Travelling on a budget? There’s no need to spend a lot of money during your visit. Here are some great money-saving tips for Amsterdam!
Water Ferries
The GVB water ferries which run behind Central Station connect the city with the northern part of Amsterdam, which is being regenerated. There is no charge for using them, and they frequently run throughout the day.
Supermarkets
The smaller “to-go” Albert Heijn supermarkets in prime locations are more expensive than regular Albert Heijn supermarkets.
Regular Albert Heijn supermarkets have vending machines offering free coffee to customers.
Bike Rental
OV fiets offer free bike rental at train stations. However, it requires an OV Chipcard subscription and therefore only practical for residents of Holland, Belgium, Germany & Luxembourg.
Visitors from other countries will need to pay around 12 per day or 8 for a part-day. As standard, the bikes have a “pedal backwards” braking system which is common in Holland. If you’re not comfortable with this you will need to pay a couple of euros more for a bike with hand brakes. Discount bike rental and Rent a Bike have the best rates, and the bikes are “incognito” to help you blend. If you don’t mind looking like a tourist, then others, such as Mac Bike are a good choice and are more centrally located.