What this solves
Amsterdam is small (Centraal to most things is under 6 km) but the choice of mode changes more than people think. A €6.50 GVB day ticket looks like a steal for tourists until you discover the bike is faster door-to-door and €3.85/day (OV-fiets) — unless it’s raining, in which case the tram usually wins.
- Six real routes, not averages. Centraal → Rijksmuseum, Centraal → Jordaan → Vondelpark loop, Centraal → NDSM (free ferry), Centraal → De Pijp, Centraal → Oud-West, Centraal → Zuidoost (Arena).
- Time-of-day awareness: trams slow to ~10 km/h in rush hour (06:30–09:00 and 16:00–18:30) due to Munt traffic and bridge openings; bikes hold ~14–15 km/h outside the dedicated fietspad.
- Weather-adjusted times. Rain drops bike effective speed by ~25% (slick paint, slower turns, more red lights) and walking speed by ~10%. Tram speed drops only by bridge openings and door-to-door steps.
The calculator
Distance is approximate bike-route distance (Amsterdam’s grid + canal detours).
How to read results
The verdict reports the fastest door-to-door time across all three modes. Bike uses a fixed ~14 km/h cruise on Dutch fietspads (not the lower 11 km/h average that includes red-light waits — those are baked into the minute-per-km factor).
The total cost row reflects your input days. If you ride 4+ days, buy the 4-day GVB ticket (€26.50) rather than stacking four day tickets (€26.00 — buttram rides get cheaper still). For one-off rides under 2 km, walking is unbeatable on cost; for 5+ km heading to Arena, the metro is the only sane option.
Limitations
- Distances are bike-route km, not straight-line. Amsterdam canals and one-way grids add 25-35% to the bike path versus Google\'s blue route. Walking follows roughly the same detour.
- Tram wait time is ignored. Realistic GVB headways are 6-10 min midday, 3-5 min rush. If you arrive between departures, the tram option costs you 5+ minutes. The bike doesn\'t wait.
- No lockup cost. Real bike use requires a lock (€20-€40) and you risk theft — Amsterdam bike-theft rate is the highest in NL. Insurance through ANWB or your home policy recommended.
- Night times missing. After 00:30 only night buses (N-line) and a few trams run. The bike is the only reliable option after midnight; cycling in Amsterdam at 02:00 is a different city.
FAQ
Is the GVB day ticket really €6.50 in 2026?
Yes — GVB dropped the price from €9.50 to €6.50 in 2025 and it has held. The 24h unlimited tram + metro + bus ticket is one of Europe\'s better city transit deals. Children under 4 ride free; 4-11 ride free with a Kids Ticket (€1).
Where do I get an OV-fiets without the subscription?
Walk up to an NS station OV-fiets pole (look for the white-and-orange kiosks). Buy a one-time pass at the machine: bring your passport and a debit or credit card; €50 deposit hold on the card until you return the bike. The €3.85 fee covers 24 hours.
Is cycling in Amsterdam really safe for tourists?
Mostly yes — Amsterdam has the best cycling infrastructure in the world. But don\'t ride on the tram tracks at right angles (wheel slips), don\'t ride two-abreast, and don\'t ride without hands. The biggest rule: stay right, pass left, signal right turns with your arm out.
What if it rains all day?
Then take the GVB day ticket and call it €6.50 well spent. The Dutch themselves often leave bikes at home on rainy days. A 90-minute rain shower ruins leather seats and electronics. The fietspad is also slippery — first 5 minutes of rain is the worst.
Sources
- GVB day tickets and multi-day tariff sheet 2026 (gvb.nl)
- OV-fiets subscription & per-rental pricing (ovfiets.nl)
- Amsterdam bike-network fietspad distance calculator (gemeente Amsterdam)
- KNMI weather impact on cycling speed — 2024 Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute report
Related tools
When the €40/year subscription pays off vs walk-up €3.85.
If you commute past Centraal to the edge of NL.
If you drove in, this calculates the metro/bike back.
The Centraal → NDSM route (free ferry) is one of the six routes above.