Page 139 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2016 - Amsterdam

Getting To and Around Amsterdam ❮❮ 137

Sat & Sun) till midnight. By Car DIRECTORY
A limited night bus
service also runs on key With its complex one-way AIRPORT
routes from midnight system, limited parking, Schiphol
to 5:30am. canals, trams and § 0900 0141
Amsterdam’s metro cyclists, Amsterdam’s ∑ schiphol.com
serves the more outlying centre is not geared up
parts of the city and has for the motorist. Covered COACHES
just four city-centre car parks (throughout the Connexxion
stations: Waterlooplein, city, indicated by a white Airport–Hotel Shuttle
Nieuwmarkt, Centraal “P” on a blue background) ∑ schipholhotel
Station and Weesperplein. are the best and cheapest shuttle.nl
It also travels on to place to leave your car, or Eurolines
Amstel Station, where make use of the city’s ∑ eurolines.co.uk
many international Park + Ride network. TRAINS
buses terminate. On-street parking
Behind Centraal spaces are hard to find Eurostar
Station passenger ferries and the city centre is ∑ eurostar.com
shuttle across the River metered every day from Eurotunnel
IJ; they are all free and 9am until 2am (from ∑ eurotunnel.com
there are five routes. noon–2am on Sun). Empty Nederlandse
your vehicle of valuables Spoorwegen (NS)
Tickets and leave the glove box Dutch national rail
open after you’ve parked; § 030 751 51 55
The OV Chipkaart (Public foreign-plated cars are ∑ ns.nl
Transport Smart card) often targeted. FERRIES
is a card that allows you
to travel by any means By Bicycle DFDS Seaways
∑ dfdsseaways.co.uk
of public transport
throughout your stay in You will never be very far P&O Ferries
the Netherlands. Three from a bicycle hire shop in ∑ poferries.com
cards are available – this city of cyclists: Bike Stena Line
Personal (reloadable with City, Green Budget Bikes, ∑ stenaline.co.uk
credit or a season ticket), and Macbike are all TRAMS, BUSES
Anonymous (reloadable conveniently central. Bike AND METRO
with credit only) and theft is rife, so be sure to
Disposable (fixed credit, secure your bike carefully. GVB
§ 0900 8011 ∑ en.gvb.nl
which includes day ∑ ov-chipkaart.nl
passes). When both By Canal Bike
boarding and alighting, TAXIS
hold the card up to the These two- or four- Taxicentrale
card reader (either built person pedalos provide a § 020 777 7777
into the gate or on a free- fun way of getting around.
standing yellow pillar). There are three central BIKES
moorings where you can Bike City
By Taxi collect or leave the canal Bloemgracht 68–70
bikes all year round. § 020 626 3721
Trying to hail a taxi in the ∑ bikecity.nl
street can take a little On Foot Green Budget Bikes
time – it’s often easier to Nieuwezijds
go to one of the city’s many Amsterdam is a great city Voorburgwal 101
taxi ranks. Among others, for walking. The main § 020 341 7545
∑ greenbudgetbikes.nl
there are ranks at Centraal pedestrian hazards are
Station, Dam Square, bicycles, trams, taxis and Macbike
Stadhuis Nationale Opera cobbled streets, so keep Stationsplein 5
& Ballet, Elandsgracht, clear of cycle lanes, take § 020 620 0985
∑ macbike.nl
Leidseplein, Nieuwmarkt care crossing tram tracks,
and Rembrandtplein. and leave heels at home.

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