How to Get Around in Amsterdam: The Complete Public Transport Guide

OV-chipkaart Anonymous

Best for:

• Visitors staying in the Netherlands for 5–7days who don’t want to register personal data..
• People sharing the card with friends or family (but not at the same time).

Advantages

✅ Costs €7.50 (for the card itself, without balance).
Can be loaded with pay-as-you-go credit or temporary subscriptions (like monthly passes).
✅ Works for all public transport in the Netherlands: buses, trams, metros, and NS trains.
Can be bought at machines in stations and some stores like Albert Heijn and Bruna.
✅ No personal registration required..
✅ Can be used by anyone (but not simultaneously).

❌ Disadvantages:

• No refund if lost.
• No discounts on fares (like 40% off off-peak train trips).
• Need a minimum balance of €20 for trains and €4 for metros/buses/trams.
• No access to personalized subscriptions like NS Flex.

Where to buy:

• Convenience stores (AKO, Bruna, some supermarkets).
• Ticket machines at stations.

OV-chipkaart Personal (Persoonlijke OV-chipkaart)

Best for:

• Residents in the Netherlands or anyone staying over a month who wants discounts.
• People signing up for monthly or annual transport plans.

Advantages
✅ Costs €7.50, ordered online and delivered to your Dutch address.
✅ Personalized with your name and photo..
✅ Allows subscriptions for transport .
✅ Can link to a Dutch bank account for auto top-ups.
✅ Discounts on train travel (like 40% off off-peak travel with Dal Voordeel).
✅ Refundable if lost.

❌ Disadvantages:

• Only the cardholder can use it.
• Takes a few days to arrive(not for immediate use).
• Must have a Dutch address.
• Some subscriptions require a Dutch bank account.

How to order?

• Order from: www.ov-chipkaart.nl.

Comparison: Anonymous vs. Personal

When to choose each:

• Short-term visitors (less than a month): OV-chipkaart Anonymous.
• Residents or long-term stays → OV-chipkaart Pessoal, especially if you want subscriptions and discounts.

more information

GVB Day or Multi-Day Tickets

(GVB Day Ticket e Multi-Day Tickets)

Best for:

✔️ Tourists only using transport within Amsterdam..
✔️ Anyone wanting unlimited rides on GVB trams, buses, and metros.
Avoiding the hassle of topping up an OV-chipkaart.

Advantages

✅ Unlimited rides within Amsterdam on GVB transport (doesn’t cover NS trains).
✅ 1 to 7-day options, (€9.50–€42.50)..
✅ No minimum balance required.
✅ Physical or digital tickets availableat machines, counters, or online.
✅ Activated on first use, valid until 4 AM the day after expiration.

❌ Disadvantages:

• Doesn’t cover intercity trains(like to the airport).
• Only valid on GVB-operated transport,not Connexxion or EBS buses.
• May cost more than pay-per-ride if you’re using transport infrequently.

When is it worth it?

• If you’re staying up to 7 days and plan to use public transport frequently within Amsterdam..
• If you want the convenience of unlimited travel without worrying about topping up your card or individual fares.

Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket (ARTT)

(Bilhete para transporte ilimitado dentro e fora de Amsterdã)

Best for:

✔️ Visitors wanting to see places like Zaanse Schans, Haarlem, Volendam, Marken, and Keukenhof..
✔️ Need for regional buses (Connexxion, EBS, Arriva)plus GVB transport.

Advantages

✅ Unlimited travel in the Amsterdam metro area,including regional buses.
✅ Covers short-distance NS train rides in the region..
✅ 1, 2, or 3-day options:, custando €21, €31,50, €40,50. respectivamente.
✅ Covers popular tourist spots around Amsterdam, like Zaanse Schans, Haarlem, Volendam, Edam, Marken, Muiden and Keukenhof..

❌ Disadvantages:

• Doesn’t cover longer-distance trains to cities, like Rotterdam or Utrecht.
• No free entry to attractions. (ao contrário do I amsterdam City Card).

When is it worth it?

• If your trip includes Keukenhof in the spring, since it covers the buses that take you there.
• Se você quer explorar não apenas Amsterdã, mas também cidades vizinhas e vilarejos turísticos.

more information

We used this for our trip—it was super practical for visiting Keukenhof and Zaanse Schans!

I Amsterdam City Card

(Pacote de transporte + atrações turísticas)

Best for:

✔️ Tourists wanting to visit museums and attractions plus public transport.
✔️ All-inclusive sightseeing and travel in Amsterdam.

Advantages

✅ Unlimited GVB travel .
✅ Free entry to attractions like the Rijksmuseum, NEMO Science Museum, ARTIS Zoo, and canal cruises..
✅ Discounts on other activities.
✅ 24h, 48h, 72h, 96h, and 120h options, (€60–€125).

❌ Disadvantages:

• No airport transport included..
• Não cobre trens para outras cidades, como Zaanse Schans, Haarlem ou Utrecht.
• Not ideal if you won’t visit many included attractions.

When is it worth it?

• If you plan to visit lots of museums and attractions and want to save money.
• If your trip is packed with sightseeing, making the most of each day to explore the city's famous landmarks.

more information

Amsterdam Travel Ticket (ATT)

(Bilhete para transporte ilimitado + Aeroporto)

Best for:

✔️ Visitantes que querem transporte ilimitado em Amsterdã + traslado do Aeroporto Schiphol.
✔️ Quem chega e sai da cidade pelo aeroporto e quer um bilhete que cubra tudo.

Advantages

✅ Viagens ilimitadas em metrôs, ônibus, bondes e balsas da GVB.
✅ Inclui ida e volta entre o Aeroporto Schiphol e Amsterdã, tanto de trem NS (2ª classe) quanto nos ônibus Airport Express (397) e N97.
✅ Disponível em opções de 1 a 3 dias, custando €17 (1 dia), €24,50 (2 dias) e €28 (3 dias).
✅ Fácil compra: disponível no aeroporto, online e em estações.

❌ Disadvantages:

• No regional buses (Connexxion/EBS).
• Not valid for regional destinations like Zaanse Schans.

When is it worth it?

• If you’re in the city for 1 to 3 days and want a hassle-free ticket for getting around.
• If you’re arriving and departing from Schiphol and prefer a single ticket that also covers the airport-city transfer.

Using Contactless Credit/Debit Cards

Best for:

✔️ Turistas que não querem comprar bilhetes físicos ou se preocupar com saldo no OV-chipkaart.
✔️ Quem pretende usar transporte público ocasionalmente, sem precisar de um passe diário ou semanal.
✔️ Viajantes que já possuem um cartão contactless habilitado para pagamentos internacionais.

Advantages

✅ Disponível em bondes, ônibus e metrôs da GVB, além dos trens NS e algumas rotas regionais da Connexxion e EBS.
✅ Basta aproximar o cartão de crédito ou débito (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro ou VPay) no leitor ao entrar e sair do transporte.
✅ Sem necessidade de OV-chipkaart, bilhete físico ou saldo pré-carregado.
✅ Tarifa cobrada por viagem, com cálculo automático da melhor tarifa ao longo do dia.

❌ Disadvantages:

• Not all international cards are accepted.
• Can be more expensive than day/multi-day passes if you use transport often.
• Must remember to tap in/out to avoid maximum fare charges.

When is it worth it?

• If you only use public transport a few times a day and want to avoid the hassle of buying tickets or topping up a balance.
• If you’re not staying long enough to make it worthwhile to buy an OV-chipkaart or a multi-day pass OV-chipkaart ou um passe multi-dias.
• If you want a practical, paperless experience, just using your credit/debit card.