GoCity Amsterdam Review: Is it Worth it?
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Written by Woodrow Matthews
If a trip to Amsterdam is in your future, you’re in for a real treat. This lively and unique Dutch city is one of the most visited in Europe for good reasons.
Whenever traveling to a city of this size and with so much to do, it’s always a good idea to look into an all-inclusive pass or discount card for the major attractions around town. A sightseeing pass can offer big savings on museums, public transportation, and most top things compared to purchasing separate attraction tickets at each visit.
If you have even a few top attractions on your Amsterdam itinerary, buying one of the tourist cards can be a great money-saving strategy. Some of the most popular are the I Amsterdam City Card and the CityPasses.eu Amsterdam City Pass and the GoCity Amsterdam Pass – we’ll review that last one in this article.
So before buying your tickets for the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House, or tours of the world-famous Red Light District, please look at what we think of the GoCity Amsterdam City Pass below. We’ve done the research for you to see if it’s worth it for your trip or not!
Methodology
To determine whether GoCity Amsterdam is worth it, we looked at what it offers based on what we know about the best things to do in Amsterdam. We also considered what the GoCity competitors offer, such as the I Amsterdam Card and the CityPasses.eu Amsterdam City Pass to see how they stack up.
We aim to ensure real savings compared to traveling without the pass before making a verdict. Let’s see if the GoCity Amsterdam Pass is right for you.
What is GoCity Amsterdam?
GoCity sells passes that serve as combined tickets or discount cards for the most popular attractions in certain cities. You may have already seen their passes available in other cities around the US, such as San Francisco, New York City, New Orleans, Las Vegas, and many others. Abroad, you can find GoPass cards in places like the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, the Middle East, and some of Asia.
The concept of GoCity is rather simple: by making a single purchase, you gain free access to dozens of the most popular things to do in the area.
There is no need to buy a separate ticket whenever you visit something, as you show your card to get in. In the case of the Amsterdam product, there are two options: the All-Inclusive Pass and the Explorer Pass.
See Related: Famous Buildings in Amsterdam to Visit
The Explorer Pass
The Explorer Pass gives the holder 60 days from its first use to visit either 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 of Amsterdam’s best attractions. You will select how many attractions you want to see at the time of purchase, so this is best used with a rough idea of what exactly you want to do in Amsterdam.
Nearly all of the best things to do in Amsterdam are included for free with the Explorer Pass. Of the list of more than 25 attractions, here are just a few of the best:
- The Heineken Experience (standalone ticket is approximately $21)
- Rijksmuseum
- 100 Highlights Canal Cruise
- Moco Museum
- Amsterdam Muiderslot Castle
- Adam Lookout
- Excursions out of Amsterdam to Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Edam, and more
As you will find, getting your money’s worth for the attractions included in the Explorer Pass isn’t hard. Take a look at the potential savings of a 5-choice pass as an example.
The All-Inclusive Pass
The All-Inclusive Pass allows travelers to choose between a 1, 2, 3, or 5-day card that gets them into as many attractions as they want. The pass becomes activated at its first use and then gets you into unlimited activities.
The All-Inclusive Pass works for more than 30 tours, activities, and attractions. The list contains all of the attractions listed in the Explorer Pass, plus extras that are exclusive to the All-Inclusive Pass, such as:
- The Amsterdam Tulip Museum
- Tony’s Chocolonely Superstore
- The Amsterdam Pipe Museum
While you certainly won’t be able to visit every attraction included on your pass, you can still save some serious money just by seeing a few. For example, take a look at the cost savings of doing three to four attractions per day throughout a three-day pass.
The Short Version
To be concise, one of the GoCity Amsterdam Passes is a good choice for certain trips to Amsterdam. If you have even a few of the included attractions on your itinerary, you could definitely save money with the Explorer Pass, at the least. If you plan to see a fair amount of the inclusions, an All-Inclusive Pass will save you even more.
There are certain cases in which we wouldn’t recommend purchasing a GoCity Pass for Amsterdam. If museums and tours aren’t your things, and you’d rather explore the Red Light District and visit distant towns by train, then a pass isn’t for you.
