Local rhythm
Museums 09:00–17:00, markets close mid-afternoon, restaurants fill up by 19:00 and stop seating around 21:30.
Getting around
Trams and metro take contactless cards. Schiphol to Centraal is 15–20 minutes by train, every few minutes.
Practical tips
01Buy museum slots before you fly
Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh and Anne Frank House sell out days ahead. Fix the times first, then fill the gaps around them.
02Watch the bike lanes
Red asphalt is for bikes, not pedestrians. Stepping off a tram means checking the lane before the pavement.
03Rain is a scheduling problem
Showers are short and frequent. Pair every canal walk with a nearby indoor stop so a wet hour doesn't cost the day.
04Pay for transport with the card in your pocket
GVB trams, buses and metro accept any contactless card or phone: check in at the post when you board, check out when you leave, or the fare runs to the maximum.
Useful words
- Dank je
- Thank you
- Alsjeblieft
- Please / here you go
Where you book
Official sources for hours, fares and timed tickets. They open in a new tab.
- RijksmuseumTimed tickets and opening hours, open every day of the year.
- Van Gogh MuseumOnly sells timed tickets online; sold out days ahead in summer.
- Anne Frank HouseTickets are released on a fixed schedule — check the release date, not just the price.
- GVB — city transportTram, bus and metro: fares, night lines and planned works.
- NS — trainsSchiphol, Haarlem, Utrecht and every day trip out of Centraal.
- I amsterdamThe city's own agenda: markets, festivals and what is closed that week.