My wife and I are planning a trip to Amsterdam in March and like other European cities we've visited enjoy finding scenic bus rides on public transportation. I'm having some annoying issues with mobility and have to walk with a hiking stick so sitting and seeing neighborhoods, parks and other scenic attractions is my version of people watching. If you have any suggestions for nice bus or tram routes, I'm all ears. Thanks in advance.
Michael
Since Amsterdam is built on canals, the best view is to take one of the canal boat tours.
Don't take the bus, but the tram for a much smoother ride.
Line 2 has some fame, taking you from the Centraal Station across the Canal Belt to the Rijksmuseum and one stop further the Stedelijk Museum.
Personally I also like Line 4, from the Centraal Station to station RAI, taking you across the 1920s neighbourhoods with their typical plastic brick architecture.
I agree, take the canal boat and the trams.
You can buy a 24 pass directly on the tram. If memory serves me right from a couple of years they take only debit or credit cards, no cash. The tram is one of the best ways to get around.
I would suggest a 24 hour or 3 day tram/bus pass. I like the #12 tram. It passes from the 15th century up through the 20th. Very interesting architecture. The pass will allow you to hop on and hop off.
Also, if you go to Youtube and type in "Amsterdam Tram" you'll get videos with driver views of most all the lines from one end to the other so you can see which one(s) you may like.
While Rick's Amsterdam & Netherlands guidebook doesn't address tram rides specifically as a self-guided sightseeing ride (as for bus #69 in Paris or the Ringstrasse tram in Vienna), it does summarize what is at and nearby to the stops of trams #2/11/13 southbound from Centraal station to Jacob Obrechstraat and tram #14 also departing Centraal station toward Alexanderplein.
Most boat tours and hop-on-off boats will offer some narration of what you're passing.
North of Amsterdam is lovely countryside and some nice small towns like Monnickendma, ,and Edam. You can get an all day buss pass to these places. They also have suggested rotues... http://www.localbus.nl/
