How to save money in Amsterdam? Tips for budget travelers. How much does it cost to live in Amsterdam? From Eindhoven to Amsterdam
Amsterdam, of course, is not the most expensive city in Europe, but it is not the cheapest either. Somewhere in Italy or Spain you can pay much more for everyday items than in Amsterdam. But even here it’s quite easy to cost a pretty penny. In order to save your already small travel budget without pushing yourself into strict limits, we suggest 9 ways to save money in the capital of the Netherlands.
1. Visit markets instead of shops.
This applies to food, clothing, souvenirs, books and even wine!
Swap meet Waterlooplein open daily (except Sunday) until 17:00. Here you can buy exclusive souvenirs that the store will not offer you! Nieuwmarkt and Noorderkerk— open only on weekends, here you can buy organic products and local delicacies. Besides, Noorderkerk turns into a vintage clothing market on Mondays. In the markets Dappermarkt and Albert Cuyp they sell food, flowers, fresh fish, clothing, souvenirs and much more.
2. Buy a multiple-entry tram ticket.
Instead of buying a tram ticket each time 2.80 €, consider an option that provides unlimited access to one, two, three or seven days.
For example, if you plan to use the tram three or more times during the day, then 24-hour ticket for 7.50 €. In this way you will not only save money, but also energy. After all, walking all day is not so easy. A 48-hour ticket will cost you 12 €, 72 - 16.50 € and a week ticket for 32 €. Tickets can sometimes be purchased on the tram itself, but it is better to buy them in the metro area under Amsterdam Central Station from special machines or a ticket office.
3. Don't buy audio guides from museums.
Most descriptions of works and biographies of authors in museums are indicated near the paintings in Dutch and English languages. Free brochures are also available at Dutch and English, so before you buy the audio guide.
Usually with these two artifacts you will learn at least with headphones. The only museum where an audio guide can be useful is Van Gogh Museum, but in the central Rijksmuseum and Stedelijk you can easily do without them.
4. Savor local pastries for breakfast.
Amsterdammers have a very low-key breakfast - usually a pastry and a glass of orange juice or a cup of coffee.
In most hotels and hostels breakfast included in price and you can get tea or coffee with toast or cereal. But if you are not provided with breakfast at your place of residence, we do not advise you to rush to a cafe or order breakfast at a hotel when you wake up. Better go to the nearest bakery. These establishments are located on almost every street corner in Amsterdam, so you're sure to find something nearby.
Typically, bakeries offer fresh, still hot baked goods at a very reasonable price, cheaper than in a cafe.
5. Don't buy water on the street.
In the city center there are many kiosks, souvenir shops and street terraces of restaurants where you can buy some water. But a bottle of regular mineral water will cost you here 2,50 € . Better stock up on water at the supermarket and take it with you to the restaurant.
In Amsterdam, there is a severe shortage of drinking water in the center, such as drinking fountains, so merchants often unjustifiably raise the price of this product.
6. The farther from the center, the cheaper.
Hotels outside the city center tend to be newer, refurbished and slightly larger than hotels in the Red Light District and around Dam Square.
Of course, you can catch a hot offer and live right in the heart of the city, but such promotions sell out very quickly. Therefore, we advise you to stay somewhere far away, this way you can book a bed in a hostel in just for 6 € also with breakfast. And when paired with a multiple-entry tram ticket, it becomes a winning combination.
7. Avoid Argentine restaurants.
You will see them all over the city, but in reality there is no Dutch in them.
Argentine meat restaurants are here only for tourists. Most offer daily steak and fries specials for approximately 12-15 € . Not too expensive, but quite unreasonable. Moreover, you will not be limited to one menu, the waiter will definitely persuade you to drink coffee or order a salad and this way you will spend a lot more.
Usually in such establishments there are “barkers” working on the street who shout to you from afar about low prices and free tables.
8. Drink beer or wine instead of cocktails.
If you do decide to experience Amsterdam's nightlife, be aware that cocktails and champagne will cost you from 6 € and more per glass.
Instead, enjoy local beer or Italian and French wine. Surprisingly good imported wines are quite cheap here, and sometimes you can try homemade wine from the restaurant owner’s cellars.
9. Rent a bike.
To feel completely local, you need to rent a bicycle - the main form of transport in the city.
There are quite a few rental points here, but the main thing to consider is long-term rent is much cheaper. One day may cost from 7.50 € to 15 €, and rental For a three days can cost the same 15 €. The best and most famous rental is to remember, be affectionate, experienced. You have no more loan 4 hvilin.
