The I amsterdam City Card is an official city pass available for tourists and visitors to Amsterdam. It provides free entry and discounts to over 70 attractions in and around Amsterdam as well as free use of city public transport. Book the I amsterdam City Card online here
This Amsterdam city pass is issued by ‘amsterdam&partners’, a not-for-profit public-private organisation under its ‘I amsterdam’ brand.
In this article we offer a detailed review of the I amsterdam City Card. We’ll take a look at the costs, benefits and drawbacks of this card, whether the card is worth it and suggest how you could maximise its use.
Officially the card is known as the ‘I amsterdam City Card‘ although some confuse the name as ‘Iamsterdam’ City Card, ‘I am amsterdam’ card or the Iamsterdam City Pass.
I amsterdam City Card FAQ
How much does the I amsterdam City Card cost in 2023?
The I amsterdam City Card in 2023 comes with 5 validity options:
| I amsterdam Card Validity | Price | Cost per day |
| 24 hours (1 day) | €60 | €60.00 |
| 48 hours (2 days) | €85 | €42.50 |
| 72 hours (3 days) | €110 | €36.67 |
| 96 hours (4 days) | €125 | €31.25 |
| 120 hours (5 days) | €135 | €27.00 |
- Widest choice of free attractions in and around Amsterdam
- Free GVB Amsterdam transport
- Valid on a 24 hour basis (up to 120 hours)
- Additional discounts and freebies available
- Not valid for Van Gogh Museum or Anne Frank House
- No reduced child rate
Order the I amsterdam City Card here
From the table you can see that the card becomes successively better value for the longer validity periods. The 1 day card will set you back €60 – in contrast, the difference between a 4 day and 5 day card is only €10. You can purchase the I amsterdam City Card online here
Select your validity option and dates – after purchase, the card can be picked up locally from the I amsterdam store (IJ-side) at Amsterdam Central station.
Are there any discounts for purchasing the I amsterdam City Card for children, students or seniors 65+?
No there are no discount options available for the I amsterdam City Card for children, students and seniors.
Don’t forget that many museums in Amsterdam allow free entry to kids – this means the I amsterdam card is sometimes not worth purchasing for under 10s, depending on the museums you want to visit.
However, if you plan to visit attractions such as NEMO Science Museum and ARTIS Zoo (which both charge standard entry fees to young children) then getting the card could be worthwhile.
Which museums and attractions in and around Amsterdam offer free entry to I amsterdam City Card holders?
There are over 40 museums and attractions around the city which give free entry to I amsterdam City Card holders. The card affords a single visit only – multiple visits are not permitted.
Here is the I amsterdam City card attractions list (with major attractions in bold) and for comparison the regular 2023 entry price:
| Attraction – free entry with I amsterdam City Card | Regular Entry Price |
| A’DAM Lookout | €16.50 |
| Allard Pierson Museum | €14.50 |
| Amsterdam Museum (@Hermitage) | €18.00 |
| Amsterdam Pipe Museum | €12.50 |
| Amsterdam Tulip Museum | €5.00 |
| ARCAM Architecture Centre | €4.00 |
| ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo | €25.00 |
| ARTIS-Groote Museum | €17.50 |
| ARTIS-Micropia | €17.50 |
| Diamond Museum | €12.50 |
| Embassy of the Free Mind | €15.00 |
| Fashion For Good Museum | €10.00 |
| FOAM Photography Museum | €12.50 |
| Fun Forest (climbing park) | €25.95 |
| Grachtenmuseum Amsterdam (Museum of the Canals) | €16.50 |
| Hermitage | €19.50 |
| Hortus Botanicus (Botanical Gardens) | €12.50 |
| Houseboat Museum | €4.50 |
| Huis Marseille (Museum for Photography) | €9.00 |
| Jewish Cultural Quarter – Jewish Museum | €18.00 |
| Jewish Cultural Quarter – Portuguese Synagogue | €18.00 |
| Johan Cruijff ArenA Tour | €20.00 |
| Luther Museum Amsterdam | €7.00 |
| MOCO Museum (Banksy & more) | €21.95 |
| Molen van Sloten (Sloten Windmill) | €7.50 |
| Multatuli Museum | €7.00 |
| Museum De Dageraad | €15.00 |
| Museum Het Schip | €15.00 |
| Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic museum) | €16.50 |
