Xtracold Ice Bar Amsterdam: how to buy, prices and discounts

This Ice Bar is, in more ways than one, the coolest place in Amsterdam. With walls, furniture and even glasses made of natural ice, the sculpture work alone is worth the entrance fee. But if these issues plus the -10°C temperature are not enough incentive, add the cultural attraction around the explorer Willem Barents, vibrant atmosphere all year round and a variety of delicious cocktails and free beer!

In this publication you will learn everything you need to know about the Xtracold Icebar, an establishment divided into two themed environments with opposite temperatures and the trip to the North Pole as maximum inspiration.

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Amsterdam Ice Bar Experience Tickets

Tickets for the ice bar in Amsterdam.

Skip-the-line entry to the famous Xtracold Icebar, Amsterdam's coolest experience at 10 degrees below zero with free cocktails in a bar carved out of ice.

From $30 at Hellotickets

With your ticket to the ice bar in Amsterdam is included a guided tour of the secrets of the most famous explorer of the Netherlands, plus you get 3 tokens - two silver and one gold - which can be exchanged for 3 free drinks of your choice. The first setting is a warm tavern that serves an extensive menu of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages while you are introduced to Willem Barents, the famous Dutch explorer who discovered Svalbard in 1596.

Once you learn his story, you'll be provided with warm clothing for the journey to the North Pole, the heart of this icy experience, where everything from the furniture to the glasses to the walls and art is carved entirely from ice. The place is made from 35,000 kg of ice to evoke the New Zembla archipelago, where Barents and his crew were shipwrecked for almost a year. Here you can use your two silver tokens to order beer, shots or orange juice.

Recommended if... you want to be transported to the atmosphere of the North Pole in Amsterdam's coolest experience.

Tickets to Amsterdam's Xtracold Icebar are one type only and include three drinks, change of clothes for the ice lounge bar and talks about the star of the place, Willem Barents, who discovered Svalbard in 1596, the first discovery to approach the Northeast Passage to the Indies.

Although you can purchase your tickets in person, please note that seating is very limited and ideally you should secure your ticket without queues by purchasing in advance online.

Unfortunately, tickets to the Amsterdam ice bar are not included in any of the best Amsterdam sightseeing passes. However, you may feel like doing combined tours, in which case you can find guided tours with this bar included as the saver pack: cruise and tickets to the Amsterdam Ice Bar.

Yes, some of the best Amsterdam bike tours, other sights such as Amsterdam's weirdest museum, Ripley's Believe It or Not! as well as other excursions with the best experiences in the capital of the Netherlands include the ice bar among their stops and between them, they are worth it:

• The Xtracold Icebar combo ticket and canal cruise: Looking for a unique way to explore Amsterdam? Try this self-guided tour of the city's most famous sights - from the water! The cruise often takes you cruising along the canals. Sights include the houseboats, passing the Anne Frank Museum, the Magere Brug or Skinny Bridge between the Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht canals, as well as other monuments and museums. Finally, the cruise will take you to one of its most famous attractions: the Xtracold Icebar. Here, even the glasses are made of ice!
• The combined pass to the XtraCold Ice Bar, cruise and Amsterdam sightseeing bus: This pass includes a tour of the city center on the sightseeing bus, a cruise on Amsterdam's canals and the XtraCold Icebar experience. The tour is flexible, the cruises usually depart every 15 minutes, on the bus you have your map with the route of stops. And if that's not enough, the ticket includes 3 drinks at the ice bar. This is an ideal all-in-one tour for those interested in seeing Amsterdam in 1 day at the best price.
• Combined tickets to Amsterdam Ice Bar XtraCold and Club Escape: Amsterdam has an exciting nightlife and a wide variety of clubs, bars and other venues to choose from. But if you're in the mood for an unforgettable night out, book your visit to the XtraCold Icebar and Escape Club. This package will take you on an unforgettable journey through time and space as you explore the Arctic with Dutch explorer Willem Barents before dancing the night away in one of the Netherlands' trendiest clubs.

Amsterdam's Xtracold Icebar is an adults-only experience. As of 2018, with admission to the Amsterdam ice bar, only those over 18 are allowed in and you may be required to show a valid ID, especially if you're like Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who has retained his boyish face since Nanny McPhee.

You know what's better than a trip to Amsterdam? A trip to Amsterdam with an extra cold stop at the city's Xtracold Icebar, but can everyone enjoy the experience? That's not guaranteed because the place is quite crowded.

If you want to be sure to get in, and who doesn't, then you're going to want to book your ticket to the Amsterdam ice bar as well as the time of entry and avoid the queue at the box office. This bar has limited seating and is often at capacity on weekends and holidays. It is one of the first attractions on Amsterdam's summer bucket list, so it is recommended that you book in advance.

Another advantage of booking tickets is that you can organize your group visit, either with your friends or family to share the experience at the same time.

You have to keep in mind that when booking your ticket to the Amsterdam ice bar, it does not offer any kind of food and to maintain the cleanliness of the place it is advised to avoid food.What about drinks? Being a drinks-only tavern, you can expect signature and classic cocktails with the signature Xtracold Icebar.

