How to save money in Europe: tourist card
All independent and not very tourists who have ever been outside their homeland know very well how quickly the contents of the wallet can disappear if you do not plan your budget. Whether you want to visit the capital of Italy or take a selfie against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, take a walk along the canals of Venice or feel the unique atmosphere of London, or maybe you want to get acquainted with the sights of Amsterdam, almost from the first days of the trip you can face a lot of different unplanned expenses.
What are the benefits of a tourist card
Such a card entitles you to free public transport and also provides discounts or free tickets to most local museums. If you purchase such a card, you will receive discounts or bonuses in certain restaurants and cafes, when shopping in shopping centers.
In addition to saving money, such a card can significantly save time. Its owners do not always stand in the queues of museums or ticket offices. Also, in addition to the tourist map itself, you get a good quality city map and a guide.
It is attractive that you can pay for the purchase of a tour card by bank transfer – that is, you can start a walk around the city even if you do not have cash on hand. As for the price of a tourist card, it depends on how long such a card is valid. You can limit yourself to 1 day or take 2 or more. It is better to purchase a card after making a travel plan. The card is activated automatically after the first use. It is impossible to arrange a “break” in use.
If you need a three-day tourist card, it must be actively used for exactly three calendar days. If the card was activated at noon, it is valid until 12 noon on the third day. In addition, before buying a card, it is still better to calculate the total expenses for the same tickets, other expenses. It happens that the card will be beneficial only for long-term stays in the city.
How to buy a tourist card
When buying a card, be sure to familiarize yourself with the conditions: types of transport for which it gives discounts, age categories to which it gives benefits (students, for example, will not receive additional benefits other than those that they initially have; there are separate types of children‘s tourist cards), documents that will be needed when using the card, and it is also better to immediately clarify how to return the cost of a card that has not been activated.
You can buy cards at tourist centers, hotels, and some local shops. In this case, the second option will always be preferable, since there you can get more complete information and help. At the same time, materials, as a rule, are in most of the common languages of the world, and the staff of tourist centers speak several languages. You can also buy a card online by paying with a bank card.
There are even discounts when paying online. By purchasing a card, you will receive an activation code that allows you to receive it in one of the special machines or a partner travel agency. It happens that cards are received at the airport upon arrival.
Learn more about cards of popular cities in Europe.
Roma Pass (Rome)
The cost of the card for 3 days, at the time of publication of this article, is 36 euros. The cost of the card for 48 hours is 28 euros. The Roma Pass gives you the opportunity to visit two places to choose from – archaeological sites or museums. In addition, by purchasing a Roma Pass, you will receive a discount on entrance tickets to thematic exhibitions, concerts, interesting cultural events, and in addition, you will be able to use public transport for 3 days absolutely free of charge, including ATAC buses, metro lines A, B and suburban trains.
On the back of the card, you must fill in the empty fields, indicate the owner's surname and first name, since it is a nominal one, as well as the date of its activation. Roma Pass also allows you to skip the line to museums, which can save a lot of time.
Roma Pass Card Kit includes:
Paris Sightseeing Pass (Paris)
The cost of the card for 2 days is 116 euros for adults, 60 euros (teenagers), 39 euros (children from 4 to 11 years old), 69 euros (children from 12 to 17 years old), children under 3 years old – free of charge. The cost of the “Paris Sightseeing Pass” for 4 days for an adult will cost 172 euros and 209 euros for 6 days. The price includes a tour of the beauties of the French capital. You can, say, visit the Museum of Crafts, whose collections include more than 3,000 inventions.
Also, the card holder will have access to the traditional tourist places of Paris – Notre Dame Cathedral, the same Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, will be able to travel on the “Big Bus” Hop-on, Hop-Off (and thus save 27 euros on the ticket). And of course, unlimited travel by public transport. We recommend that you read our guide “On your own to Paris. Guide for 5 days.
London Pass (London)
With this card, you can see more than 60 attractions of the city for free, as well as receive discounts at some restaurants and shops. By purchasing the card, you will also receive a detailed guidebook, unlimited public transport, a list of attractions, cafes and shops where you can use it.
The London Pass eliminates the need to queue at Tower of London, Windsor Castle, Hampton Court Palace, ZSL London Zoo, Tower of London, London Bridge, Kensington Palace. There are cards for up to 6 days. The cost of the card for 1 day is 49 euros, 2 days – 68 euros, 3 days – 81 euros, 6 days – 108 euros. A child ticket will cost approximately 30% less. Don't forget to read our best London 3-day guide before your trip.
Amsterdam Holland Pass (Amsterdam and other cities in the Netherlands)
There are 2 types of cards to choose from – gold and silver, which provide free entrance tickets and skip-the-line access to the main museums and attractions in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht (each type of card has its own list of places), travel by public transport, discounts up to 50% off at select restaurants and shops, plus a colorful guide.
In the capital of the Netherlands, with the Amsterdam Holland Pass, you can take a canal cruise, take a free sightseeing tour, visit world-famous museums, ride a Hop on Hop off boat, and get vivid emotions from visiting other interesting places.
You also choose the package of options you need:
The children's package and the package for 2 and 5 tickets provide travel on public transport for 24 hours. The 7-ticket package provides travel on public transport within 48 hours. The public transport ticket can be exchanged at any GWK Travelex office.
I Amsterdam city card (Amsterdam)
The I Amsterdam city card includes a card that entitles you to free admission to museums (from the list), a free public transport pass (does not apply to travel from and to the airport by train), a booklet with useful information and instructions for use. Another nice bonus is a free boat cruise through the canals.
You can purchase:
The countdown starts from the moment it is activated. If you rent a car, you get a 50% discount on parking with the card. Also, the I Amsterdam city card allows you to get a cup of aromatic coffee at La Place or a cup of tea at De Bazel Cafe en Conferentiecentrum absolutely free of charge. If the soul asks for something “hot”, then in De Drie Fleschjes you will be poured a shot of liquor for free, upon presentation of the card.
Venice Card (Venice)
For those travelers who plan to visit Venice, we recommend purchasing the Venice Card, which provides great discounts at local restaurants and shops, as well as skip-the-line access to historical attractions and exhibitions. The Venice Card also allows you to visit the Doge's Palace, 15 churches of the Chorus Churches Association, the Querini-Stampalia Foundation for free. Also attached to the map is a tourist map-guide around the city.
Venice Card price:
The card is valid for 7 days from the date of activation. More information can be found on the official website veneziaunica.it.
Rolling Venice (Venice)
Buying this card will allow you to save on public transport and get pleasant discounts in more than two hundred stores in the city. The card is valid for three days. The cost is four euros. Available for purchase at Hellovenezia offices. The only drawback of this tourist card is that travelers aged 14 to 29 can use it. The presence of Rolling Venice allows you to count on a profitable purchase of an ACTV card, which will cost the tourist only 18€.
ACTV Tourist Card (Venice)
This card entitles you to unlimited travel on public transport for a period of 12 hours to 7 days. A card for 12 hours will cost a tourist 18€, for 72 hours 35€, for a week 50€. You can buy such a pass at Hellovenezia offices, as well as at vending machines that can be found in all tourist spots in the city.