How Much is a Trip to Amsterdam? [Full Trip Cost Guide]

Even the most seasoned travelers will tell you that Amsterdam should be top of your list of destinations to visit. The capital city of the Netherlands, not only is Amsterdam home to a rich history, but it’s also bursting with a vibrant culture.

Gracefully gabled, colorful residences, green meandering canals, casual cafes, museums, and art galleries galore, breathtaking gardens (especially in the spring, when the world-famous tulips are in bloom), and a vibrant nightlife.

These are just some of the features that make Amsterdam such an incredible city and is a place that everyone should really experience at least once in their life. 

While Amsterdam may be a place that you’d love to explore, there’s something that may be holding you back: the cost. While there’s no denying that it’s one of the dreamiest destinations in all of Europe, the city can also be quite pricy.

If you’re on a budget, you might simply assume that a trip to Amsterdam is off the table; however, with a bit of research and proper planning, an affordable trip to the capital city of the Netherlands is possible.

How much is a trip to Amsterdam? Read on to find out about how much you can expect to spend on a trip to the “Venice of the North” – and if it’s possible to do so without draining your bank account. 

So, How Much is a Trip to Amsterdam? 

What’s the average cost of a trip to Amsterdam? To start planning your budget, it’s first important to list the most common travel expenses. These expenses include: 

• Flights to and from the city of Amsterdam: To save money use Skyscanner to find Amsterdam flights.
• Accommodations in or near the city: We recommend using Booking.com to find accommodation in Amsterdam.
• Transportation throughout the city and the surrounding areas: If you want to save, ensure you buy a GVB ticket for all-inclusive transport during your stay.
• Food and beverages: Things like dining out, drinks, and those essential mid-afternoon snacks.
• Sightseeing, such as museums and tours: I mean, the Van Gogh Museum isn’t free after all…

With that said, keep in mind that the prices that will be highlighted in this guide are estimates based on research conducted at the time of writing.

The average travel prices are constantly changing and fluctuating. It’s also important to note that the time of year you are traveling will directly impact the cost of your trip.

The average travel prices on expenses and accommodations tend to be higher during the tourist season (between May and August), while they’re usually lower during the quieter times of the year (early spring, fall, and winter). 

It’s also worth pointing out that the currency that is used in all of the Netherlands – including Amsterdam – is the Euro. The exchange rate varies constantly and depends on what type of currency you’re exchanging it for; when writing this guide, the average exchange rate was about $1.15 US dollars.

Since the US dollar is a currency that most countries understand, the costs discussed below will be estimated on the dollar.  Before we get into the breakdown of the cost of visiting Amsterdam per person, consider using our free printable travel planner to help you budget and plan for your trip.

See Related: Tips to Plan An Amazing Girls’ Trip to Amsterdam

How Much is a Trip to Amsterdam Per Person? 

The amount you can expect to spend on a trip to Amsterdam depends on several factors, including what type of trip you’re planning on taking (backpacking is more economical than staying in high-end hotels in the Netherlands) and the time of year you’re traveling.

With that said, here’s a breakdown of how much you can expect to spend, on average, per person, for a one-week (7-day) trip to Amsterdam. 

Expense	Estimated cost
Airfare	$650
Accommodations	$160/night or $1,120/week
Transportation	$20/day or $140/week
Food and beverages	$45/day or $315/week
Attractions	$85/week
Extras	$100-$200
Total	Roughly $2,410

Keep in mind that the estimates listed in the above chart are in US dollars. If your native currency is different, use a currency converter to find out the average expense in your home money.

Also, it’s important to note that the above is a rough estimate. Generally, Amsterdam isn’t an inexpensive travel destination; however, if you’re savvy and use the tips offered below, you should be able to keep the costs to a minimum and stay within your travel budget. 

See Related: How Many Days You Need in Amsterdam

How Much is Airfare to Amsterdam?

The cost of airfare varies and depends on where you’re flying from, and the time of year you will be traveling; however, $650 is a good approximation for a flight to Schiphol Airport.

If you travel during the off-season (early spring, fall, and winter), you should be able to get better rates on airfare; but, if you fly during the height of the tourist season (between late May and August), flights are more expensive. 

Schiphol Airport is a large airport that is considered a gateway to Europe so even though it depends on where you are coming from, you’ll likely find a range of airlines from budget to luxury options that fly into the airport.

See Related: Best Weekend Trips From Amsterdam

Accommodations 

Amsterdam offers an assortment of accommodations to suit every traveler and every budget. Options include hostels, bed and breakfasts, budget hotels, and lavish resort-style hotels. With that pointed out, the cost for many of the average hotels is about $160 per night; hence why we used this number in our chart of estimated costs above.

Do keep in mind that just like the cost of airfare, the cost of accommodations in Amsterdam will vary and will largely depend on the time of year you will be traveling.

Furthermore, all types of accommodations are less expensive on weekdays than they are on weekends and holidays. That said, here’s a look at some of the different types of accommodations that Amsterdam has to offer: 

Hostels

Popular among backpackers and tourists traveling on a limited budget, hostels offer dorm-like accommodations. In other words, multiple people sleep in a single room, and the restrooms are usually shared, though some do offer private rooms and bathrooms.

The amount of beds per room usually includes 4, 8, and 12, and the larger the dorm, the less expensive the price will be. Note that private rooms will be more expensive but more affordable than a traditional hotel. 

Mid-range hotels

While there are hotels that can accommodate all types of budgets in Amsterdam. Mid-range hotels tend to be the most popular and what the majority of people opt to stay in, as they offer nice, clean rooms, and the rates are relatively affordable.

