2

I'm going to visit Amsterdam on a 3-day vacation from 22–25 December, and I was wondering if someone could give me some tips on how to get around.

The hotel is on Heathrowstraat, Westpoort, Amsterdam

Edit: I'll just get around using public transport. I'd like to visit at least Vondelpark, the Van Gogh Museum and the centre of Amsterdam. From Heathrowstraat, what are the best ways to get to those places? Also I've heard of a "card" that should cost around 25€ and allows to travel with every public transport for N days, is it correct? Where can I buy it?

12
  • 1
    2 feet? Buses? Trams? Taxis? Bikes? Other than wanting recommendations, which are explicitly off-topic for the site, I'm not quite clear what your question is?
    – Gagravarr
    Dec 9, 2015 at 12:58
  • 1
    What transport you should use depends on what you want to do and your ability/preferences. This is not really meaningfully answerable.
    – user35890
    Dec 9, 2015 at 14:17
  • 1
    We can help you with how to get from your hotel to places you are interested in, or similar, but your question is so vauge at the moment as to be unanswerable. If you want general guideance, perhaps pick up a copy of Lonley Planet or similar.
    – CMaster
    Dec 9, 2015 at 15:09
  • 1
    The problem with renting a bike is the heavy (bike) traffic, which may behave in an unfamiliar way. If you are comfortable with that, a bike is a great way to get around. Bring good rain gear. Otherwise, the trams are great, too. If you have a destination that is difficult to reach by tram or metro, and you don't have a bike, you can take the occasional taxi. Check the scale of the city ... you can walk from one end of the central district to the other in 20 or 40 minutes.
    – phoog
    Dec 9, 2015 at 16:30
  • 2
    Public transport within Amsterdam City: travel.stackexchange.com/questions/37548/… But most of the things you mention will be within 60 minutes walking from your hotel, 30 minutes from each other, so it is up to you whether you want a public transport pass.
    – Willeke
    Dec 9, 2015 at 19:23

2 Answers 2

5

Before you go to Amsterdam, make a simple plan, work out how much you can actually do in the time in the city.
If each day you only take the tram twice, once to go into the center of town and once back to your hotel, you are likely better off with 'one time use' tickets. But if you want to flit all over, the pass of the GVB which includes a return rail ticket to the airport. Be aware that with this pass you can only use GVB buses, trams and Metros, not the other buses that are also running in the area.
A good option for you might be the pass that allows you free travel within the city center as well as free entry to some museums and attractions as well as reductions on other things to do in the city.

For more transport information see this question, (remember prices may have gone up.)

Alternatively, if you like cycling and the weather is promising to be good, hiring a bike can be a good option.
Amsterdam is good for cycling, the worst thing for most tourists is that it is too busy. But wait till the traffic lights down the road have changed and get on between the rushes of crowds or wait till after the rush hour, say after 9:00 AM. Get a good map for cyling and work out routes that use cycle routes, you will find that you have many options that way.

I would go to one main museum per day, maybe a small one extra if you see on you really like. Set some time aside for shopping, for sitting outside people watching and enjoy a drink, the traditional Dutch cafes are great for that. You will find them at almost every second corner in much of the city. These sell drinks from coffee and soft drinks to hard spirits.

Plenty restaurants all over the city, the cheaper ones are mostly in the smaller streets behind the most famous streets or in the general area of sights. More information about the city on many websites, likely also on in your language. I like this one, as it seems to cover everything.

Photo of the house boat museum in Amsterdam
This is one of the small museums you might like to add, the Houseboat museum.
Photo by Willeke and can be used under Creative Commons rules.

1
  • thank you very much, these are exactly the informations I wanted! :)
    – LS_
    Dec 11, 2015 at 7:35
2

You may find a useful article about public transportation in Amsterdam is quite extensive and I think covers basic knowledge to know for the first visit. https://www.shortwalk.me/amsterdam-guide-to-public-transportation/

Metro and trains are well organized and there are maps if your phone would die. Amsterdam is not big and you can walk a lot especially if the weather is good.

0

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .