Yes — for most first-time visitors who want to see a lot of Amsterdam, the I Amsterdam Card is a very good choice.
If I were planning a trip and wanted to visit several museums — including smaller ones I might otherwise skip — this is the card I would choose.
I recommend the I Amsterdam Card often. Not because it’s popular, but because it helps people get more out of their stay without constant ticket buying or planning stress.
I think it works especially well when you also want to include a canal cruise, visit places like A’DAM Lookout or THIS IS HOLLAND, and use public transport. In that case, the I Amsterdam Card makes visiting Amsterdam much simpler — no constant ticket buying — and often cheaper.
I Amsterdam Card: From €65
Get The I amsterdam Card
Free entry to 70+ museums including the Rijksmuseum. 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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Who the I Amsterdam Card Is (and Is Not) Best For
This card is a great fit if you:
- Enjoy visiting museums and cultural sights
- Plan to see several attractions over two or three days
- Want unlimited public transport included
- Like the freedom to step into smaller museums spontaneously
This card is not the best choice if you:
- Are not very interested in museums
- Prefer guided tours and attractions
- Plan to visit mainly Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House (both are not included in any pass)
- Want to do many activities but few museums
If someone tells me they don’t care much for museums, I usually point them straight to the Go City Amsterdam Pass, which focuses more on attractions and experiences rather than museums. Or to individual tickets if they only plan to visit a few places.
(I compare both Amsterdam cards in detail here if you’re unsure which fits your plans best.)
What You Need to Know Before Buying the I Amsterdam Card
The I Amsterdam Card works best when it supports your natural travel pace — not when it pushes you to rush.
City cards can create a temptation to cram too much into each day. For some people, that’s part of the fun. For others, it quickly becomes tiring. This card works best when you enjoy moving through museums and neighborhoods at a steady, curious pace.
I see visitors get the most value from the card when they:
- Plan roughly two to three visits per day
- Use public transport naturally instead of walking everywhere
- Leave room for smaller, unplanned museum stops
Before you look at numbers, ask yourself:
“Do I enjoy seeing several places in a day, or do I prefer to slow things down?”
If you enjoy an active but comfortable pace, keep reading.
If you prefer just one or two stops per day, individual tickets are usually the better choice.
How the Pricing Works (And How I Look at It)
You’ll see card durations from 24 to 120 hours.
What matters less to me is the actual price — but more how the daily cost drops as the card gets longer.
That’s why I almost never recommend the 24-hour card. It tends to push people to rush, and that’s not how most visitors actually enjoy Amsterdam.
In practice, this is how I usually guide people:
- 48 hours works well for shorter stays
- 72 hours is the sweet spot for most first-time visitors
- Longer cards only make sense if you already know you’ll use them
You’ll enjoy Amsterdam more — and you’ll still save money.
Current 2026 “I Amsterdam Card” Prices:
- 24 hours: €65
- 48 hours: €90
- 72 hours: €110
- 96 hours: €125
- 120 hours: €135
Prices are per person. Including unlimited public transport within Amsterdam. That means it’s not valid for transport to and from the airport. It’s valid on trams, metro, and GVB buses for the full duration of the card.
As the card gets longer, the daily price drops significantly — from €65 down to about €27 per day.
That lower daily rate is what allows you to slow down. You feel less pressure to squeeze everything into one day just to “get your money’s worth.”
That’s when the card works best.
Ready to buy? You can get your “I Amsterdam Card” here.
What “Good Value” Looks Like in Real Life
Yes, it’s possible to create extreme itineraries that squeeze every euro out of the card.
That’s not how most people travel — and it’s not necessary to get your money’s worth.
You already save money, if:
- You visit one major museum (Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk)
- Do one attraction (canal cruise, A’DAM Lookout, THIS IS HOLLAND, or Artis Zoo)
- Discover one or two smaller museums you discover along the way
- Public transport instead of walking everything
That combination alone usually puts you comfortably ahead of the card price.
If you enjoy that style of travel, the card works. If you don’t, no spreadsheet will make it feel right.
What’s Included in the I Amsterdam Card — And What People Often Miss
The I Amsterdam Card is strongest for:
- Museums
- Classic Amsterdam experiences
- Easy transport
It is not designed as an “everything pass.”
You have to know about two important exclusions where I see a lot of confusion about online:
Both require separate tickets and advance booking, and are never included in any Amsterdam city pass.
I always mention this early because I see people assume these are included — and that’s where disappointment starts.
If those two museums are your main priority, plan them separately first. Just follow the links above for more information.
Then decide whether the card still makes sense for the rest of your time in Amsterdam.
