In a nutshell
- If you want to explore the most beautiful places to visit in Amsterdam, you can save time, money and some nerves with a suitable city pass.
- We recommend the I Amsterdam City Card and the Amsterdam All-Inclusive Pass. You can save a lot with both passes.
- In this article, we will introduce you to all Amsterdam city passes and show you which one is best for you.
Amsterdam City Passes at a Glance
| I Amsterdam City Card | All-Inclusive Pass | Explorer Pass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 93 out of 100 points | 77 out of 100 points | 55 out of 100 points |
| Included attractions | 65 | 42 | 3 to 7 |
| Public transport | Yes | No | No |
| Options and prices | €60 (24 hours) €85 (48 hours) €100 (72 hours) €115 (96 hours) €125 (120 hours) | €99 (1 day) €119 (2 days) €144 (3 days) €195 (4 days) | €69 (3 attractions) €89 (4 attractions) €104 (5 attractions) €114 (6 attractions) €159 (7 attractions) |
| To the Pass | To the Pass | To the Pass |
Rating: The I Amsterdam City Card scored best in our test with 93 out of 100 points, followed by the All-Inclusive Pass with 75 out of 100 points. Both passes are absolutely worthwhile and depending on your preferences, one of these passes is worthwhile in many cases. The Explorer Pass scored 55 out of 100 points and is only a good choice in very few cases.
Public transport: The only Amsterdam Pass that is also a ticket for public transport is the Amsterdam City Card. None of the other passes offer local transport, and hop-on hop-off buses in Amsterdam are not included in any of the city passes.
Included attractions: The Amsterdam City Card offers by far the most attractions, followed by the All-Inclusive Pass. The focus of both passes is slightly different. The important highlights are included in both passes. The Amsterdam City Card also includes more museums and classic sights. The All-Inclusive Pass scores more with special experiences and city tours.
Our Rating of the Amsterdam City Passes
| I Amsterdam City Card | All-Inclusive Pass | Explorer Pass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Included attractions | 25 ouf of 30 points | 25 ouf of 30 points | 25 ouf of 30 points |
| Public transport | 18 ouf of 20 points | 4 ouf of 20 points | 0 ouf of 20 points |
| Handling | 20 ouf of 20 points | 18 ouf of 20 points | 20 ouf of 20 points |
| Value for money | 30 ouf of 30 points | 30 ouf of 30 points | 10 ouf of 30 points |
| Our rating | 93 ouf of 100 points | 77 ouf of 100 points | 55 ouf of 100 points |
| To the Pass | To the Pass | To the Pass |
If you want to know exactly how we came up with the individual ratings, take a look at our detailed articles on the individual passes:
Overview: What’s Included in which City Pass?
| Attraction | Amsterdam City Card | All-Inclusive Pass | Explorer Pass | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highlights | ||||
| A'dam Lookout | Yes | Yes | Yes | €18.50 |
| Rijksmuseum | Yes | Yes | Yes | €18.00 |
| Stedelijk Museum | Yes | Yes | Yes | €22.50 |
| Rembrandthuis | Yes | Yes | Yes | €19.50 |
| Moco Museum | Yes | Yes | Yes | €21.95 |
| Canal cruise | Yes | Yes | Yes | €23.50 |
| Traffic | ||||
| Public Transport in Amsterdam | Yes | No | No | €9.00 to €33.00 |
| Rent a Bike for 1 Day | Yes | Yes | Yes | €16.95 € |
| Ferry to Castle Muiderslot | 25 % discount | Yes | Yes | €13.50 € |
| Classic Sights | ||||
| Nieuwe Kerk | Yes | Yes | Yes | €10.00 € |
| Oude Kerk | Yes | No | No | €13.50 € |
| Hortus Botanical Garden | Yes | No | No | €13.50 € |
| Windmill: Molen van Sloten | Yes | No | No | €8.00 € |
| Museen | ||||
| Maritime Museum | Yes | Yes | Yes | €18.50 |
| H'ART Museum (Eremtiage) | Yes | Yes | Yes | €22.50 |
| Portuguese Synagogue | Yes | Yes | Yes | €20.00 |
| Diamond Museum | Yes | Yes | Yes | €12.50 |
| Houseboat Museum | Yes | Yes | Yes | €9.50 |
| Pipe Museum | Yes | Yes | No | €15.00 |
