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Netherlands

Amsterdam

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

GVB tram (Amsterdam tram)

No gates: you tap a reader inside the tram to start and end every ride (OVpay). Cash is useless on board - even the conductor who sells paper tickets takes cards only. For a ticket in hand, buy in the GVB app first.

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 you can just get on. Otherwise buy a barcode ticket in the GVB app first.
  2. 2
    Tap in as soon as you're on board
    Hold your card to a reader by the doors - one beep means you're checked in. Everyone taps separately.
  3. 3
    Press the stop button for your stop
    When your stop shows on the display or is announced, press the stop button and hold it until it pings.
  4. 4
    Tap out before you step off
    Tap the same card on the reader as you leave - two beeps means you're checked out. You can do it while moving.

Fares

Single fares1

OVpay distance fare (base rate)
Plus €0.217 per kilometre on top - the same rate whether you tap a bank card, an OV-pas or an OV-chipkaart.
1.16 EUR ≈ $1

Passes & multi-ride4

GVB 1 hour ticket
One hour of unlimited travel from your first check-in on all GVB lines; night buses excluded.
3.4 EUR ≈ $4
GVB Day ticket (24 hours)
24 hours unlimited, night buses included; €5.00 for ages 4-11, and the tram conductor sells it.
10 EUR ≈ $11
GVB Multi-day ticket (2-7 days)
From €16.00 for 2 days up to €43.00 for 7; buy it in the app or at a service point, not from the conductor.
16〜43 EUR ≈ $18–48
GVB Group day ticket (up to 5 people)
Up to five people travelling together, 24 hours; GVB app only - there is no paper version.
27 EUR ≈ $30

Add-ons & fees1

Bike ticket (supplement)
Tram 26 only, and not during rush hour (Mon-Fri 07:00-09:00 and 16:00-18:30). Folding bikes ride free.
2.3 EUR ≈ $3

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 3, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
VISAMastercardMaestro
Tap a reader inside the tram when boarding and leaving; no registration needed
IC card
The new OV-pas works; the anonymous OV-chipkaart is no longer sold
App tickets
QR ticketing
Barcode tickets in the GVB app - activate yours before boarding
Paper tickets
Paper chip cards need checking in too; conductors sell 1-hour and 1-day tickets
Cash
Not accepted anywhere on board - even the conductor takes cards only

Quick facts

Fares from
1.16 EUR+

Heads-up

  • Miss the tap out and you pay the boarding fee

    Forget to tap out and you are charged a €4 boarding fee instead of the real fare. Always tap out with the same card you tapped in with.

  • Activate an app barcode ticket before boarding

    A barcode ticket bought in the GVB app does not work until you activate it - open "Tickets > Mijn tickets" in the app before you board.

Timetable

Typical duration The surface network that threads the canal belt - for the blocks the metro skips, the tram gets you there first
Check the official site for the latest times and service status
Editor Naotaka