Cheapest Amsterdam Travel Ticket For Tourists
If you are visiting Amsterdam and want to use public transport, one of the most common questions is what the cheapest Amsterdam travel ticket for tourists is, because there are multiple options such as the Amsterdam Travel Ticket, GVB day tickets, and simply paying per ride with your bank card, and the cheapest option depends on how often you travel, where your hotel is located, and whether you need transport from Schiphol Airport.
In this complete guide, we explain the cheapest transport options in Amsterdam for tourists, including real prices, and when each option is the cheapest choice.
Overview Of The Cheapest Transport Options In Amsterdam
There are four main transport payment options for tourists in Amsterdam:
| Ticket | Best For |
|---|---|
| OVpay (pay per ride) | Few trips |
| GVB Day Ticket | City travel only |
| Amsterdam Travel Ticket | Airport + city |
| Amsterdam & Region Ticket | Outside Amsterdam |
Each option has a different price structure, so the cheapest option depends on your travel situation.
Option 1: Cheapest Option – OVpay (Pay With Bank Card)
The cheapest way to travel in Amsterdam for many tourists is simply paying with your contactless debit card or credit card, which is called OVpay in the Netherlands.
With OVpay:
- You check in and check out with your bank card
- You pay per trip
- There is a maximum daily limit of about €10–€10.50 per day for GVB transport (tram, bus, metro) (I amsterdam)
This means that even if you travel a lot in one day, you will never pay more than about €10.50 for public transport within Amsterdam.
This is cheaper than many tourist tickets.
However, important:
- Airport train from Schiphol is not included in this daily limit
- You pay the train separately (about €5–€6 each way)
So OVpay is cheapest if:
- You stay in the city center
- You travel only in Amsterdam
- You do not travel much
- You do not need many airport trips
Option 2: GVB Day Ticket (Cheap Unlimited City Travel)
Another cheap option is the GVB day ticket, which gives unlimited travel on:
- Trams
- Buses
- Metro
- Night buses
Prices:
| Duration | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 day | €10 |
| 2 days | €16 |
| 3 days | €21.50 |
These tickets are valid only in Amsterdam and do not include the train from Schiphol Airport (GVB).
So if you add the airport train return (~€10–€12), the total cost becomes similar to the Amsterdam Travel Ticket.
Option 3: Amsterdam Travel Ticket (Airport + City)
The Amsterdam Travel Ticket includes:
- Train Schiphol ↔ Amsterdam
- Tram
- Bus
- Metro
- Airport Express Bus
- Night buses
Prices:
| Duration | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 day | €20 |
| 2 days | €27 |
| 3 days | €34 |
This ticket is not the cheapest ticket, but it is often the most convenient because it includes airport transport and unlimited city travel in one ticket (GVB).
Real Price Comparison For Tourists
Let’s compare a typical tourist trip for 2 days:
| Transport | Price |
|---|---|
| OVpay (2 days city) | ~€20 |
| Train Schiphol return | ~€12 |
| Total OVpay | ~€32 |
| GVB 2-day ticket + train | ~€28 |
| Amsterdam Travel Ticket 2 days | €27 |
So in many cases, the Amsterdam Travel Ticket is actually cheaper than buying everything separately, especially if you travel a lot.
Cheapest Option Per Situation
Here is the most important part:
| Situation | Cheapest Option |
|---|---|
| Few trips | OVpay |
| Many trips in city | GVB Day Ticket |
| Airport + city travel | Amsterdam Travel Ticket |
| Outside Amsterdam | Amsterdam & Region Ticket |
So the cheapest Amsterdam travel ticket really depends on how you travel.
Example Tourist Scenarios
Tourist 1 – City Center Hotel
- Walks a lot
- 2 tram rides per day
- Cheapest: OVpay
Tourist 2 – Hotel Outside Center
- Uses tram/metro often
- Cheapest: GVB Day Ticket
Tourist 3 – Schiphol → Hotel → Sightseeing → Schiphol
- Cheapest: Amsterdam Travel Ticket
This is why there is no single cheapest ticket for everyone.
What Most Tourists Choose
Most tourists choose:
- 2-day Amsterdam Travel Ticket
- 3-day Amsterdam Travel Ticket
Because it is simple:
- One ticket
- Unlimited transport
- Airport included
- No need to calculate costs per ride
Convenience is often worth a few euros extra.
The Bottom Line
The cheapest Amsterdam travel option for tourists depends on how much you travel, but in general:
- Cheapest for few trips: OVpay (pay per ride)
- Cheapest for city travel: GVB Day Ticket
- Cheapest for airport + city: Amsterdam Travel Ticket
Most tourists who arrive at Schiphol and use public transport frequently will find that the Amsterdam Travel Ticket is often the best value and easiest option, while tourists who walk a lot and travel less will usually save money by paying per ride with OVpay.