10 Mar Amsterdam City Pass: A 3-day itinerary with the I amsterdam City Card 2026
Visiting Amsterdam is a great idea! Saving money is a great idea! So…doing both is a perfect idea. Am I right?
I’ve created this 3-day I amsterdam City Card itinerary specifically so you can make the most of this card.
Whenever I buy a city pass, I agonize over how to best use it. You know…to get my money’s worth.
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In these three days, I’ve made a conscious effort to mix things up a bit so you get an taster of the area with this Amsterdam pass. Day one is about the must-do things while you are in the city and maximizing the discounts available. Day two takes you outside the city to the famous area of windmills, Zaanse Schans. Finally, day three are spots that I think anyone would find interesting.
You might wonder if the I amsterdam card is worth it? Well, these three days are packing with mostly free things to do in Amsterdam and discounts at special experiences and meals. Also, free public transportation is included in your Amsterdam city pass. Learn how to use the public transportation system here.
Let’s dive in, shall we?
Disclaimer: this information is accurate at the timing of writing, but be sure to check the little booklet they give you for the most up-to-date version.
Day 1 – Use the I amsterdam City Card to get a taste of Dutch culture
Eat Breakfast at Pancake Bakery
Start your day with Dutch pancakes, or as we called them here, pannenkoeken! Get the ones as big as your plate and you’ll be stuffed for a few hours. Sean tends to go savory and I like my sweet fruit options. If, by chance, you’d rather have pancakes in the afternoon, go for the ones with a little alcohol in them 😉 It’s actually more traditional to have them for lunch or dinner, but you can’t go wrong if you start the day with them.
Take a Canal Cruise
Sean and I talk about if there was just one thing you’d recommend, what would it be? For us, in Amsterdam, it’s a canal cruise. Touristy? Yes. But hey, it’s a phenomenal way to see the city and I think getting a different perspective is always a great idea.
Discount: FREE
Choose Your Museum
I don’t know what you like, so this is pretty open-ended. There are many museums included in the I amsterdam City Card, so you’ll want to choose whichever you are most interested in. My favorite (if you’re going to force me to choose) is the National Maritime Museum. But I totally understand why, if you’re in Amsterdam, you’ll visit one of the most famous museums like the Rijksmuseum.
Discount: FREE
Lunch at Cafe Restaurant Blue
Take a break with lunch at Cafe Restaurant Blue for some traditional food with a unique view since you’ll be among the roof tops of the center city. It’s in the “mall” Kalvertoren. I put quotation marks there because it’s not like a mall we have in the United States…well, really it’s just tiny. Anyway, head up to the top for some lunch and one of my favorite views of the city.
Experience the famous drinks at House of Bols and Heineken experience
Have a drink experience while you’re here! Amsterdam is known for Bols and Heineken, so hitting up one of their experiences is a great way to spend an hour or so. I’ve also included this in my foodie guide to Amsterdam, so check that out if you’re looking for foodie (and drink) experiences.
Discount: 25% off each experience
Have a foodie experience at your own pace
Let the foodie day continue! If you don’t love group tours and love to go at your own pace while still getting the best snacks, you can take a DIY food tour in de Pijp or in the Jordaan. After booking the free tour, you’ll get a downloadable PDF that tells you where to go, what to order, and why that spot was chosen. This also means you pay only for what you want to try, and you can get more if you want!
Discount: FREE
Enjoy Dinner at Restaurant De Kas
Head to the east side of Amsterdam for Restaurant De Kas. This location used to be a greenhouse, and they still grow and cultivate their own products in this greenhouse and farms just outside of Amsterdam. It’s truly a farm-to-table experience that earned a Michelin Star and is one of our favorite places to recommend to visitors.
Be prepared by pre-booking your I amsterdam City Card now
Day 2 – Explore Zaanse Schans and the windmills with the Amsterdam city pass
Have breakfast at Omelegg near Amsterdam Centraal Station
Head towards Amsterdam Centraal Station for an incredible breakfast at Omelegg. It’s a family-run restaurant and is an expert on eggs! Though, there are other items on the menu. They are open early and it’s worth the wait if there is one.
