Is the Amsterdam City Card worth it? Yes, for most people who want to see a lot of the city, it is still a good buy. But I amsterdam now offers two versions of the card. One is more valuable than the other. It’s important to choose the right card.
The “Total Experience” card is the original one. Unlimited entry to everything on the list for 24 to 120 hours (one visit per experience), plus public transport (local buses, trams and metros) in Amsterdam.
The new card is called “Explorer“. You pick 3, 5, or 7 experiences and you get five days to use them. No public transport is included.
I do NOT recommend the Explorer card for most people. Your picks are often cheaper bought individually, and even if it works out cheaper then single tickets, it still takes away the spontaneity you get with the Total Experience card, and the final savings are larger for most people with the original card.
What is so good about the I amsterdam City Card is that you can explore so many different things, including the smaller unexpected museums and experiences. Explorer takes that away. For most people, my recommendation is the Total Experience card.
Before we go into the differences, one thing to know upfront: neither card covers the Van Gogh Museum or the Anne Frank House. No Amsterdam pass does. If those two are on your list, book them first, and then read on.
I Amsterdam Card: From €67
Get The I amsterdam Card
Free entry to 70+ museums including the Rijksmuseum, and many other activities. Plus free, unlimited use of GVB public transport (bus, tram & metro).
I recommend buying a multi-day card. Per-day prices become much cheaper. And you can slow down your pace.
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Why I Recommend The Total Experience Card For Most People
Explorer looks like a great choice. It is lower priced, and you think you only pay for what you use. The argument I hear most is that you cannot do everything on the list anyway, so the unlimited card wastes money. That is not the right way to look at it.
If you go with the Explorer pass and divide the price by the number of picks, you pay roughly €14 per experience (three activities for €44 is €14.67 a visit, five for €69 is €13.80, and seven for €95 is €13.57).
If you pick only the most expensive places you do save some money. In that case the Explorer pass might be your best choice. But smaller museums and experiences cost less, and the Explorer pass charges you the same no matter which experience you end up visiting. And even if you do save money, you most likely save more with the regular Total Experience card.
Let’s say you choose the Explorer card with seven activities for €95. Then you add a 72-hour tram ticket at €21.50, because you will want one, and you pay €116.50. The 72-hour Total Experience card is €115, and it has no limit on entries at all. You pay more for less.
If you choose five activities and do them in two days it is the same story, with a smaller gap. The Explorer pass costs €69 plus €16 for transportation, so that’s €85, while the 48-hour Total Experience card costs €94. Nine euros more gets you an unlimited card, and you can easily do more than five experiences in 48 hours.The Explorer pass is only cheaper if you go with higher-priced experiences, and you want to stop at that number of attractions.
The money is not even my main objection. The reason the Total Experience card is so good is that you stop counting. It adds spontaneity. You pass a canal house you have never heard of that is open to the public, you have twenty minutes, and you walk in because it costs you nothing extra. Explorer takes that spontaneity away and hands you a shopping list instead, written before you knew anything about the city.
So my answer is short. Buy the Total Experience card. Explorer only earns its place if you have exactly three expensive places in mind, you have already checked their door prices, and you are certain you will not want to see anything else.
The I amsterdam City Card Might Not Be Right for You If
- You are not interested in museums. The Go City Amsterdam Pass leans more on attractions and tours, and might be a better choice.
- Your trip is the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House. Buy those two tickets separately.
- You want one museum and a long lunch. Buy that one ticket.
(If you are choosing between this and Go City, I compare the two Amsterdam city cards in detail here.)
What Each I amsterdam City Card Costs
Prices are per person. I check them against iamsterdam.com every week, so if they move this page moves with them.
Total Experience Card: Unlimited Choices, Public Transport Included
| Card | Adult | Child 4 to 17 |
|---|---|---|
| 24 hours | €67 | €40 |
| 48 hours | €94 | €57 |
| 72 hours | €115 | €69 |
| 96 hours | €130 | €78 |
| 120 hours | €140 | €84 |
The price per day drops the longer you go, from €67 for one day to about €28 a day if you choose the five-day pass.
