The easiest way to get to Jordaan is to use Amsterdam Centraal as your anchor, then choose the part of Jordaan you want to enter before you start walking. For many first-time visitors, the cleanest approach is to walk from Centraal toward the Prinsengracht and Westermarkt side, then continue into the smaller Jordaan streets. Do not rely blindly on “best tram stop” advice here, because tram service around Westermarkt is affected by current GVB works.
Jordaan is not a single attraction with one front gate. It is a neighborhood. That is why the first decision matters: are you entering near Westermarkt and Prinsengracht, near Noordermarkt, or closer to the western side around Marnixstraat and Lindengracht?
Start with Amsterdam Centraal, then choose an entry edge
Amsterdam Centraal is the best starting anchor for most visitors. If you arrive from Schiphol, take the train to Amsterdam Centraal first. If you are already in the old centre, use Centraal as your mental reset point.
Before you leave the station area, choose your Jordaan entry edge. Do not simply type “Jordaan” and follow the first line your map gives you. That can drop you into a random part of the neighborhood and make the last few minutes feel more confusing than they need to be.
For a classic first-time approach, aim for the Prinsengracht / Westermarkt side. This puts you near the eastern edge of Jordaan and makes it easier to continue toward streets such as Westerstraat, Noordermarkt, or Lindengracht depending on your plan.
Walking from Amsterdam Centraal is often the simplest route
For many visitors, walking from Amsterdam Centraal is easier than forcing an extra tram or metro ride.
The walk gives you a gradual entry into the neighborhood. You move from the station area toward the old centre, then into canal streets and smaller Jordaan blocks. This is better than being dropped at a stop and immediately needing to decode bridges, side streets, and crowds.
The main mistake is turning too early because a street looks charming. Jordaan is full of streets that look right. Stay with a clear entry line until you know which edge of the neighborhood you are entering.
If your destination is near Anne Frank House or the Prinsengracht side, use that area as your anchor. If your destination is Noordermarkt, Lindengracht, or Westerstraat, choose that northern/middle part of Jordaan before you begin the final walk.
Be careful with tram advice around Westermarkt
In normal conditions, Westermarkt is an intuitive tram-area reference for the eastern edge of Jordaan. But current GVB Oranje Loper works change the picture. GVB says trams 13 and 17 do not run between Dam and the Rozengracht/Marnixstraat intersection during the works, and there are no trams at Westermarkt until 28 February 2027.
That means old advice such as “take tram 13 or 17 to Westermarkt” can be wrong during this period.
If you want to use a tram, check GVB or a live journey planner just before you leave. The best current tram stop may depend on your starting point, date, and the temporary route. If the planner sends you to a stop on the edge of Jordaan and the final walk is short and clear, that can work. If it creates extra uncertainty, walk from Amsterdam Centraal instead.
When bus or metro can help
A bus can be useful if it takes you closer to the western or northern side of Jordaan, especially if your final destination is near Marnixstraat, Lindengracht, or Noordermarkt. The risk is that bus stops are less forgiving for first-time visitors because you need to know which side of the road and which direction you are using.
Metro is less natural for Jordaan than for single-point attractions. Rokin can work if you are already using metro line 52 and want to walk into the old centre first, but it is not the best default answer for Jordaan. It leaves you with a longer and more interpretive walk into the neighborhood.
Use metro only when it clearly helps from your starting point. For most first-time visitors from Amsterdam Centraal, walking or a live-planner bus/tram option is more practical.
From Schiphol Airport to Jordaan
From Schiphol Airport, take the train to Amsterdam Centraal. Schiphol and NS describe the Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal train as frequent, with a typical journey of about 17 minutes.
Once you reach Amsterdam Centraal, do not choose a tram from old memory. Current tram works can affect the obvious Jordaan stops. First decide where in Jordaan you are going, then choose:
Walk from Amsterdam Centraal if you want the most stable route.
Use a live tram or bus option if it gives you a clean final stop.
Take a taxi if you have heavy luggage or a precise address.
If you are staying in Jordaan, use your exact hotel or apartment address, not just the neighborhood name.
