I Amsterdam City Card: Is it worth it?

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use and make the most of the I Amsterdam Card

The I Amsterdam Card is a city pass that offers many top activities to do in Amsterdam for free. Unlike the other Amsterdam City Pass options, the I Amsterdam Card also provides unlimited access to the city’s public transportation.

So, is the I Amsterdam Card worth buying? Can you save time and money using Amsterdam’s most famous city pass? We will explain in detail the pros and cons of the I Amsterdam Card. Here are the main topics on the subject:

The I Amsterdam Card at a Glance

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Don’t have enough time to read the whole article? No problem! Here’s a summary.

  • The I Amsterdam Card offers admission to over 70 museums, boat trips, unlimited public transport, and bike rental.
  • Some museums require a time slot reservation, which also applies to I Amsterdam Card users and can be done easily online.
  • You choose how long you want your I Amsterdam Card to be valid: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 consecutive days.
  • You can buy the I Amsterdam Card online and are entitled to a free cancellation before use.

Buy I Amsterdam Card

What is the I Amsterdam City Card?

The I Amsterdam Card is a tourist card that allows you to visit over 70 museums, boat tours, and bike rentals and receive unlimited free public transportation. When you buy the I Amsterdam Card, choose a validity of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days. You can use your I Amsterdam Card for as many attractions as you like during those consecutive days. You are 100% flexible in deciding how many and which attractions you will enjoy in Amsterdam.

In Amsterdam, some museums and activities require a reservation time slot. This also applies to attractions visited with the I Amsterdam Card. These reservations are made online for free using your I Amsterdam City Card.

The most interesting thing about the I Amsterdam Card is the wide variety of attractions. You can visit many attractions and save more than buying the tickets individually.

How Does the I Amsterdam Card Work?

Before buying your I Amsterdam Card, you need to decide whether you want to use the digital or physical versions of your I Amsterdam City Card.

The use of the digital I Amsterdam Card consists of three steps:

  • The online order
  • Downloading the app
  • Making museum reservations and/or using it directly in Amsterdam

How Do You Order the Pass?

You must order your I Amsterdam Card online. You can choose between the official website or Get Your Guide. Both sites offer the same price. However, we have experienced an easier cancellation procedure with Get Your Guide and recommend it.

When you purchase, you choose how many I Amsterdam Cards you need and for how many days you need your city pass. The countdown of the validity of your I Amsterdam Card only starts after you use it for the first time in the city.

How Do You Get the I Amsterdam Card?

After the purchase, you receive an activation code for your digital I Amsterdam Card by e-mail. You need to download the I Amsterdam Card app to enter your code. Please note that this does not activate the I Amsterdam Card. It is only activated when you enter the first attraction in Amsterdam.

In the app, you get an overview of all included attractions. You can also clearly see which attractions require a reservation and which do not. For museums requiring reservations, you can also make a reservation via the app and choose the best date and time for you.

I Amsterdam City Card: Is it worth it?
After the order confirmation e-mail arrives, you can use your order number to enter your I Amsterdam Card into the app

Please note: Although “Buy City Cards” appears in the app, it is impossible to buy the I Amsterdam Card in the app. You will be redirected to a page to make the purchase, and the code will arrive by e-mail.

Using The I Amsterdam City Card on Your Trip

I Amsterdam City Card: Is it worth it?When you arrive in Amsterdam, your I Amsterdam Card will only be activated once you use it for the first time. Just visit a museum, and the validity time of the I Amsterdam City Card starts running.

It is important to note that the validity of the I Amsterdam City Card is calculated per hour. For example, if you use a 48-hour I Amsterdam Card for the first time at 11 a.m. on Monday, it will be valid until Wednesday at 11 a.m.

You can buy your I Amsterdam Pass in advance and make reservations for the time slots of the most popular museums to guarantee your preferred day and time.

What Attractions Are Included in the I Amsterdam Card?

More than 70 attractions are 100% free with the I Amsterdam Card, plus some discounts and gifts. Here we will list the main attractions and some rules on using the I Amsterdam Card.

