How to travel by bus?

Is this your first bus trip or has it been a while since you boarded a bus? On this page we provide answers to the most frequently asked questions from travelers. This way you can travel well prepared and carefree. To make it easier for you, we have divided the questions into categories: the bus stop, the schedule and payment.
The bus stop
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Where is a bus stop near me?

The easiest way to find out is with our travel planner. It calculates the fastest route for you with public transport. It often starts from the nearest stop, sometimes the travel planner chooses a stop further so you arrive at your final destination faster.

How do I know which bus stop I need?

Plan your trip through our trip planner. The planner indicates which bus and stop you need and which direction / final destination the bus has (for example Central Station). You can always find the name of the stop at the stop itself: on the stop post and / or on the board with departure times. Sometimes there are two stops opposite each other with the same name. Then you have to take a good look at the direction / final destination on the stop post and / or board with departure times.

Which buses depart from my stop?

On this page you can see all buses leaving from your stop with the departure times.  You can also check the current departure times here: your bus may be a few minutes earlier or later. Do you prefer a paper brochure with the most important bus lines in your area? Request this free of charge at our customer service or pick it up at Syntus Utrecht's service store.

At the stops you will also find all bus lines and departure times on the stop post or board.

How early do I have to be at the stop?

The bus driver complies with the timetable as well as possible, but sometimes the bus is slightly earlier or later than planned. So make sure you are at the bus stop on time. Five minutes in advance is enough.
The schedule
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Is there a bus going to where I want to go?

Do you want to be sure that a bus runs to your final destination? Plan your trip with the trip planner. You will immediately see if you can take the bus to your desired location. And you can also immediately plan your return trip there.

What time does my bus leave?

Do you know which bus you should have, but don't know how often it runs and what the departure times are? Then choose your line here. Click on "View timetable" and you will immediately see on which days your bus runs and what the scheduled departure times are.

Which route does my bus drive?

Do you want to know the exact route of your bus? Plan your trip in the trip planner and select one of the trip options. Do you view the website on your mobile? Then you see "Show card" at the top right. Click on that and you will see which route your bus takes and along which stops the bus goes.

How do I know which bus I need?

Plan your trip in our trip planner. You can see which stop you need, what time your bus leaves, the number of the bus and which stop you need to get off. (Tip: in the Syntus / Keolis app you can save your route. This way you can see during your ride which stops you will pass and what time you will arrive at your final stop).
Each bus has a line number and final destination on the front and side. This way you can see at a glance which bus you need to board.

How does the bus driver know that I want to board?

Is your bus coming? Raise your hand. That way the bus driver knows that you want to board.

How do I know when I have to get out?

Sometimes you don't know when you will reach your final stop. For example, if you are in an unknown city or catch a different bus than normal. How do you prevent missing your stop? Of course you can always ask the driver if he / she wants to give you a signal when you have to get off. But the bus also has a travel information screen on which you can see all the next stops (with current arrival time). This way you can easily see for yourself when you have to leave. All stops are automatically called. Is the next stop your stop? Press the red stop button to let the driver know that you want to get out the next stop.

How do I know if I will catch my switch?

Will I get the connecting bus? You are not the only traveler who finds switching exciting. Certainly if it is important that you catch your planned switch. If you are concerned that you will not be able to catch your swicht, explain this to the driver. He / she can then contact the driver of the connecting bus. In some cases, he may still be waiting for you.
Payment
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How can I pay?

This is possible in a number of ways. Which way is the most advantageous for you depends on your travel behavior. Don't you travel by public transport that often? Pin your ticket at the bus driver. Indicate to the bus driver where you want to go and pay for your ticket with PIN or credit card. Here you will find the prices of individual bus tickets.

Prefer to buy a ticket with cash? That is possible at these points of sale.

Do you travel regularly by public transport? Then an OV chip card is cheaper. Here you will find more information about traveling with an OV chip card. You can purchase an anonymous OV chip card for € 7.50 at a store near you.

You can easily buy your bus ticket in the Keolis / Syntus app. You pay for this with iDEAL and activate it when you want to travel. During boarding, you show the driver the ticket on your smartphone.

Can I take the bus without an OV chip card?

Yes you can. You simply buy a ticket at the bus driver with PIN or creditcard. Prefer to pay in cash? Go to one of our presale points. Or you install the Keolis / Syntus app and buy a ticket with iDEAL.

What does a bus ride cost?

That depends on the distance you travel and the ticket you use. Do you have an OV chip card, a (discount) subscription or do you buy a ticket from the bus driver?

Travel on balance (OV chip card) / subscription: plan your trip in the trip planner and click on the trip you want to make. Below you can see what the total journey costs you.

Single bus ticket: the price for a single bus ticket is determined by the number of zones that you travel by bus. On this page you will find the current prices. Do you want to know how many zones you travel? Plan your journey here and check the 'zones' box at the top right. You buy the bus ticket from the driver with PIN or credit card.

Can children take the bus for free?

Children up to 3 years of age travel completely free of charge by bus. From 4 to 11 years they travel extra cheaply with a Kid's ticket for only € 1.05. With this ticket a child can, under the supervision of an adult, travel for 1.5 hours on the bus and make unlimited transfers. You pin the Kid ticket at the driver or buy it in the app.