Amsterdam city passes 2026: which one to buy for your visitors
I amsterdam City Card vs GVB day tickets, ARTT, Museumkaart and Amsterdam Museum Pass bundles
Amsterdam now has five overlapping passes. As an expat, you will regularly be asked by visiting family and friends: "which pass should I buy?" This guide gives you a clear comparison so you can answer quickly and make sure your guests get the right combination for their itinerary.
The short answer is that most visitors doing 2 or more paid attractions per day benefit from the I amsterdam City Card. Visitors doing mainly day trips need the ARTT. And visitors who mainly want Van Gogh or Anne Frank need neither — they need direct timed tickets.
Table of contents
Overview of Amsterdam pass types in 2026
Amsterdam has five main pass categories. For most expat-hosting scenarios you will choose one attractions solution and one transport solution, not stack multiple passes. The table at section 7 maps which combination fits which situation.
| Pass | Attractions? | Local transport? | Regional transport? | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I amsterdam City Card | 70+ museums | GVB included | No | €67–€140 |
| GVB day tickets | No | GVB included | No | ~€9–€10/day |
| ARTT | No | GVB included | NS + region | €23–€44 |
| Museumkaart | 500+ NL museums | No | No | €75/year |
| Amsterdam Museum Pass bundle | 70+ + Van Gogh | GVB included | Check bundle | Higher than City Card |
I amsterdam City Card (Amsterdam City Card)
The I amsterdam City Card is a time-based pass covering free entry to 70+ attractions and unlimited GVB public transport for 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours. For a full ROI breakdown with worked examples, see the dedicated City Card guide.
What is included
- Free entry to 70+ Amsterdam museums and attractions (Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk, Rembrandt House, NEMO, ARTIS, Micropia and more)
- Unlimited GVB trams, buses and metro inside Amsterdam for the card duration
- One free canal cruise and a 4-hour bike rental
- Free or discounted entry to partner museums in Haarlem, Zaanse Schans, Enkhuizen, Muiden, Naarden and Laren
- Free Volendam-Marken ferry
What is NOT included
- Van Gogh Museum - book separately at vangoghmuseum.nl, tickets sell out 2 to 4 weeks ahead
- Anne Frank House - book separately at annefrank.org, sells out 6 or more weeks in advance
- NS and regional trains and buses, including Schiphol to Amsterdam
Important: Rijksmuseum timed slot
Even with the City Card, you must reserve a free timed entry slot for the Rijksmuseum due to visitor caps. Do this before your visitors arrive, especially in spring and summer.
2026 prices
| Duration | Price | Price per day |
|---|---|---|
| 24 hours (1 full day) | €67 | €67.00 |
| 48 hours (2 full days) | €94 | €47.00 |
| 72 hours (3 full days) | €115 | €38.33 |
| 96 hours (4 full days) | €130 | €32.50 |
| 120 hours (5 full days) | €140 | €28.00 |
Best for 2 to 5 days of intensive Amsterdam sightseeing
Get the I amsterdam City Card
Buy online before your visitors arrive. The card activates on first use, not on purchase, so timing is flexible.
View City Card options & prices →Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
GVB day tickets (transport only)
GVB day and multi-day tickets give unlimited use of GVB trams, buses and metro inside Amsterdam. They include no museum entries and are not valid on NS trains (including Schiphol to Amsterdam) or regional buses.
2026 prices (indicative)
- • 1-day GVB ticket: approximately €9 to €10
- • 2 and 3-day tickets scale up with a small per-day discount
- • Contactless card payment (OV-chipkaart or debit/credit card) is often more cost-effective for short stays
Best for
Visitors doing 1 to 2 paid attractions total but lots of tram and metro travel (such as older parents staying a week with only one museum day). Also good when the City Card would be overkill because you are not stacking multiple paid attractions.
Amsterdam Region Travel Ticket (ARTT)
The ARTT is a 1 to 3-day transport pass for the greater Amsterdam region. It covers NS trains, metro, trams and most buses in an area including Schiphol Airport, Zaanse Schans, Haarlem, Zandvoort, Volendam, Edam, Weesp and Muiden. It includes no museum or attraction tickets.
The ARTT and City Card can be combined: use ARTT for regional transport to day-trip destinations and City Card for Amsterdam museum entries, though verify that the combined cost beats individual options for your specific itinerary.
