All Amsterdam Tourist Passes Compared: Which One Should You Buy?
Amsterdam has three popular tourist passes. None includes the Van Gogh Museum (€25) or Anne Frank House (€16.50), so book those separately whichever you pick.
Types of tourist pass
Museums-and-trams card
Trams, buses and metro plus 70+ museums and a one-hour canal cruise, for 24 to 120 hours.
In Amsterdam: I amsterdam City Card
Museumplein-and-Heineken day pass
One to five days of open entry: Rijksmuseum in the morning, Heineken Experience after lunch, A'DAM Lookout at sunset.
In Amsterdam: Amsterdam Go City Pass
Budget pick-3-to-5 pass
Three, four or five smaller Amsterdam sights from 43, used within a month.
In Amsterdam: Amsterdam Go City Explorer Pass
Which pass for your trip?
I amsterdam City Card
- Two or three museum days, staying out by Sloterdijk or Zuid. The trams and metro are what make it pay.
Amsterdam Go City Pass
- One big day: Rijksmuseum, Heineken, A'DAM Lookout, canal boat. €66.45 on their own plus the boat, against €79.
Amsterdam Go City Explorer Pass
- Canals and smaller sights on a return visit. Three to five picks from €44.
No pass needed
- Only the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House. Neither is on any Amsterdam pass. Book them on their own sites.
The passes compared
I amsterdam City Card
- Attractions
- 70+
- Price
- €67 (24h)
- Time to use
- 24-120 hours
- Best for
- Museum days when you're staying outside the canal ring
- GVB trams, buses and metro
- Rijksmuseum with a free slot, A'DAM Lookout, canal cruise
- Van Gogh, Anne Frank and the Royal Palace all refuse it
- No Schiphol train
Amsterdam Go City Pass
- Attractions
- 54
- Price
- From €79
- Time to use
- 1-5 days
- Best for
- One Museumplein-to-IJ day on foot or by bike
- Rijksmuseum, Heineken, A'DAM Lookout and a canal boat
- Three of those alone are €66.45 direct
- No trams or metro
Amsterdam Go City Explorer Pass
- Attractions
- Pick 3-5 of 43
- Price
- From €44
- Time to use
- 30 days
- Best for
- Repeat visitors who've done the big museums
- Under €15 per pick on the 3-pick pass
- Canal boat and A'DAM Lookout
- No Rijksmuseum or Heineken Experience
Which big sights are on which pass?
| Sight | I amsterdam | Go City | Explorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rijksmuseum | Included, book a slot | Included | Not included |
| Van Gogh Museum | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Anne Frank House | Not included | Not included | Not included |
| Royal Palace | Not included | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Heineken Experience | Not confirmed | Included | Not included |
| A'DAM Lookout | Included | Included | Included |
| Canal cruise | Included | Included | Included |
| Public transport | Included | Not included | Not included |
Worth knowing before you buy
No pass has Van Gogh or Anne Frank
Both sell out weeks ahead. Book them directly (€25 and €16.50) as soon as your dates are set.
Only the city card has transport
The I amsterdam card includes trams, buses and metro. The Go City passes don't.
One packed day covers Go City
Rijksmuseum, Heineken and A'DAM Lookout are €66.45 directly; a canal cruise takes it past €79.
Book museum time slots
The Rijksmuseum still needs a slot with a pass.
Cycling changes the maths
If you'll cycle everywhere, the transport in a city card is wasted.
Museumplein gets crowded fast once the tour groups arrive. Check the Rijksmuseum and Heineken Experience's live crowd levels on beatthecrowd.co, and start with whichever is quieter.
Check live crowds in Amsterdam →How pass companies make money
Here's how sellers of I amsterdam City Card, Amsterdam Go City Pass and Amsterdam Go City Explorer Pass earn, and what it means for your Amsterdam trip.
Rijksmuseum and the other attractions sell entry to pass companies below the gate price.
Plenty of buyers never use everything they paid for. That gap is the seller's margin.
Longer passes and premium extras in Amsterdam raise the price faster than the value.
Other ways to save
- Go City Amsterdam Essentials
From €59 for 3 attractions: the Rijksmuseum or Heineken Experience, plus 2 more from 14.
FAQs
Which Amsterdam pass is best?
+
For museums plus trams, the I amsterdam City Card. For one packed day of attractions, the Go City All-Inclusive. For a few smaller attractions, the Explorer.
Does any Amsterdam pass include the Van Gogh Museum?
+
No. Book it directly.
Which pass includes public transport?
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Only the I amsterdam City Card.
Do I still need a Rijksmuseum time slot with a pass?
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Yes. Whichever pass you hold, book a Rijksmuseum time slot before you go. The pass covers the ticket, not the slot.