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Are you wondering how much you’d need to save to afford the cost of a trip to Amsterdam? This is one of Europe’s most visited cities, and there are certainly times of the year that are more expensive than others. However, I’ve learned that Amsterdam can be made more affordable with some strategic planning.
Shockingly, my recent 4-day Amsterdam trip is actually the first time I’ve ever stayed under budget during my travels. This was done while traveling solo, visiting all the top sights in the city, and even taking three tours.
To help you budget and plan for your own trip, below I am breaking down each component of my Amsterdam trip cost. As usual, I will provide money-saving tips for each category and mention which splurges are worth it. Since I traveled solo, I will also include how these expenses would look for two people traveling together.
My stay in Amsterdam was actually part of a larger 7-day Netherlands itinerary. For the purposes of this post, I’ll only be covering the long weekend I spent in Amsterdam. If you’d like to know more about what an entire week in the Netherlands would cost, just let me know in the comments.
Here is my actual Amsterdam Trip Cost (in USD):
The above shows what I actually spent traveling solo for four days in Amsterdam. My budget was not on a shoe-string, but also was not luxurious. My strategy is to save in areas like flights or lodging, so I can splurge in areas like food and activities.
Now, let’s dive into what I spent in each category. Remember – based on your own interests and style of travel, your expenses may not necessarily look exactly like mine.
Travel Savvy Tip
Don’t look at this budget as a lump sum! That’s the quickest way to get intimidated and assume Amsterdam is unattainable. The truth is, you won’t pay the full amount at once. You’ll book your flight and lodging right away, and then likely pay nothing for a few months.
Once your trip gets closer, you’ll start looking at tours you may want to do, as well as make restaurant reservations. When you get back home from your trip, you’ll pay off any remaining vacay expenses you’ve incurred.
Breaking it into chunks like this is a much more approachable way to afford the cost of a trip to Amsterdam!
Amsterdam Trip Cost Breakdown
Flight
$690.98
The price of flying into Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport (AMS), will depend on the departure city and month of your trip. My local airport in Cleveland, OH has almost no direct flights to Europe, so fares include layovers and tend to be pricier. Having the ability to fly direct to Amsterdam alone will already allow for better deals.
That said, the $690.98 I paid is actually a decent price from Cleveland to Amsterdam. This is because I traveled in March, which is low season in the Netherlands. The same flights during June and July cost closer to $1,500.
To find this price, I searched the entire month of March on Google Flights for the days with the lowest fares (you can also use Skyscanner). I did not wait to see if the price would decrease, since my trip was only four months away and prices were more likely to increase. If you are starting your search 8-12 months out, it’s helpful to set up a Google alert to notify you of any fare decreases.
Couples should budget around $1,000-$1,400 total for airfare; everyone should read the below tips to avoid overpaying for flights:
- Be flexible with your travel days, as weekend flights can be crazy expensive. Play around with searching different departure and arrival days, and you’ll be amazed what a difference that can make.
- Travel during the low season (November through April), when there is an overall drop in prices.
- Last but not least, the tip that has helped me the most: Sign up for a credit card with travel rewards points. We’ve gotten countless free flights thanks to our cards, simply due to points earned on every day purchases. We’ve had great experiences using both the Capital One Venture and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Transportation
$40
You will not need a car to get around Amsterdam, or really for any day trips either. It’s possible to reach most destinations in the Netherlands via public transportation or a guided tour. Only consider renting a car if you plan to visit remote villages that do not have a train station.
The $40 shown above is an estimate of what I spent in Amsterdam on public transportation. This includes taking the train to and from the airport and the tram everywhere in Amsterdam that wasn’t walkable.
Rather than buying a ticket each time, for a seven day stay it made sense for me to buy the OV-chip card for €7.50. This reloadable card is available at any train ticket machine and saves you a little time and money when using all public transportation in the Netherlands.
While a single tram ticket costs €3.40, the OV-chip card charges based on distance (€1.08 flat fee plus €.196 per km). Train ticket prices depend on the destination, and generally run between €7-€20. Just avoid putting more funds on the card than you need; getting any refunds over €30 is not straightforward.
Amsterdam Transit Passes
If your entire trip will be in only Amsterdam for just a few days, it is better to consider the following passes:
- Unlimited GVB Day/Multi Day Tickets: This pass includes the trams, metro, and buses within Amsterdam only. It covers 1-7 days, with prices ranging from €9-€41. Purchase this pass here.
- Amsterdam Travel Ticket: Similar to the above pass, except it also includes the train to and from Schiphol Airport. Additionally, the pass only covers up to 3 days of travel, with costs ranging from €18-€30. Purchase this pass here.
- Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket: Covers up to 3 days of travel with prices ranging between €21-€40.50. Only consider if you plan to take day trips near Amsterdam during your stay. Purchase this pass here.
Couples should expect to pay around $80 on public transportation in Amsterdam.