Plus, big attractions like the Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum aren’t included in either pass. To be fair, these aren’t included in other passes, such as the I Amsterdam Card. But, that pass does include public transport during its validity, which GoCity does not.
The bottom line is to check the list of each pass carefully and decide if you plan to see some of the things there. If you count more than three, a pass can definitely be a good idea, but if not, then this product probably isn’t for you.
See Related: Best Parks in Amsterdam to Visit
Key Features
The whole point of buying a pass like GoCity offers is to make your vacation smoother, simpler, and cheaper. The key features of their Amsterdam Pass prove to do just that for the right type of traveler.
- Inclusions offer some of the most popular things to do in Amsterdam. You’ll find things like the Heineken Experience, A’dam Lookout, and the Rijksmuseum included in both versions of the pass, among many others.
- Easy reservation system for the attractions that require you to book in advance. It won’t be difficult for you to figure out what attractions you need to reserve, nor will you have a hard time getting it done, thanks to a handy page with all the necessary information on GoCity’s website.
- Your pass is available on your phone using GoCity’s App. There’s no need to carry around a physical card or even a piece of paper as long as you have your phone. You’ll also have easy access to information about the attractions included.
- Money-back guarantee in case your plans change. If you can’t take your trip for any reason or decide against using the pass, you can get a refund within 90 days of purchase if the pass hasn’t been used yet.
- The Explorer Pass is a good option for long-term use. If you are living in the Netherlands or even in a nearby European country, you can use an Explorer Pass over 60 days from its first use. That can be a great way for locals or near-locals to do some sightseeing in their backyard around their schedules.
See Related: Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Amsterdam
Pros
Different Versions of the Pass Depending on Needs
One thing we like about GoCity Amsterdam is that it has many versions to choose from. If you know, you’ll only see a limited number of attractions. Then, the smaller Explorer Pass allows you to spend less than you would on an All-Inclusive Pass.
You can choose how many attractions you want to see on the Explorer Pass, tailoring it to your specific needs. With the All-Inclusive Pass, you decide how many days you need and not to spend more than necessary.
Excursions to Cities and Villages Outside of Amsterdam
One of the best things to do when visiting Amsterdam is to get out of the city and see more of beautiful Holland. This country is small but packs a ton of culture and history, making for plenty of great day trips from Amsterdam.
Cities like The Hague, Rotterdam, Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Edam, and more can be reached on GoCity Passes tours.
Phone App to Access the Pass and Information
You don’t need to pull out a physical card every time you visit one of the attractions, nor do you need to go to the GoCity website to remember what’s included or how it works. You can download the GoCity App, where you’ll find your pass and all the information you need.
Unique Attractions that You May Not Have Found Otherwise
You’re probably headed to Amsterdam with your sights on the Heineken Experience, canal tours, and historic windmills. That’s all great, and you should definitely see them! But some of the lesser-known attractions included with the pass might inspire you to see other things, too.
Why not check out the Amsterdam Pipe Museum to see some of the oldest smoking pipes in the world (rather appropriate for this city, no?), or make your chocolate bar at Tony’s Chocolonely Superstore? You can find some very interesting things to do with your GoCity Pass.
Risk-Free, Money-Back Guarantee
If you are hesitant about the pass or whether your trip will take place, you can benefit from GoCity’s money-back guarantee. All passes are eligible for a refund if they haven’t been used and you request it within 90 days of purchase.
See Related: Canals in Amsterdam You Need to See
Cons
Some Top Attractions are Not Available
Unfortunately, some of the biggest things to do in Amsterdam are not included in either GoCity Pass. This includes the famous Anne Frank House and the Van Gogh Museum.
To be fair, you wouldn’t have access to either of these if you purchased the I Amsterdam City Card, GoCity’s top competitor in town. You’ll probably want to visit these places anyway, so be sure to make reservations well in advance (especially for the Anne Frank House).
Public Transportation Not Included
Amsterdam is a big city, and it’s crisscrossed by canals, which can make it a bit less walkable for those who’d rather not. Unfortunately, the buses and trams of Amsterdam aren’t included in the GoCity Pass – while they are included in the I Amsterdam Card, an alternative pass.
The CityPasses.eu Amsterdam City Pass, another competing pass, does not include public transport but offers free round-trip train travel between Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Central Station on the Amsterdam Airport Express. So, each pass has its trade-off for getting around town.
