Amsterdam charges one of Europe's highest tourist taxes, 12.5% of the room price, on top of already high hotel rates. Museum tickets, canal cruises, transit and bike rentals are what most visitors forget.
Starts with a sample trip. Change any number to match yours.
Compare hotels in central Amsterdam →The sample is 2 travelers for 4 nights. Your plan ($3,640) covers the main costs most people budget for, the ones you enter on the left. Costs people forget ($911, about 25% more for this trip) are the fees, taxes, tips and extras listed in the calculator. Prices were last checked on October 17, 2026.
Share of the $4,551 real cost. Nights and travelers multiply most of these costs, so changing either one moves the total the most.
5 of this trip's numbers link to a published price or rate. The rest are our estimates, and each one says what it is based on. You can also read how we calculate every trip.
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare per person | $900 per traveler | Our estimate of a typical round-trip economy fare to Amsterdam from a major US airport. Fares vary widely by city and season. Our estimate |
| Hotel per night | $260 a night | Our estimate for a mid-range double room in central Amsterdam. Rates swing widely by season. Our estimate |
| Food per person, per day | $80 per traveler, per day | Our estimate for cafe breakfasts, casual lunches and one restaurant dinner a day, at about $80 per person. Our estimate |
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Checked bag fees Off by default | $90 per traveler | Most economy fares to Europe include one checked bag, so this is off by default. Basic economy fares charge extra. Source |
| Passports Off by default | $165 per traveler | A new adult passport costs about $165 and can take weeks. Our estimate |
| Airport transfers | $30 for the trip | The train from Schiphol is €5.50 each way with a contactless card; our $30 for two adds a little for luggage or a tram. Source |
| City tourist tax | 12.5% of the hotel | Amsterdam's tourist tax stays at 12.5% of the room price in 2026. Source |
| Trams and metro | $25 per traveler | A GVB 24-hour ticket is €10 and a 7-day ticket is €43; we budget about two day tickets per person. Source |
| Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh and museum tickets | $75 per traveler | Adult tickets are €25 each for the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum and €16.50 for the Anne Frank House. Source |
| Canal boat tours | $22 per traveler | A canal cruise is on almost every first visit. Our estimate |
| Bike rental | $30 per traveler | Renting a bike for a day or two is the local way to get around. Our estimate |
| Phone data | $30 per traveler | An international plan or eSIM. Our estimate |
| Card fees | 3% of your plan | Many credit and debit cards charge about 3% on foreign purchases; cards with no foreign transaction fee avoid it. Our estimate |
| Travel insurance | 6% of your plan | Squaremouth says a comprehensive plan averages about 6% of the trip cost, usually 4% to 10%. Source |
| Pre-trip shopping | $60 for the trip | Our estimate for travel-size toiletries, sunscreen and small things bought before a trip. Our estimate |
| Pet boarding or sitter | $50 a day, if you check Pets | Dogster puts regular kennel boarding at about $35 to $85 a night. Overnight sitters at home cost more. Source |
For 4 nights with flights, a hotel and food, plan on about $3,650. Once you add the costs most visitors forget, like the tourist tax, museum tickets, a canal cruise and transit, it's closer to $4,550. Use the calculator above to match your own trip.
Amsterdam's tourist tax stays at 12.5% of the room price in 2026. On a $260 room, that's about $32 a night. Check whether your booking already includes it. Source
The train to Amsterdam Centraal is €5.50 each way if you tap in with a contactless card. A paper ticket adds a €1.60 surcharge. Taxis cost about €55 to €95. Source
Usually not for a short trip. The temporary card sold at museum desks is limited to five visits in 31 days, and it pays off at about four full-price museums. The Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum together cost about €50. Source
A GVB day ticket for trams, buses and the metro is €10, and a 7-day ticket is €43. The city center is walkable, and many visitors rent a bike for a day or two instead. Source