Explorer: Pick 3, 5, or 7 Experiences, Used Within 5 Days, No Transport Included
| Card | Adult | Child 4 to 17 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 activities | €44 | €29 |
| 5 activities | €69 | €39 |
| 7 activities | €95 | €49 |
A canal cruise or a day of bike rental counts as one of your picks. On Total Experience both are included, and so is every GVB tram, metro, bus and ferry inside Amsterdam. It is good to know that this transport does not reach Schiphol Airport, and it is not valid on the trains to Haarlem or Zaandam.
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Two Example Trips With the Total Experience Card
Both of these are based on the pace most people keep. Three stops a day with a long lunch somewhere in the middle.
A weekend on the 48-hour card, €94. Rijksmuseum on Saturday morning and the Moco after lunch, then the Bols Experience in the late afternoon. Sunday is ARTIS, then A’DAM Lookout for the view over the IJ, and a canal cruise before dinner. Those six cost €142.90 at the door, including two days of trams. You save €48.90, and you can still enter one or two smaller museums on top.
Three days with Haarlem on the 72-hour card, €115. The weekend above, then the train to Haarlem on Monday. Frans Hals in the morning, Teylers after lunch, €18.50 each. With 72 hours of transport instead of 48 the door total reaches €185.40. The train to Haarlem you need to pay for on top. Still, you save €70.40. And again, there is room for a few smaller experiences.
These extra museum visits cost you nothing with the card, and they add to your savings and to the feeling of discovery.
What the Card Never Covers
The Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House. Not on this card, not on any other Amsterdam pass. Both need their own ticket and both book out weeks ahead. I say this early every time because it is where the disappointment starts.
A few places also want a time slot booked in advance even when you hold the card. Check before you walk over.
Everything the Card Covers Right Now
Many other posts you find online about the I amsterdam City Card list attractions that left years ago. Mine does not. It’s accurate. The list below is rebuilt every week, and it shows the date of the last check.
Today that means 89 experiences are free with the card, 23 more come at a reduced price, and two hand you a small gift. “My pick” means I would spend a slot there. “I would skip it” means I would not go.
87 places are free with the card right now, and 23 more give you a reduced price.
Free With the Card (87)
Walk in, show the card, no ticket to buy.
Museums (48)
- Allard Pierson Museum
- Amsterdam City Archives - Stadsarchief
- Amsterdam Pipe Museum
- Amsterdam Tulip MuseumI would skip it
- Arcam (Center for Architecture)
- ARTIS - Groote Museum
- ARTIS Micropia Museum
- Embassy of the Free Mind Museum
- Eye Filmmuseum
- Foam Photography Museum
- Geelvinck Pianola Museum
- H'ART Museum
- Het Woonbootmuseum
- Huis Marseille, Museum for Photography
- Jewish Museum
- Luther Museum Amsterdam
- Moco MuseumMy pick
- Museum Het Schip (Amsterdam School Architecture)
- Museum of the CanalsMy pick
- Museum Our Lord on the Attic (Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder)My pick
- Museum Tot Zover (Life & death)
- Museum Van LoonMy pick
- National Holocaust MuseumMy pick
- NEMO Science Museum
- Old Church (Oude Kerk)My pick
- Portuguese SynagogueMy pick
- Rembrandt House MuseumMy pick
- Resistance Museum (Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam)My pick
- RijksmuseumMy pick
- Stedelijk MuseumMy pick
- STRAAT MuseumMy pick
- The National Maritime MuseumMy pick
- The Resistance Museum Junior
- Wereldmuseum
- Willet-Holthuysen MuseumMy pick