| Museum of the Mind – Outsider Art (@Hermitage) | €17.50 |
| Museum Tot Zover (Funeral Museum) | €11.00 |
| Museum Van Loon | €12.50 |
| Museum Willet-Holthuysen | €12.50 |
| National Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum) | €17.50 |
| NEMO Science Museum | €17.50 |
| NEMO The Studio | €7.50 |
| Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) | €19.50 |
| Oude Kerk (Old Church) | €12.00 |
| Pianola Museum | €9.00 |
| Rembrandt House Museum | €17.50 |
| Rijksmuseum | €22.50 |
| Stadsarchief (Amsterdam City Archives) | €7.50 |
| Stedelijk Museum – Modern Art & Design | €22.50 |
| This is Holland Flight Experience | €26.00 |
| Tropenmuseum | €16.00 |
| Verzetsmuseum (Dutch Resistance Museum) | €14.00 |
During special exhibitions at some major museums you may be asked to pay a small supplement.
Does the I amsterdam city card give free entry to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam?
No, unfortunately the card does not offer free or discounted entry to the Anne Frank House museum. If you wish to visit the Anne Frank House you must buy your tickets with a date/timeslot directly from the museum.
Does the I amsterdam city card give free entry to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam?
No. Since 1 June 2022 the I amsterdam City Card is no longer valid for free entry to the Van Gogh Museum. You would need to buy a separate ticket and timeslot to visit the museum.
Which other major museums in Amsterdam are NOT valid for free entry with the I amsterdam city card?
Please be aware that the I amsterdam City Card does not offer free entry to the Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis) and STRAAT Museum.
Does the I amsterdam City Card give free entry to museums outside Amsterdam?
The card is also valid for free entry at the following places:
| Attractions outside Amsterdam | Location |
| COBRA Modern Art Museum | Amstelveen |
| Zuiderzee Museum | Enkhuizen |
| Frans Hals Museum – Hof & Hal | Haarlem |
| Museum van de Geest | Dolhuys | Haarlem |
| Teylers Museum | Haarlem |
| Singer Laren Museum and Sculpture Garden | Laren |
| Batavialand | Lelystad |
| Amsterdam Muiderslot Castle | Muiden |
| Pampus Fort Island – UNESCO World Heritage site | Muiden |
| Dutch Fortress Museum | Naarden |
| Volendams Museum | Volendam |
| Czar Peter House | Zaandam |
| Zaan Time Museum | Zaanse Schans |
| Zaans Museum including Coopery + Weaver’s House | Zaanse Schans |
| Zaanse Schans Mill Museum including windmills | Zaanse Schans |
Note, the included GVB transport pass would only allow you to get to COBRA museum in Amstelveen. All the other places listed above (except Enkhuizen) can be reached using the separate Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket
How does the I amsterdam City Card work?
The card actually contains 2 chips inside – one for museums/attractions and the other a special public transport chip.
On the first visit to a museum/attraction the card will be activated and will remain valid for the selected 24 to 120 hour period. You simply present or scan your card on each visit. Don’t forget you now need to book a timeslot in advance online before you arrive at a major museum/attraction.
Similarly, the transport card is activated on first use – you always need to ‘check-in’ and ‘check-out’ of your journey using the special card readers. It will also remain active for the validity of the card.
What are the public transport benefits with an I amsterdam City Card?
The included transport chip card is valid for GVB public transport in the Amsterdam city area. GVB is the municipal transport company which runs trams, ferries, the Amsterdam metro and some buses.
The public transport ticket has the same time validity as the card – 24 to 120 hours which would normally cost between €9 and €33.
Please note, train journeys with NS Dutch Railways (such as Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Central) and EBS Waterland buses are NOT valid with the card. The Amsterdam Airport Express bus (number 397) is also not valid. GVB bus 369 between Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Sloterdijk station is valid, although the journey is much longer than the train trip.