2026 prices
- • 1 day: €23
- • 2 days: €34
- • 3 days: €44
Best for
Visitors staying at Schiphol or in a regional town, or itineraries packed with day trips to Zaanse Schans, Haarlem, beach or Muiden rather than many Amsterdam museums. Also pairs well with the Netherlands day trips guide.
Museumkaart (Dutch Museum Card)
The Museumkaart is an annual card for residents and long-stay visitors, giving free entry to approximately 500 Dutch museums. At €75 per year it is excellent value for expats who visit museums regularly. As a Netherlands resident you should almost certainly have one.
For short-stay guests, the Museumkaart is not ideal: the upfront cost is higher and the card is designed for 12 months of use, not 2 to 3 days. Some versions also require a Dutch address or IBAN.
A common and cost-effective pattern: you use your own Museumkaart for your entry when accompanying visitors, reducing group costs. Your guests use the City Card, GVB tickets, or individual tickets via Tiqets.
For full details on the Museumkaart and cultural integration, see the Dutch culture, museums and courses guide.
Amsterdam Museum Pass and Amsterdam City Pass bundles
Ticketing platforms sell bundles under names like "Amsterdam Museum Pass" or "Amsterdam City Pass" which typically combine an I amsterdam City Card-style attractions pass with a separate dated ticket for the Van Gogh Museum and sometimes an airport transfer or extra discounts.
The core mechanics are the same as the standard City Card. The main difference is that Van Gogh is included via a dedicated timed-entry ticket, and the total price is higher.
Best for
Visitors who definitely want Van Gogh plus multiple other attractions and prefer a single purchase. Also good for expats who do not want to coordinate City Card plus separate Van Gogh tickets manually.
Always verify the total cost against City Card plus a standalone Van Gogh ticket, and check whether any included extras (airport transfer, bike rental) match your actual plans.
Book individual attractions without a pass
Van Gogh, Anne Frank and 100s more via Tiqets
Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House are not included in the standard City Card and sell out weeks in advance. Tiqets lets you book guaranteed timed entry for both, plus canal cruises and hundreds of other Amsterdam attractions, all in one place.
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Comparison table: which pass for which scenario?
| Pass | Attractions? | Local transport? | Region transport? | Van Gogh / Anne Frank? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I amsterdam City Card | Yes, 70+ | Yes, GVB | No | No | 2 to 5 busy Amsterdam days with museums and cruise |
| GVB day tickets | No | Yes, GVB | No | No | Cheap transport for visitors doing few attractions |
| ARTT | No | Yes, GVB | Yes, NS + region | No | Day-trip heavy itineraries including Schiphol, Zaanse Schans |
| Museumkaart | 500+ NL museums | No | No | Van Gogh yes once activated (after 3 visits) | Residents and long-stay visitors, not short trips |
| Amsterdam Museum Pass bundle | 70+ and Van Gogh | Yes, GVB | Check bundle | Van Gogh via separate ticket | Visitors wanting Van Gogh and multiple other attractions in one purchase |
Visitor profiles and recommended choices
For full day-by-day itineraries for each visitor type, see the Amsterdam hosting guide for expats.
Parents, 2.5 days in Amsterdam, staying central
Priorities: Rijksmuseum, canal cruise, one zoo or interactive museum, cafés and walks
Recommendation: 48-hour I amsterdam City Card for each adult. Book Van Gogh or Anne Frank tickets separately if desired. Activate the card from late morning on day 1 to cover 2 to 3 attractions per day plus GVB transport through to day 3 lunchtime.
Friends staying in Utrecht, 1 full day in Amsterdam
Priorities: one museum, canal cruise, walking neighbourhoods
Recommendation: Skip the City Card. Buy Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh tickets individually, book a canal cruise, and add a GVB 1-day ticket if they will use trams. If their plan expands to several big attractions, reconsider a 24-hour City Card. Individual tickets available via Tiqets.
Friends staying 5 days in Amsterdam with day trips
Priorities: multiple museums, Zaanse Schans, Haarlem or beach, Volendam, maybe Utrecht
Recommendation: Pair a 72 to 120-hour City Card for museums and GVB with ARTT or separate NS tickets for day trips. Alternatively, use an Amsterdam Museum Pass bundle if it includes Van Gogh and the total cost works out.
