The City of Canals · Amsterdam's compact canal ring is ideal for walking and cycling, but trams and the Metro reach every neighbourhood quickly.
Navigate Amsterdam with CityNav →Amsterdam's compact canal ring is ideal for walking and cycling, but trams and the Metro reach every neighbourhood quickly. The GVB network is reliable, frequent and easy to navigate.
Best pass for tourists: I Amsterdam City Card
Amsterdam has 8 public transit lines, including 5 metro/subway lines. CityNav supports all of them for offline and real-time navigation.
+ 16 more stations supported in CityNav
Get real-time turn-by-turn directions, AR walking navigation, offline transit maps and SOS emergency alerts — all designed for tourists exploring Amsterdam.
Open CityNav — Free →Yes — Intercity trains connect Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal in about 15 minutes, running every 10–15 minutes. Some GVB Metro lines also serve the airport. An OV-chipkaart or I Amsterdam City Card covers both.
Bicycles are generally not permitted on GVB trams, Metro, or buses during peak hours. Most tourists find hiring a bicycle more practical — Amsterdam's flat terrain and dedicated cycle lanes make cycling between sights easy.
The OV-chipkaart is a stored-value transit card for paying fares. The I Amsterdam City Card is a tourist pass bundling unlimited GVB transit with free museum entry (Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and more) — better value for a 24–72 hour sightseeing stay.