I amsterdam card: what is free and how to use it?

What is included in the I amsterdam card?

With I amsterdam City Card you get:

• admission to 70 major museums and attractions in Amsterdam, including the Rijksmuseum, the Rembrandt house museum, Stedelijk and Moco modern art museums. Check Iamsterdam.com official website for ths most up-to-date list of museums included in the card
• 1-hour canal cruise in Amsterdam
• unlimited use of city public transport in Amsterdam for the duration of your card
• bike rental for 24 hours
• entrance to A’DAM LOOKOUT, an observation deck with the Europe’s highest swing (usual entry price € 18,50)
• free admission or discounts in Haarlem, Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Enkhuizen.

I amsterdam Card prices in 2024

You can choose from one of the five options: I amsterdam Card for 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours. The longer duration you choose, the lower price per day you get. We recommend to consider buying the City card for the duration of 72 hours or longer. Then you will benefit from it the most.

How it works

Here are the steps you can follow:

1. Order your card online. You can pick it up at I amsterdam Visitor Center at Amsterdam Centraal train station or download the I amsterdam app and use the city card digitally on your phone.

2. Activate your card. Card activation works automatically, no special action is required. The card has two components:

• public transport
• museums and attractions.

Each component is activated separately at the moment of first use public transport or enter a museum. It means that even if buy your I amsterdam card in advance, it will be activated only when you actually use it.

3. Use your I Amsterdam city card.

For traveling by public transport with the City Card you need to do check-in and check-out when entering and leaving a bus, tram or metro. I amsterdam City Card itself is a valid ticket for public transport in Amsterdam.

Some popular museums and attractions (like Rijksmuseum) required to book time slots before your visit. Find out how to book your time slots. Mostly you can do it at an attraction’s official website in the Tickets section (you need to choose the I amsterdam city card holder option).

In 2024 you can take a canal cruise without prior reservation.

You can also rent a bike for 24 hours without prior reservation. But if you want to be sure that the bike is waiting for you at the selected location/ rental office, we recommend doing a reservation. Here is a list of participating bike rentals.

Which canal cruises are free with I amsterdam City Card?

• Blue Boat
• LOVERS Amsterdam
• Amsterdam Circle Line Sightseeing
• STROMMA
• Smidtje Canal Cruises
• Amsterdam Boat Cruises
• Mokum Open Boat Tours

Here you can double-check the official list of participating cruise companies in Amsterdam.

Public transport with the City Card

The I amsterdam Card includes unlimited access to public transport in Amsterdam – the GVB tram, metro, bus, including night buses.

Important: the city card is only valid in the municipal GVB bus, tram and metro lines in Amsterdam. Connexxion, R-net and other regional buses are not included.

How to use your I amsterdam card in public transport:

• when you enter a tram, bus or metro station, you need to check-in. Tap your card against the card reader inside the tram/bus or at the entrance to the metro station. Your card will be activated at the first moment you check-in. After the activation the card will be valid for unlimited amount of rides for 24 – 120 hours.
• before you exit, you have to check-out – just tap the card against the card reader once again.

Is travelling from Schiphol to Amsterdam included into I amsterdam City Card?

In fact, train and direct Airport Express bus from Schiphol to Amsterdam are not included in the card. But there is an alternative longer route to the city center which you can take with your card.

The city card is only valid in GVB public transport. Then you can:

• buy an I amsterdam digital pass, so that you can use it directly
• take GVB bus line 369 from the Schiphol airport to Station Sloterdijk
• from Station Sloterdijk take GVB bus line 22, direction Muiderpoortstation, which will take you to Amsterdam Central station.

It will take you around 1 hour to get from Schiphol airport to Amsterdam center, which is, honestly, not that fast. We recommend to download a free Glimble door-to-door travel planner, which will help you to find directions:

• Download Glimble for iOS >>
• Download Glimble for Android >>

It the app, check for the possible travel options. You can use I amsterdam card in buses, trams, metro marked with the white and blue GVB logo.

I amsterdam City Card and travelling by train

Train tickets are not included in the City Card. If you are planning to explore the Netherlands, we recommend buying a public transport Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket.

Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket (ARTT) is valid for 1 – 3 days of unlimited travel by train, bus, tram and metro in Amsterdam and surrounding areas.

ARTT Prices in 2024:

• 1 day – € 21,00
• 2 days – € 31,50
• 3 days – € 40,50

The ticket is valid from the first time you check in until 04:00 after the last valid day.

The City Card pick-up location

After completing the online booking process, you will get an e-mail confirmation. You collect your physical card at the following location:

• Amsterdam Central Station: I amsterdam Store, on the North side of the station.

I amsterdam store opening times may be subject to change. Please check it on I amsterdam official website.

I amsterdam Card helpdesk and support

If you have any questions regarding your card, please visit I amsterdam Store at Amsterdam Centraal station or contact the support team at citycard@iamsterdam.com.

Have fun in Amsterdam!

Related articles:

• Top-rated museums in Amsterdam in 2024
• Best canal cruises in Amsterdam
• Amsterdam itinerary: best of the city in 2 days
• Bike rental with I amsterdam city card

You can also read this article in German: I amsterdam City Card: Wie funktioniert sie?

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