More about: Amsterdam Tourist Cards
There are different Amsterdam Explorer Passes, but what they all have in common is that they are a kind of flat rate that allows you to get the most out of your trip by saving time waiting at the entrance of the main attractions and spending less money.
Amsterdam Explorer Pass
Ideal for long stays
From the moment you activate this pass you will have a total of 60 days to see up to 7 of Amsterdam's top attractions and enjoy discounts of up to 50% on the rest.
If you book the Amsterdam Explorer Pass you will have the possibility to choose between 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions from the 30 that are included in the list and, in addition, you will have discounts of up to 50% in many others. Best of all, you have a maximum of 60 days to use it, so it gives you a lot of flexibility. It is advisable to book in advance through the Go City app.
Recommended if... If you're spending more than a week in Amsterdam and want to see the different attractions and museums at your own pace, as you'll be able to save on your visits.
Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass
Don't miss the essentials
You can buy a 1, 2, 3 or 5 day pass which gives you access to over 30 attractions, cycling and cruises.
If you book the Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass, available for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days, you will have access to more than 30 attractions and guided tours, plus discounts of up to 50% at leisure venues and restaurants, you can cycle around at no extra cost and you have the opportunity to take a cruise.
Recommended if... you want to see Amsterdam's main attractions at an affordable price.
I Amsterdam City Card
Make the most of your stay in Amsterdam
You can buy a 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 day pass which gives you free access to more than 70 museums and attractions, 24-hour cycling, unlimited use of public transport or a cruise.
If you book the I Amsterdam City Card for 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours, you will have free access to more than 70 museums and attractions in Amsterdam. In addition, you will be able to travel freely and comfortably, at no extra cost, by bike for 24 hours and unlimited public transport, and a canal cruise is included.
Recommended if... If you are an active person, who wants to see as many attractions as possible in the shortest possible time at an economical price.
Amsterdam Explorer Pass
If you book the Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass you will have access to 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 of the 30 most visited attractions in Amsterdam and you will also have the possibility to save up to 50% on other attractions and venues in the city. A wide range of attractions is included, from the Rijksmuseum or the Heineken Experience, to a bus tour of Volendam, Edam and the windmills, and a cruise on Amsterdam's canals.
Card validity
The card is valid for up to 60 days from activation and you'll need to pre-book via the Go City app to ensure you don't run out.
My recommendation
Without a doubt, this is the card I recommend if you are going to spend a long stay in Amsterdam, as it will be valid for a maximum of 60 days, allowing you to flexibly see what interests you most and spend as much time as you want at the attractions you prefer. All while saving on the price of admission.
How it works
- Includes entry to 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions.
- You have up to 60 days to use it.
- A digital guidebook and the Go City app with map and directions are provided.
- Only one visit per attraction is allowed and advance booking is required.
- The pass is valid for two years from the date of purchase and is activated on the first visit.
Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass
The Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass gives you access to 30 of the capital's museums and attractions and saves you up to 50% on your individual tickets, as well as unlimited travel around the city on board one of the city's sightseeing buses or on one of the pleasant cruises along the city's famous canals.
Validity of the card
This card can be personalised and you pay only for the days you want to use it (you can choose 1, 2, 3 or 5 full days). It works for calendar days, so to get the most out of it, activate it first thing in the morning by visiting the first attraction you want to visit and it will start counting the time of use. It is also digital, meaning you buy it, receive it and use it directly from your phone. It also includes transfer to and from the airport by bus.
My recommendation
I recommend you to get the Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass if you are going to Amsterdam and some of its surroundings and if you are interested not only in the most cultural attractions of the city (such as its main art gallery Rijksmuseum or Rembrandt's house museum), but also in other leisure attractions, such as the Amsterdam Tulip Museum, a comedy show at the Boom Chicago, a visit to the Johan Cruyff Arena or the Amsterdam Dungeon.
It also includes a visit to the famous A'dam Lookout, an observation deck with an unrivalled panoramic view from the top of the A'dam Tower, and the fun Heineken Experience, where you can get to know the brewery-museum of Holland's most iconic beer and even brew your own beer.
How it works
- It's a 1, 2, 3 or 5 day pass valid for entry to over 30 museums, attractions and guided tours.
