Amsterdam Public Transport: The Complete Guide to Trams, Metro, Buses and Ferries

The city is compact enough that many visitors barely need public transport for sightseeing in the centre, but it becomes essential once you are staying outside the Canal Ring, heading to De Pijp or Amsterdam Noord, or catching a night bus after the last tram has gone. GVB operates the trams, metro lines, buses and the free ferries across the IJ, while NS runs the national trains that connect Amsterdam to Schiphol and other Dutch cities.

If you are still deciding where to base yourself, it is worth reading our guide to where to stay in Amsterdam alongside this one, since your choice of neighbourhood affects how much you will lean on trams versus simply walking or cycling.

How to pay: OVpay and contactless

The simplest way to travel in 2026 is OVpay, the contactless payment system that lets you tap your bank card or phone directly on the yellow and grey readers at metro gates, tram doors and bus entrances. There is no need to buy a ticket in advance.

See our full guide on paying for Amsterdam transport for more detail. You must tap in at the start of every journey and tap out at the end, even on trams and buses where there is no gate. Fares are calculated by distance, so forgetting to tap out at the end of your trip means you risk being charged a maximum fallback fare. On the metro you tap in and out at the yellow poles by the gates; on trams and buses the readers are near the doors.

Trams, metro, buses and ferries

Trams are the backbone of the network and the easiest way to get a feel for the city, since most lines pass through or near the centre. Our separate Amsterdam tram guide covers routes and etiquette in detail if you want the full picture, including which lines pass the Rijksmuseum, Vondelpark and De Pijp.

Our dedicated Amsterdam metro guide covers this in more depth, but the metro is faster for longer hops, particularly the Noord/Zuidlijn (line 52) connecting Amsterdam Noord to the south via Centraal and Zuid stations, and the ring lines (50, 51, 53, 54) that serve the outer districts. Buses fill in the gaps, especially useful late at night and for reaching areas like Amsterdam Noord or the outskirts not covered by tram lines.

Ferries across the IJ river, run by GVB, are free for pedestrians and cyclists and a genuinely pleasant way to reach Amsterdam Noord, NDSM Wharf or the EYE Filmmuseum. They run frequently, some 24 hours a day, and you simply walk or wheel your bike on.

Night buses

Once trams and the metro stop running, usually around midnight to 1am, a network of night buses (numbered in the 300s) takes over on major routes until early morning. They run less frequently, often every 30 to 60 minutes, so check the GVB app or Google Maps before relying on one to get you home.

Tickets and passes: what to actually buy

See our Amsterdam travel cards guide for a full comparison. For a short visit, OVpay contactless is usually the least hassle and often cheaper than a pass if you are only taking a handful of rides. For longer stays or heavy use, GVB's unlimited day passes can work out better value, especially if you are combining sightseeing trips across trams, metro and buses on the same day.

GVB versus NS trains

GVB and NS are separate companies with separate ticketing, which trips up a lot of visitors. GVB runs city trams, metro and buses; NS runs the yellow-blue intercity and sprinter trains that link Amsterdam Centraal, Amsterdam Zuid and other stations to Schiphol, Utrecht, Rotterdam and beyond.

OVpay works across both networks using the same contactless tap in/out system, but the fares are calculated separately, so a journey involving both a train and a tram will show as two separate charges on your statement. If you are planning day trips, our guide to day trips from Amsterdam has more on which stations to use for each destination.

Buying and topping up

• Contactless bank card or phone: works immediately, no setup needed, tap in and out every time.
• GVB tickets and passes: buy via the GVB app, at Tickets & Info shops, or from the yellow machines near major stops.
• OV-chipkaart: the older Dutch travel card is being phased out for casual travellers in favour of OVpay, so most visitors can skip it.
• Group and family tickets: check the GVB website for occasional discounted options if travelling with several people.

Accessibility

Most metro stations have lifts, and newer tram models are low-floor with a fold-out ramp that the driver can extend on request. Older tram types on some lines still have steps, so if you use a wheelchair or have a pushchair, it is worth checking the GVB accessibility pages for your specific route before travelling, or timing your trip for a low-floor tram.

Practical tips for first-time riders

• Board through any door on trams and buses, but always tap in as you board and tap out as you leave.
• Metro platforms have full-height gates; you cannot get onto the platform without tapping in.
• Download the GVB app or use Google Maps, both give live departure times which are usually accurate to the minute.
• Keep your phone or card ready before you reach the reader to avoid holding up the queue.
• If you are cycling instead, see our cycling in Amsterdam guide, since bikes and trams share some of the same streets and it helps to know the rules both ways.

Final thoughts

Amsterdam's public transport is dense, frequent and easy to use once you have tapped in a couple of times. For most short trips OVpay is the path of least resistance, while a multi-day GVB pass earns its keep if you are moving around a lot each day. Whichever you choose, remember it is a completely separate system from NS trains, which matters most when you are working out how to get here from Schiphol in the first place. Pair a day pass with our 2-day or 3-day itinerary and you can cover most of the best things to do in Amsterdam without ever needing a taxi.