With your ticket you receive one gold and two silver coins, the first is to be exchanged at the Lounge Bar, the entrance bar, and the others to be redeemed at the ice bar.

What kind of drinks are offered in the Lounge Bar

The Front Lounge Bar is the first stop for all visitors to the Xtracold Icebar Amsterdam, and is the place where you spend the most time. Here you can enjoy a wide variety of drinks, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. You can check out their menu here.

Most visitors recommend trying the "Amsterdamned", a mix of gin, peach liqueur, cranberry juice and freshly squeezed lime juice, but you can also opt for the classic Heineken beer or their "Artic Ice Bar" cocktail. The Front Lounge Bar's most popular non-alcoholic cocktails are the Mojito, the Sex on the Beach and the non-alcoholic Amsterdamned.

And if one drink is not enough for you, you can purchase additional drinks, or wait for your second stop on this tour, the ice bar.

What kind of drinks are on offer at the Ice Bar

After a few drinks at the Front Lounge Bar, you'll be ready to enter the Ice Bar. After putting on the coat and gloves provided by the bar, you will enter a world like no other, where both your drinks and your surroundings are frozen.

Once inside, you will be able to exchange your silver tokens for two drinks of your choice. You can choose from five shots: vodka shot with nuts and nougat, vodka shot with whipped cream, white vodka shot, vodka shot with coconut and sambuca. If you prefer something lighter, opt for a Heineken beer and enjoy your personalized Heineken experience.

The experience goes up a notch when you receive your drinks served in fully frozen themed glasses and just like in the entrance lounge, here you can also purchase additional drinks.

Monday to Sunday between 11:45 am and 1 am. Please note that the recommended experience is 40 - 60 minutes and last admission is one hour before closing.

Important: Amsterdam Ice Bar is closed on April 27th, due to King's Day.

The Xtracold Icebar is located at Amstel 194-196, 1017 AG Amsterdam, 450 meters (6 minutes walk) from one of Amsterdam's best museums, the Jewish Museum. You can get there:

• By subway: trains 51, 53 and 54 stop at Waterlooplein subway station, from there it will take you three minutes to get to the bar.
• By streetcar: take streetcars 4 and 14 from Amsterdam Central Station and get off at Rembrandtplein (two stops), then you will find the bar a three-minute walk away.
• By tourist bus: stop number 4 (Waterlooplein) is part of the regular route of Amsterdam's best tourist buses, it will be a four-minute walk to the bar. Buy your pass for the Amsterdam tourist bus and take advantage of this means of transport to get to the rest of the places of your trip.
• By car: this is not exactly the most used option in the capital of the Netherlands. However, if you feel like it, the closest parking is the Mercedes parking inprotant, which you can find at Herengracht, 1017 CJ, 150 meters walking along the Amstel. Another option is to park at the Waterlooplein Parking, which is located at Valkenburgerstraat 238, 1011, 190 meters walk from Blauwbrug and Waterlooplein. Here is a map with their locations.

Please note when purchasing your ticket to the Amsterdam Icebar that the experience is designed to enjoy the venue for 40 - 60 minutes between the two environments.

Often about 30 minutes are spent in the Lounge bar and, after warming up with your first drink, you change your clothes to enter the heart and soul of the venue, the ice bar, where you drink a couple of additional free drinks.

It is important to mention that, for the duration of your visit, 60 minutes from your entrance, you can go out for a smoke or do anything else you feel like, you just need to keep your ticket with you to show it at the entrance on your return.

• The XtraCold Icebar experience is a must on your list of things to see and do in Amsterdam. Entry is by appointment, which means it is timed. The duration time is 40-60 minutes (if you can resist them), the important thing is that you arrive in time to make use of your reservation. Keep in mind that, once your entrance time arrives, they only wait three minutes and if you are not there it is considered a "no show" so you lose your ticket. The recommendation is to arrive early, at least 10 minutes before your time.
• The XtraCold Icebar in Amsterdam is an adult experience at cheap prices, starting at 28 €. However, it has no special discount policy for students, seniors or people with disabilities.
• The two environments of this ice bar are cramped and between lights, drinks and sounds, it could be strident for people with special sensitivities such as adults on the autism spectrum.
• Bring your ID, you may be asked for it at the entrance.
• You are allowed to take pictures on your own, but if you prefer professional photos, a professional photographer is also available for an additional fee so that your only occupation is to enjoy the experience.
• The XtraCold Icebar provides you with the clothing to enter the ice bar. It is size XXXL, which allows it to fit almost everyone, however, watch your size, someone very thin or with a wider waist will probably not feel as comfortable. You can wear whatever clothing you feel is appropriate. In any case, keep in mind that inside the ice bar you will spend about 20 minutes approximately.
• Smoking is not allowed, vice for before or after the visit.
• I do not think you have doubts, but if so, I confirm: it is one of the most original things to do in Amsterdam.