Museums

More than 70 museums are included in the I Amsterdam Card. Among the most famous are:

  • Rijksmuseum
  • Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
  • Eye Filmmuseum
  • NEMO Science Museum
  • Moco Museum – Banksy & More
  • Museum of the Mind
  • Tropenmuseum
  • Museum of the Canals
  • Museum Het Rembrandthuis
  • Amsterdam Tulipas Museum
  • Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder
  • Cobra Museum of Modern Art
  • Museum Het Schip
  • Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam
  • Museum Van Loon
  • The Studio – Nemo Science Museum

Please note:PThe Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House, two famous museums in Amsterdam, are not included in the I Amsterdam Card.

Cruise Tours

With the I Amsterdam Card, you can choose only one boat trip. Four boat operators are included on the I Amsterdam Card.

  • Amsterdam Circle Line – 75 minutes
  • LOVERS Canal Cruises – 60 minutes
  • 100 Highlights Cruise Holland International – 60 minutes
  • City Canal Cruise Blue Boat Company – 60 minutes

Transportation

  • Amsterdam Circle Line – 75 minutes
  • LOVERS Canal Cruises – 60 minutes
  • 100 Highlights Cruise Holland International – 60 minutes
  • City Canal Cruise Blue Boat Company – 60 minutes

During the validity period of your I Amsterdam Card, you have unlimited access to Amsterdam’s public transportation and 24 hours of bicycle use.

  • A-Bike Rental Kerkstraat
  • MacBike Central Station
  • MacBike Waterlooplein
  • Yellow Bike Rental Central Station
  • Amsterbike Fietsverhuur & Bezorging
  • Discount Bike Rental
  • MacBike Vondelpark
  • MacBike Oosterdok
  • A-Bike Rental Vondelpark

Other things to do in Amsterdam

Some other activities are also included in the I Amsterdam Card activities list. For example, the portfolio includes botanical garden visits, zoo tours, and even a food tour.

  • Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot
  • Zoo ARTIS
  • Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam (Botanical Garden)
  • Amsterdam Do-It-Yourself Foodie Tour (Self-Guided)

Day Trips

Many great attractions are in cities around Amsterdam; entry to them is also included in the I Amsterdam Card. Remember that you can use public transport to get there.

  • Historic village of Zaanse Schans
  • Vereniging de Zaansche Molen (Zaan Windmill Society)
  • Windmill van Sloten
  • Klimbos Fun Forest
  • Fort Pampus

How Much Does the I Amsterdam City Card Cost?

The price of the I Amsterdam Card depends on the card’s duration, from 24 to 120 hours. The price is the same for adults, youths, and children. For this reason, we do not recommend buying the I Amsterdam Card for visitors under 18. In this case, most museums are free for children and young people under 18, and the I Amsterdam Card saves no money.

I amsterdam Card

Prices

24 hours

60€

48 hours

85€

72 hours

100€

96 hours

115€

120 hours

125€

Official Website

Get Your Guide

Both sites offer the same prices, conditions, services, and usability. However, the cancellation procedure on Get Your Guide was easier and more transparent, so we recommend it.

Is The I Amsterdam Card Worth It?

It depends. City passes that work like a buffet of attractions limited by time have the advantage of a long list of attractions, but the disadvantage is the price. In the case of the I Amsterdam Card, it is no different. The I Amsterdam Card helps you save a lot of money if you visit many attractions but costs more if you plan on only visiting a few. Below are some examples of how the I Amsterdam Card could help you save money on your trip.

Attractions
Prices

Day 1

Anne Frank House*

Not Included - 16€

De Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam (The New Church)

Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder

Day 3

Rijksmuseum

Stedelijk Museum - Museum of Modern Art

Moco Museum

Day 3

City Canal Cruise Blue Boat Company

Tropenmuseum

Zoo ARTIS

3 Days Transporation-ticket

Total price with the I Amsterdam Card

126€

Total price without I Amsterdam Card

194,50€

Saving

68,50€ / -35%

Offical Website

Get Your Guide

*Note: The Anne Frank House ticket is not included in any Amsterdam City Pass. However, this is a top-rated and well-known attraction, so we included it in this travel plan.

Should You Get the I Amsterdam Card or Amsterdam Go City?

The I Amsterdam Card is not the only Sightseeing Pass in the city. The Amsterdam Go City All Inclusive Works is also a day-based card. However, the types of attractions are quite different.

