Is public transport free in Amsterdam?

A simple ticket is called a 'one hour ticket', costs €3,20 and can be used for an hour as long as you don't forget to check in and out, no matter the length of your journey within an hour. But if you plan of using only the public transport this option can quickly be expensive. Children under 4 can travel for free.



In 2026, public transport in Amsterdam is not free for the general public, with one notable exception: the GVB Ferries crossing the IJ River (connecting Amsterdam Centraal to Amsterdam North) remain completely free for pedestrians, cyclists, and mopeds. For all other trams, buses, and metro lines, you must pay using the OVpay system (tapping your contactless bank card/phone) or a valid travel pass. While there have been 2026 political discussions about making transit free for low-income residents, a standard 1-hour ticket currently costs €3.40, and a 24-hour pass is €10.00. However, if you purchase the "I amsterdam City Card," you get "unlimited" use of all GVB public transport included in the card's price. A supportive peer reminder: children under 4 always travel for free, and those aged 4–11 can get a heavily discounted rail card for a few euros a day.

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As of 2023, all domestic trains, metros, trams, and buses in Amsterdam (and nationwide) accept payment from contactless methods including credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more. As long as your card has an OV chip in it, you should be able to use it to pay for your fare.

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Check in and out with your contactless debit card, credit card or mobile to travel by bus, tram, metro or train. No registration is necessary. You pay the same travel fares you would if you were using an OV-chipkaart.

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The Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket is an affordable public transport option. It gives you 1, 2 or 3 days of unlimited use of all tram, bus and metro lines of GVB, Connexxion, AllGo, R-net and EBS (including night lines) and NS in Amsterdam and the region.

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Amsterdam ranked the priciest destination in Europe Indeed, together with Venice, the Dutch capital was ranked the most expensive destination in Europe, particularly due to the high price of accommodation.

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The train from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal Station is the fastest and cheapest way to the city center. The train runs 24 hours a day, with departures scheduled for every 10–15 minutes between the hours of 6 a.m. and 1 a.m. (they depart every hour during other times).

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You can only buy a ticket in the tram from the conductor and pay with a debit or credit card. This can be done contactless or with a pin. You can also pay for your travel on the North Sea channel ferries with a PIN payment card or contactless.

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Price. The price of a single journey is € 3.20 ( US$ 3.40).

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The Validity of the I Amsterdam City Card The card is valid for one person and can be purchased locally at various points of sale or at a discounted price from us online.

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The “I Amsterdam” card offers the following benefits 1 free and unlimited use of the public transportation system operated by the GVB. This includes the Metro, city buses, and trams. Ferries are generally free of charge.

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In the Netherlands, credit cards are not the most commonly used method for payments. In daily life, the Dutch hardly use them. We tend to pay with our debit card, but credit cards are still a good option for renting cars, booking rooms in hotels, or reserving airline tickets.

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The airport includes a train station – right underneath the main hall. By the way: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is not serviced by tram (light rail) or metro lines.

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