Quick answer: Amsterdam runs about EUR 150 per day mid-range - noticeably less if you eat local and walk. Cheapest window: April-May for tulip season and September for mild weather - both avoid the peak summer crush on the canals.
What things actually cost
| stroopwafel from a stall | 3 EUR |
| beer at a brown cafe | 6 EUR |
| tram single ride | 3.40 EUR |
| Rijksmuseum entry | 22.50 EUR |
| bike rental per day | 14 EUR |
| canal cruise (1 hour) | 18 EUR |
Eat well for little
- Fresh stroopwafel from a market stallwarm off the iron, about 3 EUR
- Raw herring with onions from a haringhandelthe local rite of passage, about 4.50 EUR
- Bitterballen with mustard at a brown cafeabout 8 EUR a plate with a beer alongside
- Indonesian rijsttafela legacy of Dutch colonial history and a full-table feast, about 30 EUR per person
- Apple pie at Winkel 43 in the Jordaanabout 6 EUR a slice, worth the queue
Money mistakes to avoid
- Not booking the Anne Frank House online well in advancetickets are released weeks ahead and there are no door sales
- Walking in the bike lanesthey look like sidewalks but cyclists move fast and will not stop
- Basing yourself around the Red Light District for convenience - it is loud until 3am; the Jordaan or De Pijp are 15 minutes away and far nicer
- Renting a bike on day one without city-cycling experiencetrams, taxis and locals share narrow lanes, so start on foot
Transport without the tourist tax
The train from Schiphol to Centraal takes about 15 minutes and costs around 4.60 EUR. The center is small enough to walk; trams fill the gaps (single ride about 3.40 EUR) and a GVB day pass is about 9 EUR.
Planning the full trip? Start with the 3-day Amsterdam itinerary.