04 — Getting Around the Canal City
Trams, Metros, Boats & The Bicycle Question
Amsterdam is a small city. Almost everything in this guide is within a 20-minute tram ride, often less. The system is run by GVB and the OV-chipkaart pay-as-you-go logic works on contactless cards. Here is what you actually need to know with a child in tow.
Trams
The 14 GVB tram lines are the workhorse. From Frederiksplein, Tram 4📍 runs straight to Amsterdam Centraal📍 (15 min); Tram 24📍 cuts through De Pijp📍 and the Albert Cuyp Market📍; Tram 14📍 reaches the Plantage📍 Kerklaan stop right outside Artis Royal Zoo📍. New low-floor trams (Combino and 15G models) board flat — wheel a stroller on with no lift. Older trams have a single step and a conductor in a glass booth at the back; the conductor will fold out a ramp if you wave.
The tram boarding etiquette no one tells you
Board through any of the three middle doors marked with a wheelchair icon. Stand the stroller in the marked rectangle in the middle bay; engage the brake. You don't need to fold it. Wheelchair users have priority over strollers — if one boards, you politely move. Tap your card at the white pillar with the OV-chipkaart logo on the way IN, then again on the way OUT. Forgetting to tap out costs €4.
The metro & Schiphol
The Amsterdam Metro📍 has four lines (50, 51, 52, 53, 54) and every station has lifts on paper — but at any given moment one is broken, so check the GVB app before you commit. The North-South Line 52📍 runs in 4 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal📍 under the river to Amsterdam Noord📍 (Eye Filmmuseum📍, the NDSM Wharf📍, Tolhuistuin📍 gardens). From Weesperplein📍 at your hotel you can also reach Schiphol📍 on the Sprinter trains in 17 minutes via Amsterdam Amstel📍.
Buses
You probably won't need them, but Bus 22 runs along the IJ waterfront to NEMO Science Museum📍, the Het Scheepvaartmuseum📍 (National Maritime Museum), and onward to Westerpark📍. All buses are wheelchair- and stroller-accessible.
Ferries
The GVB ferries to Amsterdam-Noord📍 are FREE, run constantly from behind Amsterdam Centraal📍, and toddlers think they are the best ride in the city. The Buiksloterweg ferry📍 is the shortest hop (3 min); the NDSM ferry📍 takes 14 min and ends at the giant IJhal of NDSM Wharf📍. Strollers and bikes both roll right on.
Canal boats
A 60-minute canal cruise is the rare attraction that pleases every generation simultaneously. We recommend a covered boat for under-2s (the rain cover and the contained seating help) and an open-top "salonboot" for ages 3+. See the dedicated Attractions section below for our picks.
Bikes — the toddler caveat
Yes, Amsterdam is the world's bike city. No, you almost certainly should not rent a bakfiets cargo bike for a one-week trip with a toddler unless you have ridden one in heavy traffic before. The bike lanes here move fast (~25 km/h), the trams cross at every intersection, and the etiquette is nuanced. Walk, tram, and ferry — and admire the bikes.
Walking distances at a glance
| From the InterContinental Amstel | Walk | Tram/metro alternative |
|---|
| Artis Royal Zoo | 14 min | Tram 14, 1 stop |
| NEMO Science Museum | 22 min | Bus 22, 8 min |
| Vondelpark📍 (east entrance) | 30 min | Tram 1 from Frederiksplein, 14 min |
| Rijksmuseum📍 | 22 min | Tram 4 to De Pijp + walk |
| Anne Frank House | 28 min | Tram 14 from Mr. Visserplein |
| Albert Cuyp Market | 12 min | Tram 24, 5 min |
| Westerpark | 40 min | Tram 5 + Bus 22 |
| Amsterdam Centraal | 30 min | Tram 4, 15 min |
Tropenmuseum
