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? Then check in and out with your contactless debit card, credit card or mobile phone. You hold it against the card reader or the gate and - bleep! - you are checked in. After your trip you check out in the same way, with the same pass. It's that simple. It is similar to contactless payment in the supermarket. The difference: you also check out at your destination. This payment method is called OVpay.

You can also pin a ticket at the bus driver. Tell 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. This is often a bit more expensive than checking in and out (OVpay).

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

Do you regularly travel by public transport and do you receive an age discount (are you younger than 11 or older than 65) or would you like a subscription? Then a personal OV chip card is cheaper. Here you will find more information about traveling with an OV chip card.

You can easily buy your bus ticket in the 9292 or Tranzer apps. You pay for this with iDEAL and activate it when you want to travel. When boarding, show the ticket to the driver on your smartphone. Please note: this is usually more expensive than checking in and out with your contactless debit card, credit card or mobile phone. You may have to pay service costs for this.

Can I take the bus without an OV chip card?

Yes, you can. You can simply check in and out with your contactless debit card, credit card or your mobile (OVpay). This is also the cheapest way to pay. You then pay per kilometer.

Other ways to pay are slightly more expensive: pin a ticket to the bus driver. Prefer to pay cash? Then go to one of our presale points. Or you can buy a ticket with iDEAL via the apps 9292 or Tranzer.

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, do you check in and out with your contactless debit card/credit card/mobile (OVpay) or do you buy a ticket from the bus driver?

Traveling on balance (OV chip card/OVpay)/subscription: go to our product advice tool. Enter your journey and see which product suits you best. You can also do this via our travel planner: plan your journey in the journey planner and click on the journey you want to make. At the bottom you can see what the total trip will cost you.

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

Can children take the bus for free?

From January 1, 2024, children from 4 to 11 years old can also travel with you for free. Per adult, 3 children aged 4 to 11 can travel for free. Children up to 3 years old always travel for free on public transport.