How to Visit Amsterdam on a Budget (From a Frequent Visitor)
Last Updated on January 15, 2026 by Lauren Allen
Believe it or not, it’s totally possible to visit Amsterdam on a budget.
We don’t all have thousands to drop on a trip to the Dutch capital, but the costs can add up fast. From flights and accommodation to attractions, eating out and more, it’s not a cheap destination. In fact, it’s one of the most expensive cities in Europe.
Before writing a formal apology to your future bank balance, consider these handy tricks for saving money in Amsterdam.
Over the past few years, I’ve spent lots of time in the city – way more than the average tourist. And I won’t lie, my finances have been a little tight sometimes. This meant that I found creative ways to spend less and still have a great time.
From taking advantage of free activities to eating well for less, this guide will help you plan a fun-filled, affordable getaway.
How to visit Amsterdam on a budget
Here’s how to cut costs on your upcoming trip to Amsterdam:
Go in the low season
You may not realise this, but deciding when to visit Amsterdam plays a big part in the cost of your trip. For example, spring and summer are particularly popular due to events like tulip season and Amsterdam Pride.
During this time, hotels (and even hostels) hike their prices by insane amounts. In the past, I’ve seen a bed in a dorm room going for just under €100 per night. Considering you can expect to pay around €20 – €30 per night in autumn and winter, that price is pretty wild.
If you can’t afford to spend so much cash on accommodation (I don’t blame you), you can either stay outside of the city or go at a cheaper time of year. September to February is the off-peak season in Amsterdam.
Need more info for your upcoming holiday? Follow my Facebook page and join my Netherlands-focused Facebook group.
Find cheap flights to Amsterdam
Flights are often one of the biggest costs of planning a trip, but there are many ways to get good deals. As a frequent traveller, I try to be as flexible as possible.
Using handy features on platforms like Skyscanner, I filter by the cheapest month to find the most affordable flight on offer. It won’t always match your plans, but you could save hundreds with this helpful trick.
Other hacks include using private browsing mode, searching for last-minute deals or flying to a nearby city (like Eindhoven Airport or Rotterdam The Hague Airport). However, the latter is only worth doing if the airfare is considerably less.
Get free accommodation
Did you know it’s totally possible to get a FREE place to stay on the road? For instance, you could try:
Pet sitting or house sitting
Many people use a website called TrustedHousesitters to do this, which charges annual fees (starting at £99 a year for their most basic plan). It’s well worth the fee considering how much you’ll save on hotels if you’re a frequent traveller, but you don’t always have to go through official websites.
After a previous group trip to the Netherlands, someone I met asked me if I’d be available to watch their cat while they were away. I jumped at the chance as it bagged me two weeks of free accommodation near Amsterdam!
If you know anyone who’s going away soon, you could try asking. It’s a win-win as it would also give them peace of mind.
Volunteering
Volunteering abroad can have tons of benefits. Not only will you have a place to rest your head, but it often comes with other perks like meals, discounts and cultural experiences. I’ve previously used Worldpackers and it’s a good choice if you don’t mind working in exchange for free board (and sometimes food)!
There are several opportunities in Amsterdam and more come up all the time, so check the Worldpackers website.
Staying with friends/family
This one obviously only works if you know someone in Amsterdam, but you could save a lot of cash if they don’t mind you sleeping over. Just don’t forget to show them how much you appreciate it by cooking them a nice meal or buying them a small gift!
Stay in a hostel
If you don’t fancy working or pet sitting, hostels are a fab way to meet like-minded people if you’re visiting Amsterdam alone.
As someone who’s travelled to almost 30 countries (mostly solo), I’ve stayed in tons of hostels. They’re not for everyone, but they can be a great way to save money on holidays.
Luckily, there are loads of highly-rated hostels in Amsterdam, such as Clink Noord and Hans Brinker. I’ve stayed at both and the best thing about them was their locations! You’ll be up, out and checking off your Amsterdam bucket list in no time.
