Amsterdam : Getting Around
The airport at Schiphol is 18 kilometers southwest of the city centre. The more expensive KLM bus will get you from the airport to the city hotel. If you've got money to burn, a taxi takes 20-45 minutes.
Amsterdam has an efficient public transport network. There is always a way to get anywhere you want to quickly and easily, and once you hit Central Station, you can actually walk to almost everywhere.
Buses are cheaper than trains. Amsterdam's main train station, Centraal Station, the central train and bus station, are on the south bank of the Ij and an inexpensive train service to Centraal Station leaves ever}' quarter hour and takes between 15 to 20 minutes.
There are regular and efficient connections throughout the country and to all neighboring countries. Train-ferry
The canals of Amsterdam may be very pretty to look at, but are actually murky moats... bathers beware!
services to Britain are also available or you can catch the Eurostar train through the Chunnel. Eurail passes are valid in The Netherlands. Ferries also run between Amsterdam and Norway while freeways link Amsterdam to The Hague, Rotterdam and Amersfort, and it's about a six-hour drive from Paris to Amsterdam.
The Netherlands is very agreeable for cyclists and there are dedicated cycle lanes throughout the country. Bikes are allowed on trains for a nominal charge and on ferries for very little, if any charge. Trams and buses are frequent and good ways to get around the central part of the city. Both accept the same tickets — each ticket is good for an hour's ride, so you can keep hopping into and out of buses and trams with the same ticket for a whole hour.
You can also rent a bike and ride around the city or take off into the surrounding countryside to see real windmills. You can reach most places in Amsterdam on foot, but there's also an efficient public transport system. It covers almost die whole city, though die canal belt can be tricky as trams and buses stick to die spoke' roads. Centraal Station acts as a hub where tram, bus, train and metro lines converge.
Trams are good for die inner city, buses go farther out, while the train is most useful for getting to die airport and die metro is best for getting to die international bus station. A free ferry crosses to Amsterdam North from near Centraal Station, and a variety of boats run organized tours on die canals.
Amsterdam taxis are among the most expensive in Europe and drivers are mostly rude. You're not supposed to hail cabs off the street, but no one seems to mind. If you're going to be around for a while, consider buying a second hand bike, and make sure you buy at least one lock.
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