Budget-conscious friends or backpackers
Priorities: walking, cheap eats, one or two key attractions
Recommendation: No pass. Use contactless on GVB or a 1-day ticket if needed, and cherry-pick 1 to 2 museums or a canal cruise via Tiqets. The City Card only pays off when you stack multiple paid attractions.
Decision checklist: choosing a pass for your guests
Run through these questions for each visiting group:
- How many full days will they be in Amsterdam?
- Will they do at least 2 to 3 paid attractions per day, or just 1?
- Do they want Van Gogh or Anne Frank? (Neither is in the City Card; book separately.)
- Are they planning regional day trips (Zaanse Schans, Haarlem, beach, Muiden)?
- How often will they use trams and metro versus walking?
- How much do they value simplicity over finding the cheapest combination?
- Might they visit the Netherlands again soon? (Museumkaart potential.)
Then match:
- • Mostly Amsterdam, museum-heavy → City Card
- • Mostly Amsterdam, light on attractions → GVB + individual tickets via Tiqets
- • Lots of day trips → ARTT + individual tickets or Museum Pass bundle
- • Long-term frequent museum visits (you, not guests) → Museumkaart
Frequently asked questions
Is the I amsterdam City Card the best pass for Amsterdam?
It is the most comprehensive attractions and transport card, but not always the best value. It pays off when visitors use multiple included museums, a canal cruise, and GVB trams over 2 to 5 days. For slower itineraries or day-trip-heavy plans, GVB tickets, ARTT, or an Amsterdam Museum Pass bundle may be better.
Should I buy both the Amsterdam City Card and an Amsterdam Region Travel Ticket?
Usually not. Combining them creates overlap on Amsterdam transport and you still pay separately for many attractions. Choose the City Card for city-heavy visits and ARTT for region-heavy visits. Only combine them if your itinerary is unusually packed and the numbers work out.
What is the difference between the Amsterdam City Card and the Amsterdam Museum Pass?
The Amsterdam Museum Pass sold by some resellers is a bundle: it uses the I amsterdam City Card for most attractions and GVB transport, then adds a separate Van Gogh Museum ticket and sometimes other extras. The core mechanics are the same as the City Card; the difference is that Van Gogh is included via a dedicated ticket and the total price is higher.
Do Amsterdam passes let you skip the queue?
The City Card and bundles do not automatically skip security or entry lines, but they can reduce ticketing queues. For busy museums like Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh, a timed reservation is far more important for managing queues than which pass you hold.
My visitors mainly want Van Gogh and Anne Frank. Which pass should they buy?
Probably no attractions pass. Neither the City Card nor the ARTT covers Van Gogh or Anne Frank. You must buy timed tickets directly from vangoghmuseum.nl and annefrank.org. Add a GVB day ticket for trams, and only consider the City Card if they also want several other museums and a canal cruise.
Is the Amsterdam Region Travel Ticket worth it for visitors staying outside Amsterdam?
Yes, particularly if visitors are based near Schiphol or plan multiple regional day trips to Zaanse Schans, Haarlem, Zandvoort, or Volendam. At €23 for one day and €44 for three days it covers NS trains, metro, trams and most regional buses in a wide area.
Can I use my Museumkaart for my visiting friends and family?
No. Each Museumkaart is personal and non-transferable. You can use your own card for your entry when accompanying visitors, which reduces group costs. Your guests would use the City Card, GVB tickets, or individual attraction tickets.
When does the 24-hour City Card start and end?
The card activates on first use (first tap at a museum or transport gate) and runs for exactly 24, 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours from that moment. It does not activate on purchase. Buy it online before your visitors arrive and activate it at a convenient point during their trip.
Are GVB day tickets valid on Schiphol trains?
No. GVB tickets cover only GVB-operated services: trams, buses and metro inside Amsterdam. The Schiphol Airport train is operated by NS and requires a separate NS ticket or OV-chipkaart. The Amsterdam Region Travel Ticket (ARTT) does cover Schiphol.
Which pass is best for families with young children visiting Amsterdam?
The I amsterdam City Card works well for families: it covers NEMO Science Museum, ARTIS Zoo, Micropia, canal cruise and GVB transport. Children under 4 typically enter NEMO and ARTIS free. A 48 or 72-hour card with one or two big attractions per day plus tram travel usually beats buying individual tickets.
Related guides for Amsterdam expats
Plan your visitors' trip from start to finish with these guides.