Some of the most popular spots for mid-range hotels in Amsterdam include Central Station, Museumplein, and Dam Square. All of these spots are centrally located and offer easy access to the most popular tourist destinations.

If you don’t mind staying a little further away from the “action,” you may be able to find more affordable rates on mid-range hotels that are just slightly outside of these central locations. 

Luxury hotels 

If you’d like to stay in more lavish accommodations on your trip to Amsterdam, you’ll find no shortage of upscale hotels in the city.

There are lots of great luxury hotels in the heart of the city and further away from the central points. Do note, however, that if you plan on staying in a higher-end hotel, you can expect the average price to add up to $200 per night to your trip. Check out our review of the Pulitzer Hotel from our stay in Amsterdam.

Vacation Rentals

Apartment rentals through Booking.com and VRBO have become quite popular for travelers to Amsterdam. You can find some beautiful, clean, safe, and well-appointed spots to stay at affordable prices in Amsterdam. If you do decide to go this route for your accommodations, just make sure that you take the time to thoroughly research and read through the reviews before you book.

Just like hotels and hostels, the rates will be higher for apartment rentals in the heart of Amsterdam than along the outskirts of the city. 

See Related: Find Fantastic Travel Insurance Deals

Transportation

To be honest, you really can do the entire city center of Amsterdam by foot or bike your entire length of stay. However, if your feet are weary, the weather is poor, or you just want to reach your destinations faster, you may want to consider public transport via cabs and car hires.

There’s also the train, which costs about 3.20 euros for an hour’s trip. You can purchase an OV Chipkaart for about 7.50 euros if you plan on traveling via train a lot, which will take you around Amsterdam city center, as well as other locations throughout Holland.

It can also be used for regional trains, but you will need to have a minimum balance of 20 euros to do so. The best spot to purchase one of these cards is at your entry point to Amsterdam, which would either be the airport you arrive at or Centraal Station. 

Many travelers decide to depart Amsterdam and take day excursions to other popular destinations in the Netherlands, like Rotterdam and Marken.

While these trips usually don’t cost a whole lot, if you’re planning on including them in your trip, you’ll want to account for the additional expense when you’re calculating your budget.  With all of that said, the average cost of local transport while you’re in Amsterdam will run you around $60. 

See Related: Free Printable Travel and Vacation Planner

Food and Beverage

Of course, you need to eat and drink while you’re traveling. Amsterdam offers a vibrant food scene. There are so many tasty dishes to enjoy and great eateries where you can enjoy the local cuisine.

Beer is perhaps the most popular libation served up in Amsterdam; wine and spirits flow freely in the city, too. Of course, you can skip the alcoholic drinks completely or keep them extremely limited to save yourself some cash. With that said, a rough estimate for your food and beverage budget is as follows: 

• Breakfast – $5 
• Lunch – $10 
• Dinner – $30

Based on this breakdown, the total cost for food and drink per day is about $45 per person; however, that amount may be slightly higher or too low, depending on what and where you plan on eating.

Some of the most popular dishes in Amsterdam include: 

• Rookworst
• Stroopwafels
• Bitterballen
• Croquette 
• Rijsttafel (which is an Indonesian dish, but it has been adapted and modified by the Dutch)

See Related: Best Hotels in The Hague, Netherlands

Activities

Now let’s talk about the activities. There are so many wonderful things to do and see and experiences to be had in and around Amsterdam. To save yourself some money, we highly recommend investing in the I Amsterdam card. This card is good for four days or 96 hours, and it costs about 98 euros or $120.

It includes coverage of some of the most popular sites, attractions, and activities in and around Amsterdam, including the Van Gogh Museum, Rembrandt House Museum, Rijksmuseum, Nemo Science Museum, and even a canal cruise (and more!).

This card will also cover the cost of public transportation within Amsterdam’s city limits (but not at Schiphol Airport); plus, it provides discounted rates at various restaurants, cafes, and shops. 

If, however, you don’t intend to go to all of the destinations included with the card, it may cost you less to pay for each attraction you visit. We suggest allotting about $85 for individual attractions in total.

Purchasing tickets in advance from Klook is highly recommended, as you may be able to get a discounted rate and will be able to avoid the lines when you get there. The top sites to visit in Amsterdam include: 

• Heineken Experience
• Van Gogh Museum 
• Anne Frank House
• Rijksmuseum 
• Amsterdam canal cruise
• Volendam, Edam, and Zaanse Schans windmill village tour

See Related: How to Travel with a Drone

Extraneous Expenses

Like most people, you’ll probably want to pick up some extraneous items; that is, things that you don’t necessarily need, but things that you’d like to have, such as souvenirs to bring back to your friends and family at home or as a treat for yourself for a keepsake.

There’s no shortage of shops in Amsterdam, and there are so many things to purchase, from novelty items, like tourist shirts and bags and packages of tulips.

If you love to shop, there are some great shops in Amsterdam where you can score some beautiful shoes, clothing, accessories, and houseware. Some of the best spots for shopping include De Negen Straatjes, the Old South area, and De Jordaan. 

See Related: Best Things to do in Amsterdam

Final Thoughts on Amsterdam Trip Costs

So, how much does a trip to Amsterdam cost? As we’ve indicated several times, it depends on several factors, including when you plan on traveling, where you’re traveling from, travel safety, how long you intend on staying, and what type of trip you’d like to have when you visit Amsterdam.

With the information presented above – and some smart planning – you can take a relatively affordable trip to Amsterdam. 

Related Resources

• How to Find Cheap Amsterdam Trips
• Best Beers in Amsterdam
• Travel From London to Amsterdam