City Guide

Amsterdam

Population

±950,000

Public transport

Trams, buses, metro, ferries

Official city site

amsterdam.nl

Time zone

CET (UTC+1/+2)

Getting around Amsterdam

Amsterdam’s markets are full of colour, fresh food and street food from many countries. A great way to shop, eat well and experience local and international life.

Albert Cuypmarkt | De Pijp

Amsterdam’s best-known outdoor market, with fresh food, clothing, household products and street food from many cultures.

Open: Mon – Sat

View Albert Cuypmarkt
Ten Katemarkt | Oud-West

A friendly neighbourhood market for fruit, vegetables, groceries and international street food. It is located next to De Hallen.

Open: Mon – Sat

View Ten Katemarkt
Dappermarkt | Amsterdam-Oost

A lively multicultural market with around 200 stalls selling fresh produce, fish, flowers, clothing and food from different cultures.

Open: Mon – Sat

View Dappermarkt
Waterlooplein Market | Centrum

Amsterdam’s well-known flea market for second-hand clothing, books, antiques, bicycle parts, art, souvenirs and unusual finds.

Open: Mon – Sat

View Waterlooplein Market
More to discover

Noordermarkt

Nieuwmarkt

Sunday Market

Museum Market

Street Markets

Must-try food in Amsterdam

Top tourist attractions and sights

Exhibitions, Festivals and Events in Amsterdam

Popular areas

De Pijp

Amsterdam Oud-West

Amsterdam-Oost

De Plantage

Nearby highlights

Sarphatipark

De Hallen

Oosterpark

Rembrandt House area

Westerpark

Vondelpark

Local favorites to look for

Fresh stroopwafels

Thin waffels filled with
warm syrup.

Kibbeling

Crispy fried fish pieces,
usually with sauce.

Cheese

Dutch cheeses and many international varieties.

International street food

Flavours from Suriname, Turkey,
Indonesia, Morocco and more.

Meet people, practise Dutch & find support

OBA Taalcafé

Practise speaking Dutch in a friendly group at different OBA library locations.

BOOST Amsterdam

A welcoming meeting place where newcomers and other Amsterdam residents learn and participate together.

De Meevaart

A resident-led community space where neighbours meet, organise activities, share skills.

Huis van de Wijk

Community houses offer places to meet neighbours, join local activities.

Buurtteam Amsterdam

Contact your local buurtteam with questions about housing, money, work, health, etc.

Volunteer Centre

Find volunteer work that matches your interests and availability.

Amsterdam has trams, buses, metro lines, trains and ferries. Most local transport is operated by GVB, while NS operates the national train network. You can travel easily once you understand how to plan your journey, check in and out, and choose the right parking option.

Plan your journey

Use the GVB app to see routes, departures in real time.

Plan with GVB
Pay as you travel

Check in and out with your contactless using OVpay.

How OVpay works
Travelling by train

Use NS for journeys to other Dutch cities and to and from Schiphol Airport.

Plan a train journey

Which type of transport should you use?

  • Tram: for short trips in the centre and nearby neighbourhoods.
  • Metro: fast for longer distances and connections.
  • Bus: reaches areas not directly served by tram or metro.
  • Train (NS): for Schiphol Airport and journeys to other Dutch cities.
  • Ferry: connects Amsterdam-Noord and other parts of the city. IJ ferries are free for pedestrians, cyclists and mopeds.

Parking in Amsterdam
Most street parking in Amsterdam is paid. Parking conditions and prices vary by neighbourhood, so always check the signs, parking machine or official information before leaving your car. Use only official parking machines or recognised payment apps.

Consider P+R (Park and Ride)

Park outside the centre and continue by public transport at a reduced rate.

Read the P+R instructions before travelling.

The discount has specific conditions. Your journey must begin and end in the correct area, and regular contactless OVpay cannot currently be scanned as proof of the public-transport journey when paying the reduced P+R rate.

IMPORTANT!

  • When changing between different operators, follow the check-out and check-in signs.
  • A physical bank card and the same card stored in a phone are treated as different payment methods. Always use the same card or device when you check in and out.
  • Forgot to check out?
    You can usually correct the journey through the relevant transport operator or OVpay service.
    Read more on NS
Routes & schedules
Official resources

Good to know

Let passengers exit before boarding | Avoid rush hours when possible | Official taxis have a blue number plate, roof light, taximeter and driver permit