Getting Around Amsterdam || Jaunted

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Getting Around Amsterdam

Where: Amsterdam, Netherlands

12/14/2006 at 11:30 AM
Tags: Amsterdam Field Trip, Jaunted Field Trips, Biking, Public Transportation (all tags)

At the behest and via the courtesy of the Netherlands Board of Tourism, Jaunted went to Amsterdam to check out what is happneing in AMS right now. Tough gig, we know. Remember, we do this all for you. Enjoy.

Coming from Los Angeles, getting around Amsterdam has to be one of the greatest joys we've ever experienced in public transportation. Even better than the singing doo-wop group aboard the NYC subways that only know the words to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."

At the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, you can take a train to Centraal Station, which is about 20 minutes long. From Centraal station you can use either the tram or the bus system to get you where you need to go. We spent most of our time on the trams, which are easy to figure; the tracks where you tram will arrive are well-marked, even listing how much longer the wait is.

For us, we relied heavily on the Jburg Tram, #26 which shuttled us in and out of the Lloyd Hotel. You can buy a ticket for the bus and trams at Centraal Station, which is called a Strippenkaart and has about 15 rides on it for about 7 Euros. Just be sure to do this before you get on the tram or bus. Otherwise you will earn the ire of everyone trying to cram on the tram before it closes.

Read more to find out how most people get around in Amsterdam

The more popular form on transportation in Amsterdam however is a bike. Just about everyone in this town rides a bike--young, old, it doesn't matter. We saw a mother strap a kid on both the front and the back of her bike as she rode breezily through town. And bikes seem to have more of the right of way than cars or god forbid, pedestrians. There are bikes locked up everywhere on anything you can tie a bike lock around. Apparently the joke in Amsterdam is that you buy a bike, it gets stolen and then you buy it back.

We hit up Mac Bike for a little tour of their headquarters. Bikes here can be rented for a day, starting at 8.50 Euros. You will need your passport to rent a bike, and it's possible to buy insurance against theft for 50 percent more. Once you got your bike and lock, you're free to tool around the city like a local. Strap a kid on the back and no one will know you're an outsider.

Visit Trippist for more information on getting around the city.