Lodging
$580.59
For four nights in Amsterdam, I booked a room at Hotel2Stay, which features studios with small kitchens. While this hotel was not in a very charming area of the city, the price was affordable and the location was one minute from both the train and tram. Getting to the core of Amsterdam took about ten minutes, while getting as far as the Rijksmuseum took about thirty.
Although I could hear the train from my room sometimes, the space was still overall comfortable and spacious. That said, the next time I visit Amsterdam, I’d like to stay in a prettier location near better restaurant choices. In fact, near the Jordaan neighborhood would be my preferred location.
Couples would pay the same as above for a similar room in Amsterdam. If you prefer hostels, there are several options in Amsterdam that are perfect for budget travelers.
Groceries
$0
I rarely bother with groceries while traveling alone, and my trip to Amsterdam was no exception. That said, if you’re willing to eat in for a few meals, buying groceries can often help keep dining expenses down.
The more people you are traveling with, the more worth it it is to cook in sometimes.
Food & Drink
$200.63
The reason I don’t buy many groceries when traveling alone is because I want to go out and experience the city’s foodie scene as much as possible. Amsterdam was no exception, and I even did a food tour to try all the local specialties, like gouda cheese, pickled herring, and an apple tart.
That said, I save money by being pretty low maintenance with my early meals, typically eating a croissant and cup of coffee in the morning and maybe a sandwich for lunch. Often times, I don’t eat lunch at all and opt for an early dinner instead.
One of my favorite inexpensive dinners was eating an apple cinnamon Dutch pancake at The Pancake Bakery (pictured above left). If you’re not the kind of person who eats dessert for dinner, don’t worry – there are plenty of savory pancake options too.
The other thing that kept my costs down during my solo trip to Amsterdam is the fact that I bought maybe two glasses of wine the entire time. I can say from experience that drinking will always drive up your travel expenses.
Couples should budget about $500 total for food & drink, assuming they’ll consume cocktails and wine a bit more frequently than a solo traveler would.
Activities
$264.15
While activities are my favorite splurge area, this is also the category that can make your trip more expensive. Therefore, it’s best to prioritize seeing the sights that have the most meaning to you.
Below is what I spent on activities in Amsterdam (and what it would cost for two people):
The most expensive activity I did was a food tour of the Jordaan district, but it was also one of my favorite experiences. The low prices next to the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum reflect only the cost of the audio guide.
Since I was in the Netherlands for seven days, I purchased the Museumkaart, which covers entry to 5 of 450 participating museums around the country. This card can be purchased online and at most museums in the Netherlands.
With a price of €64.90, the card is only worth it if you go to enough museums to cover that amount. However, visiting the Anne Frank House (€16), Rijksmuseum (€22.50), and Van Gogh Museum (€20) already gets you pretty close.
Travel Savvy Tip
To make things more confusing, Amsterdam also has the I amsterdam City Card. It covers over 70 museums, public transportation within Amsterdam (metro, tram, bus, & ferry), and a canal cruise. Depending on the length of time you need, the price starts at €60 for 24 hours and goes up to €125 for 120 hours.
Let’s say you pay €115 for the 96 hour version of this card. This will cover the GVB 96 hour public transportation pass (€26.50), the Rijksmuseum (€22.50), and Amsterdam Circle Line canal cruise (€16). So, you will still need to spend €50 in order to get the value of this pass.
Since two of Amsterdam’s biggest sights, the Anne Frank House and Van Gogh Museum, are not covered, you’d need to find time in your itinerary for other museums. If you manage to also visit the Dutch Resistance Museum (€14), Stedelijik Museum (modern art) (€22.50), and Rembrandt House (€17.50), you will have covered the cost of the card.
That said, this will take away time that you could use for potential day trips and walking tours. Ultimately, the decision will depend on how you prefer to spend your time.
Amsterdam Trip Cost: Miscellaneous Expenses
- Shopping: $6.92 I’m not usually a big shopper when traveling. All I purchased in Amsterdam were some stroopwafels and postcards.
- Cell Phone: $40 You may have to pay for an international plan to make sure your phone works during your trip. Under my plan with Verizon, I pay $10 for every day I use cellular data abroad. It’s a bit pricey, but worth it for how often I rely on my phone for Google Maps and last minute restaurant searches. When I travel with Aaron, he keeps his phone on airplane mode so that we only pay this price for one person.
- Pet Boarding: $0 While it’s ideal to have a friend or family member that can watch your pet for free, that isn’t always possible. When Aaron and I travel together, we always pay to board our dog in a cozy little “suite” at his vet office. For this Amsterdam trip, though, Aaron was able to be home with him.
• • •
There you have it – a complete rundown of my Amsterdam trip cost. Despite the wet weather, I’d always wanted to travel to Amsterdam in March and am so glad I did. The affordable airfare and lodging costs made my occasional umbrella use so worth it.
There are additional ways to have an even more affordable Amsterdam trip that I did not employ above. For example, an entire flight could be covered by credit card points and hostels can make lodging dirt cheap. No matter your style of travel, it’s money well spent on experiencing one of Europe’s most fascinating cities.
Are you currently saving up for a trip to Amsterdam?
