Friday January 20, 2012 at 11:17AM from Biztrails T.
Getting around Amsterdam,

Travelling by car in Amsterdam is fairly chaotic and time-consuming. There are always traffic jams and parking in the centre and surrounding area costs between €3.40 and €4.40 per hour, and that’s only from 9 am to 12 am.

It is easier and cheaper to get around on foot. For those who wish to chance the traffic the following car rentals have representatives at the airport: Avis (020 655 60 50), Hertz (023 567 07 47), Budget (020 612 60 66) and Europcar (020 316 41 90).

It’s best to take the tram when travelling longer distances in the city. A one-way ticket costs €1.60. A cheaper alternative is a book of tickets called a “Strippenkaart” which costs €6.70. Tickets can be purchased from tobacco shops and at the central station. There are also machines at many stops which sell single tickets but no “Strippenkaart”.

The “Circle Tram 20” goes past all the sights. Lines A and B stop at the central station every 10 minutes. For party-goers there are night buses every 30 minutes from Thursday to Saturday, and every 60 minutes from Sunday to Wednesday.

You should avoid calling a taxi unless it’s an emergency. Taxi journeys are expensive and the drivers are very rarely friendly.

It’s great to explore Amsterdam by bike. Daily bike rental costs between €4.50 and €5.50. The best bike rental can be found at the train station (Tel.: 6248391).However, should you go on a bike tour to experience the city, be aware that bike accidents pile up.

Even the countless canals are used as transport routes. The “Canalbus” cruises from the train station to Rijksmuseum, so you can combine the boat trip with a visit to a museum.