- Zuiderzee Museum(Enkhuizen)My pick
- Frans Hals Museum(Haarlem)My pick
- Museum van de Geest (Mental Health)(Haarlem)
- Teylers Museum(Haarlem)My pick
- Verwey Museum(Haarlem)
- Singer Museum(Laren)
- Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot(Muiden)
- The Dutch Fortress Museum(Naarden)
- Volendams Museum(Volendam)My pick
- Czar Peter House(Zaandam)
- Weaver's House(Zaanse Schans)
- Zaan Time Museum(Zaanse Schans)
- Zaans Museum and Verkade Experience(Zaanse Schans)
Attractions and experiences (11)
- A'dam Lookout Viewing TowerMy pick
- Amsterdam in Motion
- ARTIS Amsterdam Royal ZooMy pick
- De Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam
- Fabrique des LumièresMy pick
- Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam (Botanical Garden)My pick
- House of Gassan (Diamond Experience)I would skip it
- Molen van Sloten (Windmill)
- THIS IS HOLLAND - 5D Flight ExperienceMy pick
- Fort Pampus(Muiden)
- Zaanse Schans Windmills(Zaanse Schans)My pick
Canal cruises (7)
- Amsterdam Boat Cruises – Boat trip through the Amsterdam canals
- Canal Cruise - Blue Boat Company
- Canal Cruise - Circle Line
- Canal Cruise - Lovers
- Canal Cruise - Stromma
- Canal Cruise Highlights - Stromma
- Smidtje Canal Cruise(Haarlem)
Bike rental (9)
- A-Bike Rental Location Amstel
- A-Bike Rental Location Central Station
- A-Bike Rental Location Kerkstraat
- A-Bike Rental Location Vondelpark
- Amsterbike Bike Rental
- Discount Bike Rental
- Yellow Bike Rental Location Central Station
- Yellow Bike Rental Location Nieuwezijds Kolk
- Volendam Rent & Event Bike Rental(Volendam)My pick
Walking, bike and boat tours (8)
- Amsterdam Self-Guided Bike Tour
- Amsterdam Self-Guided Food Tour: De Jordaan District
- Amsterdam Self-Guided Food Tour: De Pijp NeigbourhoodMy pick
- Amsterdam Walking Tour - You're perfect introduction to the city
- Anne Frank Walking Tour
- Badass Tours – Ontdek de verborgen geschiedenis van Amsterdam
- Volendam Half-Day Tour from Amsterdam — Cheese, Clogs & Authentic Village Life(Volendam)
- Volendam-Marken Express(Volendam)My pick
Shows, music and nights out (4)
- Boom Chicago Comedy Show
- Holland Casino Amsterdam
- Klimbos Fun Forest
- My Treats
Reduced Price With the Card (23)
Usually 25% off. The exact cut can differ per place, so check it at the counter.
Museums (4)
- Art Zoo Museum
- Body Worlds
- BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project in Amsterdam
- The Cat Cabinet
Attractions and experiences (8)
- AMAZE by ID&T: Immersive Audiovisual Experience
- Bols Cocktail Experience
- Heineken Experience
- Johan Cruijff ArenA
- Madame Tussauds Amsterdam
- Rembrandts Amsterdam Experience
- The Amsterdam Dungeon
- The Upside Down Amsterdam
Canal cruises (4)
- Cheese and Wine Cruise - Stromma
- Open Boat Tours - Stromma
- Pedal Boat - Canal Tours Amsterdam
- Stromma Leidseplein
Walking, bike and boat tours (1)
- Half Day tour to Zaanse Schans Windmills(Zaanse Schans)
Shows, music and nights out (6)
- Badhuistheater
- Bimhuis
- Dutch National Opera & Ballet
- Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ
- Scala | Foodbar and Theatre
- Fotograaf Volendam(Volendam)
A Free Gift With the Card (2)
Not entry, a small something when you turn up.
Attractions and experiences (1)
- Royal Coster DiamondsI would skip it
Shopping (1)
- Amsterdam The Style Outlets
Last checked against the official I amsterdam site on October 5, 2026. I check it every week, so this list stays current. "My pick" means I would spend a slot there. "I would skip it" means I would not.
How to Buy It, and When to Turn It On
You can buy your I amsterdam City Card online before you fly, or at a tourist office after you land. I would buy online. The office at Central Station often has a line.
