The single most-asked Amsterdam transport question is some version of: "Do I need an OV-chipkaart?" The 2026 answer is much simpler than it used to be. With the rollout of OVpay contactless tapping in 2023, most tourists no longer need an OV-chipkaart at all — your contactless bank card or phone now works directly on every tram, bus, metro and train in the country. This guide explains what the OV-chipkaart still does, when you should buy one, when OVpay is better, what tickets exist for tourists, and how the upcoming OV-Pas changes things again.
Quick Answer: Should You Use OV-Chipkaart, OVpay, or a Pass?
- Visiting 1–3 days, low transport use → just use OVpay (tap your contactless bank card or phone). No purchase required.
- Visiting 1–3 days, lots of transport → buy a GVB Day Ticket at any tram driver or vending machine: €9.50/24h, €15.50/48h, €21/72h.
- Visiting 4–7 days, lots of transport including airport → Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket: €23/€34/€44 for 1/2/3 days, includes Schiphol, Keukenhof and Zaanse Schans buses.
- Travelling around the Netherlands (Rotterdam, Utrecht, etc.) → buy a refillable anonymous OV-chipkaart (€7.50 + balance) or use OVpay nationwide.
- Visiting more than once a year → look at the new digital OV-Pas (replaces the OV-chipkaart from 2026 onwards).
OVpay: The Easiest Tourist Option
OVpay launched nationwide in 2023 and is the simplest way to use Amsterdam public transport in 2026. There is nothing to buy, nothing to load, and nothing to top up.
- Tap a contactless bank card (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, V PAY, American Express) on the pink/yellow reader when you board.
- Tap again when you exit the tram, bus or metro.
- Always use the same card for one journey — never tap your phone to check in and your bank card to check out.
- Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Samsung Pay all work.
- Daily cap on GVB: €10/day across the entire GVB network (tram + bus + metro + ferry within Amsterdam city). Trips above that are free for the rest of the day.
- Per-trip fares: €1.10 boarding fee + €0.20/km, capped at €3.40 for any journey within Amsterdam.
- Always check that you actually checked in. A green tick and a beep mean you’re checked in. A red cross is a problem.
- Charges appear on your bank statement within 1–4 days, often grouped at end of day.
OVpay works everywhere in the Netherlands, on every operator: GVB, NS trains, Connexxion buses, RET (Rotterdam), HTM (The Hague), Arriva, etc. One card, the entire country.
What the OV-Chipkaart Still Is
The OV-chipkaart is the yellow plastic smartcard that all Dutch public transport ran on from 2009 to 2023. It is still widely used and still works in 2026, but its role for tourists is now smaller.
- Anonymous OV-chipkaart: €7.50 deposit (non-refundable), valid 5 years, tops up at vending machines or staffed counters.
- Personal OV-chipkaart: requires a Dutch bank account. Not available to short-term tourists.
- Disposable OV-chipkaart: €1 paper card pre-loaded with 1, 2 or 3-day GVB unlimited rides.
- Top up at any GVB ticket machine, NS train station kiosk, or Albert Heijn supermarket.
- Minimum balance to enter a tram or bus: €4. To enter a train: €20.
- Refunds on the deposit and unused balance: requires Dutch bank or postal address; not practical for tourists.
Verdict: only worth buying an OV-chipkaart if you’ll need to top up at machines and not use a contactless bank card. For most tourists, OVpay is now the better choice.
GVB Day & Multi-Day Tickets
For tourists planning to use trams more than 3–4 times a day, a GVB unlimited day ticket is cheaper than OVpay’s €10 cap. Sold at every tram driver, vending machine, GVB ticket office, and the I amsterdam Visitor Centre.
- 1-hour GVB ticket: €3.40
- 1 day (24h): €9.50
- 2 days (48h): €15.50
- 3 days (72h): €21
- 4 days: €26.50
- 5 days: €33
- 6 days: €37.50
- 7 days: €41.50
All include unlimited rides on GVB tram, bus, metro and ferry within Amsterdam (zone 5700). Excludes train (NS), regional buses (Connexxion), Schiphol airport buses (line 397), and Keukenhof shuttles.
Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket
The single best ticket for tourists who want to combine Amsterdam with the airport, Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Marken in the same trip.
- 1 day: €23
- 2 days: €34
- 3 days: €44
Includes all GVB tram/bus/metro/ferry, the Schiphol airport train, regional buses (Connexxion 391, 397, 859 to Keukenhof), the Zaanse Schans bus 391, and the Volendam/Marken bus 312/315. Buy at Schiphol Plaza, the I amsterdam Visitor Centre near Centraal, or online.
I amsterdam City Card vs OV-Chipkaart
The I amsterdam City Card (€60–€120 for 1–4 days) bundles unlimited GVB transport with free entry to ~40 museums and a free canal cruise. It does NOT include Anne Frank House or Van Gogh Museum. Worth it only if you’ll visit 3+ included museums per day. For pure transport, the GVB ticket or OVpay is cheaper.
