Arrival & Transport

From Germany

The train is the best way to get to Amsterdam — fast, comfortable, central, and environmentally friendly. Amsterdam Centraal Station is located in the heart of the city.

• ICE/IC from Cologne: Direct connection, 2 hours 40 minutes. DB saver fare from €19.90! Several times daily.
• ICE from Frankfurt: Direct connection, about 4 hours. Saver fare from €29.90.
• IC from Düsseldorf: Via Duisburg/Arnhem, about 2.5 hours.
• IC/EC from Berlin: About 6 hours (via Hanover). Saver fare from €29.90.
• IC Bus from Munich: Cheapest option for southern Germans, but long (10h+). FlixBus as an alternative from €19.

Tip: DB saver fares from €19.90 are only available in limited quantities — the earlier you book, the cheaper. Supersaver Fare Europe from DB sometimes offers even cheaper tickets. The journey through the flat Dutch landscape with windmills and canals is relaxing and photogenic.

Schiphol Airport (AMS)

Amsterdam Schiphol is one of the largest and best-connected airports in Europe — and is only 20 minutes by train from Centraal Station. The train station is directly under the terminal.

• Flight time from Germany: 1–1.5 hours (Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf).
• Airlines: KLM (home airline), Lufthansa, Eurowings, easyJet, Ryanair (flies to Eindhoven, not Schiphol!).
• Prices: From €50 return with low-cost carriers, €120–250 with KLM/Lufthansa.

Transfer to the center:

• Train: Direct train to Amsterdam Centraal, every 10–15 min., 20 min. journey, €5.90. The best option.
• Bus 397: Express bus to Leidseplein/Rijksmuseum, 30 min., €6.50.
• Taxi: About €45–55 to the center, 20–30 min. (depending on traffic).

Bicycle — the best choice

Amsterdam is flat, compact, and perfect for cyclists. A rental bike (€12–18/day) is the fastest, cheapest, and most fun way to explore the city. See the chapter on bicycle culture for details and rules.

On Foot

The historic center (canal belt, Dam, Jordaan) is easily explored on foot — it's only 2.5 km (30 minutes) from Centraal Station to the Rijksmuseum. Canal walks are, in any case, the most beautiful way to experience Amsterdam.

GVB — Public Transport

The GVB operates trams, metro, buses, and ferries. Most tourists hardly need public transport (bicycles and feet suffice), but for longer distances, it is practical:

• Tram: 16 lines, the backbone of public transport. Lines 2 and 5 connect Centraal Station with the Museum Square/Vondelpark.
• Metro: 5 lines, especially useful for the east (Bijlmer, Arena) and south. The new North-South line (52) connects Noord with the center and Zuid.
• Ferries: The ferries across the IJ (Centraal Station–Noord) are free and operate around the clock.

Tickets: Single ride: €3.20 (contactless with debit card or OV-Chipkaart). Day passes: €8.50 (1 day), €15 (2 days), €21 (3 days). The I amsterdam City Card includes GVB usage.

Short answer: Not recommended. Amsterdam is one of the most car-unfriendly cities in Europe — this is intentional and city policy. The problems:

• Parking: Street parking in the center costs €7.50 per hour (!) — the most expensive parking in Europe. Parking garages: from €40–60/24h.
• Environmental zone: Older diesel vehicles are not allowed in the center.
• Narrow streets: Many streets are designed for bicycles and pedestrians, not cars.

If you still come by car: Use park-and-ride (P+R) on the outskirts (from €1/24h + public transport ticket). Locations: P+R Zeeburg, P+R Sloterdijk, P+R ArenA. From the P+R, you can reach the center in 15–20 minutes by metro or tram.