I Amsterdam City Card

Is the I Amsterdam City Card Worth it?

I Amsterdam City Card

In a nutshell

  • The I Amsterdam City Card is the official city card of Amsterdam and a real all-round carefree package.
  • It offers you admission to over 70 sights and museums, is your ticket for public transport and also includes a canal cruise.
  • You can buy the I Amsterdam Card online here and then simply use it digitally via an app.
  • The I Amsterdam Card is worthwhile for most travelers. You can find out whether it is also worthwhile for you here.

Is the I Amsterdam City Card Worth it?

In our Amsterdam Citypass comparison we have analyzed all City Cards. The I Amsterdam Card is compared to the Amsterdam Explorer Pass and Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass, the best City Card for Amsterdam. 

It achieved 93 out of 100 points in our evaluation – a top score. How we arrived at this score is explained in detail below.

The attractions included in the Amsterdam City Card are very extensive, public transport in Amsterdam is included and the price is really fair.

The card is also very easy to use via the app.

We are really enthusiastic about the I Amsterdam Card and can highly recommend it.

If you want to know more, just read on. You can find out everything about costs, included attractions and even get a sample calculation of how much you can save with the City Card.

Buy the I Amsterdam Card here

Costs for the I Amsterdam City Card

The pricing model for the I Amsterdam City Card is very simple.

Prices at a glance:

CardPrice
24 hours (1 day)60 euros
48 hours (2 days)85 euros
72 hours (3 days)100 euros
96 hours (4 days)115 euros
120 hours (5 days)125 euros

The validity period of the I Amsterdam Card is not limited to full days, but always to the number of hours. So if you activate your 24-hour card on a Tuesday at 14:00, it is valid until Wednesday at 13:59.

Unfortunately, there are no discounted Amsterdam Cards, but the card is often still worthwhile for children aged 4 and over, as the discounts at the attractions are often only small. The card is not worthwhile for younger children.

What Do You Get with the I Amsterdam City Card?

Free admission with the I Amsterdam City Card

In the following table you will find an overview of all the attractions that you can use free of charge with the I Amsterdam Card.

AttractionRegular price
Highlights
Canal cruise (7 providers)23,50 euros
A'DAM Lookout18,50 euros
Rijksmuseum18 euros
Stedelijk Museum22,50 euros
Rembrandthuis19,50 euros
Moco Museum21,95 euros
Transportation
Public transport in Amsterdam9 bis 33 euros
Rent a bike for 1 day (10 providers)16,95 euros
Classic attractions
Oude Kerk13,50 euros
Nieuwe Kerk10 euros
Hortus Botanical Garden13,50 euros
Windmill: Molen van Sloten8 euros
Attractions for kids
NEMO Science Museum17,50 euros
Artis - Amsterdam Zoo26,50 euros
Klimbos Fun Forest28,50 euros
Museums
Eye Filmmuseum12,50 euros
Het Scheepvaartmuseum18,50 euros
Foam Photography Museum16 euros
Museum of the Canals16,50 euros
H'ART Museum (Eremtiage)22,50 euros
Jewish Museum + Portuguese Synagogue20 euros
Wereldmuseum17,50 euros
Diamond Museum12,50 euros
Het Ship16 euros
Museum of the Mind17,50 euros
Houseboat Museum9,50 euros
Artis - Groote Museum17,50 euros
Artis - Micropia17,50 euros
Luther Museum8 euros
Amsterdam City Archive10 euros
Museum Tot Zover11 euros
Amsterdam Museum18 euros
Verzetsmuseum16 euros
Embassy of the Free Mind15 euros
Allard Pierson Museum14,50 euros
Willet-Holthuysen Museum12,50 euros
Museum Van Loon15 euros
Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder16,50 euros
Amsterdam Centre for Architecture (Arcam)4 euros
Museum De Dageraad16 euros
Pipe-Museum15 euros
Huis Marseille, Museum for Photography12,50 euros
Amsterdam Tulip Museum5 euros
Guided tours
Self guided Food Tour12,50 euros
Self guided Biketour with Yellow Bike25 euros
Amsterdam Uncover City Tour25 euros
Special attractions
This is Holland (5D-Experience)26,50 euros
Boom Chicago Comedy Show27,50 euros
Attractions around Amsterdam
Burg Muiderslot17,50 euros
Fort Pampus18,50 euros
Dutch Fortress Museum Naarden12,50 euros
Frans Hals Museum Haarlem17,50 euros
Teylers Museum Haarlem16,50 euros
Canal cruise Haarlem21 euros
Verwey Museum Haarlem12,50 euros
Zaandam Time Museum17,50 euros
Het Dolhuys Haarlem20 euros
Museum Cobra Amstelveen20 euros
Frans Hals Museum Haarlem17,50 euros
Zaans Museum Zaandam17,50 euros
Zar-Peter-House Zaandam6 euros
Wevershuis Zaandam3 euros
Boat tour Volendam - Marken16,50 euros
Singer Museum Laren18 euros
Zuiderzeemuseum Enkhuizen18 euros

