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For a weekend in Amsterdam

Amsterdam Essentials Pass 2026

One big name of your choice, plus two sights from a long list with canal cruises, museums and day trips.

Adults €59 · Children (3–12) €29

Up to €30 less than separate tickets

Buy Essentials Pass What's included?
Canal boat passing under a bridge in Amsterdam

The Amsterdam Essentials Pass at a glance

The Amsterdam Essentials Pass is the smallest Go City package for the city. You get three entries: one from the top group with the Rijksmuseum, the Heineken Experience and ARTIS Zoo, and two from the second group. That one includes canal cruises, A'DAM LOOKOUT on the IJ, the Moco Museum and a trip to Zaanse Schans, among others.

The reason for this pass is the top group. The Rijksmuseum, the Heineken Experience and ARTIS are not in the Explorer Pass, only here and in the All-Inclusive Pass. If you do not want to see any of the three, the Explorer Pass is cheaper.

The pass is valid for 30 days from the first scan. You can return it to Go City free of charge for up to 90 days after purchase, as long as you have not used it.

The attractions you can choose from

For the Rijksmuseum and the Heineken Experience you reserve a set entry time in the Go City App. You cannot get in without one, and at weekends the good times go quickly.

Step 1 · choose 1 of 3

  • Heineken Experience
    Heineken ExperienceWithout pass: €24.95Reservation requiredNot in the Explorer Pass
  • Rijksmuseum
    RijksmuseumWithout pass: €25Reservation requiredNot in the Explorer Pass
  • ARTIS Amsterdam Royal ZooWithout pass: €32.50Not in the Explorer Pass

Step 2 · choose 2 of 15

  • Day Trip to Zaanse Schans Windmill Village from Amsterdam
    Day Trip to Zaanse Schans Windmill Village from AmsterdamWithout pass: €22.50Reservation required
  • Madame Tussauds Amsterdam
    Madame Tussauds AmsterdamWithout pass: €19Reservation required
  • A'DAM LOOKOUT
    A'DAM LOOKOUTWithout pass: €18.50
  • Amsterdam Canal Cruise
    Amsterdam Canal CruiseWithout pass: €18
  • Fabrique des LumièresWithout pass: €18
  • WONDR ExperienceWithout pass: €26.95
  • Bike Rental in AmsterdamWithout pass: €18.50Reservation required
  • Museum Het RembrandthuisWithout pass: €23.50
  • Immersive Experience AMAZE, AmsterdamWithout pass: €26.95
  • The Bulldog BoatWithout pass: €30Reservation required
  • The Upside Down AmsterdamWithout pass: €25.95
  • Open Boat CruiseWithout pass: €23.50
  • THIS IS HOLLANDWithout pass: €27Reservation required
  • Moco Museum, Banksy & MoreWithout pass: €23.95
  • The Amsterdam DungeonWithout pass: €27Reservation required

Adult prices without a pass, as listed by Go City. Checked: 09.10.2026.

Work out your own selection

Tick what you want to visit. The calculator shows what the same entries would cost if bought separately.

Step 1 · choose 1
Step 2 · choose 2

Separate tickets
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Essentials Pass
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Difference
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Based on the adult prices Go City lists for each attraction.

How to use the Amsterdam Essentials Pass

  1. Buy online

    You book with Go City and receive a confirmation by email.

  2. Set up the app

    Download the Go City App, enter your confirmation code, and the pass is on your phone. Setting it up does not activate it yet.

  3. Reserve time slots

    You need a set time for Heineken Experience, Rijksmuseum, Bike Rental in Amsterdam and a few other places, among others. The list above shows which ones. Reservations are made in the app at no extra cost.

  4. Scan at the entrance

    Your first scan starts the 30 days of validity.

Go City multi-attraction passes for Amsterdam

Go City sells several passes in this city. The Essentials Pass is the smallest of them.

Explorer Pass

from €44

  • 3–5 attractions, chosen freely from a longer list
  • For anyone with more places in mind or who decides on the go
  • Not included: Heineken Experience, ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo, Rijksmuseum
See Explorer Pass

Essentials Pass

from €59

  • 3 attractions of your choice
  • Valid for 30 days from your first visit
  • For a short trip with a clear wish list
Buy Essentials Pass

All-Inclusive Pass

from €79

  • 1–5 consecutive days, as many attractions as you like
  • For full sightseeing days with lots of stops
See All-Inclusive Pass

What the Amsterdam Essentials Pass does not cover

  • Public transport: you pay for trams, buses, the metro and the ferries across the IJ separately; the easiest way is contactless with your bank card.
  • The Van Gogh Museum is not in any of the passes Go City sells, and you can only get into the Anne Frank House with the museum's own timed ticket. The Anne Frank walking tour in the Explorer and All-Inclusive Pass is a tour of the neighbourhood, not an entry.
  • The day trips to Giethoorn and to the cheese markets in Gouda or Alkmaar are only in the All-Inclusive Pass.
  • The Stedelijk Museum, the H'ART Museum and the Maritime Museum belong to the Explorer and All-Inclusive Pass, not the Essentials Pass.

When the pass is not worth it

The three-attraction Explorer Pass costs less than the Essentials Pass. If you want to visit neither the Rijksmuseum nor Heineken nor the zoo, it is the better choice. And if the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House are top of your list, you need separate tickets anyway.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Amsterdam Essentials Pass valid?

It runs for 30 days from your first visit. Until then it sits unused in the app, and the clock only starts with the first scan at an entrance.

Can I cancel the pass for free?

Yes, with Go City within 90 days of purchase, as long as you have not used the pass. After the first scan there is no refund.

Do I need to book a time slot at the Rijksmuseum?

Yes. The Rijksmuseum and the Heineken Experience only let you in with a reserved entry time. You reserve in the Go City App at no extra cost. Some sights in the second group, such as the Amsterdam Dungeon, Madame Tussauds and Bulldog Boat, also want a booking.

Is the pass worth it without the Rijksmuseum?

Hardly. With ARTIS Zoo as the third anchor sight it can just about work, but without one of the three big names the Explorer Pass is cheaper. The calculator above compares your selection with separate tickets.

How do I get the pass onto my phone?

After buying, Go City sends an email with a confirmation code. You enter it in the Go City App, and the pass is then stored there. Setting it up does not start the 30 days yet.

What do children pay?

Children aged 3 to 12 get their own, cheaper pass. Younger children do not need one at most sights. Entry to the Rijksmuseum is free for children anyway, so the child pass is not worth using there.

Are trams and buses included?

No, public transport is not included in any of the passes Go City sells for Amsterdam.

Do I have to choose the attractions when I buy?

No. You decide as you go. Just make sure one of the three anchor sights is included, or one entry goes unused.

Settle on the Rijksmuseum or Heineken first

Pick your anchor sight and reserve the time slot right after buying. You can then spread the other two entries around the weather and your mood.

Adults €59

Buy Essentials Pass

Essentials Pass in other cities