Getting around Amsterdam

Dr Nic

Hi there,
Myself & my better half are flying to Amsterdam soon from Cork for a long weekend and were wondering about the best way to get around.

We're staying near the Bijlmer arena metro so i assume we can get the metro from Schipol airport to there, and then more metro's to get to the city centre?

Any recommendations for travel, sights, things to do etc?

We're going to get a walking tour and see a few sights etc...

Thank you
J

Bench Press

Train will drop you right into Central Station from the airport, walking, biking or the trams are the best way to get around, its not a huge place

schemingbohemia

I wouldn't be a great walker, but I found walking around Amsterdam a great way to really discover the city. Not sure where Bijmer is but it's not a big city at all (certainly with regard to most things you'll likely want to see) and I'd try and walk everywhere.

asherbassad

Dr Nic wrote: »

Hi there,
Myself & my better half are flying to Amsterdam soon from Cork for a long weekend and were wondering about the best way to get around.

We're staying near the Bijlmer arena metro so i assume we can get the metro from Schipol airport to there, and then more metro's to get to the city centre?

Any recommendations for travel, sights, things to do etc?

We're going to get a walking tour and see a few sights etc...

Thank you
J

There's no direct train link from Schiphol to Bijlmer Arena (although you can get a direct bus...I think it's 192 or 199..can't remember). Still just get the train from Schiphol to Central Station (15 minutes) then pop dowstairs and take the Metro to Bijlmer (10 minutes).

Getting around amsterdam is easy. Walking is your best bet. But you could get a weekend pass as well for unlimited metro/bus/tram travel. Taxis aren't that bad. A bit dearer than Dublin but a good option if it's late and it's raining and you're drunk.
You can rent a bicycle too. Lots of people do that.

km79

Amsterdam is surprisingly "walkable". There are lots of trams too. Anne Frank House Van Gogh Museum & Heinekin brewery would be good things to do

Yamanoto

Amsterdam isn't that heavy on attractions. I find it's more of a city to stroll around and discover rather than ticking off the major sites.

That said, there are of course the usual suspects - Anne Frank House (buy tickets online in advance), The Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Red Light District, the Begijnhof, Our Lord in the Attic, Stedelijk Museum, Westerkerk clock-tower, Rembrandt Huis & the Vondelpark (all worth a visit), Heineken Brewery, Flower market, Albert Cuyp market (less worthy imo).

The Jordaan area is Amsterdam at its best. It's within 5 min walk of Dam square and is a great area to get lost in - quirky shops, boutiques, deli's, small little bars, cafes and good restaurants. It's also Amsterdam at its most walkable and picturesque.

http://www.theninestreets.com/

http://www.annefrank.org/en/Museum/Practical-information/Online-ticket-sales/

http://www.opsolder.nl/eng/home.php

http://www.bikecity.nl/

You can purchase a 24hr multi journey tram ticket onboard for €7.00 and it's worth getting one.

http://en.gvb.nl/pages/home.aspx

Lingua Franca

You'll walk past the flower market at some point anyway, it's not really a separate trip.

Top tip: if you're going to the Anne Frank House or the Van Gogh museum then book and download your tickets in advance. It's cheaper and you'll walk straight past the huge queues, especially for the Anne Frank house. And don't let the other tourists rush you through, it's not very big and there's quite a bit to see in there, like the pics Anne and Margot pasted to the wall, and where their dad marked their growing heights on the walls.

I like the Albert Cuyp market but mostly because one of my favourite places to eat is there. http://bazaramsterdam.nl/ It's cheap, quirky and you get loads of food.

schemingbohemia

Just in relation to Taxis, one of the few times I've ever been taken the long way was in a taxi in Amsterdam, thankfully I copped on when the driver turned left instead of right at a bridge we'd walked by earlier in the day.

I think they reckon most foreigners are stoned so won't realise they're going the long way.

Chocoholic84

The Heineken Brewery is really cool, definitely worth a visit!

Make sure to visit some of the Argentinian restaurants there too, they're fab!

spurious

Chocoholic84 wrote: »

The Heineken Brewery is really cool, definitely worth a visit!

Make sure to visit some of the Argentinian restaurants there too, they're fab!

+1 on the Argentinian restaurants. Nyom.

Louche Lad

As others have indicated, walking is the best way to discover Amsterdam. (As indeed it is for many other cities less they're huge like London or NYC.)

TEMPLAR KNIGHT

When I was in amsterdam I got the train from frankfurt, We walked around it and used the tram but mainly walked. One fun thing we did was visit a coffee shop then go on the cycling tour of amsterdam it was a great experience!

Tuesday_Girl

There are actually direct trains between Schiphol and Bijlmer Arena, they
leave every 15 minutes and the journey takes 13 minutes.

To get from Bijlmer to the centre, take metro 54