Budget · Amsterdam · Netherlands
Amsterdam on a budget
What a trip to Amsterdam really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Massimo Catarinella, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Amsterdam is expensive for most international visitors. Budget roughly $90–$140 per person per day on a tight budget, $220–$360 mid-range and $500–$1,200 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $90–$140 a day
- Mid-range
- $220–$360 a day
- Luxury
- $500–$1,200 a day
- Local currency
- EUR
- Free sights
- 7
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $90–$140 | $270–$420 | $450–$700 | $630–$980 |
| Mid-range | $220–$360 | $660–$1,080 | $1,100–$1,800 | $1,540–$2,520 |
| Luxury | $500–$1,200 | $1,500–$3,600 | $2,500–$6,000 | $3,500–$8,400 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Amsterdam, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| GVB one-hour tram or bus ticket | about €3.50 |
| GVB 24-hour ticket | about €9–€11 |
| Coffee | about €3–€4 |
| Small draught beer | about €3.50–€5 |
| Fresh stroopwafel | about €2–€4 |
| Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum ticket | about €22–€25 |
| Canal cruise | about €16–€25 |
| Bike rental per day | about €12–€20 |
| Dinner main course | about €20–€30 |
Money-saving tips
- Amsterdam's tourist tax is charged as a percentage of the room rate and is among the highest in Europe; check that quoted prices include it.
- Stay in Noord, Oost or Oud-West, or in Haarlem, for lower rates with fast links to the centre.
- Renting a bike for several days can cost less than tram tickets and is often quicker in the centre.
- Free experiences include the IJ ferries, the Begijnhof, the NEMO roof terrace, the Vondelpark and the canal ring itself.
- The I amsterdam City Card pays off only if you visit several included museums and use transport every day.
- Supermarkets and market stalls are much cheaper than cafés for lunch.
- Avoid King's Day and Amsterdam Dance Event weeks on a tight budget; hotel prices climb steeply.
Free things to do
- Canal Ring walk — The Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht, dug in the 17th century, are lined with tall gabled merchants' houses, many with hoisting beams for lifting goods to the upper floors.
- The Jordaan — The Jordaan's narrow canals, flower-filled lanes and hidden almshouse courtyards (hofjes) such as the Karthuizerhof reward slow wandering.
- Vondelpark — Amsterdam's best-known park stretches about 1.5 km west from near Leidseplein, with ponds, a rose garden, playgrounds and cafés.
- The Nine Streets (De 9 Straatjes) — Nine short streets cross the canal ring between Raadhuisstraat and Leidsegracht, packed with independent boutiques, vintage shops, cheese shops and cafés.
- Albert Cuyp Market — Running along Albert Cuypstraat most days of the week, the city's biggest street market sells cheese, fish, flowers, clothes and fabric.
- Begijnhof — Through a doorway off the busy Spui square, the Begijnhof is a quiet courtyard of almshouses built for the Beguines, a lay Catholic sisterhood, in the Middle Ages.
Where to stay on a budget
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and budget
Old Centre (De Wallen and Dam)
Medieval core around Dam Square, the Oude Kerk and the Red Light District
$$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, solo travellers and budget
De Pijp
Albert Cuyp market, global food and terrace cafés south of the centre
$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and budget
Plantage and Oost
Leafy streets around Artis zoo and the Hortus Botanicus
Eating well for less
- Stroopwafel — Market stalls at the Albert Cuyp and Lindengracht markets make them to order.
- Raw herring — Herring carts and fish stalls across the city.
- Bitterballen — Brown cafés and pubs everywhere.
- Kroket — Snack bars and bakeries; FEBO's automats are a late-night institution.
- Fries with mayonnaise — Specialist fries shops in the centre, especially around Spui and Leidseplein.
Getting around for less
GVB day tickets
Unlimited travel on GVB trams, buses, Metro and night buses for one to seven days.
Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket
Covers GVB transport plus regional buses and the train to and from Schiphol for one to three days, useful for Zaanse Schans or Volendam trips.
I amsterdam City Card
Free entry to many museums, a canal cruise and unlimited GVB transport for one to five days; check which museums are included and still need a reservation.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Amsterdam cost?
About $1,100–$1,800 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $450–$700 on a tight budget.
+Is Amsterdam expensive?
It is expensive for international visitors. Amsterdam's tourist tax is charged as a percentage of the room rate and is among the highest in Europe; check that quoted prices include it.
+How much money do I need per day in Amsterdam?
Roughly $90–$140 on a budget and $220–$360 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Amsterdam?
Usually in January–February.