Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities in Europe. It has loads of history, amazing canals, 1000+ beautiful little bridges, really tall Dutch people, and a few other highlights. However, Amsterdam is not a cheap destination. But since most travelers only spend a few days here, it shouldn’t tax your budget too terribly. So how much does it cost to visit Amsterdam? Let’s take a look at some typical travel costs to give you a better idea of Amsterdam travel prices.
This article is part of our City Price Guide Series — Click here to see all our city price guides.
How Much Does It Cost to Visit Amsterdam?
These Amsterdam travel prices are based on what you’ll need to visit Amsterdam comfortably as a budget-minded traveler—the calculation doesn’t include things like big nights out at the bar/pub, club entry fees, souvenir/clothing shopping, tours, nice hotels, random purchases, etc. Don’t forget to budget extra for those “non-essentials.”
The prices below are for single travelers staying in well-rated hostels. The total nightly price for a budget hotel room typically costs about 2x-3x the price of a bed in a hostel.
For example, if the average hostel bed costs €60/night, then a budget hotel will cost around €120-€180/night.
Daily Cost of Budget Travel in Amsterdam: €118 (Approx. $120)
- Attractions: €18 (one paid attraction + any free sites)
- Food: €32
- Breakfast: €5
- Lunch: €9
- Dinner: €14
- Treat (dessert/beer/wine): €4
- Transportation: €6.40 (two rides)
- Accommodation (hostel): €60/night
Daily Cost of Frugal Travel in Amsterdam: €70 (Approx. $75)
- Attractions: €5 (free walking tour + visit one of the free sites)
- Food: €18
- Breakfast: €0 (free hostel breakfast)
- Lunch: €6 (ethnic street food or takeaway shop fare)
- Dinner: €11 (more cheap eats)
- Beer: €2 (from the grocery store)
- Transportation: €3.20
- Accommodation (cheap hostel bed): €45/night
Amsterdam Attraction and Museum Prices
Many of Amsterdam’s museums are on the pricey side so it isn’t the most budget-friendly city when it comes to attractions. However, the city is beautiful so take advantage of simply walking along the canals and hanging out in one of the many parks. You can also stop into a coffee shop and take a whole different kind of trip—just be sure to take it easy because you don’t want your budget to go up in smoke.
- Anne Frank House: €16
- Van Gogh Museum: €20
- The Resistance Museum: €14
- Heineken Experience: €21
- The Rijksmuseum (National Museum): €20
- Canal Cruise: €20
- Walking Tours: Free (but you should tip the guides) — €20+ (for paid tours)
Consider buying the Go City: Amsterdam Tourism Pass to save money when visiting multiple different attractions during your trip.
Amsterdam Food Prices
Amsterdam isn’t exactly known for its cuisine but finding tasty food won’t be a problem—if you know where to look and avoid the tourist traps.
Budget Breakfast Prices in Amsterdam: Free-€10
- Many hostels will offer a free, simple breakfast that normally consists of cereal, bread/croissant, and maybe milk, coffee, tea, or juice.
- You can also find plenty of budget-friendly options at the bakery or grocery store. Pastries start around €1 and coffee will cost around €2-€4.
- A more hearty budget-friendly breakfast (omelet, toasty, etc.) will cost €6-€10
Budget Breakfast and Pastry Restaurant Recommendations in Amsterdam
- Omelegg: Omelets and sandwiches — most everything €6-€12.
- Toastable Nieuwendijk: Breakfast and lunch toasted sandwiches and other goodies — most everything €5-€10
- B&B Lunchroom Leidsestraat: Big, filling breakfast combos for around €15. Smaller options for €6-€10.
- Bagels & Beans: Bagels and such. Multiple locations around Amsterdam. Items range from €4-€9.
- Prins Heerlijk: Dutch and American pancakes. Plus plenty of other breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Breakfast options range from €4-€10
- De laatste Kruimel: A cute bakery with all kinds of goodies.
- Bakhuys: A great bakery with plenty of great pastries and light lunch options.
Coffee/Cafe Recommendations
Budget Lunch Prices in Amsterdam: €5-€13
- Super budget travelers can make a super cheap lunch of bread, cheese, and fruit from any grocery store for a few euros.
- Takeaway meals (like kebabs with fries) or similar dishes from a takeaway shop will cost about €4-€6.
- A cheap pizza will cost about €5-€6.
- A combo meal at McDonald’s will cost about €7-€9.
- Note: Many of the restaurants on the breakfast list also have plenty of lunch options.
Budget Lunch Recommendations in Amsterdam
- Omelegg: Omelets and sandwiches — most everything €6-€12.
- Mister Meatball: Traditional Dutch meatballs and potatoes. Items range from €14-€19
- Jacketz: Baked potatoes with various toppings. Prices range from €9-€14
- Sir Hummus: Quick, tasty, and healthy hummus bowls. Prices start around €8
- Soup en Zo: Takeaway soup and salad place. Medium soup is around €7
- Ivy & Bros: Healthy brunch/lunch spot using locally sourced ingredients — lots of vegan/vegetarian options. Nice canal views.