Trains: Amsterdam Centraal & Schiphol
- Schiphol Airport ↔ Centraal Station: 18 minutes, €5.90 single. Pay with OVpay or buy a paper ticket from yellow NS machines at Schiphol Plaza.
- NS train day passes are €60+ and rarely needed for short stays.
- Always check in AND check out at NS readers — a missed checkout charges €20 default fare.
- The OV-chipkaart needs €20 minimum balance to start a train journey. OVpay has no minimum.
Free GVB Ferries
The IJ ferries from behind Centraal Station to Buiksloterweg, IJplein and NDSM-Werf are completely free. No ticket, no tap, just walk on. They run every 5–8 minutes day and night and are one of the city’s best free experiences.
How to Tap In and Out
- Trams & buses: tap on the pink reader (front for OVpay; rear or middle for OV-chipkaart) when boarding. Tap again on exit.
- Metro: tap at the gates entering the platform; tap again at the exit gates.
- Trains: tap at the standalone yellow NS posts on the platform.
- Always wait for the green tick and beep. A red cross means insufficient balance, wrong card, or an already-tapped session.
- If you forget to tap out: log into nsayp.com or the OVpay app to claim a refund (proof of journey required).
The New OV-Pas (Replacing OV-Chipkaart)
From late 2025 the OV-Pas has been introduced as the planned successor to the OV-chipkaart. It costs €6, can be either a physical card or a digital card on your phone, and is fully personalised with travel discounts and subscriptions. The plastic OV-chipkaart will be retired entirely by end-2027. For tourists in 2026, this is largely irrelevant — OVpay remains the simplest option for short visits.
Discounts & Free Travel
- Children under 4: free on all GVB and NS services.
- Children 4–11 with paying adult: free on GVB at weekends and during school holidays.
- NS Kids Vrij: up to 3 children (0–11) travel free on NS trains with one adult ticket.
- Off-peak NS day-return (after 6.30pm or weekends): 40% discount with NS Dal Voordeel subscription.
- Free GVB ferries.
- Group Day ticket (Groepsretour): up to 7 people for €36 NS train day return — useful for day trips.
Practical Transport Tips for Tourists
- Don’t buy the OV-chipkaart at the airport. Use OVpay or a paper NS ticket for your first ride into town.
- Always carry both: a backup paper day ticket is worth €10 if your card has issues.
- Apple Pay/Google Wallet works but use the same wallet for in/out — switching cards mid-journey will charge two trips.
- Trams and metro accept the same ticket; bus 397 (Schiphol airport line) does not accept GVB day tickets — buy the regional ticket.
- Watch your phone battery if using Apple Pay/Google Wallet — a dead phone at a checkpoint is a fine.
- Inspectors appear unannounced; the fine for travelling without a valid check-in is €60 + the fare.
- Children’s seats and strollers use the middle door of trams; tap in for any child over 11.
- Bikes on trains need a Dagkaart Fiets ticket (€7.50 day) — not free unless you have a foldable.
Schiphol Airport: Cheapest Way to Get Into Town
- NS train from Schiphol Plaza to Centraal: 18 minutes, €5.90. Use OVpay or buy a paper ticket.
- Bus 397 (Amsterdam Airport Express): 30 minutes to Museumplein. €5 single. Useful if you’re staying near the Rijksmuseum.
- Taxi: 25 minutes, €40–€55.
- Uber/Bolt: 25 minutes, €30–€45.
OV-Chipkaart Amsterdam: FAQ
Do I need an OV-chipkaart in Amsterdam?
No. As of 2026, OVpay (tap-to-pay with a contactless bank card or phone) works on all Amsterdam public transport. The OV-chipkaart is still valid but optional for tourists.
How much does the OV-chipkaart cost?
An anonymous OV-chipkaart costs €7.50 (non-refundable for tourists), then load with credit. The new OV-Pas costs €6.
Can I use OVpay for trains?
Yes — OVpay works on all NS trains nationwide, and on every regional operator (Arriva, Keolis, Qbuzz, etc.).
Is OVpay cheaper than a day ticket?
OVpay caps at €10/day for GVB. A 1-day GVB ticket is €9.50. For 2-day stays, the 48-hour ticket (€15.50) beats two days of OVpay (€20).
Will my US/UK contactless card work?
Yes — Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, V PAY and American Express all work. Some US debit cards may need to be set as "contactless transit" first; check with your bank if it doesn’t tap.
What’s the cheapest way to use Amsterdam transport for a week?
The 7-day GVB ticket at €41.50, or OVpay daily-cap (~€60 over a week if you use it every day). For airport + Keukenhof + Zaanse Schans, the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket is best.
Final Thoughts
Amsterdam’s public transport is now one of the easiest in Europe to use as a tourist. For most short visits, just tap your contactless card or phone and ride. For longer stays, grab a €9.50 GVB day ticket. Save the OV-chipkaart for if you’re settling in or travelling deeper across the country. Don’t overthink it — the readers are forgiving, the inspectors are reasonable, and the system works.
For more, see our Getting Around Amsterdam hub, our Public Transport Guide, and our Amsterdam Trip Planning Guide.