| Tulips Museum | Yes | Yes | No | €5.00 |
| Eye Filmmuseum | Yes | No | No | €12.50 |
| Foam Photography Museum | Yes | No | No | €16.00 |
| Canal Museum | Yes | No | No | €16.50 |
| Wereldmuseum (Tropenmuseum) | Yes | No | No | €17.50 |
| Het Ship | Yes | No | No | €16.00 |
| Museum of the Mind | Yes | No | No | €17.50 |
| Artis - Groote Museum | Yes | No | No | €17.50 |
| Artis - Micropia | Yes | No | No | €17.50 |
| Luthermuseum | Yes | No | No | €8.00 |
| City Archive Amsterdam | Yes | No | No | €10.00 |
| Museum Tot Zover | Yes | No | No | €11.00 |
| Amsterdam Museum | Yes | No | No | €18.00 |
| Resistance Museum | Yes | No | No | €16.00 |
| Embassy of the Free Mind | Yes | No | No | €15.00 |
| Allard Pierson Museum | Yes | No | No | €14.50 |
| Willet-Holthuysen Museum | Yes | No | No | €12.50 |
| Museum Van Loon | Yes | No | No | €15.00 |
| Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder | Yes | No | No | €16.50 |
| Amsterdam Centre for Architecture (Arcam) | Yes | No | No | €4.00 |
| Museum De Dageraad | Yes | No | No | €16.00 |
| Huis Marseille, Museum for Photography | Yes | No | No | €12.50 |
| Special Experiences | ||||
| This is Holland (5D-Experience) | Yes | Yes | Yes | €26.50 |
| Boom Chicago Comedy Show | Yes | Yes | Yes | €27.50 |
| Heineken Experience | 25 % discount | Yes | Yes | €23.00 |
| Madame Tussauds | 25 % discount | Yes | Yes | €23.50 |
| Amsterdam Dungeon | 25 % discount | Yes | Yes | €23.50 |
| Amaze Amsterdam | No | Yes | Yes | €26.95 |
| House of Bols Cocktail Experience | 25 % discount | Yes | Yes | €19.50 |
| Our House Electronic Music Experience | No | Yes | Yes | €19.95 |
| Wondr Experience | No | Yes | Yes | €25.95 |
| Craft Beer Tasting | No | Yes | Yes | €25.00 |
| Rollerdreams Roller Disco | 25 % discount | Yes | Yes | €19.50 |
| Royal Experience Diamantentour | No | Yes | Yes | €22.50 |
| Rembrandt Experience | No | Yes | Yes | €14.50 |
| Rent a Pedal Boat | 25 % discount | Yes | Yes | €33.50 |
| Murder Mystery Game | No | Yes | No | €19.00 |
| Attractions with Kids | ||||
| NEMO Science Musem | Yes | No | No | €17.50 |
| Artis - Amsterdam Zoo | Yes | No | No | €26.50 |
| Klimbos Fun Forest | Yes | No | No | €28.50 |
Tours and City Tours | ||||
| Selfguided Food Tour | Yes | Yes | Yes | €12.50 |
| Bus Ride to Edam, Volendam and Zaanse Schans | No | Yes | Yes | €47.50 |
| 2-hour City Tour | No | Yes | Yes | €25.00 |
| Brothel Tour: Tour de Bonton | No | Yes | Yes | €21.00 |
| Bus Ride to Rotterdam, Delf and Den Haag | No | Yes | Yes | €62.50 |
| Anne Frank Tour | No | Yes | Yes | €34.50 |
| Food Tour through Jordaan | No | Yes | Yes | €35.00 |
| Bus Ride to Zaanse Schans | No | Yes | Yes | €34.50 |
| Selfguided Bike Tour with Yellow Bike | Yes | No | No | €25.00 |
| Amsterdam Uncoverd City Tour | Yes | No | No | €25.00 |
| Attractions outside of Amsterdam | ||||
| Castle Muiderslot | Yes | Yes | Yes | €17.50 |
| Boat Trip on Gouwzee | No | Yes | Yes | €21.00 |
| Madurodam - Miniatur Holland | No | Yes | Yes | €22.50 |
| Fort Pampus | Yes | No | No | €18.50 |
| Fortress Museun Naarden | Yes | No | No | €12.50 |
| Frans Hals Museum Haarlem | Yes | No | No | €17.50 |
| Teylers Museum Haarlem | Yes | No | No | €16.50 |
| Canal Cruise Haarlem | Yes | No | No | €21.00 |
| Verwey Museum Haarlem | Yes | No | No | €12.50 |
| Zaandam Time Museum | Yes | No | No | €17.50 |
| Het Dolhuys Haarlem | Yes | No | No | €20.00 |
| Museum Cobra Amstelveen | Yes | No | No | €20.00 |
| Frans Hals Museum Haarlem | Yes | No | No | €17.50 |
| Zaans Museum Zaandam | Yes | No | No | €17.50 |
| Zar-Peter-House Zaandam | Yes | No | No | €6.00 |
| Wevershuis Zaandam | Yes | No | No | €3.00 |
| Boat Trip Volendam - Marken | Yes | No | No | €16.50 |
| Singer Museum Laren | Yes | No | No | €18.00 |
| South Sea Museum Enkhuizen | Yes | No | No | €18.00 |
Which Citypass for Amsterdam Is the Best?