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With respect, Solomiya
Before the trip, I heard and read so many reviews about Amsterdam that I had a clear idea of what it was like. But imagine my surprise when in reality everything turned out to be completely different! I was in Amsterdam for a week and managed to see not only the center and typical tourist places, but also various residential areas and suburbs. I was able to observe the ordinary measured life of people in this city.
My journey began, of course, with the most convenient service for booking accommodation around the world - Aibnb. This site is already the first life hack on how you can save money in Amsterdam! Thanks to him, we rented a small cozy apartment on Boris Pasternak Street (yes, yes, there is such a street in Amsterdam!), which by Amsterdam standards is far from the center, but in reality it is only 10-15 minutes by metro to the center!) Metro station It was generally a 2-minute walk from the apartment. The price is for living in a separate apartment with all amenities(kitchen, bathroom, household appliances...) it turned out to be the same as the price for a 10-bed room in a hostel! What a difference! Yes, Amsterdam is quite an expensive city, but here is excellent proof that If you want, you can save money there, and not even at the expense of yourself! Here is a photo of the apartment we rented:
I will not particularly describe the most popular attractions, because... You can find a lot of information about them on the Internet. I'll just say that I highly recommend taking a canal cruise! We went for a ride on the first evening and it seems to me this is exactly what is best to do almost in the first place, because it helps a lot to get into the atmosphere of the city ! The easiest way to do this is at the central station, although it is not necessary, because there are boats with excursions in many other places.
The second very important life hack for saving money is the special tourist card I amsterdam City Card. Be sure to Google it before your trip! You can buy it at the airport or at several other sales points around the city. It exists in different types for 24/48/72/96 hours. It is not cheap, but the benefits from it are enormous! The card provides free travel on all types of public transport in the city, free entry to most museums in the city, free canal cruise, additional discounts and even mini-gifts in certain places, which are indicated in the brochure included with the card. Those. in fact, it is not free, because... You paid money for the card, but if you calculate how much money you will spend on transport and tickets to museums, you will understand that your card will pay for itself 2-3, or even more times! In addition, it will force you not to be lazy, but to see as many places as possible) We bought a card for 72 hours and it paid for itself on the first day!
The third very important life hack about saving is food! Don’t believe any stories that it’s expensive to eat in Amsterdam and that the cheapest place to eat is in fast food! I sincerely don’t understand why go to any eateries at all if the city has an amazing chain of supermarkets with a 90-year history, where the quality and variety of products is simply amazing! All you need to be happy is to remember the name - albert heijn!
Seriously, the quality and taste of the products is amazing. Here you have to try very hard to find something harmful and not tasty. IN albert heijn there is a lot of healthy food and a lot of ready-made food, but it is all fresh and very tasty. Lots of organic fresh juices/smoothies/coconut water and very little unhealthy soda. Everything is done for ease of cooking. Believe me, this cannot be compared with any Russian supermarket! Tell me what I advise you albert heijn- this is nothing to say! I I’m just shouting that when visiting Amsterdam, you should look there and try as much as possible)
Since we are talking about food, another mandatory item on your menu should be traditional herring) Even my young man is not a connoisseur of fish, and especially herring, he ate his portion with pleasure and wanted more! The herring turned out to be very tender and tasty, probably I have never encountered a more delicious one before. It’s even surprising that herring with onions and pickles is traditional Dutch fast food, not Russian)
Now for my final tip on how to save money in Amsterdam. There are so many places you can visit without spending a lot of money, or at all! Here you can choose according to your taste, and I will offer you several options to choose from)
Firstly, You can ride the ferry completely free! You will find the ferries behind the central station, which is located in the city center. They lead in several different directions. One of the ferries will take you to the EYE Film Museum, where, by the way, you can buy very unusual souvenirs. Etc. By the way, there is one of the IAMSTERDAM inscriptions, which usually has much fewer tourists than the one located next to the main museum. So here you can take a great photo as a souvenir)
Another free ferry takes you to the trendy hipster area, where there is a huge flea market and creative studios of various artists. To be honest, we didn’t really appreciate this area; the center of Amsterdam with its fairy-tale houses and canals evokes much more delight) But for fun it’s worth a visit, especially since it won’t take you anything except, of course, time.
I would also recommend visiting zeedijk street, it is located in the center and is considered Chinatown. On this street you will find interesting shops, relatively inexpensive cafes, and also the largest Buddhist temple in Europe. And you can look into his hall and take a prediction (in English) from the monks for half a euro, or just take a look)
Interesting and again free to visit creative space De Hallen. The former tram depot building now houses companies whose work is related to art, fashion, culture and other “creative professions”.
