Amsterdam, the lively capital of the Netherlands, is a popular city break destination. It’s also known to be pretty expensive. But don’t worry – we’ve got a few ways to save money on your Amsterdam trip to help you keep those costs down!
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1. Stay outside the city centre
Every time I search accommodation in Amsterdam, my jaw drops at the prices!
The cost per night here is really quite pricey, unless you fancy a winter getaway – but then you’re risking colder temps and more dreary weather!
James and I just got back from Amsterdam, and my top tip is to stay OUTSIDE the city but on good transport links. Now I know that might seem like a faff, especially if you’re just visiting for a night or two. But, the public transport is brilliant in this area and so whether it’s a bus, metro or train, you’ll often be in the centre in less than 15 minutes. It’s such a good way to save money on your Amsterdam trip!
My favourite spots are Haarlem and Zaandam. They are both so picturesque and easy to get to, they’re a bit calmer than the city centre. And the best thing of all – the prices are reasonable! You can get from both of their train stations to Amsterdam city centre in under 15 minutes!
Districts on the outskirts of the city are worth checking too, and I scored a winner by booking the Met Hotel in Amsterdam Nieuw-West which is basically smack bang in the middle of your journey from the airport to the centre.
When looking at popular dates, you can save over £100 a night by opting for these lesser known areas.
Check out our Amsterdam hotel recommendations for every budget.
2. Consider a 1-day city card
Getting some sort of city card can be a good way to save money in a city, if you were planning to tick off a load of tourist attractions anyway.
They usually include most of the big tourist hot spots. So, if you have a long list of places you want to visit, and you’re happy to power through them, it can work out more cost-effective than paying for individual attractions.
These passes will vary between cities – sometimes they include public transport, sometimes they don’t and sometimes you need to pay extra for it to cover more attractions.
So, the i amsterdam city card could be a way to save money on your Amsterdam trip if you want to pack in a lot during your stay. Not only do you get entry to loads of spots included, you also get city-wide public transport, free bike rental and even a canal cruise! But do note – Anne Frank’s house and the Van Gogh museum aren’t included.
It costs from €65 for a 1-day card, which does sound like a lot. However if you’re planning to visit 4 attractions or so, it could be worth it. Also the card works on an hourly basis, so you can use it across 24 hours to really pack out your day and make some savings.
You can get a physical card, or a digital one through a site like GetYourGuide or the i amsterdam app.
Attraction | Cost |
|---|---|
Total | €73 |
Rijksmuseum | €25 |
Oude Kerk | €13.50 |
Maritime Museum | €18.50 |
Zaans Museum | €16 |
3. Do a DIY bike tour
Amsterdam is THE place to explore by bike. It’s like a lifestyle here, there are huge cycle lanes all over the city and it’s such a great way to cover more ground – plus you’ll feel like a local!
You could plan a bike tour yourself, or there’s actually a DIY one you can access for free with the city card. Try popular spots like A-Bike Rental and Rent a Bike, or ask your accommodation if they can recommend a local bike rental service.
If you just want a bike for a few hours, try Donkey Republic – they have docking zones across the city and you can hire bikes for as little or long as you want. Just remember – this isn’t Lime bike. You can’t leave the bike anywhere you want, you must end your journey in one of their virtual docking areas.
Some hostels or hotels even throw in free bike rental, so be sure to check!
4. Use the park and ride
This is one for the drivers out there. If you’ve got a hire car, or you’ve driven to the Netherlands, then you might be thinking – how on earth am I going to park in Amsterdam?!
After all this is a city known for its narrow streets and, well, its preference for two wheels! Plus it’s pricey to park in town – we’re talking around 19€ a day.
Well, let me help you out and tell you there’s a park and ride scheme – P&R. And it’s a super cheap way to sort out your parking with minimal faff.
As long as you take public transport to and from the park and ride, it will only cost you from just 6€ a day. The locations are listed online, alongside a counter of how many spaces are left.
There’s only one thing you have to remember to do – and that is, you must have a paper ticket for your return journey back to your car.
Now this is a bit annoying and feels like an oversight, as most tickets have now made their way over to digital. But if you want to save the money, then I think it’s totally worth it.
You can get these paper tickets at GVB service points across the city. They recommend you travel into town using contactless, and purchase a return paper ticket from a service point.
It’s worth the effort when you realise how much you could save!
5. Go thrift shopping
Amsterdam is known for its thrift shops, so if you want a cool souvenir of the city that won’t break the bank, why not pick up a new-to-you item for your wardrobe?
Now I absolutely love shopping in second hand stores when I’m in Europe. On a recent trip to Wrocław I found some absolutely amazing items that were such great quality and so affordable – and they just about fit in my hand luggage!
In Amsterdam, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to second hand shops – you can find everything from vintage designer clothing to pre-loved homeware and everything in between.
If you’re in central, you can find a number of thrift shops around the 9 streets shopping area – make a beeline for Zipper which has a huge selection spread over 2 floors.
There’s also Episode, which has branches across the city, and Mood Indigo over in Nieuwmarkt, which has a great denim selection.
De Lokatie has three thrift stores, two to the north – one is enormous! – and one to the south. It employs people who have barriers to traditional work.
For a flea market experience, head to Waterlooplein where you can find one running Mondays to Saturdays.
6. Take an unlimited booze cruise
If you’re looking to book a canal cruise, you can find several companies that do them. And if you pay a bit more, usually about 10€, you will often get unlimited drinks thrown in for free!
Now granted these cruises are usually an hour, but buying one drink would cost you around €8. So why not pay upfront and sip away on as many drinks as you fancy?! You’ll make your money back pretty much straight away.
When James and I did one of these recently, there were only 2 other people on the boat who had signed up for the all-inclusive drinks too. This meant we didn’t have to wait long for our drinks to be made up – and so all four of us were pretty boozed by the end!
Though, is this where I should remind you to always cruise and booze responsibly?!
7. Try Surinamese food
If you haven’t heard of Suriname, get to know it! It’s a South American country which was once a Dutch colony.
Due to their involvement in the slave trade, their cuisine has a blend of influences from Africa, China and Indonesia.
You can find delicious Surinamese food in Amsterdam, and you’re guaranteed a filling plate for a decent price. Try New Fusion in De Pijp, which is a Surinamese-Chinese spot. They do delicious curries, tasty roti and roasted meats – a plate of bami met moksi meti, with pork, chicken, plantain and veggies costs 13€. If you’re staying on the west side of town, grab a roti from local institution Rotishop Gieta for around 11€, for a filling lunch on the go.
The Indonesian food here is also banging. Try Kartika just beyond the canal ring on the west side of town, or Srikandi in the Museum Quarter. Many restaurants here serve rijsttafel (rice table) – a type of tasting menu with lots of different small dishes that dates back to the colonial era of the Dutch East Indies.
For a quick and dirty snack, you can’t beat some piping hot chips from Mannekin Pis – they even do them with satay sauce, delicious – or poffertjes (mini pancakes) from Pat’s Poffertjes.
Explore Even More of Amsterdam With Our Ways To Save Money on Your Amsterdam Trip
So there you go – our hacks for making the most of Amsterdam without leaving a giant hole in your budget.
If it’s the laid-back vibes and cafe culture you come for, the novelty of the red-light district or the wholesomeness of travel on two wheels, you’ll enjoy yourself for less!
