City cards are often popular with visitors as they offer substantial discounts on attractions and activities, as well as guaranteeing easy access. These discount programmes are very common in major cities across Europe.
I recently returned from an autumnal trip to Amsterdam and was gifted an I Amsterdam Card. Naturally, I packed my days with hardcore sightseeing and will tell you whether the I Amsterdam Card is worth it for your visit.
Disclaimer: I was gifted an I Amsterdam Card by my fellow content creator Keith. All opinions and thoughts are 100% my own and independently expressed from the gifting. No marketing or PR exchange for promotion was involved in creating this content.
Prices listed are correct as of November 2025
The I Amsterdam City Card is a tourist card that gives visitors free or discounted access to museums, attractions and experiences across Amsterdam. Some partner offers are completely free, while others provide discounts on tickets, e.g. the Heineken Experience or souvenir shopping at the I Amsterdam Store. These city cards are popular because they promise significant savings and are convenient.
Table of Contents
I Amsterdam Card Worth It: Quick Insights
- The Amsterdam city cards can cover 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120h.
- The price difference between 72, 96 or 120h is rather small in comparison to 24 to 48h, hence why the longer you choose to have your Amsterdam city pass, the more you’ll get out of it.
- No need for downloading an extra app, you can activate the card on public transport or scan at your first museum.
- Visitors still need to fetch a free ticket from the ticket desk after scanning their I Amsterdam Cards.
- Popular museums and attractions such as the Rijksmuseum or a canal boat tour need to be booked in advance. Check the official website or your booklet that comes with the card for more booking details.
- Museums such as Van Gogh or the Anne Frank Huis are not included in the I Amsterdam Card.
- Cards have an expiry date, which you can check in the small print at the back of the card.
- Cards, once purchased, should all be working fine. They cannot be exchanged.
- Make sure you have the number for the I Amsterdam Store at hand in case of issues. The I Amsterdam store is located on the Ijs side of Amsterdam Centraal Station.
How did I get the I Amsterdam Card?
My content creator colleague Keith from Velvet Escape and I swapped city cards, which is how I found myself exploring Amsterdam last November. I had originally planned to use the I Amsterdam Card in the summer, but I didn’t realise it had an expiry date and had no choice but to use it straight away. Since I already had plans to catch up with friends and colleagues, I didn’t build my itinerary around the card. Instead, I fitted museum and monument visits into my existing schedule.
I may not have gotten the most out of the card compared with using it in the summer, but here is what I got up to: My card covered 72 hours and would normally cost 110€. To get the most out of it, I aimed to save around 36.66€ per day in ticket fares. I mainly chose attractions that were completely free with the card and didn’t bother with places that only offered small discounts.
Day 1: I Amsterdam Card Worth It
Card used for: public transport, Rijksmuseum & Rembrandthuis
Costs saved: public transport (9.50€), Rijksmuseum (25€), Rembrandthuis (21.50€)
My first interaction with the card was not great. Unfortunately, I ran into issues at my very first stop: the Rijksmuseum. The staff were not impressed when they scanned my card and it was declined. They would not let me in, leaving me with only two options: either pay for a full-price ticket and ask the I Amsterdam team for a reimbursement (not feasible for me and far too much hassle), or make a timely detour to the store at Amsterdam Centraal to get the issue resolved onsite.
I travelled to Amsterdam Centraal and spoke directly to the team, who were adamant that the card was working and had never been used before. A replacement was non-negotiable. After a lot of back and forth, I managed to get a staff member from I Amsterdam to sign a paper for all partners, in case any issues arose and they needed to contact the store. I lost an hour of sightseeing and, frankly, some good vibes that day – annoying, but these things can happen with city cards.
The Rijksmuseum – I got back to the museum an hour later, only to find a new set of staff members. Once again, the card was declined when scanned, but they reluctantly accepted the handwritten note from the I Amsterdam team. I did get the remark, “We are now losing your 25€ entrance fee,” which makes me wonder why institutions partner with a city loyalty card if they are worried about financial losses.
I had first visited the Rijksmuseum in 2016, and now, being older and much more familiar with the old masters of Dutch and Flemish painting, I found the visit far more rewarding. I appreciate Vermeer and the Night Watch deeply, the latter of which is currently under inspection for more intensive research. My stay lasted 2h, which is just my sweet spot for avoiding sightseeing fatigue.
