The best way to explore Amsterdam

Last year, I was in Amsterdam just before Thanksgiving and was led on to a tip in Rick Steve’s guidebook as how to best explore the city for cheap.

In Amsterdam there are 3 passes that will get you into most tourist attractions at a a reduced price: the Museumkaart, the I Amsterdam Card, and the Amsterdam Holland Pass. Looking at the three, I consider the Museumkaart to be the most bang for your buck, and best all-around pass.

Here’s why: While the Museumkaart does not include public transportation, and admission to sites outside the city, it does have the most access to museums within the city – meaning you’ll be able to see the most of what you probably came to Amsterdam for anyways.

The pass runs for 54,90 EUROS for adults, or 29,95 EUROS for children. It’s valid for one year from date of issue, meaning if you have more than one trip to the city planned, this will be the most worthwhile card because you can get multiple uses out of it.

In the city of Amsterdam these 32 museums are included in the Museum Card:

1. Allard Pierson Museum
2. Amsterdam Museum
3. Anne Frank House
4. Bijbels Museum – Bible Museum
5. De Nieuwe Kerk – New Church
6. Diamond Museum Amsterdam
7. Dutch Funeral Museum
8. Film Museum – EYE Film Instituut Nederland
9. FOAM Photography Amsterdam
10. Hermitage Amsterdam
11. Huis Marseille, Stichting voor Fotografie
12. Jewish Historical Museum
13. JHM Kindermuseum
14. Max Euwe Centrum – Chess Museum
15. Museum Amstelkring – Our Lord in the Attic
16. Museum Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis
17. Museum Het Schip/Amsterdam School of Architecture
18. Museum Van Loon
19. Museum Willet-Holthuysen
20. NEMO Science center
21. Oude Kerk – The Old Church
22. Olympic Experience
23. Royal Palace Amsterdam
24. Press Museum
25. Rijksmuseum
26. Scheepvaartmuseum – Maritime Museum
27. Stedelijk Museum
28. Tropenmuseum – Tropical Museum
29. Tropenmuseum Junior
30. Van Gogh Museum
31. Verzetsmuseum – Resistance Museum
32. Discount for Rembrandt’s House

The museum card is sold in selected museums and can be purchased also at Uitburo at Leidseplein:
Uitburo (AUB)
Leidseplein 26
Opening times: from Monday to Saturday: 10:00 / 18:00; Thursday: until 21:00; Sundays and Public Holidays: 12:00 / 18.00.
www.aub.nl

I bought this card last year, and it is still within my one -year time limit, so I’m getting 2 trips worth of use out of it, which is excellent.