And it is nice to already have it. Another good reason to buy it sooner rather than later is that for some of the more popular experiences you need to make time slot reservations, and that can only be done after you have purchased the card.
The digital card is available in the I amsterdam City Card app and starts when you press activate, but wait to do so until you want to use the card for the first time.
PS: the card runs by hours from its first use, not by calendar days. Start it at 11 a.m. and you get most of an extra day at the end. And once you are inside an experience, you can stay as long as you want.
What I Say To My Guests
- Turn it on late in the morning on your first day. You get an “extra day” at the end.
- Check which places require a time slot before you leave home. Most of the list is walk-in. A few are not.
- Do not chase the number of visits. I have seen people try to visit as many places on the list as possible. It’s not enjoyable.
The places people love most are almost never the ones they planned. Museum Van Loon. Our Lord in the Attic. Museum Willet-Holthuysen on the Herengracht. Nobody buys a €17.50 ticket for a canal house they have never heard of. But with this card you walk in out of curiosity, and that is what makes it worth having.
My Recommendation
The 72-hour Total Experience card, if you like museums and you have three days. That is the one I recommend most.
The 48-hour Total Experience card for those who have less time.
Support Hidden Holland
If this guide helped you plan, a donation covers the costs behind it and keeps Hidden Holland free to read. It’s never expected, but always appreciated. Dank je wel.
Explorer only in one case: you have exactly three expensive places in mind, you have checked their door prices, and you are certain you will not want to see anything else.
Here are some links to get you on your way:
- Get the I amsterdam City Card here
- Compare the I amsterdam City Card with the Go City pass
- Book a planning call with me and we plan the perfect itinerary together
I Amsterdam Card: From €67
Get The I amsterdam Card
Free entry to 70+ museums including the Rijksmuseum, and many other activities. Plus free, unlimited use of GVB public transport (bus, tram & metro).
I recommend buying a multi-day card. Per-day prices become much cheaper. And you can slow down your pace.
Frequently Asked Questions About the I amsterdam City Card
Does the I amsterdam City Card include the Van Gogh Museum?
No, neither the I amsterdam City Card nor the Go City Pass includes the Van Gogh Museum. You’ll need separate tickets, and you have to book them far in advance.
Can I share my I amsterdam City Card with my travel partner?
No, each person needs their own card. The digital version is tied to one phone, and most attractions track usage to prevent sharing.
What happens if I lose my phone with the digital I amsterdam City Card?
Contact I amsterdam customer service immediately with your order confirmation. They can usually reissue the digital pass to a new device. Keep your confirmation email as backup.
Does the I amsterdam City Card work for a transfer between the airport and the city?
No, Schiphol Airport transport isn’t included in the I amsterdam City Card. But it’s not expensive to travel from the airport to the city. Here is my article on how to get from Schiphol Amsterdam Airport to the city center.
How do I use the I amsterdam City Card on public transportation?
Easy: open the card on your phone and scan the QR code when entering a metro station (scan face down on the barrier), or when entering a tram. Hold your phone below the tapping machine. Same on a bus (blue and white buses only). When on a tram or bus, do not worry about checking out.
Thank you for your excellent work!Mum and I will be in Amsterdam between 29th December and 01 st January.
I have downloaded ‘I am ‘ app and decided to buy two 48 hours tickets for me and mum.If I buy the card through you this month and get %5 discount, can I start to use it on 30th December when we arrive Amsterdam ?
Have a lovely time ……
Hi, I’m so excited for you and your mum to visit Amsterdam during New Year. Yes, you can absolutely buy the card now and enjoy the current promotion. The clock will not start running until the first time you activate the card in your app. There is an activation button. You do this at the first museum or when you want to take a tram ride on December 30th. That’s when your hours start running. You load the card immediately in the app, without activating it. It won’t expire before you get here. I appreciate your purchase, it supports this website. Thank you and I hope you’ll have an amazing time here. Gerrit