My guide on where to stay in Amsterdam shares more hostel recommendations in different neighbourhoods.
Avoid expensive airport transfers
One of the biggest mistakes I see tourists make in the Netherlands is paying way over the odds for taxis. Trust me, you really don’t need to do this! It’s super easy (and budget-friendly) to get to the centre of Amsterdam from the airport via public transport.
Honestly, taxi prices can be hugely inflated and it’s one of the common scams to look out for in Amsterdam. Whenever I land in the city, I almost always take the train.
If you’re staying near Centraal Station, the train takes around 15 minutes from the airport with services running every 5 – 10 minutes. If you’re staying near Museumplein, hop on the 397 bus, which takes around 30 minutes.
Buy an eSIM
One of the easiest ways to blow your money abroad is on roaming charges. It’s honestly like daylight robbery! These days, you can choose to buy an eSIM instead of a local SIM card. If you’re phone plan doesn’t include usage in Europe, this is the next best thing.
SIM Local is used by over 4 MILLION travellers worldwide with high-speed data connections in over 200 destinations (including the Netherlands). If you order through the link below, you can get a 5% discount using the discount code PACKANDPAINT.
To find out more, read my full review of Sim Local.
Don’t scrimp on travel insurance
When you’re low on cash, cutting out things like travel insurance can be tempting. Especially if you’ve never had anything bad happen to you on an overseas escape.
I’m not joking when I say that this can be one of the riskiest and most expensive mistakes you could ever make. We’ve all read the horror stories of people having to crowdfund thousands to help pay for medical bills!
What if you’re luggage got lost en route to Amsterdam? What if you fell off a bike and needed some stitches, or worse? Without insurance, you could end up seriously out of pocket.
These days, you can get cover for just a few pounds/euros/dollars per day. There really is no excuse and you’ll feel so much more relaxed with peace of mind.
Use low-cost transport methods
Amsterdam is a very walkable city, with many hotspots just a few minutes from each other on foot. Because of this, you can keep transport costs relatively low if you don’t mind getting your steps in.
For longer distances, opt for public transport instead of taxis or Ubers. With a fantastic network, it’s super easy to get around in Amsterdam.
And, if you think you’ll be using the metro, trams and buses a lot, you can purchase a GVB pass. Starting at €9.50, they grant you unlimited use of public transport for 1 – 7 days.
Or, if you know you’ll be exploring loads of Amsterdam’s top museums, you could buy an Iamsterdam City Card (more on this later).
Take advantage of free things to do
I won’t sugarcoat it: some attractions in Amsterdam can be quite pricey. For instance, tickets for Anne Frank’s House, the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum (AKA the main three landmarks) will set you back €65. While it’s totally worth it, it may be too much if you’re visiting Amsterdam on a budget.
That said, there are countless free activities on offer. From informative walking tours to decorative passageways, you could entertain yourself for days (or even weeks) on end without spending a penny.
Consider buying a tourist pass
Planning to hit up loads of museums? Luckily for you, these cards and passes can save you a ton of money:
| Name of the pass | What you’ll receive | Price |
| Iamsterdam City Card | Access to 70+ museums, 24-hour bike rental, unlimited use of public transport and a canal cruise. | €65 – €135 |
| The Netherlands Museum Pass | *Unlimited access to 500+ museums in the Netherlands. | €75 |
| Amsterdam Go City Pass | With an Explorer Pass, you can choose 3 – 7 landmarks to visit at a reduced rate. With the All-Inclusive Pass, you can visit as many attractions as possible in 1 – 5 days. | €44 – €189 |
I’ve personally used both the Iamsterdam City Card and the Netherlands Museum Pass. In my opinion, they offer fab value for money! However, you should always check that whatever pass you opt for covers wherever you want to go.
For example, the Iamsterdam City Card doesn’t include entry into the Van Gogh Museum or Anne Frank House, while the Netherlands Museum Pass does.
*Disclaimer: You can only buy a temporary Netherlands Museum Pass if you live outside of the EU. This gives you free access to five museums, but you will need to choose wisely to get your money’s worth.
