Updated May 2026 · Current prices and inclusions for every pass that actually saves you money in Amsterdam — for tourists and for those of us who live here.
Amsterdam is a puzzle box of canals, world-class museums, golden-age architecture, and lively (or cosy) neighbourhoods. Between the cobblestone streets lined with crooked houses and the impressive number of museums, it’s easy to feel like there simply isn’t enough time or money to see and do it all. Amsterdam is not a cheap city. It may be offering a lot of culture and attractions, but buying all those tickets adds up and you might feel you’re breaking the bank.
There are, however, several passes that bring the cost down, sometimes quite dramatically. Some are built for tourists on a short visit; others are money-savers that the people who live here rely on year-round. Below is the full picture: the four passes worth knowing about as a visitor, and the five that make life cheaper if you stay longer — with 2026 prices, what each one actually includes, and who I’d recommend it to.
This page contains affiliate links. If you click and book, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend passes I’d use myself.
Content:
- Is an Amsterdam pass worth it? Quick math
- Amsterdam passes at a glance (2026 prices)
- Best Amsterdam passes for tourists
- Best Amsterdam passes for locals and long-stay visitors
- Amsterdam passes FAQ
Is an Amsterdam pass worth it? Quick math
Before you reach for any pass, here’s the back-of-the-napkin rule for the tourist cards: a typical Amsterdam museum runs €20–32 in 2026 (Rijksmuseum €25, Van Gogh €25, Artis Zoo €31.50, Rembrandt House €23.50). A canal cruise is €18–28. A day of GVB public transport is around €9. If your day involves 2 paid museums plus transport, you’ve already spent €50–70. Three museums + a cruise + transport pushes past €90 — and that’s the point at which most of the tourist passes start to pay for themselves.
A tourist pass is worth it if any of these are true:
- You plan to visit 2+ paid museums per day.
- You want to do a canal cruise on top of museums.
- You’ll use public transport more than twice a day.
- You like the “one tap, walk in” simplicity (no juggling separate tickets).
Skip a tourist pass if your entire wishlist is the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House — neither is included in any of the major Amsterdam passes, so you’d be paying for things you don’t use.
If you live here (or you’re a newcomer still figuring this out), the maths is different — the locals’ passes below are annual subscriptions, and they pay for themselves after 3-4 visits.
Amsterdam passes at a glance (2026 prices)
All nine passes covered in this guide, side by side. Prices reflect the cheapest available 2026 tier — always confirm at checkout.
| Pass | From (2026) | Duration | Key inclusions | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I amsterdam City Card (Total Experience) | €67 (24h) | 24h–120h | 70+ museums, GVB transport, canal cruise, 24h bike rental | Museum-loving tourists |
| I amsterdam City Card Explorer | from €44 (3 activities) | Activate, then 5 days | Pick 3, 5 or 7 activities from the full City Card list — no public transport | Slow travellers, fewer attractions |
| Go City Amsterdam (All-Inclusive) | from €79 (1 day) | 1, 2, 3 or 5 days | 50+ attractions, Heineken, Tussauds, cruise — has a child rate | Families, big-name attractions |
| Go City Amsterdam (Explorer) | from €44 (3 attractions) | 30 days from activation | Pick 3, 4, 5 or 7 attractions — most flexible Go City option | Slow travellers, no time pressure |
| Go City Amsterdam (Essentials) | from €59 (3 attractions) | 30 days from activation | Rijksmuseum or Heineken + 2 extras from top 14 attractions | Short visits, headline picks |
| The Amsterdam Pass (Tiqets) | dynamic, from ~€45 | Single use | One museum (Van Gogh / Moco / Rembrandt House) + cruise + audio guide or transport | Relaxed one-day visit, families with infants |
| Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket | €23 / €34 / €44 | 1, 2 or 3 days | Unlimited GVB, Connexxion, EBS, AllGo + NS trains in the region | Day-trippers, anyone landing at Schiphol |
| Museumkaart | €75/year | 12 months | 500+ museums across the Netherlands (renewal €69) | Locals, expats, frequent visitors |
| Stadspas Amsterdam | Free | Annual | Discounts/free access to museums, pools, theatres, food, energy | Low-income residents of Amsterdam/Weesp |
| Cineville Pass | €19/month (u30) · €24/month (30+) | Monthly | Unlimited entry to 75+ independent cinemas across NL | Film lovers |
| CJP | €17.50/year | 12 months | Discounts on films, concerts, festivals, theatre, shopping | Under-30s (locals and visitors) |
| NS Flex Dal Voordeel | €6.35/month | Monthly | 40% off NS trains off-peak and at weekends (up to 3 companions) | Anyone exploring the Dutch provinces by train |
Best Amsterdam passes for tourists
Four passes are worth considering as a visitor. The first three are sightseeing passes (each with a different personality); the fourth is a transport-only ticket that pairs nicely with any of them if you’re doing day trips.