Discounts with the I Amsterdam City Card

With the I Amsterdam Card you don’t get free entry to some attractions, but you do get a discount.

You get a 25% discount at the following attractions:

  • Heineken Experience
  • Straat Museum
  • Body Worlds exhibition
  • Cat Cabinet
  • Nxt Museum
  • Madame Tussauds
  • Amsterdam Dungeon
  • Roller disco at the Wondr Experience
  • Fabrique des Lumières
  • Johan-Cruyff-Arena (Ajax Amsterdam stadium)
  • Pedal boat hire from Stromma Tours
  • Selected concert tickets at the Opera House, Bimhuis and Muziekgebouw

Our Review of the I Amsterdam City Card

How do we rate?

In our citypass ratings, each pass can achieve 100 points, which are divided up as follows:

  • Attractions: 30 points
  • Means of transportation: 20 points
  • Handling: 20 points
  • Value for money: 30 points

Our Rating: Included Attractions

Our rating: 25 out of 30 points

Our Rating: Included Means of Transport

  • With the I Amsterdam City Card you can use public transportation in Amsterdam.
  • You can rent a bike for 1 day.
  • The transfer from the airport to the city is not included.

Our rating: 18 out of 20 points

Our Rating: Handling

  • The Amsterdam City Card is completely digital. You receive it on your smartphone immediately after purchase.
  • Using the app is super easy and convenient.
  • There is also a physical card for people without a smartphone.
  • The card is well known at all attractions and you can visit almost all sights directly without a reservation.

Our rating: 20 out of 20 points

Our Rating: Value for Money

  • The services included are exceptionally good.
  • The handling and high acceptance of the card in the city really make your city trip easier.
  • The price is very fair despite the many services, so that relevant savings are also possible with the Amsterdam City Card.

Our rating: 30 out of 30 points

Our Conclusion

The I Amsterdam City Card achieved 93 out of 100 points in our test.

That is exceptionally good. This makes the Amsterdam City Card by far the best city card in Amsterdam and even one of the best city passes in the world.

Buy the I Amsterdam Card here

Calculation Example: 3 Days in Amsterdam

Finally, we have a concrete calculation example for you to show you how much you can save with the card.

Many travelers stay for 3 days in Amsterdam.

Our tip: If you have 3 days in Amsterdam, the I Amsterdam City Card is enough for 48 hours with good planning.

Day 1: In the morning, take a stroll through the streets and get to know Amsterdam. At lunchtime, activate your card and take a canal cruise. In the afternoon, visit a museum, such as the famous Rijksmuseum.

Day 2: You visit another museum, e.g. the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art and later you go to the A’dam Lookout. You spend the rest of the day exploring Amsterdam on foot, e.g. the red light district of Amsterdam.

Day 3: You visit another museum in the morning, e.g. the Rembrandt House, and hire a bike at lunchtime just before your Amsterdam City Card expires. In the afternoon, explore the city by bike like a true Dutchman.

In the following table, we have broken down the costs for this program with and without the I Amsterdam Card:

without I Amsterdam City Cardwith I Amsterdam City Card
Costs I Amsterdam City Card (48 Stunden)-85 euros
Canal cruise23,50 eurosfree
A'dam Lookout18,50 eurosfree
Rijksmuseum18 eurosfree
Stedelijk Museum22,50 eurosfree
Rembrandthaus19,50 eurosfree
Public transport (48 hours ticket)15 eurosfree
1 Day Bike Rental16,95 eurosfree
Total
133,95 euros
85 euros

The program is actually relatively relaxed. If you like very intensive sightseeing, you can pack a lot more into it.

Although the program is not very stressful, you save almost 50 euros with the I Amsterdam Card. Really good!

Even if you cross two attractions off the list, the card is still worth it.

The longer you are in Amsterdam, the more worthwhile the card is for you. The price per day gets lower and lower the longer the card is valid.

