Amsterdam Nightlife Information

Hours

Bars and cafés, both of the brown and other persuasions, can stay open until 1 am on weekdays and 3 am on weekends in the city center, although some do close earlier. Nachtcafés, or night cafés, operate until 4 am on weekdays and 5 am on weekends. Coffeeshops generally are open for business until 1 am, give or take an hour depending on the shop and the day of the week (weekends have later opening hours). Clubs generally stay open until 3 am on weekdays and 4 am on weekends. Live gigs start as early as 8 or 9 pm or as late as midnight. Theater shows usually kick off earlier. Always check official websites for updates or call ahead.

Late-Night Transportation

If you're heading out late, know that regular public transportation ends shortly after midnight. Grabbing a cab or using Uber is your best option for getting home. Taxis, which tend to be on the pricey side, can sometimes be flagged down on the streets, but it's better to wait in line at a designated taxi stand or call to order one; most venue employees can direct you to the closest stand or book a taxi for you. Alternatively, you can use night buses, but routes are difficult to determine and trips can be time-consuming.

Where to Get Info

For the latest on what's happening, you'd do well to browse through the many fliers, pamphlets, booklets, and magazines that can be picked up at cafés around town. Online electronic music magazine Resident Advisor (www.residentadvisor.net) provides up-to-date event and club listings. And check the Facebook pages of your preferred destinations, as many clubs, bars, and cafés post their latest information there.

I amsterdam is the city's official website (www.iamsterdam.com) and an excellent source of information, as is its bimonthly English-language publication A-mag. Buy a copy at official tourist offices, bookshops, and newsstands, or peruse a free café copy over your latte. The free magazine Subbacultcha! (www.subbacultcha.nl) keeps you updated about the underground music scene, as well as alternative cultural events and exhibitions.

For more information about gay life in Amsterdam, visit the gay-and-lesbian information and souvenir kiosk Pink Point (www.pinkpoint.org), located at the Homomonument on the corner of Keizersgracht and Westermarkt; it's open daily 10–6. For details on gay nightlife, consult the listings at www.amsterdam4gays.com.

Where to Get Tickets

Sometimes tickets can be purchased at theater box offices or via www.ticketmaster.nl, although some theaters only sell tickets directly before a performance. To be sure to get into a dance club, arrive early (around 10 pm) and pick up tickets at the register, or buy tickets early through the venue's website.

I amsterdam. The city's official website is a one-stop guide to all that's happening in Amsterdam and will link you to the cultural venues where you can purchase tickets. Centrum, Amsterdam, North Holland. www.iamsterdam.com/en.

Last Minute Ticket Shop (LMTS). Every morning at 10, this website posts a list of half-price tickets for same-day shows and concerts at popular venues including Paradiso, Royal Theatre Carre, National Opera & Ballet, and Stadsschouwburg. Leidseplein, Amsterdam, North Holland, 1017 PT. www.lastminuteticketshop.nl.