The GVB Is Good, Actually
Before I had a bike — the first six weeks — I relied entirely on the GVB, Amsterdam’s public transport operator. I came expecting something like Tokyo’s network. It is not that. But it is better than people say.
The app first
Download the GVB app immediately. Real-time departures, route planning, your OV-chipkaart balance. The 9292 app is the national journey planner and covers trains and buses beyond Amsterdam too. Both are free. Between them you can navigate anything.
Pay by contactless bank card or phone directly on the tram or bus — tap in when you board, tap out when you leave. If you forget to tap out you’ll be charged the maximum fare. I forgot three times in my first month. Don’t be me.
Key lines to know
Tram 2 and 12 run from Centraal through the centre to the Museum Quarter — Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk. Metro 52 (the North/South line) connects Centraal with De Pijp in about 5 minutes — faster than cycling on a rainy day. Tram 1, 7, and 17 reach the western neighbourhoods including the Jordaan area.
The ferries are GVB and free. Four routes cross the IJ to Noord. Buiksloterweg is 24 hours. They are genuinely pleasant — 2 minutes crossing, good views, no charge. If you are only in Amsterdam for a day, take the ferry at least once.
Trains to Schiphol run from Centraal every 10-15 minutes, take about 17 minutes, cost around €5 with OV-chipkaart. Do not take a taxi to the airport from central Amsterdam. It’s a decision you will regret on several levels.