Rembrandthuis – Here, I had an uncomplicated entry and no issues with the card. The Rembrandt House was an incredibly engaging experience. Equipped with a digital audio guide, visitors can explore the historic home and workshop of grand master Rembrandt at their own pace. The guide was interesting and informative, offering just the right amount of substantial information delivered in a light-hearted narrative. The historic rooms were well preserved and neatly maintained. I spent around 90 minutes learning about Rembrandt and his life in his former home and can highly recommend it.
Day 2: I Amsterdam Card Worth It
Card used for: public transport, H’ART Museum
Costs saved: public transport (9.50€), H’ART Museum (all in 38.50€)
H’ART Museum – I got an all-in ticket, which included the Amsterdam Museum as well as the Museum of the Mind. The H’ART Museum originally ran as an extension of the Hermitage in Russia, but due to the war, the former artworks are no longer on display. Instead, the H’ART Museum now showcases exhibitions, often in collaboration with the Pompidou in Paris (currently closed for renovations).
I was able to see an excellent exhibition on Brancusi, a Romanian sculptor who pioneered modern sculptural works with stylish designs and the use of high-end materials around 1900. It was fascinating, and the works on display completely engaged me. I had never heard of him before, but I was receptive and grateful to have discovered a new artist. The exhibition was well curated, though afterwards I did wonder if that was all or if there was more to see and do at the H’ART Museum.
After walking around the huge complex, which seemed to be filled with everything and nothing, I decided to visit the Amsterdam 750 anniversary space. Here, contemporary artists engage with modern Amsterdam themes such as urban planning, diversity, and environmental issues. Contemporary art often doesn’t land well with me, but I stayed open and receptive. I do feel that the entrance price does not justify the quality on display, and afterwards I didn’t bother with the Museum of the Mind, as I found the concept too disjointed and less focused than the Brancusi exhibition.
No more exploring for the afternoon, as I had already made plans outside Amsterdam. However, if I had used the card in the summer and had a full day, I would have planned a trip to Zandaam.
Alternative Day 2: I Amsterdam Card Worth It
Card used for: bike rental, Zaanse Schaanse, House of Czar Peter the Great
Costs saved: bike rental (14-18€), House of Tsar Peter (7€), Zaans Museum and Verkade Experience (16€), Museum Zaanse Tijd (15€), 4 windmills (7.50€ each/30€) and windmill museum (15€)
During my summer holiday in 2024, I was able to cycle to Zandaam and explore the windmill village on foot. I would love to return and actually visit the museums onsite. Not only is cycling quintessentially Dutch, but the route from Amsterdam Centraal to Zandaam is very easy and charming, passing the Kissing Couple and taking the free ferries.
In Zandaam, I have heard of the house of Peter the Great. The ABC Bookstore in Spui used to have free publications on the house’s restoration, so I’ve been curious to learn more and see it in person.
Keep in mind: This tour would be doable in the summer using a 24h card at 65€, as all the attractions on my Zandaam list would total 101€, but it would be an intense day. Bike rental would need to be planned in advance, since most rental shops open at 10am and it’s a 90-minute ride to Zandaam—so by the time you arrive, it’s already mid-day.
Day 3: I Amsterdam Card Worth It
Card used for: public transport, boat tour, ADAM Lookout, Museum of the Canals
Costs saved: public transport (9.50€), Grachten Museum (17.50€), ADAM Lookout (18.50€), boat tour Amsterdam Boat Cruises (14.50€)
Museum of the Canals: This museum is designed as an interactive experience with 3D models, sound, and visuals. Visitors are guided through a handful of themed rooms that explain the development of Amsterdam’s famous grachten belt, the upkeep of its canals, and life in this unique environment. Each room is explored for a set amount of time while listening to a narrator. I found the experience quite unique, and the approach of illustrating history was very creative. There are only a handful of people per group, which allows everyone to enjoy the experience. The tour lasted 1h, which flew by.
ADAM Lookout: Every city that takes pride in itself has a decent viewing platform or lookout tower. Amsterdam has the A’DAM Lookout, a panoramic observation deck at the top of the A’DAM Tower — a converted office building that once served as the headquarters of the oil company Royal Dutch Shell. Originally opened in 1971 as the Shell Toren (also known locally as Toren Overhoeks), it was transformed in 2016 into a mixed‑use complex with bars, restaurants, a hotel, and the observation deck. The lookout offers 360‑degree views over Amsterdam’s historic centre, its canals and harbour, and the surrounding polder landscape, and is reached easily by a short free ferry ride across the river IJ from Amsterdam Centraal.