⤷ Here Is A Complete List What’s Included in the I Amsterdam Card (Click Toggle to Open)
Free Museums in Amsterdam:
- Allard Pierson – Collections of the University of Amsterdam
- Amsterdam Museum
- Amsterdam Pipe Museum
- Amsterdam Tulip Museum
- Arcam – Amsterdam Centre for Architecture
- ARTIS-Groote Museum
- ARTIS-Micropia
- Diamond Museum Amsterdam
- Embassy of the Free Mind
- Eye Filmmuseum
- Foam Photography Museum
- Geelvinck Pianola Museum
- Grachtenmuseum Amsterdam – Museum of the Canals
- H’ART Museum
- H’ART Museum – Museum of the Mind | Outsider Art Museum
- Hortus Botanicus – Botanical Garden
- Houseboat Museum
- Huis Marseille – Museum for Photography
- Jewish Cultural Quarter – Jewish + Holocaust Museum
- Jewish Cultural Quarter – Portuguese Synagogue
- Luther Museum Amsterdam
- Moco Museum
- Molen van Sloten
- Museum De Dageraad
- Museum Our Lord in the Attic
- Museum Het Rembrandthuis
- Museum Het Schip
- Museum Tot Zover – Museum about life & death
- Museum Van Loon (beautiful canal house)
- Museum Willet-Holthuysen (beautiful canal house)
- NEMO Science Museum (mostly for kids)
- STRAAT (street art and graffiti)
- De Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam (New Church)
- Oude Kerk (Old Church)
- Rijksmuseum
- Het Scheepvaartmuseum – National Maritime Museum
- Stadsarchief Amsterdam – City Archives
- Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam – Modern Art & Design
- Verzetsmuseum – The Dutch Resistance Museum
- Wereldmuseum Amsterdam
Free Museum Beyond Amsterdam:
- Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot
- Cobra Museum of Modern Art Amstelveen
- Dutch Fortress Museum Naarden – Vesting
- Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem
- Museum of the Mind | Dolhuys
- Singer Laren Museum and Sculpture Garden
- Teylers Museum, Haarlem
- Verwey Museum Haarlem
- Volendams Museum
- Zaan Time Museum
- Zaans Museum – Zaanse Schans
- Czaar Peterhuisje – Zaandam
- Kuiperij Tiemstra (Coopery) – Zaanse Schans
- Wevershuis (Weavers’s House) – Zaanse Schans
- Zaansche Molens en Molenmuseum – Zaanse Schans
- Zuiderzee Museum, Enkhuizen
Free Attractions:
- A’DAM LOOKOUT
- Amsterdam Self Guided Food Tour
- Amsterdam Fortress Island Pampus
- ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo
- GASSAN Diamonds
- Royal Coster Diamonds
- The Ultimate Flight Experience – THIS IS HOLLAND
Free Transport & Services:
- Unlimited GVB public transport
- 24-hour bike rental
- Canal cruises (choice of operators)
- Volendam-Marken ferry
- Rent & Event bike rental in Volendam
Other Services (Free):
- Haarlem Tourist Office (free walking tour brochure)
- Holland Casino Amsterdam City Centre (free entrance + drink)
25% Discount Attractions I Amsterdam Card
Popular Experiences (25% Off):
- Heineken Experience (free with Go City Pass)
- Madame Tussauds (free with Go City Pass)
- Johan Cruijff Arena tour
- House of Bols Experience (free with Go City Pass)
- BODY WORLDS: The Happiness Project
- Amsterdam Dungeon (free with Go City Pass)
- Rembrandt Experience Amsterdam (free with Go City Pass)
- Nxt Museum digital art
- Fabrique des Lumières
Entertainment (25% Off):
- Boom Chicago comedy shows
- Roller Dreams 80s skating
- The Upside Down Amsterdam
- Het Kattenkabinet
- Fotograaf Volendam
Cultural Venues (25% Off):
- Badhuistheater
- Bimhuis – Jazz
- Scala – Foodbar & Theater (30% discount on English performances)
- Muziekgebouw – Contemporary & classical music
- Nationale Opera & Ballet
Other Services (10% Off):
- I amsterdam Store (10% discount on merchandise)
Example 48-Hour and 72-Hour Itineraries With I Amsterdam Card
Here’s an example how the math can work with a 48 or 72 hour I Amsterdam card.
This is a comfortable two- to three-day pace, not an extreme itinerary. You can do more if you want, and achieve even bigger savings.
- Rijksmuseum: €25
- Museum of the Canals: €17.50
- This is Holland: €27
- A’dam Lookout: 16.50
- Canal cruise: €18
- ARTIS Zoo: €29.50
- Resistance Museum: €16
- MOCO Museum: €17.95
- Public transport: €15.50 (2 days)
Total value: €182.95 vs. card cost: €90 = Savings of €92.95
72-Hour Extended Tour: Add Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem (€17.50), Teylers Museum (€17.50) and Canal Boat Tour in Haarlem (€12) to the above. Total value: €229.95 vs. card cost: €110 = Savings of €119.95
One Tip That Makes a Big Difference
Here’s something many visitors don’t realize, but can potentially save them even more money:
Transport and attractions activate separately on the card.
That means you can:
- Delay activation
- Stretch your hours
- Start later on day one and get even more value on the last day
A 72-hour card doesn’t have to mean three full days. Start attractions later on day one, and you can still enter an attraction before that same time on day four — even if you used the card earlier for public transport.
This is a hack I love to use, and my private planning customers love it too.
My Recommendation
I recommend the 48- or 72-hour I Amsterdam Card if you:
- Enjoy museums and cultural sights
- Want to see several places without micromanaging tickets
- Like the idea of spontaneous stops
- Plan to use public transport naturally
Used the right way, the card doesn’t just save money —
it removes friction from your days.
That’s the real value.
What to Do Next
- Ready to buy? → Buy the I Amsterdam Card here
- Unsure which pass fits you better? → Read my I Amsterdam vs Go City comparison
- Want personal advice before booking anything? → Book a planning call with me
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I Amsterdam Card: From €65
Get The I amsterdam Card
Free entry to 70+ museums including the Rijksmuseum. 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 I Amsterdam Card
Does the I Amsterdam Card include Van Gogh Museum?
No, neither the I Amsterdam Card nor Go City Pass includes Van Gogh Museum. You’ll need separate tickets which you can buy here, which should be booked weeks in advance.
Can I share my I Amsterdam 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 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 Card work for airport transport?
No, Schiphol Airport transport isn’t included in the I Amsterdam 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.
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