TAKING A TRIP AND DONT KNOW WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO get around, SHOULD I RENT A CAR OR TAKE THE TRAINS....heard they are kinda dangerous if hit by one. just want to hang out at the smoke shops relax,and go to the cluster of coffee shops in town
2007-02-13 22:38:17 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Netherlands
DO NOT RENT A CAR... it's a waste of money.
Amsterdam is a really small city and better seen either on foot or bike. You can also take the trams as they are quick and reliable (on most days).
Being a local I prefer bike but if you don't feel safe I suggest you get a good pair of walking shoes and start walking...don't forget to look up...there are lots of architectural surprises to be found :)
2007-02-14 02:11:59 · answer #1 · answered by silv2078 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use the train. In the Netherlands all major and not-so-major cities have excellent train connections. All the cities you'd like to visit have train connections at least twice an hour, and the big cities in the west every fifteen minutes.
Visit www.ns.nl, there is an english part, and you can check the train times, and the costs.
Most probably you will only visit one city, maybe two on one day. So most likely you will only go Amsterdam - The Hague and back (etc). In that case it is the best to buy a "retour" (vice versa - there and back again).
Some real small villages are visited by foreigners and still don't have a rail link - volendam - monnikkendam and such. They are very near Amsterdam and can be reached by bus in about half an hour. visit www.9292ov.nl to have a public transport guide from door to door.
2007-02-17 10:02:17 · answer #2 · answered by leatherbiker040 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Amsterdam is a compact city and you can get to most of the sights on foot and see plenty of coffee shops in town. If you are feeling tired you can hop on a tram, perfectly safe. In order to travel by tram (or bus) you have to buy a "strippenkaart". A ticket that you can use all over the Netherlands for local transport. You can buy them at stations, bookshops, tobacco shops and postoffices. Buy them before you get on a bus or tram, much cheaper and you can stamp them yourself in the tram. For short trips in the centre of Amsterdam you only have to stamp 2 strippen (the "strippenkaart" has 15 "strippen") and you can travel for 1 hour within the centre of Amsterdam. Changing trams or buses during that 1 hour is allowed.
Trains are perfectly safe as well but only suitable if you want to explore the rest of the Netherlands or visit another town. Otherwise there is no point, but if you do the only annoyance you will come across are delays. They are not dangerous at all. Accidents can happen with trains of course, but lot more people get killed in planes, buses and cars.
2007-02-16 22:49:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a transit pass (outside of centraal station, valid for a certain amount of days or a week) it can be used on trams, the metro or the buses. Amsterdam is a good walking city as has been pointed out, but if you want to make the best use of your time you'll want to ride trams etc. from time to time.
2007-02-16 10:59:15 · answer #4 · answered by Rossonero NorCal SFECU 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The European train system is quite reliable, and you can get great week-month deals if you are an American riding on the "Eurailpass". Trying to get a driver's license and renting a car in Europe is a nightmare. (Been there, done that.) Being in a car accident and trying to explain in a foreign language what happened is even worse. Driving the Autobahn in Germany for the first time STILL gives me nightmares.
2007-02-13 22:48:25 · answer #5 · answered by Kilroy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bike*, foot, tram, subway. If u wana see the surroundings of amsterdam u can take a train.
* (i dont recomand a bike when u will smoke pot specialy with the tram tracks. U would not be the first tourist who makes a dive to the floor)
2007-02-14 02:24:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As you have in simple terms been instructed - in German - Amsterdam is interior the Netherlands - no longer Germany. via the way - although the Dutch would turn a blind eye to 3 drugs it remains unlawful. possession of $500 worth might deliver you to penitentiary.
2016-12-17 09:40:58 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just walked when I was in Amsterdam. Most people who live there ride bikes. It doesn't take long to travel from one place to another by foot.
2007-02-13 22:50:51 · answer #8 · answered by spark the one, two, three 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a Tram pass for 20 uro$/week
2007-02-17 18:00:44 · answer #9 · answered by metecomet 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the best ways to get around town are by bicycle (they're available for rent) or the trams... get a strippenkart
2007-02-15 05:13:30 · answer #10 · answered by legrandchat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