Is the I amsterdam city card worth it?
I’ve used the I amsterdam city card for my last three trips to Amsterdam, and each time it’s made exploring the city easier. The card gives free entry to more than 70 museums and attractions, unlimited public transport and even a canal cruise, but is it worth it for your Amsterdam itinerary?
The I amsterdam city card isn’t the cheapest sightseeing pass out there, so it’s fair to wonder if it’s worth the money. In my experience from using it on three trips, it usually is – especially if you enjoy packing as much as possible into your trip. Even when the savings aren’t huge, the ease of exploration and the freedom the card gives you make a real difference.
The prices in this post and information about attractions being included in the I amsterdam City Card are accurate as of October 2025. I was gifted an I amsterdam City Card for my trip but my thoughts are, as always, 100% my own and unbiased.
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My experience using the I amsterdam card
I’ve tried both the digital and physical versions of the I amsterdam city card. The digital one is brilliant for convenience; you buy it online, activate it in the app and it’s ready to use. If you’d prefer a physical card, you’ll need to buy it at the I amsterdam Store at Centraal Station.
I really liked the digital card, but I was very glad of the physical card on one trip when my phone battery was almost flat and my power bank had broken! Having a back-up in my wallet meant I could still get into museums and use public transport to get back to my hotel without worrying.
What I like most, though, is how having a city card changes how I explore. When I have a pass like the I amsterdam card, I feel more confident using trams and the metro, and I’m more willing to take chances on smaller museums. I don’t stop to think whether each one will be “worth” the entry fee – I just go in. Some of my favourite Amsterdam discoveries, like Micropia, the Dutch Resistance Museum and the Museum of the Canals, came from that kind of spontaneous visit.
What’s included
The I amsterdam city card includes:
- Free entry to more than 70 museums and attractions across Amsterdam, plus some in surrounding areas
- Discounted entry at a range of other attractions
- Unlimited use of GVB trams, buses, metro and ferries within the city
- One free canal cruise
- A 24-hour bike rental, if you’re feeling brave
You can buy cards valid for 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours. Prices (autumn 2025) are €65, €90, €110, €125 and €135. The clock starts when you first use the card, so it’s a good idea to plan your itinerary with that in mind.
While most of the best museums in Amsterdam are included, there are a couple of big gaps. The Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House aren’t part of the scheme, and the card doesn’t cover trains or airport transfers from Schiphol. There’s also no child version, though many museums already offer free or discounted entry for children.
When the card works well
The I amsterdam city card is best for trips where you want to see and do a lot. If you’re the sort of traveller who enjoys museums, galleries and exploring different neighbourhoods, it can be excellent value.
On my last visit I had a 72-hour card and visited the Stedelijk gallery, the Moco Museum, ARTIS-Groote Museum, ARTIS-Micropia, the Dutch Resistance Museum, the National Maritime Museum, Our Lord in the Attic Museum and Eye Filmmuseum. I also took a a canal cruise and went up to the top of the A’DAM Lookout. I took trams and buses all over the city.
Buying those tickets individually would have cost about €177, not including the transport; the 72-hour card costs €110. I saved nearly €70, but more importantly, there are definitely museums on that list that I probably wouldn’t have tried if I was paying separately.
Even on other trips where I haven’t saved quite so much money, the card makes sightseeing easier. It feels so freeing to just step onto any tram or into a museum without needing to buy something extra.
When it might not be worth it
The card isn’t for everyone. If you’re planning a super-relaxed break in Amsterdam, focusing on wandering the canals, shopping and soaking in the atmosphere, you probably won’t get full value.
It’s also less useful if the only attractions you want to visit are the Van Gogh Museum or the Anne Frank House, as they’re not included. And if you’re staying right in the centre and mostly walking, you may not make much use of the transport side.
That said, it might still be worth it just for the sheer convenience of everything being prepaid. If the weather turns or you’re passing a museum and fancy a look inside, you’re already covered.
Using the I amsterdam city card: itineraries
With 70+ museums and attractions included, there’s a virtually infinite number of combinations and it can all feel a bit overwhelming. I’ve put together a few suggested itineraries using the I amsterdam city card to help you decide if it’s right for your trip.
First-time visitor
If it’s your first time in Amsterdam, the card is an easy way to see the city’s highlights in a couple of days. I’ve included the regular adult prices in brackets.