I amsterdam City Card
The all-rounder, and the pass most visitors should consider first.
This is the best option for museum lovers and first-time visitors, but, honestly, it’s for any tourist who wants to explore as much of Amsterdam as possible.
What’s included: entrance to 70+ museums and attractions (Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk, Rembrandt House, Moco, NEMO, ARTIS Zoo, Hermitage and more), free GVB public transport in Amsterdam (tram/bus/metro), a free canal cruise, and 24h bike rental. It also covers a clutch of museums outside the city like Zaans Museum at Zaanse Schans, Zuiderzeemuseum in Enkhuizen, Teylers in Haarlem, plus discounts at restaurants, jenever tasting at De Drie Fleschjes, and shows at Boom Chicago and Bimhuis.
2026 prices: from €67 for 24h, scaling to €140 for 120h (5 days) — the longer card works out to roughly €28/day, which is the best value for a multi-day trip. New for 2026: an Explorer card (from €44) lets you pick 3, 5 or 7 activities instead of paying for hours. Once activated, the Explorer is valid for 5 days. Adults only — there’s no child rate.
How it works: buy online, activate from inside the I amsterdam City Card app the moment you start using it. The clock starts at activation, so you can buy in advance.
Pros:
- Widest museum coverage of any Amsterdam pass.
- Public transport included — a real money-saver if you’re moving around.
- Extends to museums outside Amsterdam (great for a day in Haarlem or Zaanse Schans).
- Free canal cruise and bike rental are properly useful, not token extras.
Cons:
- No child rate, adult pricing only.
- Doesn’t include Van Gogh Museum or Anne Frank House (the city’s two biggest names). A separate Tiqets combo with Van Gogh exists if needed.
- Time-based, so a slow travel day can feel wasted.
Is the I amsterdam City Card worth it? Yes, for most multi-day tourists. If you visit 3 paid museums and use public transport on a single day, the 24h card already pays for itself. On a 72h or 96h card, two museum days plus one cruise day is enough to come out ahead. It struggles only for travellers whose entire wishlist is Van Gogh + Anne Frank — neither is included.
Get the I amsterdam City Card → Buy via Tiqets (or the I amsterdam + Van Gogh combo if Van Gogh is on your list).
Go City Amsterdam Pass
The pass for families and big-name attractions. Where the I amsterdam Card is built around traditional museums, Go City is built around the city’s tourist headliners (Heineken Experience, Madame Tussauds, the Amsterdam Dungeon, House of Bols) and add-on tours to Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Edam and (in season) Keukenhof.
Three flavours in 2026: All-Inclusive (visit as many included attractions as you like for 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days), Explorer (pick 3, 4, 5 or 7 attractions and use them within 30 days of first activation) and the new Essentials Pass (Rijksmuseum or Heineken Experience plus 2 extras from the top 14 attractions, 30 days to use).
2026 prices: All-Inclusive starts from €79 for one day (adult), Explorer from €44 for three attractions, Essentials from €59. Child rate (3–12) is available on all three. The full attraction list runs to 50+ options.
How it works: show the QR code in the Go City app at the entrance. No physical card.
Pros:
- The only mainstream city pass with a proper child rate.
- Strong coverage of headline attractions (Heineken, Tussauds, Dungeon) that traditional museum passes skip.
- Explorer is the closest thing to a “city pass without time pressure” you can buy.
- Includes a canal cruise and bike rental.
Cons:
- No public transport — you’ll need a separate ticket (or this is irrelevant if you’re driving or staying centrally).
- Fewer classical museums than I amsterdam.
- Doesn’t include Van Gogh or Anne Frank either.