Head to Zaanse Schans for Dutch history and lots of windmills
The City Card gets your entrance into all the windmills and museums at Zaanse Schans, but you’ll need to pay your own way to get there. Luckily, it’s easy and inexpensive. The easiest is taking the 800 express bus from Amsterdam Centraal Station directly to the Zaanse Schans bus stop in under 25 minutes. The bus is located at the back of the station and upstairs. You can pay directly in the bus with a contactless payment by tapping in at the front, and tapping out when you leave. It’s €4.75 each way. There’s also a train from Centraal Station that will take you to the Zaandijk Zaanse Schans station in 17 minutes, from there, it’s a 20 minute walk. This will be €4.20 each way, and you can pay the same way.
Discount: FREE
Learn history and culture at the Zaanse Museum
To learn more about the windmills and what they are all together in this area, head to the Zaanse Museum. It’s also a great spot for when it gets rainy 😉 However, it’s about more than windmills. You’ll see exhibits on many facets of Dutch culture. Definitely worth a visit. You can do this before or after visiting the windmills, but it will give you context if you visit beforehand. Just plan your time so you aren’t rushing to see everything because I recommend a full day in this area.
Discount: FREE
Dinner at Pasta Basta
I hope you had some good long walks because now it’s time to load up on the carbs at Pasta Basta in the center of Amsterdam. Despite its location, you might forget which country you are in. When you enter, you’re transported to Italy with the help of talented opera singers and delicious pasta.
Day 3 – Last day with the I amsterdam City Card
Breakfast from De Laatste Kruimel
Everything is homemade at De Laastse Kruimel which you can find near the Rokin metro stop. I’m a big fan of their scones (with jam and clotted cream, of course!) and they even have a small balcony over a canal if you manager to grab a spot.
A’DAM LOOKOUT tower
To see Amsterdam from a totally different perspective, head to the A’DAM LOOKOUT in Amsterdam Noord. Simply take the free ferry behind Amsterdam Centraal Station to Buiksloterweg and you’re a 2 minute walk away. You can head to the top for an insane view and for a little extra, you can swing over the edge!
Discount: FREE
Lunch at the Eye Film Museum
Ready for lunch? Head next door to the Eye Film Museum in the funky shaped building that looks like an artistic eye shape to me. They have a great terrace overlooking the IJ (body of water you took the ferry over) and plenty of room inside for days that don’t give good weather. The City Card also lets you explore this museum for free if it’s something you’re curious about!
Discount: FREE
Meet some animals at Artis
The Amsterdam Zoo, or Artis, has an incredibly interesting history. The zoo’s format is unique and fun for everyone. There’s so much to see and experience, especially considering you can basically walk through the exhibits…as in, you are with the animals. It’s a special thing to do and so memorable if you have kids! Well, or if you’re a kid at heart, I loved it!
Discount: FREE
Learn at Micropia
If you’re a science-nerd, or just someone super interested in life, then Micropia is a great spot to visit. It’s right by Artis, too, so it’s a very convenient next stop. You’ll get to learn about all the microbes that are in the world and even live on our bodies. It’s so interesting and such a well-done museum/interactive exhibit. You can stand in front of a wall and learn how many microbes are on you. That’s super cool!
Discount: FREE
Explore the plants at the Hortus Botanicus
This botanical garden is truly an oasis in Amsterdam. It’s calm, it’s beautiful and the inside area is so nice and warm. When you have a city as bustling as Amsterdam, it’s so nice to pop into a place that educates as much as it relaxes.
Discount: FREE
Where to stay in Amsterdam
When you visit Amsterdam, you’ll want to find the best places to stay and you’ll also want to know what to do on a rainy day in Amsterdam. We’ve got you covered! Here are a few hotel/hostel suggestions depending on your travel style…
For those on a budget and looking to meet people, ClinkNOORD is a favorite hostel among travelers. It’s a bit off the beaten path but still easy to get to via the free Amsterdam ferry behind Amsterdam Centraal Station.
Families will love The July BOAT & CO with its unique location, great space, and amenities. It’s a new building with plenty of comforts, including an underground garage.
A romantic trip to the Pulitzer Amsterdam is a must for couples. Set along the famous Amsterdam canals, you’ll be in the center of it all (with an excellent bar and restaurant downstairs!). Plus Ocean’s 12 was filmed here, so you’ll be walking the same halls of some of Hollywood’s most famous!
Since we live in Amsterdam, we get a lot of questions about visiting the city. If you’re coming soon and want to learn more, we have a whole section of the website dedicated to Amsterdam content. For videos of Amsterdam, head on over to our YouTube channel. Subscribe to see more as we post them.
Let us know if you visit and if you use our tips! We love to help and we love to know if we helped.
Wishing you joy and travels!