The lookout itself is a heavily marketed, overpriced tourist spot with all sorts of classic novelties to amuse the average visitor: a restaurant, a bar, a souvenir shop, tacky souvenir photos and even a swing atop the roof. The actual view? Disappointing, and that wasn’t just due to the miserable weather. The vista felt very unspectacular, and the absolute audacity is that the main viewing area on the south side, facing Amsterdam Centraal and the grachten belt, is taken up by a bar, so you can’t easily access the windows unless you don’t mind being in someone else’s personal space. It was awful!
I have no idea why people essentially pay up to 20€ to go up to a bar. I struggled to connect with the space, and for me personally there was nothing to do to keep me there.
Boat Tour: Included in the Amsterdam card is a boat tour and you can choose from several providers e.g. blue boat cruise or Lovers Amsterdam which usually range from 14-18EUR.
The boat tour started near the lookout tower, so you can kill two birds with one stone if you also choose the Blue Boat cruise. I’ve been on several canal tours in Amsterdam, and this was by far the best. You can join a boat tour from various points in the city, but most operators tend to stay in their local area and rarely cover the entire grachten belt. The Blue Boat cruise literally covers everything! Entering the Grachten Belt from the north, the tour went down the Prinsengracht, then back up the Keizersgracht, and down again along the Herengracht. A quick loop near Waterlooplein was followed by a trip east, past the Zwanenburgwal behind the Rembrandthuis, and back to the harbour.
The boat was warm and the atmosphere friendly. Like all tourist boats, you sit quite cramped, with most people drinking, so you won’t hear much from the captain’s commentary, and families with noisy children add to the background chatter.
Is the I Amsterdam Card Worth It: My Results
Remember, to make the most out of the card, I aimed to get at least 36,66€ worth of saved ticket fares per day. Ticket fare saves per day during my trip:
Day 1: 56€
Day 2: 48€
Day 3: 60€
In total, I saved entrance fees worth around 164€. Compared with the initial cost of the Amsterdam tourist card at 110€, I made a gain of 54€, despite missing out on half a day. So overall, not too bad!
I can also say that the value of the “I Amsterdam Card” increases the longer you book it for. Any card of 72 hours or more is where it really works in your favour, as the daily target for reclaimed costs reduces. For example, the 96h card (125€, reclaim 31.25€ per day) or the 120h card (135€, reclaim 27€ per day).
- A card for longer than 24 hours ensures you can take several boat tours or use different bike rentals. It’s also easy to just walk in and get a free ticket.
- Most Amsterdam museums and attractions are very expensive, and I would feel sour having to pay for them individually. I often found the price–quality ratio to be imbalanced.
- This is a personal view, but for me, I would have gotten more use out of the card during the summer, with longer daylight hours. A day trip to Zaanse Schaans would also have covered a huge chunk of sightseeing for me.
- You do need to be willing to have an intense schedule if you want to get the most out of the card. Plan in advance and secure tickets for the popular attractions, such as the Rijksmuseum and Rembrandthuis.
FAQs about if the I Amsterdam Card is Worth it
I understand this is quite a lengthy post and you may have some quick questions about the Amsterdam tourist card and whether it is worth it or not. You can, of course, always come back to any section of my post and read in more detail what you’d need for your travel plans. As always, if you have questions or need help, please get in touch and I’m happy to assist.
How much is the I Amsterdam Card?
The Amsterdam Tourist card comes in several models depending on the length of your stay. It can be purchased starting at 24h for 64€ and for 120h at 135€ max.
What are the pro’s and con’s of the I Amsterdam Card?
The I Amsterdam card is worth your investment, since it allows easy access to many sights, museums and experiences in Amsterdam free of charge or at a reduced price. By using the card, you can make some big savings and profits if you use it wisely. However, you have to be organised though and plan in advance as not all museums are walk-in friendly and may exceed capacity during busy opening times.
Is the I Amsterdam Card easy to use?
The I Amsterdam Card is easy to use and does not require an extra app. You can order it online and plan your days ahead, as all museums, activities and experiences are listed online. You activate your Amsterdam tourist card by scanning it at your first use. You can acquire the card at the Tourist Centre inside Amsterdam Centraal, who also assists in case of issues.
Thank you so much for reading my post and if the I Amsterdam Card is worth it. If you enjoyed my content and would like to support my blog & research, you can do so via Buy Me a Coffee.
Till next time,
Carolin
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