There is no general answer to the question of which Amsterdam Pass is the best. The Amsterdam City Card scored the most points in our test, but for some travelers, the All-Inclusive Pass is the better choice.
We use various examples to show you which Amsterdam Card is right for you.
Which Amsterdam Pass is the best if I want to visit as many attractions as possible?
If you want to visit a lot of attractions, the I Amsterdam City Card or the All-Inclusive Pass is the right choice for you.
Which of the two passes is better for you depends on your personal preferences, as both passes include different attractions. Just take a look at our comparison table above.
The I Amsterdam Card contains more classic attractions, while the All-Inclusive Pass offers more experiences, such as the Heineken Experience, Wondr Experience or Madame Tussauds.
Which Amsterdam Citypass is the best if I only want to see the main attractions?
The most important attractions are included in all city passes. These include a canal cruise, the A’dam Lookout and the famous museums, such as the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and Moco Museum.
The only exceptions are the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum, which are not included in any of the passes.
In most cases, the I Amsterdam City Card offers the best value for money if you want to see the most important attractions.
Which Amsterdam Card includes public transport?
The only city pass that includes public transport is the I Amsterdam City Card. This pass is a real all-round carefree package, as you don’t have to worry about almost anything.
But if the attractions on the all-inclusive pass appeal to you more, that’s no problem either. Public transport in Amsterdam is super easy to use. Simply hold your credit card up to the card reader when boarding and alighting and the amount will be automatically debited. So there’s no more annoying searching for the right fare and buying at the ticket machine.
However, if you use public transport a lot, a multi-day ticket or the I Amsterdam City Card is the cheaper option.
We have written down all the information about using public transport in Amsterdam.
Which Amsterdam Pass can I use to save the most money?
You can save a lot of money with both the I Amsterdam City Card and the Amsterdam All-Inclusive Pass. Depending on what you want to see, you can easily save 50 euros or more. The Amsterdam Explorer Pass does not offer big savings.
Is an Amsterdam Citypass with children worth it?
That depends very much on the age of the children and what exactly you want to visit.
The best attractions for younger children are included in the I Amsterdam City Card. It includes admission to the Nemo Science Museum and Artis Zoo. Unfortunately, the card is not available in a discounted version. However, it can still be worthwhile, as there are only very small discounts for children on the individual tickets for these attractions.
If you have older children, the All-Inclusive Pass offers the better attractions. It includes entry to the Wondrland Experience, Madame Tussauds, Amsterdam Dungeon and the Our House Electronic Music Experience. These are all attractions that appeal to older children and teenagers and are all relatively expensive without a pass.
Read more about what to do with kids in Amsterdam
Which Amsterdam Pass includes most museums?
If you like going to museums, then the I Amsterdam City Card is the first choice for you. You can visit a total of 28 museums in Amsterdam for free, more than you can probably ever manage.
Is an Amsterdam Pass worthwhile if I want to decide spontaneously what I want to see?
If you want to drift through the city and prefer to visit sights and museums spontaneously, we advise against a pass.