The final walk into Jordaan
The final walk should feel like you are entering a neighborhood, not looking for a monument.
As you get closer, the scale changes. Streets become narrower, canals and bridges appear more often, bikes become more noticeable, and the area feels less like a broad city-centre route. That change is useful, but it can also trick you into turning too soon.
Do not treat the first pretty canal as proof that you are in the right part of Jordaan. Use a real anchor: Prinsengracht, Westermarkt area, Noordermarkt, Westerstraat, Lindengracht, or your exact address.
If your route starts asking for one tiny turn after another, stop at a bridge or wider corner and re-check. Jordaan is enjoyable when you enter it deliberately. It becomes annoying when you try to rescue a vague route from inside the narrow streets.
Taxi and ride-hailing
A taxi or ride-hailing option is sensible if you have luggage, rain, a late arrival, or a hotel deep inside Jordaan.
The important point is to use a specific address. Do not ask for “Jordaan” as if it were a single entrance. Give the driver your hotel, restaurant, canal, or street name.
After getting out, pause before walking. In Jordaan, one wrong first turn can send you across a canal or into the wrong block quickly.
Route comparison
| Route | Best for | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam Centraal → walk into Jordaan | Most first-time visitors | Most stable during tram works |
| Schiphol → Amsterdam Centraal → walk | Airport arrivals | Simple train first, then controlled neighborhood entry |
| Live-planner tram or bus → short walk | Visitors who want less walking | Check GVB before leaving because works affect stops |
| Metro to Rokin → walk | Visitors already using metro 52 | Backup only, not the best default |
| Taxi to exact address | Luggage, rain, late arrival | Use a precise street or hotel name |
FAQ
What is the best tram stop for Jordaan?
There is no single reliable “best tram stop” right now. Westermarkt is an intuitive Jordaan-edge reference, but GVB works mean there are no trams at Westermarkt until 28 February 2027. Check live GVB advice before choosing a tram.
Is walking from Amsterdam Centraal a good idea?
Yes. For many first-time visitors, walking from Amsterdam Centraal is the simplest and most stable way to enter Jordaan.
Is Rokin a good station for Jordaan?
Rokin can work as a metro-based backup, but it is not the best default route into Jordaan. It is more useful if you are already on metro line 52.
What is the biggest mistake people make?
They treat Jordaan like one address. Choose an entry edge first: Prinsengracht/Westermarkt, Noordermarkt, Lindengracht, Westerstraat, or your exact destination.
Should I reset at Amsterdam Centraal if I get lost?
Only if you are still near the station or completely disoriented. If you are already inside Jordaan, reset locally at a canal, bridge, wider crossing, or known street name.
Related Amsterdam routes from the Jordaan side
These internal links are natural from this article:
- How to Get to Anne Frank House
- How to Get to Amsterdam Canal Ring
- How to Get to Amsterdam Centraal
- How to Get to Dam Square
- How to Get to Royal Palace Amsterdam
SOURCES CHECKED
GVB Amsterdam – confirmed current Oranje Loper works, including that trams 13 and 17 do not run between Dam and Rozengracht/Marnixstraat and there are no trams at Westermarkt until 28 February 2027 – https://www.gvb.nl/en/oranje-loper (gvb.nl)
I amsterdam – confirmed that Amsterdam’s tram network connects Amsterdam Central Station with neighborhoods including Jordaan, and that tram travel from Schiphol is not available because Schiphol requires train or bus – https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/travel-stay/getting-around/tram (iamsterdam.com)
Schiphol Airport – confirmed frequent train service between Schiphol and Amsterdam Centraal, with a typical journey of about 17 minutes – https://www.schiphol.nl/en/from-to-schiphol/by-public-transport/train/ (schiphol.nl)
NS – confirmed the Schiphol to Amsterdam Central Station rail connection and 17-minute journey context – https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/special-routes/taking-the-train-to-the-airport.html (ns.nl)
GVB Amsterdam – confirmed official stops and timetable search is the right place to check live tram, bus, and metro route availability before departure – https://www.gvb.nl/en/travel-information/stops-and-timetable (gvb.nl)
