Amsterdam on a Budget — How to Not Go Broke

Let me be honest: Amsterdam is not a cheap city. Hotels are expensive, restaurants add up, and entrance fees are real. But here's what most travel sites won't tell you — some of the best stuff in Amsterdam is free, and the expensive stuff is often the worst. I spend less money having a better time than most tourists do.

Free Things That Are Actually Good

Walking the canals. This sounds obvious but people skip it for paid attractions. The UNESCO-listed canal ring — Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht — is one of the most beautiful urban landscapes in Europe and it costs you nothing. Walk it at night when the bridges light up. Walk it in the morning when the city is quiet. This alone is worth the flight.

Vondelpark. Bring food, bring a book, bring nothing. Sit on the grass, watch people, listen to street musicians. In summer there are free concerts at the open-air theater. Locals spend entire weekends here.

The ferry to Noord. Free. Leaves every few minutes from behind Centraal. Cross the water, walk the NDSM wharf, see street art, come back. An afternoon well spent for zero euros.

Noordermarkt on Monday. The organic farmers market in Jordaan. You can sample cheese, bread, and produce. Buying something costs a few euros, sampling is free. It's what locals actually do on Monday mornings.

Street art in Noord and Centrum. Amsterdam has world-class street art and nobody charges admission. The NDSM wharf in Noord is basically an open-air gallery.

Where to Sleep Without Crying

Hotels in Amsterdam average €150-250/night. That hurts. Here's how to spend less:

Stay outside Centrum. De Pijp and Oud-West have better neighborhoods AND lower prices. You're a 10-minute tram ride from everything. Check our Sleep guide for specific places.

Book early. Like, 2-3 months early. Amsterdam fills up. Last-minute means you're paying a premium or sleeping in a closet.

Consider a houseboat or apartment. Sometimes cheaper than hotels, always more interesting. Search Amsterdam stays and filter by price — you'd be surprised what shows up under €100 if you book early enough.

Hostels are solid here. The good ones have private rooms, bars, and social events. They're not the grubby backpacker joints you're imagining.

Eating Cheap (and Well)

The tourist restaurants in Centrum charge €15-20 for a mediocre pasta. Meanwhile, you can eat like a local for a fraction of that.

Albert Cuyp Market. Street food heaven. Fresh stroopwafels for €2, kibbeling (fried fish) for €4, a full Surinamese roti for €6. Go on a weekday to avoid the weekend crush.

Surinamese and Turkish takeaway. Amsterdam's best cheap food comes from its immigrant communities. A kapsalon (fries, shawarma, cheese, and salad — don't ask, just eat it) runs €7-8 and is an entire meal. Surinamese roti shops are scattered across De Pijp and Oost — look for places where the line is all locals.

FEBO. Look, it's a vending machine that dispenses deep-fried snacks. Is it gourmet? No. Is it a Dutch institution and genuinely satisfying at 2 AM? Absolutely. A kroket or frikandel costs €2-3.

Supermarket lunch. Albert Heijn is everywhere. Grab a broodje (sandwich) for €2-3, a drink, and eat by a canal. This is what half of Amsterdam does for lunch.

Cook if you can. If your accommodation has a kitchen, hit Albert Cuyp Market or a local Albert Heijn. Dutch supermarkets are excellent and cheap compared to eating out.

Getting Around for Less

Walk. Amsterdam's center is tiny. You can walk from Centraal to the Rijksmuseum in 25 minutes. Most tourists take trams for distances they could easily walk.

GVB day passes. If you will take the tram more than 3 times in a day, a day pass (€9) pays for itself. Multi-day passes are even better value.

Rent a bike from a local shop. The tourist rental places near Centraal charge €15-20/day. Neighborhood bike shops charge €8-12. Ask your hotel or hostel — they usually know a place.

Skip taxis entirely. Seriously. Trams, bikes, walking, ferry. That covers everything.

Cheap (or Free) Things to Do

Museums with deals:

• Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum have set prices, but the garden at the Rijksmuseum is free and beautiful
• Many museums are free with a Museumkaart (€65/year) — worth it if you're hitting 3+ museums or coming back
• Amsterdam Museum has a free indoor courtyard gallery
• FOAM photography museum does late-night openings that are cheaper

Free activities:

• Walk a different neighborhood each day — Jordaan, De Pijp, Noord, Oud-West all have completely different vibes
• Begijnhof — a hidden medieval courtyard in the middle of the city center. Free, quiet, easy to miss
• Bloemenmarkt — the floating flower market. Walking through is free; buying tulip bulbs is optional
• Take the free ferry to Noord and explore the NDSM wharf

Browse our Things to Do guide — we label budget-friendly options.

The Budget Day

Here's a full day in Amsterdam for under €30:

• Breakfast: Albert Heijn broodje + coffee (€4)
• Morning: Walk Jordaan canals and Noordermarkt (free)
• Lunch: Albert Cuyp Market street food (€6-8)
• Afternoon: Vondelpark + free ferry to Noord (free)
• Dinner: Surinamese roti in De Pijp (€8-10)
• Evening: One beer at a brown cafe (€4-5), walk canals at night (free)

Total: €22-27. And that's a legitimately great day.

Where People Waste Money

• Hop-on/hop-off buses (walk instead — the city is small)
• Red Light District "tours" (just walk through, it's a public street)
• Overpriced canal cruises (the €15 ones are the same water as the €45 ones)
• Eating in Leidseplein or Rembrandtplein (tourist trap central)
• Buying "Amsterdam" souvenirs (your friends don't want a plastic clog)

Real Talk

Amsterdam on a budget isn't about deprivation. It's about knowing where the value is. The best evening in this city is a €4 beer at a canal-side bench watching the sun set. The worst evening is a €50 dinner at a tourist restaurant where the food is microwaved. Spend smart, not more.

Places mentioned in this guide

Every spot here is personally vetted — no sponsored placements.

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The Hoxton Amsterdam

Local Favorite

jordaan·boutique hotel

If you want a hotel that feels like a stylish apartment with a great lobby bar, The Hoxton is it. Book early—especially in summer.

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O'Donnell's Irish Pub

Local Favorite

de pijp

My buddy watches every Premier League game here with a Guinness in hand. Proper Irish pub, proper pints, and the pub grub hits different when you are homesick for comfort food.

€€

Gollem's Proeflokaal

Local Favorite

oud west

My neighbor calls this beer heaven and he is not exaggerating. Over 200 beers, staff who actually know what they are talking about, and the coziest little bar you will find.