Amsterdam’s integrated public transport system is run by the municipal transport company, GVB (website: www.gvb.nl), which has an information office at Centraal Station. A map of all tram and bus routes in Amsterdam is available from tourist offices or the GVB office by Centraal Station.Amsterdam’s four metro lines all start at Centraal Station and serve the southeastern business district and the suburbs. The trains run Monday to Friday 06:00 till 24:15 (Saturday from 06:30 and Sunday from 07:30).
For single rides, a strippenkaart can be used. This needs to be stamped every time a tram, bus or metro is boarded – each journey uses one strip, plus a strip for every zone travelled. Once stamped, a ticket is valid for an hour, regardless of how often a change of tram or bus is made. It is cheaper for one to buy a strippenkaart before boarding the public transport system than it is to pay the fare in cash. Strippenkaarten are available from tourist offices, tobacco shop and large hotels for €1.60 for two units (the minimum required for travel in one zone), €6.20 for 15 units or €18.30 for 45 units. Not having a valid ticket incurs a spot fine of €37.40, plus the cost of the ticket; ticket inspections are common.
Visitors spending plenty of time traveling around the city are advised to buy a day pass, for €6- to €7-, two-day pass for €10 and three-day pass for €13. Water Travel Not surprisingly, there are several modes of water travel in Amsterdam. In addition to public ferries, canal buses (tel: (020) 626 5574; website: www.canal.nl) travel between Centraal Station and the Rijksmuseum, every 25-45 minutes – fares vary between the different service providers, but expect to pay around €16 for a day pass or €1.50 for a single ticket. The special Museum Boat departs from Prins Hendrikkade, every 30 minutes in summer and every 45 minutes in winter, stopping off at the city’s main museums. Call (020) 622 2181 for more information.
Canal taxis, which can carry up to 40 passengers, are also available. They can either be hailed from the canal-side or ordered in advance daily 0800-0100, from Water Taxis (tel: (020) 535 6363; website: www.water-taxi.nl). The smallest taxi costs €85 for the first 30 minutes and €70 for each subsequent 30 minutes within the city limits.
Alternatively, visitors can hire canal bikes and boats to explore the canals. These are available from Canal Bike, Weteringschans 24 (tel: (020) 626 5574; fax: (020) 624 1033; website: www.canal.nl), who have 100 canal bikes and are open daily 0900-1800. A four-person canal bike costs €8 per person per hour, if there is only one or two passengers, and €7 per person per hour, if there are three or four passengers. A deposit of €50 per canal bike is required. Canal Bike also organizes group tours of Amsterdam and Utrecht.