Buy the I Amsterdam Card here

Buy the I Amsterdam City Card

You can easily buy the I Amsterdam Card online and this is how it works.

Buy Card

We recommend that you to buy the card on this website.

When booking, you must select a date, but this is irrelevant. No matter which date you choose, the card will only be activated when you want to use it for the first time.

So if there are discounts for short-term dates, feel free to select them, even if your trip is only a few months away. You have at least one year to activate the card.

The date is only relevant if you still want to cancel. This is possible up to 24 hours in advance.

Install App

Next, install the I Amsterdam City Card app. It is available for iPhone and Android.

Don’t be put off by the app’s bad reviews. There used to be some technical problems with the app, but these have since been fixed. Current reviews are almost all positive.

Enter Code in the App

After purchasing the card, you will receive a code by email. Enter this code in the app and use it to download your personal I Amsterdam Card to your smartphone. If you want to manage several cards in the app, repeat this step.

Reserve Time Slots

For some very popular attractions, you need to book a time slot. This applies to the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, Moco Musem, Nemo Science Museum, Rembrandt House and a handful of less popular attractions.

In the app you will find information about which attractions require a reservation. For some other attractions, you can also make an optional reservation.

Activate I Amsterdam Card

At the very end you have to activate the card. But wait until you really want to use it. Activation marks the start of the validity period of your I Amsterdam Card, so don’t do it too soon.

FAQ about the I Amsterdam City Card

Can I use the I Amsterdam City Card without the app?

You can also buy the card as a physical card. However, you will need to pick it up at the I Amsterdam Store at Amsterdam Centraal station.

Do I have to scan my I Amsterdam City Card when boarding buses and trains?

Yes, you must always scan the card when boarding and also when getting off. To do this, simply hold the QR code up to the card reader.

Can I have several I Amsterdam City Cards together in the app?

Yes, that is possible. Not every person in your travel group needs to install the app. All maps can also be saved in the app for just one person.

If you are a very large group of more than 4 people, we recommend splitting the tickets between several devices. Otherwise, one person will have to scan all the tickets when checking in and out on local transport, which could hold up traffic somewhat.

How and when do I activate the I Amsterdam City Card?

You simply activate the card in the app, which is self-explanatory. However, only activate the card shortly before you want to use it for the first time, as the validity period of your card begins with activation.

Is the airport transfer included in the I Amsterdam City Card?

The I Amsterdam Card includes local public transport operated by GVB, i.e. metro, streetcars, buses and ferries.

However, airport transfers are operated by other companies and are not included in the I Amsterdam Card. Take a look at our detailed article on airport transfers in Amsterdam. There we explain exactly how it works.

Can I also buy the I Amsterdam City Card on site?

Yes, that is possible.

The card is available at the I Amsterdam Store at Amsterdam Centraal station and at some attractions and museums where the card is valid.

However, we recommend buying the card online. That way you can install the app and set everything up before your city trip. The prices are the same on site and online. Sometimes there are even discount campaigns online, in which case the City Card is cheaper online.

Is the I Amsterdam City Card transferable?

The I Amsterdam City Card is always personalized. However, if you use the card in the app, you can change the name on the card once.

Is the I Amsterdam City Card also worthwhile with children?

There is no discounted I Amsterdam City Card for children. Nevertheless, the card is often worthwhile for children aged 4 and over.

On public transport, children aged 4 and over pay the same price as adults and there is often only a small discount for the little ones at typical attractions for children. At Amsterdam Zoo, for example, adults pay 26.50 euros and children 22.50 euros. The savings from discounted tickets are therefore not particularly high, so the City Card is often still worthwhile.

How long do I have to activate the I Amsterdam City Card?

You must activate the card no later than December 31 of the year following your purchase, otherwise it will expire. So if you buy the card in February, you have almost 2 years to activate it.

What happens when my smartphone battery runs out?

That simply shouldn’t happen. If your smartphone runs out of power, you won’t be able to use the I Amsterdam Card.

Does the I Amsterdam Card include Anne Frank House?

No. The Anne Frank House isn’t included in any city pass in Amsterdam.

Is the Van Gogh Museum free with the I Amsterdam Card?

No. Same as the Anne Frank House, it is not included in any city pass.

Your questions and experiences with the I Amsterdam City Card

Do you have any questions about the Amsterdam City Card? Or have you perhaps already used the card yourself and can tell us about your experiences? Then we’d love to hear your comments!