You can also visit the Amsterdam Library, which is also a free and entertaining event.
There is another beautiful one in the center flower market, which I highly recommend because this is where you can buy the cheapest souvenirs!
And there is also cheese shops, where you can try different types of cheese to your heart’s content! Moreover, if you refuse to try, the sellers will even be a little offended, everyone here is so friendly and friendly)
And all this besides the incredible pleasure of simply wandering through the narrow streets, looking at wonderful houses, eating sliced fruit from Albert Heijn, sitting on a canal... Here everyone feels easy, free, comfortable, safe! It is not uncommon to find a person humming to himself or whistling a cheerful tune. And this is not because these people are crazy, they are just happy and enjoying their lives! In Amsterdam, it is very clear how people know how to enjoy their calm and measured life. Here you will hardly find people who are irritated, embittered or in a hurry to get somewhere, which is so typical for our country. Most people work from 9 to 17 pm, and then gather in cafes or take tables out of the house to drink a bottle of wine and have a pleasant conversation with a friend or neighbor. Many people have boats, and they are completely simple, without bells and whistles, and in some places they are even rusty! The same applies to bicycles. And all because people are absolutely not trying to show off in any way! people of all ages and social statuses sit quietly on the ground/floor wherever they want: on the grass, canals, steps, roofs. IN Everyone feels free and relaxed, no tension. Nobody looks at you askance. Only tourists fuss) Everyone The most gloomy/angry/decorated people we met turned out to be Russian! It's true! By the way, we generally met Russians very often)
The city has many beautiful parks, which are of course free to visit.
I would also like to note that Amsterdam is an incredibly green city! Here you will definitely meet seagulls, geese, ducks, and various waterfowl right in the city! We were even luckier, we saw swan's nest right next to the metro station! And not far from our house there’s even a heron! When was the last time in your life you saw a heron in the city!? But this gang of geese could be seen every day even from the window of the apartment)
If you take a break from the touristy places and take a look at the normal way of life here, you will love this city with all your heart!
Amsterdam is an amazing capital that amazes with its atmosphere of madness. However, many tourists postpone their trip to the Netherlands due to the high euro exchange rate. But don't despair! Here are several ways to save money in the city of freedom. By the way, a lot of money flows into mobile Internet, especially among young people. Instagram, Facebook and everything else, messengers, viber…. Sound familiar? Megabyte bills? We will give you very valuable advice on economical calls to Russia and inexpensive megabytes.
- Plan your vacation in advance. No matter how trivial it may sound, the sooner you book your accommodation and buy a plane ticket, the cheaper your trip will cost you. Timely planning will help you save 30-60% of the total cost of the trip.
- Follow promotions. Sometimes airlines offer tickets at a reduced price 2-3 weeks before departure (usually this phenomenon occurs during the gay parade). Prices at this time fall by 5-7 thousand rubles. This is especially beneficial for those who already have a Schengen visa.
- You don't have to pay for the train untilAmsterdamCentral Station. People get from the airport to the historical center of the city either by taxi (more than 100 euros) or by peregrine falcon (from 10 euros). Many tourists ride like a hare due to the lack of turnstiles and controllers. There really aren’t any, but still be careful: the fine for traveling without a ticket is 500 euros.
- Buy an l amsterdam card in advance. It is simply necessary if you are coming to the capital of the Netherlands for a few days for the first time, as it will allow you to save on public transport, museums and cafes. You can find out all the details on this website: http://www.amstertam.ru/more/iamsterdamcard/
- Rent an apartment with a kitchen. Food in restaurants is expensive (from 10 euros for a main course), and the portions leave much to be desired. Apartment owners often leave a basic set of products (pasta, rice, sauces, olive oil, tea, coffee, sweets and other nice little things) for their guests. Have dinner or at least breakfast at home - this will save you from 100 to 150 euros for a week's trip.
- Buy groceries at the supermarket. In Europe, there is a chain of Albert Heijn stores that sell ready-made salads and lunch entrees. These stores are also common in the capital of the Netherlands. For example, Caesar salad with chicken and potatoes costs 3.99 euros, while in a restaurant its price ranges from 6 to 10. It is very profitable to buy fermented milk products - for half a kilogram of delicious yogurt with all sorts of flavors you will pay only 2 euros. So why not treat yourself to a cheap lunch in the park and not spend money on small portions in a cafe?
