Page 138 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Amsterdam

136 ❯❯ Streetsmart

Getting To and Around
Amsterdam

Arriving by Air Arriving by Rail Line from Harwich to
the Hook of Holland (6
Amsterdam Airport All international and hours), 80 km (50 miles)
Schiphol is efficient, most domestic trains from Amsterdam; DFDS
modern and easy to use, to Amsterdam pull into Seaways from Newcastle
with a vast range of Centraal Station. The (North Shields) to IJmuiden
facilities from golf to station entrance is on near Amsterdam (16
gambling. There is a Stationsplein, which is hours); and P&O Ferries
single – if sprawling – where you will also find from Hull to Europoort
terminal, with one level Amsterdam tourist (11 hours), 110 km (70
for arrivals and another information. Trams leave miles) from Amsterdam.
level for departures. Stationsplein for the rest
The quickest and of the city and regional Arriving by Rail
cheapest method of buses leave from the bus and Ferry
getting from the airport to station at the back of
the city is by rail. Access Centraal Station beside Stena Line, in conjunction
to the platforms is by the River IJ. with Abellio Greater
escalator from in front Anglia trains, operates
of the train ticket office. Arriving by Road the Dutchflyer, an
Trains run direct to inexpensive if somewhat
Centraal Station every From the A10 ring road, time-consuming rail-and-
4 to 7 minutes from 7am the S-routes (marked by ferry route from the UK to
to midnight, then every blue signs) take you to the the Netherlands. Trains
hour. Journey time is city centre. Drive on the depart London’s Liverpool
20 minutes. right. Speed limits are Street station bound for
Alternatively, the 100 kph (60 mph), 120 Harwich, where they
Connexxion Airport– kph (75 mph) or 130 kph connect with the ferry
Hotel Shuttle bus leaves (80 mph) on motorways, over to the Hook of
from outside the airport’s 80 kph (50 mph) outside Holland (though you can
main exit. It stops at over cities, and 50 kph (30 also join the Dutchflyer
100 hotels, leaving every mph) in built-up areas. at stations in between
30 minutes between 6am Liverpool Street and
and 9pm. You can also Arriving by Road Harwich). The whole
take a taxi, but it is hardly and Tunnel journey takes between
worth the expense, 8 and 9 hours, including
considering the ease To reach Amsterdam by the 6-hour ferry crossing.
of public transport. car or motorbike from the From the Hook, there
UK, you can either take a are frequent trains on
Arriving by Coach ferry or use Eurotunnel’s to Amsterdam.
shuttle train through the
There are long-distance Channel Tunnel from Travelling by Tram,
bus services to Amsterdam Folkestone to Calais. Bus, Metro and
from dozens of European Advance booking is River Ferry
cities. Most long-distance advised. Amsterdam is
buses stop at Amstel roughly 370 km (230 Operated by GVB,
Station on the southeast miles) from Calais. Amsterdam’s trams and
side of the city. From buses cover most of the
London’s Victoria Coach Arriving by Road city – and all the parts
Station, Eurolines and Ferry you are most likely to
coaches go to Amsterdam visit. Most trams and
via the Channel Tunnel, Three companies operate some city buses start at
taking between 9 and car ferries from the UK to Centraal Station and they
12 hours in total. the Netherlands: Stena run from 6am (6:30am

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