I Amsterdam City Card

I received an I Amsterdam city card in order to facilitate travel in Amsterdam. My opinion is all my own and it is truthful.

When we booked a last minute adventure to Amsterdam recently saving money was high priority. Europe and saving money? Absolutely. It’s doable if you know how and where to save. Your biggest expenses are the flights, accommodations and meals when you travel, so AirBNB covers off at least two of those items. But what about transportation and attractions?

I booked an affordable AirBNB in Alkmaar just outside of Amsterdam and got a fantastic deal on off season flights. But activities and transportation can add up, so it pays to know if the city you are visiting has a city card, or travel pass that covers or heavily discounts some or most activities you want to do while there.

Let’s Go!

Travel passes are valuable and often available all over the world, so as soon as we had our flights covered and paid for and knew which days we planned to be in Amsterdam sightseeing we started looking for some sort of city travel card to help us save money on the attractions and inner-city travel. A canal tour was high on my list of priorities and we really wanted tour the city by foot or tram to see some sights we’d heard of on TikTok. Payton had her own list and we also intended to visit as many museums as possible, so planning our tram routes and booking the tickets ahead, made a big difference to how we approached each day. And because the I Amsterdam city card passes covered my transportation on the GVB, covered off some museum tickets entirely and provided a discount on others, we saved money.

The Netherlands on a Budget

Amsterdam is an iconic destination and it was on my bucket list for a long time so when the opportunity presented itself we took it. Life is short.

We opted for my daughter Payton’s Reading Week break at University and flew abroad a Play Airlines flight out of Hamilton International, saving a bit there too.

After a flight that was well, a wee bit turbulent with my youngest who was motion sick the entire first leg of the trip, we switched planes in Iceland. A few hours later we landed in Amsterdam, hopped aboard the train to Alkmaar and checked into the gorgeous AirBNB loft apartment.

Where Can You Get The I Amsterdam Card?

While you can and probably should plan your passes ahead, you can also but them on site when you get to Amsterdam. On our first day, we took the shuttle into Amsterdam and picked up our pass at the I Amsterdam store in Central Station. Have a question about activating the card or how you use the card? This is the place to get your questions answered and pick up a souvenir or two while you are at it.

Or you can get them online easily too.

What Can You Use the Pass For?

Get access to all major highlights and more than 70 museums. Sometimes that looks like free access to the museums and attractions and other times it’s a discount so you need to download the app and read through the details. The I Am Amsterdam city card is sort of like a choose your own adventure pass to explore the city. Amsterdam is a rich city in culture and you could easily spend well over a week just exploring canals and museums, shopping and enjoying local restaurants. One of my favourite features of the I Amsterdam City card is the ability to use it for the public transportation system.

No matter what option or adventure you choose, whether you choose an activity like a canal cruise or a leisurely afternoon in Museum Square hopping from exhibit to exhibit, you can save money while creating memories.

Travelling by public transport in Amsterdam is super simple. In fact, it’s one of the easiest cities to negotiate transportation in of all the spaces we have toured or travelled through so far.

Steps to Use The Card on Transportation

1. Activate the card.
2. Tap the card on the GVB bus, tram or metro lines.
3. Check out with the card as you exit also.

Most City Card locations don’t require you to book a timeslot in advance, but some do. Make sure to check if you need to book a time slot in advance.

Is the I Amsterdam Card Worth It?

Do your own research before you opt for a city pass or the I Amsterdam Card, so you are comfortable knowing which pass makes the most sense for you. There were a few attractions we simply couldn’t get to, and we didn’t use it in as many restaurants as I initially thought we might, but the I Amsterdam card worked well for us as first timers in the city. It works at most major museums in Museum Square, but do check before you visit Amsterdam some of the most popular museums are booked solid months before you visit.