All city passes are only financially worthwhile if you visit two attractions or more per day. If you think you won’t be able to do that much, it’s better to do without a pass and buy your tickets on site or online shortly beforehand.
Is a city pass worthwhile if I'm only in Amsterdam for a short time?
If you are only visiting Amsterdam for one day, a Citypass is generally not worthwhile. Although you can buy the I Amsterdam City Card for 24 hours, it costs 60 euros in this version. If you take a canal cruise, visit two museums and use public transport in one day, for example, it would be worth it. If you do less, it’s not worth it.
Which city pass for Amsterdam is worthwhile for a long stay?
Basically, the longer you are in the city, the more worthwhile an Amsterdam Pass is. The All-Inclusive Pass is available for a maximum of 5 days and the I Amsterdam City Card for 120 hours, which also corresponds to five days. The 5-day passes are the cheapest when calculated per day. Which of the two is the better choice for you depends on the attractions you want to visit.
FAQ about the Amsterdam Pass
Is the Amsterdam Explorer Pass not worth it at all?
You’ve probably noticed that we don’t recommend the Amsterdam Explorer Pass at all. In fact, the pass is hardly worth it at all. There are a few exceptions, but they are relatively special:
- If you would like to take a guided day trip from Amsterdam by bus.
- If you only want to do expensive attractions like This is Holland, Wondr Experience or a pedal boat ride and want to split them up over several days.
- If there is a discount on the Explorer Pass and it is at least 10% cheaper.
Please take a look at our detailed analysis of the Amsterdam Explorer Pass:
Why are you missing the Amsterdam Pass or Amsterdam Digital Pass?
You may have come across the Amsterdam Digital Pass in other pass comparisons.
Even if the name suggests it, it is not a real city pass. The ticket portal Tiqets markets a combination ticket called Amsterdam Pass that you can buy online here.
You buy tickets for three attractions and can choose the following:
- Van Gogh Museum or Stedelijk Museum
- Canal cruise
- Heineken Experience or Rembrandthuis
However, with this combination ticket you won’t save anything compared to purchasing it individually. As a little goodie, you also get access to an audio guide app.
The offer is ok if you really want to see exactly these attractions and want to book everything in one go. We didn’t include it in our Amsterdam pass comparison because it’s simply not a city pass.
Does one of the Amsterdam City Passes come with an airport transfer?
Ufortunately not. The transfer from Schiphol Airport to the city is not included in any of the passes. It is also not included in the I Amsterdam City Card, although local transport within Amsterdam is included.
We have written down the best way to get to the city from the airport in our article airport transfer in Amsterdam.
How do I get the passes after purchasing them?
You will receive all of the passes presented digitally by email after purchase.
There is an app for all three passes with which you can manage your pass very well and also get a direct overview of everything you can watch with it. You can load your pass directly into the app and then simply show your smartphone anywhere.
You can also print out the All-Inclusive Pass and the Explorer Pass. You can pick up the I Amsterdam Card as a real card on site if you want. So if you don’t have a smartphone, you can still use all passes.
Are the city passes cheaper locally?
No, the passes are not cheaper on site, they cost the same as online. Sometimes there are even discount offers online, so that the passes are even cheaper than in person.
Can I visit attractions multiple times with the pass?
No, each attraction can generally only be visited once.
Can I cancel the passes again?
Yes, fortunately that is very unproblematic. You can cancel the Amsterdam City Card 30 days after purchase, and you can even cancel the All-Inclusive Pass and the Explorer Pass within 90 days. The prerequisite for all passes is that you have not yet activated them.
How do I activate and use the passes?
You can easily activate the I Amsterdam City Card in your app. It’s just a quick click and then you can use the card. The validity period begins from activation. So you should only activate the card when you want to use it.
The All-Inclusive Pass and Explorer Pass are automatically activated the first time you use them.
To use one of the passes, simply show it at the entrance to the attraction. The QR code is then scanned by your smartphone and you can enter the attraction. At some attractions there are also separate queues where you can get in with the pass. This is all well signposted on site.
Your questions and experiences with the Amsterdam Pass and Amsterdam Card
Do you still have questions about our Amsterdam Pass comparison or about one of the individual city passes? Or have you already used one of the Amsterdam city cards yourself and can tell us about your experiences? Then we’d love to hear your comments!