Just like the great cities of New York, Paris, Tokyo and London, Amsterdam has its own metro system. Luckily for you, with just four lines, it is much easier to navigate.
The Amsterdam Metro lines
The Amsterdam Metro was introduced in 1977. It's one of the fastest ways to get to more distant parts of the city, such as Bijlmer and Amstelveen. However, most of the Amsterdam metro stations are located outside of the city center. So, if you want to explore Amsterdam's center, you might want to take the tram, bus, a bike or walk.
Three of the four lines (route 51, route 53 and route 54) start at Amsterdam Central Station. Route 50 runs from Isolaterweg to Gein and back.
The new Noord/Zuidlijn (North/South line), known as route 52, will connect the north and south of the city. The tunnels have been dug, and it is expected that trains will operate on this line in 2018.
Using the Amsterdam Metro
Amsterdam metro stations have gates at the entrance with check-in/check-out ports. Stations do not have manned ticket desks. So make sure you have a ticket before traveling or buy one at one of the ticket machines. Just don't forget to check-in and out as you travel.
Tickets for the Amsterdam Metro
If you are spending time in Amsterdam, don't look for an Amsterdam metro pass. Look instead for an Amsterdam Travel Ticket. These tickets come in single or multi-day varieties and allow unlimited travel on Amsterdam's public transport network. That covers the bus, tram, ferry boat and, of course, the Amsterdam metro. Alternatively, single-use, one-hour tickets are available.
Accessibility: Amsterdam Metro
Most metro stations in Amsterdam have an elevator and check-in ports wide enough for a wheelchair. For full information, visit the Dutch Public Transport (GVB) site.
