Budget-Friendly things to do in Amsterdam

Well, is not the cheapest place. But you can make it as wild as you like. There are many ways to make it more affordable! Is it possible to have a cheap visit to Amsterdam? Yes it is. Here are the free and budget friendly things to do in Amsterdam.

The only free public transport in Amsterdam are the ferries at the central station, you don’t need a ticket to board! Cross the IJ-river by hopping on one of the boats. The longest trip is about 15 minutes and takes you from Central Station to the super hip NDSM Wharf. Enjoy the views and the fresh breeze while you are off to explore a new part of the city.

Find the secret gardens in the centre of Amsterdam. ‘Hofjes’ were special living communities founded in the 17th century. Created for poor people, mostly women, to live and get the care they needed.

You can recognize a hofje when you see a set of small houses with a little courtyard. Take a stroll through the city and visit these historic and beautiful places, totally free!

Begin your journey at the Begijnhof, one of the oldest and most famous hofje (which is factually a hof, but a monastery). You will also find one of the oldest wooden house in Amsterdam here, which dates back to the 15th century.

Continue to Spui, to the Spuihofje. Walk to the Jordaan neighbourhood, where you will find most of the hofjes, like the Karthuizerhof and Rapenhofje. On the eastside of the Amstel river, you can find some more beautiful hofjes, like het Corvershofje, Van Brants Rushofje and the Occohofje.

Maybe you can find even more! There are 56 hofjes, 34 of which are still in use as a living hofje and 10 belong to churches.

There is a Dutch verb for sitting on a terrace called ‘terrassen’. Order some drinks, maybe some Dutch snacks like bitterballen and enjoy hanging out outside. If you really want to feel the local culture, this is the way! When the sun is out, the Amsterdammers are outside. Therefore, it does get crowded and it might be hard to find a nice spot in the sun.

For cheaper people watching, grab a blanket and some snacks from the supermarket, and head to one of the parks!

You will also find people all along the canals hanging out with a drink in their hand, enjoying the views of boats passing by. There is no better way to soak in the Amsterdam culture, and it doesn’t cost you anything!

Some places are a must when you are doing a city trip, even when you are on a budget. When you are in Amsterdam you can not leave without visiting Rijksmuseum or van Gogh museum, as well as cruising the wonderful canals that make the city who she is.

These highlights are never on ‘sale’ or for free, but you cán find some nice combination ticket deals! If you know you want to do both activities, why not combine them and save some euros? Check out websites like Tours & Tickets, where they have a whole section of discounted combination tickets and see which combination is the right one for you!

Of course, no city trip is complete without some museum visits or enjoying the unique attractions. And you can still do so even if you are trying to save money. For the budget traveler that wants to still enjoy Amsterdam and the best attractions in the city, a city card is the way to go.

The Explore Pass Amsterdam fits the budget of all savy tourists. Choose how much you want to spend, 50, 75 or 100 euros and pick the attractions that you do not want to miss on your Amsterdam city trip.

There is always a 24 hour ticket for the Citysightseeing Amsterdam hop on hop off bus included in your Explore Pass. One whole day of transport to some of the most important spots in the city. More euros saved!