Is Go City Amsterdam worth it? Yes, if you’re travelling with kids or if your shortlist is heavy on the city’s headline experiences. A family of four spending two days hitting Heineken Experience, Madame Tussauds, NEMO and a canal cruise will almost certainly come out ahead with All-Inclusive, especially with the child rate. A solo adult focused on the Rijksmuseum and Stedelijk will get more out of the I amsterdam Card.
Get Go City Amsterdam → All-Inclusive Pass · Explorer Pass
The Amsterdam Pass (Tiqets Digital)
The simplest of the four tourist passes, a curated mini-bundle aimed at travellers who want one headline museum visit, one cruise and a guide to walk them around the city. It’s also the only pass on this list that gives you an option to include Van Gogh Museum entry (though, honestly, you can also just buy a Van Gogh ticket separately).
Build your bundle: pick one museum (Van Gogh, Moco, or Rembrandt House), a canal cruise (1-hour closed boat or 1-hour open boat with bar), and either a city audio guide app or GVB public transport for 1, 2 or 3 days. After purchase you’ll also get a 10% discount code for your next 5 Tiqets bookings in Amsterdam (valid for one month).
2026 prices: Prices are dynamic and usually start around €43–45, depending on season, availability and bundle options, with adult, youth, child and infant rates. Tiqets advertises savings of up to 13% versus buying the included tickets separately.
Is the Amsterdam Pass worth it? Yes, if you’re planning a relaxed one-day taster trip with a young family. It’s not the best value for active multi-day sightseers; for that, the I amsterdam Card wins.
Get the Amsterdam Pass → Build your bundle on Tiqets
Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket
This is not a sightseeing pass; it’s a transport pass. The Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket gives you unlimited travel on tram, bus, metro and train across the wider Amsterdam region. It covers GVB, Connexxion, AllGo and EBS (including night buses), plus NS trains within the Amsterdam Area. That includes the Connexxion bus line from Schiphol Airport, so it’s useful from the moment you land, plus services to Volendam, Edam, Marken, Hoorn a bit further north, and (March–May) the Qbuzz 858 shuttle from Schiphol to Keukenhof.
2026 prices: €23 (1 day), €34 (2 days), €44 (3 days). Valid for 1, 2 or 3 calendar days from first check-in (a day runs 00:00 to 04:00 the following morning).
One catch worth remembering: your smartphone voucher is not the actual ticket. You’ll need to exchange it for a physical chip card at designated NS, GVB or airport ticket machines and service desks before travelling, then check in and out at the start and end of every journey.
Is it worth it? Yes, if you’re combining Amsterdam with a Dutch day trip or two and don’t want a sightseeing pass. The advantage is the wider regional coverage, including airport connections and trips beyond the city.
Get the Region Travel Ticket → Buy via Tiqets
Best Amsterdam passes for locals and long-stay visitors
If you’ve recently moved to Amsterdam and are eager to explore the city, or you’re simply here for the long haul, these are the passes that quietly save money year-round.
Museumkaart (Museum Card)
The Museumkaart is by far my favourite yearly acquisition. This card is valid not only in Amsterdam, but in the entire country, and it offers you free entry to almost every museum out there: in total, over 500 museums! At the same time, you help the museum world: almost all revenue from the Museum Pass benefits the participating museums.
You will have to check in advance if the museum you want to visit accepts the Museumkaart and plan accordingly. Sometimes you will have to pay extra for special or temporary exhibitions, but at the price of €75/year, your investment will be worth it after 4 or 5 museum visits.
2026 details: €75 for the first year, €69 to renew (a €6 loyalty discount when you renew). Children and youth under 18 pay €39.
Museumkaart is very popular among the Dutch people, as it offers unlimited access to their favourite museums and serves as a key to discovering the history and culture of the places they visit on their dagje weg (day trips) across the country. I personally love having a Museumkaart, as it lets me pop into a museum whenever I have some free time or simply feel like it. The card is personal and cannot be borrowed.
Get your Museumkaart here.
Stadspas Amsterdam (City Pass)
If you’re living in Amsterdam or Weesp and your income is limited, the Stadspas might be just what you need. This free City Pass gives you access to discounts on museums, swimming pools, and theatre performances — and in some cases, you can even enjoy these for free. But it’s not just about culture: with the Stadspas, you can also benefit from offers on food and energy costs or receive discounts at the vet. It’s a great way to enjoy the city without stretching your budget.