While the I Amsterdam Card strongly focuses on museums, the Amsterdam Go City All Inclusive offers other types of activities, such as food tours, sightseeing, day trips, guided tours, and mini courses.

Of course, the I Amsterdam Card and the Amsterdam Go City include some of the most popular museums. So, it is just a matter of interest. If you are interested in museums, the I Amsterdam Card has more than 70 options. Amsterdam Go City attracts you with its unique and interactive city activities.

1. Iamsterdam Card

2. Amsterdam Go City Pass

I Amsterdam Card

I Amsterdam City Card: Is it worth it?

Rating

Typ

day-based

day-based

Choice of validity

24, 48, 72, 96, or 120 hours

1, 2, 3 or 5 days

Attractions

60

29

Price from (€)

65

51

Top attractions

Anne Frank House

Canal Cruise

Rijksmuseum

A’DAM Lookout

Van Gogh Museum

NEMO Museum

Heineken Experience

Moco Museum

Stedelijk Museum
Bike Rental

Prices

1 Day

2 Days

3 Days

4 Days

-

5 Days

Promocode

--

LovingOffer

I Amsterdam City Card: Our Honest Review

Larissa-Circle-Loving-New-York
About I Amsterdam City Card

Our honest review

The big advantage of the I Amsterdam Card is the long list of attractions, as you can get in and out of numerous museums without considering the attractions’ prices.

The disadvantage of the I Amsterdam Card is the time limitation. By choosing the number of days of validity, you must make the most of those days, which can cause a stressful trip.

So, we recommend not buying the I Amsterdam Card for the entire period of your trip. Instead, set aside one or two days to simply walk around the city and enjoy the many free attractions. Just be sure to leave the paying attractions for the days you use the I Amsterdam Card.

The I Amsterdam City Card offers savings from 2-3 paid attractions visited daily. Numerous museums in Amsterdam are worth visiting and do not require much time. So, you can actually visit 3 to 4 museums and galleries per day.

Note: The I Amsterdam Card is not worth it for visitors under 18 because it does not offer a lower price for children and young people, while many museums offer either free or cheaper admission for those under 18.

Finally, when using the I Amsterdam Card, check which museums require a time slot reservation on the app. The app makes these reservations, and you don’t pay anything. You just enter your I Amsterdam Card code.

Buy I Amsterdam Card

Check out the I Amsterdam Card at Get Your Guide

Check out the I Amsterdam Card at Get Your Guide

Frequently Asked Questions About the I Amsterdam City Card

What is the I Am Amsterdam City Card?

It is a Sightseeing Pass that offers entry to attractions and activities in Amsterdam. The purpose of the I Amsterdam City Card is to help you save money and visit more sights, but it is not a discount card. The I Amsterdam Card offers 100% entry to the included attractions.

What Is Included in the I Amsterdam City Card?

There are more than 70 attractions. Most are museums, but the I Amsterdam Card also offers boat trips, entry to zoos and botanical gardens, dining experiences, and other interactive exhibits.

What Are the Benefits of the I Amsterdam card?

Using the I Amsterdam Card, you can save between 30% and 50% on your trip activities. In addition, you have access to discounts on restaurants and some gifts and souvenirs.

How Much Does It Cost to Get an I Amsterdam Card?

The I Amsterdam Card costs from 60 to 120 euros, and the price depends on how many days you want to use it.

Does the I Amsterdam Card Include Airport Train?

No, the I Amsterdam City Card does not include the train ride from Schiphol airport to the city center. However, transportation within the city (subway, buses, and ferry) is unlimited.

Is it worth getting an I Amsterdam City Card?

It depends! Not if you are under 18! Visitors under 18 can get into many museums for free and will not save money with this City Pass. Visitors over 18, however, can save up to 50% by visiting 2-3 paying attractions per day.

Profilbild Larissa
About the author

Das Reisen ist meine große Leidenschaft. Ich liebe es, die Wanderwege in Rio de Janeiro zu erkunden, die besten Strände in Miami zu entdecken, die ältesten Museen in Rom zu besuchen und noch die besten Gerichte in Paris zu verkosten.

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