How to Travel to Amsterdam

Amsterdam has many navigable canals. (Photo: amsterdam central station image by Laura Frenkel from Fotolia.com )

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Step 1

Research airfare options for your trip to Amsterdam. The city has one main airport, Schiopol International Airport, located 11 miles from the city center. Most major airlines fly into Schiopol, as do smaller carriers from European countries. Meanwhile, you also can check out train fares and schedules from other destinations in the Netherlands or from throughout Europe. If you re traveling across multiple borders in Europe, a Eurail Pass can save you money.

Book your airline tickets as far in advance as possible in order to get the best deals, especially if you re planning to travel during high tourist season, such as the summer months or in the weeks around Easter. The same goes for train tickets, which can rise drastically in price the closer you get to your date of departure.

Step 2

Consider purchasing charter bus tickets to travel into Amsterdam if you re coming from another European country, have a day to spare or are traveling on a budget. Eurolines is the main bus company serving the Netherlands; it offers trips to Amsterdam from numerous European locations.

Step 3

Take a local train into the center of Amsterdam after you ve arrived at Schiopol Airport. If arriving by train rather than by air, you can use the city s reliable above-ground tramway, which stops at the Central train station. (Buy your tram tickets at one of many automatic ticket machines around the station or from the driver, and make sure to validate it once on board). You also can get from one place to another using a taxi, a water bus with multiple stops along Amsterdam s interconnected web of canals or by renting a bike.

Rent a car to travel in Amsterdam. This can be a fairly budget-friendly option when traveling with multiple people. American car rental companies operate in the Netherlands and surrounding countries, including Alamo, Avis and Hertz. There are a few main highways that lead into the city from international destinations, such as the E22 when traveling from Belgium or the E40 autobahn originating in Germany. However, know that getting around Amsterdam in a car can be tricky, as it s difficult to find parking and even more difficult to drive through its narrow streets, where you must to yield to the city s many cyclists and pedestrians.