- Digital guidebook with information about the attractions.
- Passes are valid once at each attraction and the tour is included only once; however, boat and tour bus rides are unlimited.
- Adult passes are for ages 12+ and children's passes are for children 3-12 years old
- Direct access to the included museums and attractions is not guaranteed. Many of them require advance entry.
I Amsterdam City Card
If you book the I Amsterdam City Card you will have access for 1, 2, 3, 3, 4 or 5 days to a total of 70 museums in Amsterdam and enjoy a cruise on the famous Amsterdam canals. In addition, you can rent a Yellow Bike for a period of 24 hours and have unlimited use of public transport.
Card validity
The card is valid for 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours, depending on your choice. However, it has two chips that will be activated separately. One is activated when you first enter a museum or attraction, while the other is activated when you first use public transport. Keep in mind that it works on a calendar day basis, so activate it first thing in the morning so you can take full advantage of it.
My recommendation
It is highly recommended if you are an active person who wants to see as many attractions as possible in the shortest possible time and at an economical price, as there is a wide range of attractions on offer. In fact, it is the card that includes the most extensive list of places of interest.
How it works
- The card is active for 1, 2, 3, 3, 4 or 5 days.
- You will have free access to more than 70 museums and attractions.
- You will be able to rent bicycles for 24 hours and unlimited use of public transport.
- You will have the possibility to take a canal cruise in Amsterdam.
- Advance booking is recommended.
Holland Pass
The Holland Pass is very similar to the Amsterdam Pass in terms of benefits, with significant savings on queues and up to 50% off the price of attraction tickets. However, as its name suggests, this card not only includes attractions in Amsterdam, but also in other cities in the country, such as Rotterdam, The Hague, Giethoorn, Volendam, Haarlem and Utrecht, with a total of 60 attractions.
So, if you not only want to visit the capital, but also to get to know the Netherlands through some of its most important cities, I would not think twice and buy the Holland Pass, which is also valid for 1 month from its first use.
How it works
The Holland Pass works on the basis of credits to be redeemed for "gold" and "silver" attractions, depending on their importance. As well as including a comprehensive guide to the Netherlands with maps, information and itineraries, the Holland Pass does not include access to the A'dam Lookout and the Heineken Experience, but does allow entry to the indispensable Van Gogh Museum (for which I advise you to visit the redemption point as soon as possible to check availability) and the Keukenhof Gardens and Madame Tussauds.
Holland Pass large. From €80
- 3 museums or attractions in the gold category.
- 3 museums or attractions in the silver category.
Holland Pass medium. From €60
- 2 museums or attractions in the gold category.
- 2 museums or attractions in the silver category.
Holland Pass small. From €45
- 1 museum or attraction in the gold category.
- 2 museums or attractions in the silver category.
One day pass for the canal cruises
The fact that Amsterdam is popularly known as the 'Venice of the North' can help you visualise how a boat trip along some of its 160 canals crossed by more than 1,200 bridges is also a practical, fun and different way to tour the city. It's an experience you should experience at least one day of your trip, although you can choose up to a 48-hour voucher along its two different routes, the Blue Line and the Orange Line.
Why I like this pass
With this cruise pass you can organise your Amsterdam sightseeing from the comfort of your seat on board a boat while listening to an audio guide about the history of the city and the sights you'll see during your cruise. You can decide as you go where you want to hop on and hop off to visit places like the city's main art gallery, the Rijksmuseum, the Albert Cuyp Market, the A'dam Lookout, the Anne Frank House and the Heineken factory.
If you are interested in finding out more about what the Heineken Experience is all about, I've linked my article on Heineken Experience in Amsterdam Tickets and Tours so you can read more about it.
If you are interested in sightseeing cards, you will also be interested in
With guaranteed access to the best attractions in the city (or country), all that's left is to enjoy it. A good way to do this is to walk through its streets and neighbourhoods with a specialised guide who will explain everything you see. I have written a guide about 6 Best Amsterdam Tours.
If in addition to Amsterdam you have decided to take the Holland Pass to discover the best of the country, I recommend you to read this article on 5 Best Day Trips from Amsterdam to plan your visit to the best destinations in the Netherlands.