© Red Morley Hewitt・Unsplash License

Netherlands

Amsterdam

A bicycle city ringed by fan-shaped canals. Trams spread out from Centraal station across town.

Metro (GVB)

At the gates you tap in and out with a contactless card or phone (OVpay) - no registration needed. Ticket machines are the reverse: cards work at just seven metro 52 stations; everywhere else is cash only.

Updated on August 2, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Buy a ticket, or just have your card ready
    With a contactless card or phone, tap straight on the gate. Ticket machines take cash only outside seven stations.
  2. 2
    Tap in at the gate
    Tap on the reader to open the gate. One check-in lets exactly one person through.
  3. 3
    Tap out with the same card
    At your destination, tap out with the very same card or phone you tapped in with.
  4. 4
    Check in and out on every leg
    Transferring to a tram or bus? Tap on when you board and off when you get out, every time.

Fares

Single fares1

Single ride with OVpay or e-purse (distance-based)
2026 rate - a €1.16 base fare plus €0.217 for every kilometre travelled
1.16 EUR ≈ $1

Passes & multi-ride3

GVB 1 hour ticket
One hour from your first check-in, unlimited transfers on GVB lines - not valid on night buses
3.4 EUR ≈ $4
GVB Day ticket
24 hours of unlimited travel on all GVB lines, day and night; the child version is €5.00
10 EUR ≈ $12
GVB Multi-day ticket (2-7 days)
From 48 up to 168 hours in 24-hour steps; unlimited on all GVB lines, day and night
16〜43 EUR ≈ $19–50

Add-ons & fees1

Bike ticket (GVB Fietskaartje)
Needed on top of your own ticket; bikes are barred during rush hour
2.3 EUR ≈ $3

Estimates use exchange rates as of September 5, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
VISAMastercardMaestro
Tap straight on the gate to check in and out - no registration needed
IC card
Anonymous version off sale since July 2026; a card you hold still works
QR ticketing
Barcode tickets from the GVB app - hold the phone 10 cm above the reader
Paper tickets
Paper chip cards for an hour, a day or several days; you still tap in and out
Cash
Ticket machines only - just seven metro 52 stations take anything else

Quick facts

Fares from
1.16 EUR+

Heads-up

  • Tapping your whole wallet can read the wrong card

    Don't tap your whole wallet or card holder at the gate. If a different card inside gets read, your check-in and check-out land on two different cards and the fare is not calculated correctly. Take the card out first.

Timetable

Typical duration Five lines - 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54 - link the city with its outskirts
Check the official site for the latest times and service status