If you plan to travel around the Amsterdam region you may want to also consider purchasing the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket online here in addition.
With the Iamsterdam city card you also get a free ride on the Batavia Stad Shopping Shuttle bus.
What about bike rental with the I amsterdam City card?
You get a 24 hour free bike rental with one of the following outfits: A-Bikes, AmsterBike, MacBike or Yellow Bikes in Amsterdam or ‘Rent & Event’ at Volendam. This would normally cost around €15.
What canal cruises and boat trips are included with the I amsterdam City Card?
You get one complimentary canal cruise from either Blue Boat Company (City Canal Cruise), Stromma (100 Highlights Cruise), Amsterdam Circle Line or Lovers (Romantic boat tour). This standard ticket price would be €15-€20.
You can also choose instead to take a cruise at Smidtje Canal Cruises in Haarlem or Windmill Cruises Zaanse Schans.
You can also do the following free boat trips:
The Rederij Volendam-Marken Express ferry between Volendam and Marken; the Zaanferry Zaanse Schans which operates the Amsterdam-Zaandam-Zaanse Schans route.
What if I lose my I amsterdam City Card?
Unfortunately, if you lose the card you will not be able to get a free replacement. So take care of the card!
What other discounts do you get with the I amsterdam Card?
The card gives a 25% discount at a number of different attractions and activities:
Attractions:
Amsterdam Dungeon
Body Worlds: The Happiness Project
Fabrique des Lumières
Heineken Experience
Het Kattenkabinet (Cat Cabinet Museum)
House of Bols Cocktail & Genever Experience
Madame Tussauds Amsterdam
Nxt Museum
Our House – Museum of Electronic Music Culture
Red Light Secrets
Rembrandts Amsterdam Experience
STRAAT Museum (Street Art and Graffiti Museum)
Vincent meets Rembrandt exhibition @Noorderkerk
The Upside Down Amsterdam
XtraCold Icebar Amsterdam
Shows:
Binhuis – jazz
Boom Chicago – English language comedy shows
Dutch National Ballet & Opera
Muziekgebouw aan’t IJ – contemporary music concert hall
Transport:
Canal Motorboats rentals
Canal Tours Amsterdam Pedal Boats
MokumBoot (boat rental)
Stromma Cruises and Hop On Hop Off Tours
Amsterdam Tourist Ferry to Pampus and Muiderslot Castle (April – October)
There are a number of restaurants and cafés giving a 25% discount – this includes The Pancake Bakery, Blue Amsterdam, Pancakes Amsterdam, Restaurant de Hoop op d’Swarte Walvis and Wagamama. Double check what time of day the discounts are available. Some restaurants require you to book a timeslot. Always mention the card before you order.
Any other freebies?
You will get a small Amsterdam city map which highlights all the card points of interest.
The Amsterdam Do-It-Yourself foodie tour is included with the I amsterdam City card. This is a guide in pdf format which takes you to 6 shops and market stalls in the colourful De Pijp district. You can try a range of Dutch street food, food must be purchased but discounts for tour participants are offered.
You get a free liqueur or genever shot (De Drie Fleschjes); fre entrance to Holland Casino Amsterdam.
The card also comes with a free I amsterdam City Guide magazine.
Is there an I amsterdam City Card app?
Yes, you can download the official I amsterdam City Card app for iPhone or Android. The app features an interactive map and gives a full up-to-date listing of locations available on the card. This is handy as new attractions could be added.
How can I maximise the use of the I amsterdam City Card?
Because of the current need to book some timeslots in advance, it is absolutely essential you make a plan of all the places you wish to visit with the card.
To maximise benefit of the I amsterdam card you will need to be efficient by doing as follows:
- Clustering visits of museums close to each other to avoid excessive travel. For example, Rijksmuseum, Diamond Museum, MOCO and Stedelijk museums all closely located on Museumplein. Artis Zoo, Verzetsmuseum, Hortus Botanical Gardens, the Jewish Cultural Quarter, Rembrandt House and the Maritime Museum are found in and around the Plantage district.