- B&B Lunchroom Leidsestraat: Lots of burgers and sandwiches. Most things €6-€9
- Broodje Bert: Cafe serving salads, fried egg omelets, and sandwiches. Prices range from €5.50-€8
- Sugo Amsterdam: Delicious Roman-style pizza by the slice. Slices start around €3.50
- Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx: Fries with a ton of sauces. Start around €4
- Burger Bar: Tasty burgers starting around €6
- Benny’s Chicken: Food stall serving tasty chicken for very low prices. Most things under €5
- Leeman Döner: Tasty kebab and falafel for cheap. Kebabs are around €3.50
- Beste Doner: Delicious kebab for around €5.
Budget Dinner Prices in Amsterdam: €8-€20
- Budget travelers will want to look for one of the many ethnic restaurants in Amsterdam — expect to pay €8-€16
- Amsterdam has a strange fast food restaurant called FEBO (see on Google Maps) and they sell a range of (mostly fried) food from vending machines. It’s a bit kooky, but they’re a big hit with stoned/drunk/cheap travelers. You can get a burger for about €3.
- Many of the options from the Budget Lunch section above also apply for dinner.
Budget Dinner Restaurants Recommendations in Amsterdam
- Bhatti Pasal: Authentic Nepalese Food and almost everything is under €15.
- Il Sogno Amsterdam: Nice pizza place serving up tasty pizzas for €7.50-€13
- Belushi’s: Sports bar serving up burgers ‘n things. Popular with the hostel crowd. Nice 2-for-1 drink deals during happy hour. Burgers range from €11-€13
- Wok to Walk: Take away Asian noodle joint. Super tasty and generous portions. You choose your own ingredients but it’s easy to spend less than €12.
- Hasta La Pasta: Small Italian restaurant serving up fresh choose-your-own pasta at affordable prices. Most pasta options range from €8-€12.
- Maoz Vegetarian: Popular Mediterranean joint serving up falafel wraps, hummus, and other vegetarian/vegan options. Falafel is €5.50 and the meal is under €10.
- Pasta Pasta: A nice little spot serving up pasta dishes for €7-€12.
- Hap-Hmm: Popular family-owned traditional Dutch restaurant serving up hearty classic Dutch food for reasonable prices. Main courses range €12-€16
- Yu Family Kitchen: Small Chinese restaurant that serves up quick and tasty meals for solid prices. Meals range from around €9-€11.
Drinks, Alcohol, & Weed Prices in Amsterdam
- A pint of standard beer at a bar: €3.50-€7
- A pint of beer from a grocery store: €1.50
- Bottle of wine from the grocery store: €7
- Pre-rolled joint: €6-€12
- Marijuana: €7 to €35/gram (depending on quality)
Amsterdam Public Transportation Prices
Amsterdam is a fairly compact city, so most things are within walking distance. Furthermore, the city is gorgeous, so walking is a pleasure and you may never have to take public transport. The tickets for the bus and tram are the same [Source].
- Single Ticket (valid for 1 hour): €3.20
- OV Chipkaart (reloadable travel card): €7.50 (for the card) + €1.50 per ride
- Unlimited Tickets:
- 24 hours (1 day) € 8.50
- 48 hours (2 days) € 13.50
- 72 hours (3 days) € 20.00
- 96 hours (4 days) € 25.50
- 120 hours (5 days) € 29.50
- 144 hours (6 days) € 34.00
- 168 hours (7 days) € 37.00
- Bike Rental: €4-€15/day
- Train Between Airport and City Center: €9.50
- Taxi Between Airport and City Center: €40-€50
Amsterdam Hostel & Hotel Accommodation Prices
Hostels and hotels in Amsterdam are expensive so finding a cheap deal is rare. Cheaper hostels and hotels are generally located a bit outside the city center but public transport is great so it isn’t much of an issue. Expect to pay a premium to stay in the city center—especially in the summer.
Note that it’s best to book as far in advance as possible because rates shoot up if booked last minute.
Amsterdam Hostel Prices: €40-€75/night (bed in a shared dorm room)
Plan on budgeting about €50-€65/night per person for a good hostel—although many hostels raise their prices on the weekend. Remember, these prices are for a bed in a shared dorm room. If you want a private room, expect to pay €80-€120/night. We book our hostels through Hostelworld.
Check out our guide to the best hostels in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Budget Hotel Prices: €90-€200
At the low end, you can expect basic accommodation, but once you get around €130/night, the hotels get a bit better—but you still might be outside the city center. I find that Booking.com has the best prices and selection in Europe.
Amsterdam Rental Apartment Prices: €90-€200
From my experience, rental apartments tend to be much bigger and much nicer than similarly priced hotel rooms. Plus, you’ll get a kitchen so you can save more money by cooking your own meals. Airbnb is a popular booking service but here’s a list of Airbnb Alternatives if you want more options.
Other Travel Costs To Keep In Mind
There are a handful of pre-travel costs that you should factor into your travel budget. I’ve listed a few below.
- International Mobile Data: Using mobile data while abroad can easily run you $10-$20/day if you’re not careful but it’s easy to get that down to around $3/day. Here are a few articles to help:
- Shoes, Clothing, and Other Travel Accessories: Items like shoes, luggage, and other travel gear can end up adding a lot to your overall travel budget. Here are a few helpful articles to help you choose what you should pack and ways to save a little money by being smart with what you buy.
- Avoiding Pickpockets and Travel Scams: Check out my guide to pickpockets in Europe and my guide to Europe travel scams to avoid getting your money, phones, and property stolen while traveling.
Learn More About the Costs of Visiting Europe
We’ve created a super in-depth guide about how much it costs to backpack Europe (including more city price guides).
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