Arrival

By plane
Schiphol International Airport is located just outside the city. It’s a large and sprawling airport and you can’t afford to run out of time on site. It can happen that after the security check you have to walk up to 30 minutes to the departure gate.

From the airport, cabs, hotel buses and trains go to the city center. The hotel bus goes to some of the main hotels one after the other. The train takes about 20 minutes to the main station. There are also trains directly to Germany and Belgium.

By train
In addition to the main train station (Centraal Station), there are about 10 other major train stations in the city. The Central Station is located in the city center and is served daily with direct connections from, for example, Germany (Berlin, Frankfurt), London, Paris, Brussels. In addition, trains from domestic rail traffic also stop here.

By bus
Some private bus companies offer trips to Amsterdam.

By car
It is very easy to get to Amsterdam by car. However, you should avoid driving into the city center. If there are parking spaces, they are very small and also expensive. If you park wrongly and get caught, you have to expect high fines.

It is better to park the car in the Park&Ride parking lots and go into the city by public transport. Here you should keep well to the “rules”, so that parking there is not too expensive:

• • When entering the parking lot you receive a parking ticket.

• • At a machine you insert this parking ticket and you can buy up to five P+R GVB cards per parking ticket.
    Attention!!! You have one hour to make this purchase after receiving the parking ticket.

• • In buses, streetcars or subways you have to hold the P+R GVB cards at a machine when getting on and off the bus. Getting off must be in the area of the center and one has one hour to get there.

• • For the return trip, the same conditions apply: Check-in at the center area and one hour of travel time, then check-out at the parking lot.

• • Payment is made by inserting the parking ticket into the machine. In addition, the P+R GVB cards must be held up to a reading surface. If the machine recognizes that you have been in the city area, you pay a different price than if you have not been there.

On the way in Amsterdam

By tram
The tram is the preferred means of transportation in the center. A total of 16 lines operate in the city, 11 of which stop at the main station.

Line 2 is suitable, even if it is quite crowded, for a short city tour. It goes from the central station past the palace, canals and museums.

With the metro
The metro in Amsterdam was built only in the seventies. Until now there are 5 routes.

By bus
There are only a few buses in the inner city area. Mainly buses are used for connections from some central points to the surrounding areas.

ATTENTION!!! The night buses, which run between the end of operation and the beginning of operation, have a different fare structure than the local public transport buses. Tickets are available from the driver.

With the ferries
If you want to go to the north of Amsterdam as a pedestrian or cyclist, you can take the free ferry.

The following free connections are offered:

• • Buiksloterwegveer CS – Buiksloterweg
    Monday-Sunday: 0-24 h

• • IJpleinveer CS – Ijplein
    Monday-Sunday: 6.20-23.50 h

• • NDSM-werfveer CS – NDSM-werf
    Monday-Thursday: 6.45-23.45 h
    Friday: 6.45-0.45h
    Saturday: 9.15-0.45h
    Sunday: 9.15-23.45h

• • Thistlewegveer Tasmanstraat – Thistleweg
    Monday-Friday: 6.30-19.30 h

• • Houthavenveer Tasmanstraat – NDSM-werf
    Monday-Friday: 6.45-23.55 h
    Saturday+Sunday: 9.00-23.40 h

Tickets for public transport
Tickets can be bought from the driver on buses and streetcars. They are always valid for a certain time, during which you can change vehicles as you wish. The only important thing is that you check out when you leave the vehicle and check in again when you get on.

There are tickets for 1, 24, 48,72,96, 120, 144, 168 hours. As everywhere in the Netherlands, the OV-chipcaats are used in Amsterdam. This card contains a chip and is loaded with any amount up to 30,-€. The fare is then determined at check-in and check-out in the vehicle and deducted from the credit. It is also possible to load annual or monthly subscriptions. The cards can be obtained at the counters of the transport companies or at special ticket machines.

By water taxi and water bus
When a city is so crisscrossed with canals, water transportation is a natural choice. In Amsterdam, there are several water taxis and water bus providers.

By rental boat
If you would like to discover the canals on your own, you can rent an environmentally friendly electric rental boat. There are several providers in the city. Here you get boats that you can drive without a license.

By bike
In Amsterdam, people ride bicycles. The city is considered a metropolis of cyclists and the necessary infrastructure is constantly being developed.

The city center in particular is difficult to navigate by car due to the many canals and narrow streets, so most city dwellers use bicycles. The bike lanes are well developed and you will find almost no parked paths. Who parks his car on the bike path can expect a fine of 90€.

The bike lanes, which may only be used in one direction, are usually 2 meters wide. So you can overtake well and it applies, who drives slowly stays on the right! Please pay attention to the hand signals that indicate turning, overtaking, … and of course also give hand signals accordingly.

Bike lanes that are used in both directions always have a white line marking the two lanes.

The bike lanes are visibly separated from the pedestrian lanes by their reddish sidewalk and partly existing curbs.

Good to know: Many bike paths may also be used by scooters (signs indicate this).

Anyone who parks their bike on lampposts or bridge railings, for example, and locks it there will first be notified that they are parking incorrectly with an orange sticker. However, it can also happen that the bike is removed and must be collected from a collection point for a fee. Those who have not picked up their bike there after 3 months can buy it back at an auction. However, there are numerous official bicycle parking areas in the city and also so-called stallings, some of which offer paid but guarded parking.

There are numerous bike rental stations in the city….

Parking

There are various options for parking in Amsterdam, depending on your budget and the proximity to the city center that you prefer. Please note that parking in Amsterdam is strictly enforced and you risk fines if you park outside the marked spaces or do not have a valid parking permit. It is also advisable not to leave valuables in the car to avoid theft.

Parking garages in the city center

If you want to park your car in the city center, Parking Center Amsterdam is a good option. It is the cheapest parking garage in the city center and is located right next to Amsterdam Central Station. The parking fee is €45.00 for a whole day.

Parking in residential areas

In some residential areas outside the city center, you may be able to park for free, especially on public holidays. However, it is important to note that parking in residential areas is often limited and you may have difficulty finding a free space.

Park & Ride (P&R)

Another option is to use the Park & Ride (P&R) facilities on the outskirts of Amsterdam. These are often cheaper than parking in the city center and offer good public transport connections. One example is the Zeeburg 1 P&R parking lot, which also offers spaces for motorhomes.

Parking at the port

If you are planning a cruise from Amsterdam or want to park your car for a longer period of time, there are good parking options in the harbor area behind Central Station.

Best time to visit

Amsterdam has a maritime climate, which is influenced by its proximity to the North Sea. This results in mild winters and cool summers. It is important to note that the weather in Amsterdam is often changeable and it can rain at any time of the year. In addition, the wind can be strong, especially in the winter months.

Spring (March to May)

In spring, the average temperatures in Amsterdam are between 8°C and 15°C. March is the driest month with an average of 9 rainy days, while April and May have around 13 rainy days each.

Summer (June to August)

The summer months in Amsterdam are mild to warm, with average temperatures between 17°C and 22°C. June has an average of 10 rainy days, while July and August have around 9 rainy days each.

Fall (September to November)

In the fall, temperatures in Amsterdam drop to an average of 10°C to 15°C. September and October each have around 13 rainy days, while November is slightly drier with an average of 12 rainy days.

Winter (December to February)

The winter months in Amsterdam are cold, with average temperatures between 2°C and 6°C. December and January each have around 12 days of rain, while February is the driest month with an average of 9 days of rain.

Language

You can also communicate very well with English in Amsterdam.