The good news is that a full-day GVB transport card is approximately 8 euros. Depending on the amount of time you spend in Amsterdam, it won’t break the bank by purchasing the GVB card separately.
Competing Passes Offer a More Extensive List
GoCity Amsterdam offers a great list of free activities and attractions in both passes. However, other passes, like the I Amsterdam Card, offer exponentially more. Their list of free and discounted attractions goes over 100, compared to less than 30 with GoCity.
See Related: Tips for Riding a Bike in Amsterdam
Ratings
Compared to its competitors, the access to the best things to do in Amsterdam, and its ability to help you have an overall great vacation, here is how we’d rate some important points of the GoCity Amsterdam Pass.
Ease-of-Use: 4/5
We find the GoCity Pass very easy to use, especially with their mobile phone app and clear explanation.
However, we’ve removed one point based on the fact that alternative cards can be bought in person in Amsterdam and allow you to hop onto trams and buses without thinking twice.
Features: 3/5
This is one area we had to knock a few points from because of the features included with GoCity compared to the I Amsterdam Card.
While GoCity definitely offers some of the best things to do in the city and Holland in general, their competitor offers a huge amount of additional tours and activities included with their card.
Customer Service: 5/5
GoCity makes the process of buying and using the pass super easy. If you run into any plan changes, you can get a full refund within 90 days of your purchase. If you need to contact GoCity, they have an email address, several international phone numbers, and even a WhatsApp line you can text!
Value for Money: 4/5
As long as you plan to see at least a few of the attractions included with a GoCity Pass, you can’t go wrong regarding the value for your money. With proper planning and some very simple calculations, you can be sure the purchase is worth it.
See Related: How Much is a Trip to Amsterdam?
The Verdict: Is GoCity Amsterdam legit?
Are you planning for a trip to Amsterdam? Here is a review of the GoCity Amsterdam Pass to help you decide on whether its a great pick for you.
Product Brand: GoCity Amsterdam
4.5
Pros
- Different Versions of the Pass Includes Excursions to Cities and Villages Outside of Amsterdam Available GoCity Phone App Offers Unique Attractions
- Risk-Free and Money-Back Guarantee
Cons
- Some Top Attractions are Not Available Public Transportation Not Included Competing Passes Offer a More Extensive List
So, should you buy a GoCity Pass for Amsterdam? If you want to see at least three attractions that are included with the pass, it’s probably worth the purchase. This can be especially true if you want to take some of the excursions out of the city, which prove to be very convenient and cost-saving with the pass.
Our GoCity review has shown that when used with the right attractions, the pass can definitely save you cash in one of the most expensive cities in Europe!
However, competing passes offer similar inclusions along with public transport for free. It will depend on your specific itinerary whether the higher cost of a different pass will be more worth it or not.
Before you make any purchases, do a fair amount of research and cost calculations to see what saves you the most. If it turns out that the GoCity Pass is the one for you, know that it’s a reputable product that has satisfied travelers from around the world to the enchanting city of Amsterdam.
See Related: Amsterdam Packing List: What to Bring on Your Trip
FAQ
Does the GoCity Amsterdam Pass include public transport access?
While the GoCity Pass doesn’t include public transportation in the city, it does offer alternatives like the hop-on, hop-off boat tour, bike rentals, and transportation to further attractions like Keukenhof and Zaanse Schans. You can definitely get around easily to most, if not all, of the major sights to see.
Does the Amsterdam GoCity Pass include all of the major Amsterdam attractions?
Based on our thorough review, the GoCity Amsterdam Pass checks the boxes of most of the biggest things to see in Amsterdam. It even includes further excursions into the rest of Holland for those spending several days in the area. However, it will not get you into the Anne Frank House or the Van Gogh Museum – two major things to see in Amsterdam.
Which Amsterdam museums are included with the GoCity Pass?
Both passes include the Heineken Experience (which includes its museum), the Rijksmuseum, Museum Het Rembrandthuis, the Moco Museum, and more. Notably not included are the Anne Frank House or the Van Gogh Museum, so you’ll have to arrange to visit those key attractions yourself.
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