- Compare opening hours of museums and take advantage of ones with later opening hours. For example, MOCO (normally) stays open until 2100 Fri-Sun; FOAM until 2100 Thu-Fri; Huis Marseille until 2100 on Thursdays. Be aware that some museums are closed on Mondays.
- Break up a cluster of museums visits with a canal cruise or outdoor activity such as a visit to the Hortus Botanical Gardens or the A’DAM Toren roof lookout.
- Get bonus extra hours by entering a large museum/attraction just before the card actually expires – so always note your initial activation time carefully. It is the entry time that counts and you can stay in the museum as long as you like (even though the card will have just expired).
- During the validity period, focus your visits to attractions included on the I amsterdam card. If you wish to visit the Anne Frank House or Keukenhof flower gardens (both not included) then if possible do these after your card has expired, assuming you have available time.
Are there any other alternatives to the I amsterdam card?
The Go City: Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass is a 1, 2, 3 or 5 day pass which offers free entry to over 25 attractions/tours in and around Amsterdam.
This includes Heineken Experience, Rijksmuseum, A’DAM Lookout, MOCO Museum, Jewish Cultural Quarter and This is Holland. It also includes the 100 highlights cruise, a 1 hour pedal boat rental and bike rental.
The price is a little bit cheaper than the I amsterdam City card: €59 (1 day), €79 (2 days), €94 (3 days) and €119 (5 days). You can book a Go City: Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass here
Alternatively, the Go City: Amsterdam Explorer Pass allows you 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions to visit based on a maximum purse value of the pass. prices are €54 (3 attractions), €69 (4), €79 (5), €89 (6) and €99 (7). You can book a Go City: Amsterdam Explorer Pass here
One big difference to the I amsterdam City Card is that Go City offers significantly reduced child (3-12) rates for its passes.
You can use the passes on your phone via the Go City app or just show the pass code (phone or print out).
Go City’s Amsterdam All Inclusive Passes and Amsterdam Explorer Passes do not include the public transport component, although you could easily combine this separately by purchasing unlimited Amsterdam GVB travel passes (1-7 days).
What about the Dutch Museumkaart?
The Museumkaart (Netherlands Museum Pass) costs €64.90 (€32.45 for children 0-18) which allows unlimited free entry into over 400 museums in the Netherlands for 12 months.
However, if you live outside of the Netherlands then buying a full Museumkaart can be a bit challenging. It can only be purchased online if you have a Dutch address and use Dutch internet banking.
There is the option of the temporary Museumkaart bought over-the-counter at certain museums. However this is only valid for 31 days and 5 museum visits. After that the card stops working and must be registered online for the full version – which is only be sent by post to a EU/UK address.
Verdict: Is the I amsterdam City Card worth it?
The I amsterdam City Card is not particularly cheap at first glance. However, considering entry to major museums and attractions in Amsterdam can now run at €15-25 each time, you can certainly make some savings on a card purchase with a well-planned and executed itinerary.
The major benefit of the card has always been the convenience of an all-in-one transport and museum/attraction pass – with a few freebies and discounts thrown in.
Having to pre-book timeslots these days is a bit of a hassle and may take some spontaneity out of your visit. Even without a card you would still have to pre-book many visits anyhow.
The loss of the Van Gogh Museum has also slightly devalued the card.
For residents/expats and frequent visitors we would probably recommend the Museumkaart as it is valid for the whole year.
For others (especially first-time visitors) we would certainly recommend the I amsterdam City Card.
Let’s consider the best value 120 hour (5 day) card which costs €135 (€27 per day). If we take away the public transport 5 day ticket price component (€33), a canal cruise (€16) and bike rental (€15) the card would effectively cost €71 which is a shade over €14 per day.
With 2-3 museum/attraction visits per day you could easily recoup the value of the I amsterdam City Card and save money.
You can buy the I amsterdam City Card online here
Last update 10 March 2023. This article was originally published in 2008 and has been regularly updated.
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