Start day 1 with a walking tour of central Amsterdam’s highlights (equivalent tour €28), then wander south to the Rijksmuseum (€25) to see their collection of Vermeers, Rembrandts and Van Goghs. If you’re enjoying the art, walk across Museumplein to the Moco Museum (€19.95, book a slot on your phone when you’re nearly ready to visit) for iconic, Instagrammable pieces or the Stedelijk (€22.50) for thought-provoking contemporary art.
Hop onto a canal cruise (€15.50) from outside the Rijksmuseum and get a feel for the city from the water. Take the metro to Centraal, then a ferry across to the A’DAM Lookout (€16.50) for sunset views of the city skyline.
On day 2, take a bus to the Westergasfabriek area to see the brand new Amsterdam in Motion exhibition (€16.50), which tells the story of modern Amsterdam. Take a tram back into the city to see inside a houseboat at the Houseboat Museum (€9.50) near the pretty Nine Streets shopping area.
From there, wander along some of Amsterdam’s loveliest canals to the Heineken Experience nearby (€24.45, 25% discount with the I amsterdam card).
Total cost: €138 (not including transport)
I amsterdam city card for 48 hours: €90
Saving: €48
Art lover
If galleries are high on your list, the card is ideal, and you’re almost guaranteed to save money with it. You can visit the Rijksmuseum, Moco and Stedelijk on one day, then the H’ART Museum (formerly the Hermitage), Museum of the Mind Outsider Art and FOAM Photography Museum on another. Add the Eye Filmmuseum and STRAAT Street Art Museum across the IJ river, and you’ve had a full, varied few days without needing to pay for a single entry ticket.
History buff
For anyone fascinated by Amsterdam’s past, the card covers the Rijksmuseum, the excellent Dutch Resistance Museum, the Museum of the Canals, the National Maritime Museum, the National Holocaust Museum and the Our Lord in the Attic Museum, among many others. The 12th century Muiderslot Castle and Fort Pampus UNESCO World Heritage site are also free with the card.
Family with kids
Families often find the card useful because it combines big museums with fun, hands-on attractions. Great activities for kids that are included in the I amsterdam card include the NEMO Science Museum, ARTIS Micropia, ARTIS Groote Museum, the Wereldmuseum and the canal boat tour.
As museums in Amsterdam are often cheaper for children (or even occasionally free), and children travel cheaply on trams and buses, the card might not be a huge money-saver for families, but it does make logistics a bit easier. There’s also nothing to stop you getting an I amsterdam card for the adults and paying separately for the kids.
Quirky-sights fan
If you’ve already ticked off the big names, the card is a great way to explore smaller museums. The Our Lord in the Attic hidden church and Micropia microbe museum are both included, as are the Houseboat Museum and the funeral museum Museum Tot Zover. You can get a discount at the KattenKabinet cat art museum – I highly recommend a visit if you’re a cat lover!
Practical details
- Timeslots: A few museums, such as the Rijksmuseum, require a free timeslot reservation even with the card. For others, it’s optional but helps avoid queues.
- No child version: Everyone pays the same for the card, but children often get free or reduced entry anyway, so you may want to work out if it’s worth it for the specific attractions you want to visit as a family.
- Transport: The card covers all GVB trams, buses and metro within Amsterdam. It doesn’t include trains or the airport bus.
- Canal cruise: You can board with any participating operator; no pre-booking needed.
- Buying the card: Get it online at iamsterdam.com or from the I amsterdam Store at Centraal Station.
- Physical or digital: I find the digital version the most convenient (except for the trams), but it’s good that there’s a physical card too.
Verdict – is the I amsterdam city card worth it?
If you’re planning to pack in a decent number of paid-for sights during your trip to Amsterdam, the I amsterdam city card is worth it. It’s not only about saving money (though you probably will) but about the freedom it gives you to travel and discover at your own pace.
If you’re happy paying upfront for convenience, you enjoy museums and galleries, and want the confidence to hop on any tram or metro, the card makes sightseeing in Amsterdam smoother and more enjoyable – and probably cheaper too.
And who knows, you might end up finding one of your favourite museums by accident, just like I did!
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About Helen
Hi! I’m Helen, and I’ve visited Amsterdam and the Netherlands multiple times. I really love Amsterdam but I always tell people not to sleep on the rest of the Netherlands as there’s so much else to see! You can see my other posts from the Netherlands here.
I live near Manchester, UK and work full time, so I’m all about making the most of my annual leave with day trips, weekend getaways and short breaks.
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