48 Hour I Amsterdam City Card Review
We love using tourist cards when visiting cities purely for their convenience. Being able to rock up to a museum or attraction and not worrying about fumbling around in our backpacks for cash (especially with confusing foreign currency) is great.
Plus you are usually provided with maps, guide books and suggested itineraries. And the savings are not just for attractions. You will often receive discounts on food and drinks or accommodation which for any budget traveller is a blessing.
So when we had the opportunity to trial the 48 Hour “I Amsterdam” City Card to explore the capital of the Netherlands we graciously accepted.
For just €50.00 you have access to so many awesome attractions either for free or at a discount. Additionally you get free public transportation on all buses and trams. This was perfect for us as the weather was bone tingling cold and instead of freezing my nuts off we just hopped on and off the trams even if it was only a few stops.
To kick start our whirlwind tour and get our bearings we jumped on the one hour Canal Boat tour. It’s your choice between two different ones; Holland International or the Blue Boat Company.
We jumped on Holland International just because it was closest to the train station. While it was highly informative I was glad I hadn’t forked out the usual 13 euro.
With the weather conspiring against us we popped into the Beurs van Berlage café for a quick bite to eat. I highly recommend the Buffalo Mozzarella sandwich!
One piece of advice for when you are planning to use your card is to check whether you get discounts or not and plan your eating habits accordingly. It wasn’t until we had ordered and I was flicking through the city guide book that I noticed we actually could get a bonus 25% discount on our meal at this café.
Amsterdam seems to be home to loads of quirky attractions including the Houseboat Museum or “Woonbootmuseum”. We actually walked past the museum as we were not quite sure what we were looking for.
It gives you the opportunity to see how some people live their lives but it did make me wish we had stayed on a canal boat rather than in an apartment!
I didn’t have much desire to go to the Van Gogh museum as I am in no way an art buff and had no desire to spend several hours looking at paintings. However I am glad Adela twisted my arm.
Because even though it is the largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world the museum also provides loads of insight into his life and other influenced painters. I was shocked to realise that he actually committed suicide when he was only 37!
The most popular attraction in Amsterdam (apart from the coffee shops and red light district) seems to be the “I Amsterdam” sign. When it was first installed people commented that they it was an eyesore but judging by its popularity I think they made the right decision!
One of the let downs was that unfortunately the I Amsterdam card does not include the Anne Frank house. I think that if they bumped the price up another 9 euro (the cost to get in the Anne Frank house) and included it as one of the freebies then more people would definitely use the card.
We also hit really cold weather so unfortunately we didn’t spend enough time enjoying some of Amsterdam’s sights. For example we did plan to hire bikes but were too worried about retaining the use of our fingers so stayed inside when we could. Hopefully we will get a chance to return in summer.
So while we do recommend the Amsterdam city card I would suggest making sure that you utilise it properly by planning well in advance what you want to see.
Thanks to Holland Tourism for providing us with the 48 Hour I Amsterdam city card. As always our words and thoughts are our own.
Category: Europe, Travel Tips
We have been wearing out our jandals (Kiwi slang for flip-flops) on our travel adventures around the world since 2009. We love all types of adventures that make us step outside our comfort zone, in comfort, including surfing, skiing, snowboarding, diving and cruising on our bikes. You can find out more 
Hey Cole! Thanks for the info. Periodically we have to take a city by storm and this looks like a great resource. Do you know of other cities that do something like this?
Hey guys, thanks for the nice words. We had one in New York city as well and lots of other cities do it as well. A great way to see lots as long as you use them to their absolute max! Be prepared that you will be exhausted afterwards so might want to factor in an extra day for relaxing
I like the idea of these cards. I see them in so many cities in Europe, but then I look at what I have planned for the days and usually decide against it. For me the biggest advantage is the public transport. I am not a big museum person and while I might go to one or two, never enough to make the math work out. So I usually just pay my museum fees and get a week card for the public transit.
Amsterdam is on my list to visit again. I was there in 1995 and despite now living Europe, have not been back.
The cards are definitely not for everyone Andrew but they are handy to have when you are short on time! I wonder if Amsterdam has changed much over 15 years?
Amsterdam is one of the top 3 cities I want to visit in Europe
You don’t need more than a few days there in our opinion Sam. But definitely check it out!
I’m glad these cards are becoming more popular in big cities. Really makes it more affordable to see the sights.
I agree, you just have to make sure you use them properly!
I like the idea of these cards but find they never include the things I like on them. Glad you had a fab time in Amsterdam, I loved it there as well.
Yea it can be hit or miss. Definitely need to investigate them before you purchase them!
Like Cheryl I really like the idea, but really need to check if if the card works for me. Some cards are not worth the money. The General German Automobile Association tested citycards this year – I found it really helpful.
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Thanks Sarah. Everyone is different depending on how they use the card. They work best if you are super busy!