a bicycle. There are special bike trails everywhere, as well as parking for bikes at most sites.
De Opstapper
The Opstapper, a transit van that travels the elegant Prinsengracht -- heart of the historic canal sector -- between Centraal Station and the Music Theater. For a one-zone stamp on your strippenkaart, you can get on or off anywhere along the Prinsengracht. There are no fixed stops. It passes within walking distance of the Anne Frank House, the Leidseplein, and many hotels. The buses run every ten minutes from 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM. There are eight seats and room for an additional eight standing passengers.