By Tram & Bus in Amsterdam

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By Tram & Bus

Many tram and bus routes start from the hub at Centraal Station. A large bus depot is on the Marnixstraat, across from the main police station, and there's another one at Harlemmermeer station in the Overtoomseveld neighborhood of western Amsterdam. Trams and buses run from about 6 AM to midnight daily. The tram routes, with a network of 130 km (80 mi) of track, make this characteristic form of transport more useful than the bus for most tourists. Night owls can make use of the hourly night-bus services, with double frequency on Friday and Saturday night, but routes are restricted.

Between stops, trams brake only when absolutely necessary, so listen for warning bells if you are walking or cycling near tram lines. Taxis use tram lines, but other cars are allowed to venture onto them only when turning right. The newer fleets of buses are cleaner, and therefore nicer to use, and bus lanes (shared only with taxis) remain uncongested, ensuring that you travel more swiftly than the rest of the traffic in rush hour. If the bus is very crowded, you may have to stand, so hold on to a handrail, as the buses can travel quite fast; to avoid rush hour, don't travel between 8 and 9 in the morning or between 4:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon. As with all urban systems of transportation, keep an eye out for pickpockets.

In each tram, there is a clear diagram that depicts the route and the stops, including where you can transfer to other lines. There are never that many stops on a tram route, maybe 20 in total (if that many). If you ask the conductor, he will announce your stop. Alas, the colorful, decorated theme trams that were mobile "works of art" have ceased to be. The newest trams are sleek and modern, with large windows, more comfortable seating, and plasma screens that entertain passengers with ads and news reports. The entrance for new trams is wheelchair accessible, but the tram may be too crowded to board with a wheelchair. A digital display of the time and the next stop is highly visible, and above some windows, there's an additional digital display of the route, which is also announced over the sound system. You enter the tram in the middle section where the conducteur (ticket controller) stamps your strippenkaart. Older trams (recognizable by their small windows) are being phased out, but they still operate. For these, you need to enter at the back of the tram and either have your ticket stamped by the conductor in the booth or stamp it manually in the yellow ticket machine.

There are 16 tram lines servicing the city. Trams 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 13, 16, 17, 24, and 25 all start and end their routes at Centraal Station. The most frequently used trams by visitors are the 1, 2, and 5, which stop at the big central Dam Square and, along with 6, 7, and 10, also stop at Leidseplein square. The numbers 2, 3, 5, and 12 will get you to Museumplein and the Museum District. Trams 5, 16, 24, and 25 travel through Amsterdam's chic Zuid district. The No. 4 tram stops at the RAI convention center and the No. 5 will take you to Station South/World Trade Center. The remaining lines pass through East and West Amsterdam and take you farther outside the center city Centrum to areas generally more off the beaten track for tourists.

More than 30 GVB buses cover all the city's neighborhoods and are a good way to get closer to specific addresses. The Conexxion bus company operates about 50 different buses that will take you from Amsterdam to all areas of Holland. Most of these depart from Centraal Station. Buses 110 to 117 travel to the "folkloric" area of Noord-Holland, just to the north of the city, where favorite tourist destinations include Volendam, Marken, Edam, Hoorn, and Broek in Waterland.