Apply for Stadspas Amsterdam here.
Cineville Pass
If you love movies and go to the cinema more often, get yourself a Cineville pass. It gives you unlimited access to more than 75 unique independent cinemas and movie theatres across the Netherlands. This is a monthly subscription: if you’re under 30 years old, you pay €19/month; for those 30 plus it’s €24/month. Minimum membership is four months, then cancellable monthly. Get Cineville here.
CJP (Cultural Youth Passport)
For those under 30, this card is amazing, and it’s something for tourists and locals alike. It gives access to discounts on films, concerts, festivals, theatre and shopping. Young people in high school and the MBO receive CJP for free if the school is affiliated with the CJP. Students receive a link to register via school. Otherwise, the card costs €17.50 and is valid for one year.
Get the CJP card here.
NS Flex Dal Voordeel (train discount subscription)
For transport around the country, check the NS website for regular deals and packages like “train+museum” or “train+hotel”. If you travel more often, the workhorse subscription is NS Flex Dal Voordeel — €6.35/month (2026 price) for 40% off NS trains outside peak hours (after 09:00 weekdays) and all weekend. The discount also covers up to three travel companions, which makes it a small bargain when you discover new places in the Dutch provinces with friends or family. Browse NS subscriptions here.
Note for 2026: NS retired the cheaper Weekend Voordeel subscription on 1 February 2026 (existing customers can keep using it until 1 July 2026). Dal Voordeel is now the closest equivalent.
Amsterdam passes FAQ
Does the I amsterdam City Card include the Van Gogh Museum?
No. Van Gogh isn’t included in any of the time-based Amsterdam passes. There is a separate I amsterdam Card + Van Gogh combo on Tiqets if you want both. The only pass that lets you choose Van Gogh as the museum is the Amsterdam Pass (Tiqets Digital).
Does any pass include Anne Frank House?
No. Anne Frank House is sold exclusively through its own official website, on timed-entry tickets released roughly six weeks ahead. Book directly at annefrank.org as soon as the dates open.
Is the I amsterdam City Card worth it for 2 days?
Usually yes. The 48h card breaks even at roughly 3 paid museums plus public transport. If you plan 4+ museums and a canal cruise across two days, you’ll save €30–50 compared to buying separately.
Which Amsterdam pass is best for families with kids?
Go City Amsterdam Pass. It’s the only mainstream city pass with a proper child rate (ages 3–12), and its attraction list (Heineken Experience, Madame Tussauds, NEMO, the Dungeon) leans toward family-friendly outings. The Amsterdam Pass (Tiqets) also has youth, child and infant rates if you want a smaller, gentler one-day bundle.
Museumkaart vs I amsterdam City Card — which is better?
Different jobs. I amsterdam is built for a 1–5 day trip and bundles transport, a cruise and bike rental on top of museums. Museumkaart is a 12-month subscription for residents and frequent visitors — no transport or cruise, but 500+ museums nationwide. If you’re here once for a long weekend, take I amsterdam. If you’ll be back twice in a year (or you live here), take Museumkaart.
Where do I pick up my OV-chipkaart for the Region Travel Ticket?
At any GVB ticket machine or service desk inside Amsterdam — Centraal Station, Schiphol and most major metro stops have them. Scan the barcode on your voucher, collect the physical chipkaart, then check in and out for every trip.
When do 2026 prices change?
Amsterdam pass prices typically rise once a year. NS train tickets and subscriptions went up around 6.5% on 1 January 2026, and museum and city-pass prices tend to follow in late winter or spring. The figures in this article reflect rates as of May 2026 — always confirm the current price at checkout.
A last word
Are you in the mood for travelling yet? I hope this guide has helped you choose the right pass for your trip or your year, whether that’s a 72-hour deep dive with the I amsterdam Card, a family weekend with Go City, an annual Museumkaart that turns rainy Tuesdays into Vermeer afternoons, or just the satisfying click of an OV-chipkaart on a quiet morning tram.
If you want more, here’s my full Amsterdam Museums guide, the best day trips from Amsterdam, and the Dutch Provinces hub for ideas on where to point your shiny new Region Travel Ticket or Museumkaart.
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