Spend less on food
Now, you obviously need to eat. However, dining at Amsterdam’s best restaurants every night won’t be kind to your bank balance. Here are my top tips:
- Grab food on the go: There’s a big snack culture in the Netherlands, which includes things like bitterballen, croquettes, stroopwafels and mini pancakes. You can find them at food shops, FEBO stands, markets and brown bars.
- Try some Dutch fries: Chips are not only an easy lunch, but they’re affordable too. Depending on where you go, you can get a large cone of chips for €6.50. My favourite spot is Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx!
- Eat out for lunch instead of dinner: Don’t wanna miss out on trying great restaurants? Lunch menus are often cheaper, which means you can cut costs and still enjoy the experience.
- Shop at Albert Heijn: If you’ve opted to stay in a hostel (or home) with a kitchen, doing a quick grocery shop can save a lot of cash. You could even make sandwiches to eat while you’re out and about.
Yes, buying food in general can eat up loads of your spending money in Western European countries, but you don’t always need to blow a small fortune. I’ve utilised all four of these tips on previous trips to the Dutch capital and I still had an amazing time!
Bring a reusable water bottle
Buying soft drinks or water every day can really add up, but it’s important to keep hydrated. When you’re visiting Amsterdam on a budget, I highly recommend buying a reusable water bottle (if you don’t already have one). When needed, you can then fill up your bottle at one of the 500 fountains across the city.
Avoid the cocktails
It pains me to say this, but you should skip Amsterdam’s fancy cocktail bars if you’re low on cash. They’re not the cheapest and I’ve previously been known to spend €20+ on a single cocktail (no regrets though tbh).
If you still want to sample the nightlife in the Dutch capital, try brown bars instead. They’re more affordable and also super authentic. I love winding down at a brown bar after a busy day of sightseeing in Amsterdam. Cafe Papeneiland is my fave!
Skip foreign transaction fees
Before I started using Monzo, I was definitely guilty of using my card abroad and getting charged foreign transaction fees. These days, I take my Monzo card on every single trip abroad. I bet it’s saved me hundreds in unnecessary fees!
It’s also fab for tracking your daily spending in Amsterdam and keeping tabs on how much you have left.
If you’ve never had a Monzo account before, you can sign up using my link for a £10 bonus (I’ll get one too).
How much money do you need to visit Amsterdam?
Amsterdam has a reputation for being pricey. But with the right planning, you can visit the city without draining your bank account.
To hit up Amsterdam on a budget, set aside about €60–€90 per day (excluding flights). This should cover a hostel bed, three meals or groceries, public transport and some attractions.
Here’s a rough breakdown of daily costs:
- Hostel dorm bed: €20 – €45
- Meals/snacks: €20 – €30
- Transport: €9.50
- Attractions: €20
By staying in hostels, cooking meals and sticking mostly to free activities, you could get by on €60 per day (depending on the time of year). If you want to visit a few more paid museums or the odd restaurant, €80–€90 per day is more realistic.
This means you should aim to spend around €180 – €270 for three days in Amsterdam.
FAQs
A trip to Amsterdam can be expensive. However, as noted in this guide, there are lots of ways to visit the capital for less.
Absolutely! I’ve spent less than €100 a day on some of my previous holidays in Amsterdam.
Carrying some physical cash can be helpful at places like small market stands that often don’t have card machines. It also comes in handy if you want to tip your servers in Amsterdam.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways to save money in Amsterdam. With a bit of pre-planning, you can enjoy the best of the city no matter what your budget. Simply put, you don’t need a never-ending pot of cash to have a good time!
In fact, some of my favourite memories in Amsterdam come from free activities like strolling along the iconic canals and admiring street art at NDSM Wharf. Sometimes, these little moments end up being far more memorable than big-ticket attractions.
Have fun!
Fancy exploring more of the Netherlands? Here are some great day trip ideas from Amsterdam!
