Quick answer: The I amsterdam City Card costs €67 (24h), €94 (48h), €115 (72h), €130 (96h) and €140 (120h) in 2026 and includes the Rijksmuseum (€25–27), a canal cruise (~€15–20), unlimited GVB transport, a day’s bike rental, NEMO, the Stedelijk, ARTIS zoo, A’DAM Lookout and about 70 other museums — but not the Van Gogh Museum or the Anne Frank House, and only a discount at the Heineken Experience. Because the Rijksmuseum, a cruise and transport alone are worth about €55, the 48-hour card breaks even at two more mid-priced museums — easy for museum-lovers, hard for a weekend built around Van Gogh, Anne Frank and canal-side wandering. Buy it for a museum-heavy two or three days; skip it if your list is the two excluded museums plus a cruise.
Amsterdam Passes at a Glance
| Pass | Price (2026) | Validity | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I amsterdam City Card 24h | €67 | 24 hours from first use | Rijksmuseum, canal cruise, GVB transport, bike day, NEMO, Stedelijk, ARTIS, Lookout + ~70 museums; regional discounts | One packed museum day |
| 48h | €94 | 48 hours | Same | Best value for most |
| 72h | €115 | 72 hours | Same | Museum-heavy 3 days |
| 96h / 120h | €130 / €140 | As named | Same | Long stays |
| GVB day tickets | €9.50 (24h) to ~€36 (120h) approx. | Hours | Transport only | Light museum use |
| Museumkaart | ~€75/yr (visitors can buy) | 12 months | 400+ Dutch museums incl. Van Gogh (reservation still needed) | Stays of a week or more, multiple cities |
Prices from the card’s published 2026 rates (checked September 2026). Rijksmuseum entry with the card still requires a free time-slot reservation; the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House must be booked separately and sell out days to weeks ahead.
Top-Rated Amsterdam Tours, Cruises & Tickets
What the Main Attractions Cost — and Whether the Pass Covers Them
| Attraction | Adult ticket (2026, approx.) | In the pass? | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rijksmuseum | €25–27 | Yes (reserve slot) | Rijksmuseum tickets compared |
| Van Gogh Museum | €25 | No | Van Gogh tickets compared |
| Anne Frank House | €16.50 | No | Anne Frank tickets explained |
| Canal cruise (1h) | €15–20 | Yes | — |
| GVB 48h transport | ~€18 | Yes | — |
| Stedelijk Museum | €22.50 | Yes | Modern art |
| NEMO Science Museum | €21.50 | Yes | Families |
| ARTIS zoo | €32.50 | Yes | Families |
| A’DAM Lookout | ~€17 | Yes | Swing extra |
| Heineken Experience | ~€25 | 25% discount only | — |
| Zaanse Schans windmills / Keukenhof | €5–6 per windmill / €19.50 | Regional discounts only | tour vs DIY |
Individual prices are 2026 rates (checked September 2026). Under-19s are free at the Rijksmuseum and under-18s at the Van Gogh Museum, so families get less from the card.
The Break-Even Maths
| Itinerary | Individual tickets | Pass | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48h: Rijksmuseum + cruise + transport | €27 + €18 + €18 = €63 | €94 | Card loses €31 |
| 48h: above + Stedelijk + NEMO | €63 + €22.50 + €21.50 = €107 | €94 | Card saves €13 |
| 72h: Rijks + cruise + transport 3 days + Stedelijk + ARTIS + Lookout | €27 + €18 + €27 + €22.50 + €32.50 + €17 = €144 | €115 | Card saves €29 |
| Weekend: Van Gogh + Anne Frank + cruise + Rijksmuseum | €25 + €16.50 + €18 + €27 = €86.50 (card covers only €45 of it) | €94 + €41.50 excluded = €135.50 | Card loses badly — buy tickets |
| Family of 4 with two under-18s | Children free at Rijks/Van Gogh | 4 cards | Buy tickets |
The card is a museum card with transport attached. If your plan is the “big two” excluded museums plus a cruise, it cannot pay; if you add three or four included museums over two or three days, it does — comfortably.
| Tour | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam Luxury Canal Cruise + Unlimited Drinks and Bites Option | $21 | ★ 4.9 (31,791 reviews) |
| Amsterdam Hop-On Hop-Off 24h or 48h Bus and Boat Option | $32 | ★ 3.4 (1,996 reviews) |
| Amsterdam The Original Pizza Cruise with Unlimited Drinks | $46 | ★ 4.3 (1,189 reviews) |
| Rotterdam, Delft and The Hague Day Trip from Amsterdam | $68 | ★ 4.0 (934 reviews) |
| Amsterdam Red Light District Walking Tour in EN/DE/IT/ES/FR | $29 | ★ 4.8 (527 reviews) |
| Amsterdam Your Way: Canals, Hidden Corners & Local Life | $78 | ★ 4.8 (260 reviews) |
Who Should Buy It
Museum-heavy visitors staying two to four days who will use the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk, NEMO, ARTIS, Lookout or the smaller canal-house museums, plus a cruise and transport. Anyone who wants the bike day and the regional discounts for Haarlem or Zaanse Schans. Rainy-season visitors who will spend more time indoors.
Who Should Skip It
Visitors whose priorities are the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House (not included). Walkers who will use a tram twice. Families with under-18s (free at the big museums). Short weekend breaks with two paid sights. Anyone staying a week or touring the Netherlands should compare the Museumkaart instead.
How to Get the Most Out of It
Activate the card in the morning of a museum day. Reserve the Rijksmuseum slot immediately (9:00 is quietest). Book the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House separately and early. Use the free bike day on a dry day for Vondelpark and the Amstel. Take the cruise late afternoon. Use the tram to Museumplein and the ferry (free anyway) to A’DAM Lookout and NDSM.
Guided Alternatives
Guided Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh tours (above) matter more than any card when slots are sold out, since operators hold allocations, and a small-group canal cruise beats the big boats. See private vs small-group tours in Amsterdam. For passes and tickets in general, see best sites for attraction tickets and timed-entry tickets explained. Everything else Amsterdam: our Amsterdam tours hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the I amsterdam City Card worth it?
For museum-heavy stays of two to four days using the Rijksmuseum, a cruise, transport and two or more other included museums, yes. For a weekend focused on the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House, no — they are excluded.
How much is the I amsterdam City Card in 2026?
€67 for 24 hours, €94 for 48, €115 for 72, €130 for 96 and €140 for 120 hours.
Does the I amsterdam City Card include the Van Gogh Museum?
No. Neither the Van Gogh Museum nor the Anne Frank House is included; book both separately and early.
Does the card include transport?
Yes — unlimited GVB trams, buses and metro for the card’s validity, plus a day of bike rental. Not the train from Schiphol.
Do I need to reserve the Rijksmuseum with the card?
Yes, a free time slot on the Rijksmuseum website.
City Card or Museumkaart?
City Card for a short Amsterdam stay with transport and cruise; Museumkaart (about €75, 400+ museums including the Van Gogh) for a week or more or multiple Dutch cities.
Kratos Review is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Prices and policies were checked on 28 September 2026 and can change.
Related: Things to Do in Amsterdam When It Rains: Best Indoor Activities (2026)
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