- Ask your tenant about the bike. Renting a bike in the city (from MacBike Amsterdam, Bike City or Mike’s Bike Tours) for a day will cost you 9-13 euros per person. Therefore, be sure to find out whether the owner of your apartment has the opportunity to provide you with this necessary means of transportation during your stay. For me, this service was included in the apartment rental price. In general, you can travel around the whole of Europe by bicycle, we wrote about this in the article
And Amsterdam is a city for young and cheerful people who are ready to throw themselves into the maelstrom of various adventures, of which there are a lot here. True, they cost a lot, so we have prepared some tips for those who are heading to Amsterdam and do not want to overpay.
Transport
This card provides a huge number of bonuses and discounts for visitors to the capital of Holland. The card gives you the right to free travel on any type of public transport, except taxis.
For those who do not want to visit museums and use public transport, there is the most popular and cheapest option in Amsterdam - a bicycle. Almost half of all traffic in the city is made up of cyclists.
The tram is also a fairly cheap form of transport. Amsterdam has sixteen tram lines crossing the city in all directions.
The metro in Amsterdam is a fast and convenient way to travel, but only when you need to travel far from the city center.
Keep in mind that Amsterdam is a very small city and getting on the metro just to get through one or two stops is impractical.
Accommodation
When choosing a hotel, we advise you to focus on the “golden mean” principle. Try not to choose a hotel in the very center, but you shouldn’t go outside the city if you plan to get to know the historical heritage and life of the city. However, if you still choose a hotel on the outskirts, you should keep in mind the cost of transport.
If you do not want to stay in a hotel, then it is possible to rent an apartment. This is often a more profitable option. In addition, in Amsterdam, many apartment owners can optionally provide a number of services that are usually the prerogative of hotels.
Services like breakfast, of course, are provided for an additional fee, but having a kitchen in the apartment will allow you to save a lot, since food in supermarkets is much cheaper than what is offered in cafes and restaurants. By the way, in the city center even fast food can cost a serious amount, so you shouldn’t neglect proper meals in a hotel or apartment.
The main rule of the capital of the Netherlands for those who want to save money is to buy food in supermarkets. Aldi is the cheapest supermarket in Amsterdam. One of the cheapest product brands, Euroshopper will delight you with its price and quality.
As for restaurants, if you do not set a goal to go to a specific restaurant in the center of Amsterdam, then it is better to completely avoid this area in terms of food. By the way, pizza and pasta are prepared in almost all establishments.
Remember that in Amsterdam, despite stereotypes about freedom of morals, there are very strict laws regarding behavior in public places. Drinking alcoholic beverages on the street is prohibited. Alternatively, pour the drink into a non-alcoholic drink bottle.
The most delicious thing you can eat in Holland is fish. Firstly, it is always fresh, and secondly, it is prepared by the Dutch, unlike anything else.
From 16.00 to 18.00 it is very difficult to find somewhere to eat. At this time, in most catering establishments there is a shift change and the kitchens are practically not working anywhere. Please note that most restaurants are closed on Mondays.
It's common for the Dutch to make reservations in advance, and if you show up without calling, there's a good chance there won't be a table for you.
Essential goods can always be bought at the city markets. And if you get there around four o’clock, you can buy many products at a good discount. By the way, most traders leave unsold goods, for example, vegetables, right on the shelves at the end of the day. And you can safely take it for free.
Attractions
Good museums in Amsterdam are quite expensive. Students have great privileges in this regard. A museum card, which can be issued at the ticket office of any cultural center with an identification document, costs only 20 euros, and you can use it to visit about 100 museums throughout the Netherlands.
Separately, it is worth mentioning about Amsterdam museums. The average cost of visiting the museum is 10 euros per person. If you are brave enough to get around all or almost all of them, then it’s a good idea to get a map “ I amsterdam card" It costs 40 euros for 24 hours, for 48 hours - 50 euros, for 72 hours - 60 euros.
As mentioned above, it gives the right to free travel on public transport. The card also includes a free tour of the canals of Amsterdam.
Most museums provide a 50% discount on visits using this card, or even 100%. In addition, the card gives a 25% discount on a fairly impressive number of restaurants in the city.
For all attractions that operate from spring in the center of Amsterdam on Dam Square, the card will also provide a 25% discount.
The card can be purchased at any branch of the Amsterdam Tourism Convention Board. One of them is located right at the airport. You can buy the card online, then it will be 1 euro cheaper. Present your printed confirmation coupon at any information office of the company and you will be given your card.
The card's validity begins from the moment it is first used.