Is the Amsterdam Go City Explorer Pass Worth It? An Honest Verdict and How to Get the Most Out of It
Is it worth it?
- Worth itYes as a budget add-on: a canal boat, the A'DAM Lookout swing deck over the IJ and one or two smaller museums, for under €15 each.
- Skip itNo if your Amsterdam is the Rijksmuseum and Heineken. Neither is on this list.
- From €44
- Pick 3-5 of 43
- 30 days to use them
What is The Amsterdam Go City Explorer Pass?
The Amsterdam Go City Explorer Pass covers 3, 4 or 5 visits from a list of 43. The clock is a month from your first scan, which suits a trip that mixes canals with day trips out of the city.
In Amsterdam the Explorer is the budget option: a canal cruise, A'DAM Lookout and smaller attractions for about €15 each.
The seller advertises savings of up to 50% compared with buying each ticket separately. Realistic for smaller attractions; the big museums aren't on it.
- Attractions
- Pick 3-5 of 43
- Price
- From €44
- Time to use
- 30 days
- Rijksmuseum
- Not included
How to get the most value out of The Amsterdam Go City Explorer Pass
Go City prices the 3-pick pass at under €15 per attraction, so it wins on any pick that costs more than that directly.
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Take the canal cruise at midday | Late afternoon light is best and boats are less crowded. |
| Pick attractions you could walk past for free | Spend slots on paid ones like A'DAM Lookout (€16.50). |
| Head to A'DAM Lookout without checking how busy it is | Check A'DAM Lookout's live crowd level on beatthecrowd.co first. If it's busy, do another Amsterdam sight on your pass and come back later. |
Before you set off for A'DAM Lookout, check how busy it is right now on beatthecrowd.co. An hour in a queue is an hour of your pass gone.
Check live crowds in Amsterdam →Who The Amsterdam Go City Explorer Pass is for
Good fit
- Second-time visitors who've done the big museums
- Couples who want a canal boat and the view from A'DAM Lookout
- Budget trips: three picks work out under €15 each
Skip it if
- First visits built around the Rijksmuseum or Heineken
- Anyone who needs trams: no transport here
- From €44
- Pick 3-5 of 43
- 30 days to use them
What the pass covers
You pick 3 to 5 from a list of 43 Amsterdam attractions; the big museums are on the other passes.
- A'DAM Lookout is a good pick: €16.50 on its own, a short free ferry ride from Centraal.
- The Rijksmuseum and Heineken Experience are on the Go City day pass instead.
The big sights
- Canal cruise (Open Boat Cruise)Included
- A'DAM LookoutIncluded€16.50 directly.
- RijksmuseumNot included
- Heineken ExperienceNot included
- Madame Tussauds AmsterdamBook a slotOn every Amsterdam Go City pass; up to €19 on its own. Book a slot.
- From €44
- Pick 3-5 of 43
- 30 days to use them
Pass vs individual tickets
Go City says a 3-pick pass works out at under €15 per attraction. It pays off when your picks cost more than that each directly.
- From €44
- Pick 3-5 of 43
- 30 days to use them
Fine print
- Activation
- Starts at your first attraction visit.
- Time to use
- 30 days from your first visit.
- Refunds
- Full refund within 90 days of purchase if not activated.
Is it safe? Where people lose money
- Reassuring: The Amsterdam Explorer Pass is Go City's, sold through GetYourGuide.
- Reassuring: Refunds: Full refund within 90 days of purchase if not activated.
- Watch out: No Rijksmuseum or Heineken Experience.
Where people lose money
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Expect the Rijksmuseum | It isn't on the Explorer; take the All-Inclusive or the I amsterdam card. |
| Buy 5 picks for a weekend | With 30 days to use them, only buy what this trip needs. |
| Queue at A'DAM Lookout at peak time | Check beatthecrowd.co for A'DAM Lookout's quiet hours before you go. |
Queuing is the easiest way to lose value in Amsterdam. Check which sights are quiet right now on beatthecrowd.co, starting with A'DAM Lookout.
Check live crowds in Amsterdam →- From €44
- Pick 3-5 of 43
- 30 days to use them
Alternatives
Planning your order and avoiding queues is the simplest way to get full value: see how busy Amsterdam’s attractions are right now →
- From €44
- Pick 3-5 of 43
- 30 days to use them
FAQs
Does the Amsterdam Explorer Pass include the Rijksmuseum?
+
No. The All-Inclusive Pass and the I amsterdam City Card do.
Is it worth it?
+
Yes for three to five attractions that cost more than about €15 each directly, like A'DAM Lookout (€16.50).
How much is the Amsterdam Explorer Pass?
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From €44 for 3 attractions.
How long do I have to use it?
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30 days from your first visit.