Amsterdam Buses: Routes, Tickets and Night Service

When a bus is better than a tram or metro

Inside the tight canal belt, walking and trams are usually simpler. Buses become more valuable as soon as your journey starts or ends beyond the central tram grid: residential West, parts of Oost, Amsterdam Noord away from the ferry landings, and connections from stations such as Sloterdijk, Zuid, Bijlmer ArenA and Amstel.

Do not memorise route numbers months ahead. Amsterdam changes services for construction, events and annual timetable updates, so plan the actual journey shortly before leaving and read the destination on the front display before boarding.

The bus operators visitors see

GVB operates the city network and is covered by GVB hour/day tickets and the transport part of the I amsterdam City Card. Connexxion operates the Airport Express bus 397 and N97 plus regional services. EBS is common on routes through Amsterdam Noord and Waterland, including destinations beyond the city.

OVpay contactless travel is the least confusing option for occasional rides because it calculates the fare for the operator you actually use. A GVB-only pass is excellent inside Amsterdam but does not become valid on Connexxion or EBS simply because the route begins in the city.

Tickets, OVpay and checking out

For a single GVB journey, the 2026 one-hour ticket costs €3.40 and permits transfers within its validity, but it is not accepted on GVB night buses. The simplest alternative is OVpay: tap a contactless debit/credit card or phone on the reader when you board and tap the same card or device again as you leave.

A GVB day ticket covers GVB trams, metros, daytime buses and night buses for its hour-based validity. If your trip also needs the airport train or bus 397, choose a product that explicitly includes the airport rather than assuming a city-only GVB ticket reaches Schiphol.

Amsterdam night buses

Night buses run after most daytime buses and trams have stopped, with routes radiating through the centre and outer districts. The exact network and departure points can change, so use the live planner instead of an old screenshot or printed list.

A GVB night-bus single costs €5.60 in 2026. Valid GVB multi-day products cover night buses, while the normal one-hour ticket does not. The airport N97 is a Connexxion route and follows its own fare rules.

Boarding, luggage and accessibility

Queue near the marked stop, let passengers leave, then board at the front or permitted door and check in immediately. Press the stop button after the previous stop and watch the display so you are ready to leave without blocking the aisle.

GVB publishes accessible-transport information and marks suitable journeys in its planner. City buses are generally low-floor and provide a wheelchair space, but temporary stop works or a full wheelchair bay can affect a particular journey. Travellers who need step-free access should check the live advice before setting out.

• Keep luggage clear of doors, aisles and the wheelchair/pushchair area.
• Use the same bank card or the same phone for both OVpay taps; they are treated as different payment methods.
• If you forget to check out, use the operator’s missed-check-out service to correct the fare.
• Children under 4 travel free on GVB; check current child products for ages 4–11.

Which ticket makes sense for a visitor?

Use OVpay for one or two occasional rides. Choose a GVB day ticket when you will make several city journeys and do not need Schiphol transport. Choose an Amsterdam Travel Ticket when the airport transfer and unlimited GVB travel need to sit on one product.

Amsterdam bus tickets at a glance