How To Get Around Amsterdam Cheap For Tourists
If you are visiting Amsterdam, you will quickly notice that public transport, taxis, and even bike rental can cost quite a lot of money if you don’t choose the right option. Many tourists spend more money on transport than necessary simply because they don’t understand how the Amsterdam transport system works, which tickets are cheapest, and when it is better to walk, cycle, or use public transport. The good news is that there are several ways to get around Amsterdam cheaply, and if you combine the right transport ticket with walking and smart planning, you can save a significant amount of money during your trip.
In this very detailed guide, we explain how to get around Amsterdam cheap for tourists, including the cheapest transport options, money-saving tips, and the best tickets depending on your trip.
Cheapest Ways To Get Around Amsterdam – Overview
Here are the cheapest transport options in Amsterdam:
| Transport | Cheapest Option |
|---|---|
| Walking | Free |
| Cycling | Cheap |
| Ferry | Free |
| Contactless payment (OVpay) | Cheap |
| GVB day ticket | Cheap unlimited |
| Amsterdam Travel Ticket | Cheap with airport |
| Train | Expensive if used often |
| Taxi / Uber | Expensive |
So the cheapest way to get around Amsterdam is actually a combination of walking + tram + ferry + metro.
Walk As Much As Possible
Amsterdam is not a very large city, and many tourist attractions are relatively close to each other. For example:
- Central Station → Dam Square: 10 minutes
- Dam Square → Anne Frank House: 15 minutes
- Dam Square → Rijksmuseum: 25 minutes
- Rijksmuseum → Van Gogh Museum: 5 minutes
- Jordaan → City Center: 15 minutes
Many tourists use tram for distances that are actually walkable, and this increases transport costs unnecessarily. Walking is often the cheapest and fastest option in the city center.
Use Free Ferries
One of the best cheap transport options in Amsterdam is the free ferry behind Central Station.
You can take the ferry for free to:
- Amsterdam Noord
- NDSM Wharf
- A’DAM Tower area
The ferry runs every few minutes and is completely free for pedestrians and cyclists.
This is one of the best ways to travel for free in Amsterdam.
Use Contactless Payment (OVpay)
One of the cheapest ways to use public transport in Amsterdam is contactless payment, also called OVpay.
How it works:
- Tap your bank card when entering tram/bus/metro
- Tap again when leaving
- You pay per ride
- There is a daily price cap of about €10 per day
- After that, you travel unlimited for the rest of the day
So even if you travel many times per day, you usually don’t pay more than €10 per day for city transport.
This makes OVpay one of the cheapest options for tourists.
Buy A GVB Multi-Day Ticket If You Travel A Lot
If you plan to use public transport many times per day, a GVB multi-day ticket can be cheaper.
| Days | Price | Price Per Day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | €10 | €10 |
| 2 days | €16 | €8 |
| 3 days | €21.50 | €7.17 |
This is the cheapest unlimited public transport option in Amsterdam.
Use Amsterdam Travel Ticket If You Include Airport
If you need transport from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam and back, the Amsterdam Travel Ticket can actually be a cheap option because it includes airport transport plus unlimited public transport.
| Days | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 day | €20 |
| 2 days | €27 |
| 3 days | €34 |
Airport train return alone costs about €11–€12, so the ticket can be good value.
Rent A Bike (Sometimes Cheap, Sometimes Not)
Bike rental costs about:
- €10–€15 per day
This can be cheap if you use the bike all day, but public transport can sometimes be cheaper if you only travel a few times per day.
Cheapest Transport Strategy For Tourists
Here is the cheapest strategy for most tourists:
| Situation | Cheapest Option |
|---|---|
| City center | Walk + OVpay |
| Many trips per day | GVB multi-day |
| Airport + city | Travel Ticket |
| Amsterdam Noord | Free ferry |
| Short stay | OVpay |
| 2–3 days | GVB multi-day |
Common Tourist Mistakes That Cost Money
Tourists often spend too much money because they:
- Buy expensive unlimited ticket but walk everywhere
- Use taxi instead of tram
- Buy OV-chipkaart for short trip
- Buy single tickets instead of day ticket
- Don’t use free ferries
- Don’t know about daily price cap
Avoiding these mistakes can save a lot of money.
Cheapest Way To Get Around Amsterdam
The cheapest way to get around Amsterdam for tourists is usually a combination of walking for short distances, using the free ferry behind Central Station, using contactless payment (OVpay) for tram, bus, and metro with the daily price cap, and buying a GVB multi-day ticket if you plan to use public transport many times per day, while the Amsterdam Travel Ticket is a good value option if you also need transport between Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam included.