How To Avoid Transport Costs Amsterdam Tourists
If you are visiting Amsterdam, you might be surprised that transport can become one of the bigger expenses during your trip, especially if you take the tram multiple times per day, take the train from Schiphol Airport, or use taxis and Ubers. However, many tourists don’t realize that it is actually possible to avoid many transport costs in Amsterdam if you plan your trip smartly, choose the right hotel location, use free transport options, and combine walking with public transport in a smart way.
In this very detailed guide, we explain how to avoid transport costs in Amsterdam for tourists, including free transport options, smart planning, and common mistakes that cost tourists money.
Stay In The City Center To Avoid Transport Costs
One of the easiest ways to avoid transport costs is to book a hotel in or near the city center, because many tourist attractions in Amsterdam are close to each other.
If your hotel is near:
- Amsterdam Central Station
- Dam Square
- Jordaan
- Leidseplein
- Museumplein
- De Pijp
You can walk to most attractions.
Walking distances between major attractions:
- Central Station → Dam Square: 10 minutes
- Dam Square → Anne Frank House: 15 minutes
- Dam Square → Rijksmuseum: 25 minutes
- Rijksmuseum → Van Gogh Museum: 5 minutes
- Leidseplein → Vondelpark: 5 minutes
If you stay in the center, you may only need public transport once or twice per day, or not at all.
Walk As Much As Possible
Amsterdam is a compact city and very walkable.
Many tourists take tram for distances that are actually walkable, for example:
- Central Station → Jordaan
- Dam Square → Anne Frank House
- Museumplein → City Center
- Leidseplein → Jordaan
Walking is free and often faster than waiting for tram.
Use Free Ferries
One of the best ways to avoid transport costs is to use the free ferry behind Amsterdam Central Station.
Free ferry routes:
- Amsterdam Noord
- NDSM Wharf
- A’DAM Tower
- EYE Film Museum
The ferry runs every few minutes and is completely free.
This is real public transport that costs nothing.
Use Contactless Payment Instead Of Buying Tickets
If you only use public transport a few times per day, it is often cheaper to use contactless payment (OVpay) instead of buying a day ticket.
You simply:
- Tap bank card
- Tap out
- Pay per ride
There is also a daily cap, so you never pay more than a certain amount per day.
So you avoid paying for unlimited travel if you don’t need it.
Avoid Taxis And Uber
Taxis in Amsterdam are very expensive.
Example taxi prices:
- Schiphol → City: €40–€60
- Short taxi ride: €10–€20
Public transport:
- Train Schiphol → City: ~€5–€6
- Tram ride: ~€3–€4
So public transport is much cheaper than taxi.
Rent A Bike Instead Of Using Public Transport All Day
Bike rental costs about:
- €10–€15 per day
If you use the bike all day, this can be cheaper than public transport.
But only do this if you are comfortable cycling in a busy city.
Plan Your Attractions Per Area
Many tourists travel back and forth across the city, which increases transport costs.
Instead, group attractions by area:
| Area | Attractions |
|---|---|
| City Center | Dam Square, Anne Frank House |
| Museumplein | Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh |
| De Pijp | Market, restaurants |
| Noord | NDSM, A’DAM Tower |
| Jordaan | Canals, shops |
Visit one area per day to reduce transport.
Use Unlimited Ticket Only If Needed
Unlimited tickets are only cheaper if you travel many times per day.
| Trips Per Day | Best Option |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Walk + OVpay |
| 3–4 | OVpay |
| 5+ | Day ticket |
| Airport + city | Travel Ticket |
So choose ticket based on usage.
Cheapest Transport Strategy For Tourists
Here is the cheapest strategy for most tourists:
| Situation | Cheapest Option |
|---|---|
| City center hotel | Walk |
| Amsterdam Noord | Free ferry |
| Few rides | OVpay |
| Many rides | GVB day ticket |
| Airport | Train |
| Outside city | Train |
Common Tourist Mistakes That Cost Money
Tourists often:
- Stay outside the city → Need transport daily
- Use taxi from airport
- Buy expensive unlimited ticket but walk everywhere
- Travel back to hotel midday
- Don’t use free ferry
- Don’t plan attractions by area
Avoiding these mistakes can save a lot of money.
How To Avoid Transport Costs In Amsterdam
The best way to avoid transport costs in Amsterdam as a tourist is to stay in the city center so you can walk to most attractions, use the free ferry behind Amsterdam Central Station to travel to Amsterdam Noord, avoid taxis and use the train from Schiphol Airport instead, use contactless payment instead of buying unlimited tickets if you only travel a few times per day, and plan your sightseeing so that you visit attractions in the same area on the same day to reduce the number of public transport trips you need.