Amsterdam Red Light District (De Wallen) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Amsterdam’s Red Light District. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Amsterdam: Luxury Canal Cruise with Onboard Bar
• Amsterdam Canal Cruise With Live Guide and Unlimited Drinks
• Amsterdam Highlights Small-Group Walking Tour
• Dutch Cheese and Drinks Guided Amsterdam Boat Tour
• Amsterdam Canal Cruise on a small open boat (max 12 guests)

If you’re on a self-guided tour and don’t plan on visiting any museums, you won’t need Amsterdam Red Light District (De Wallen) tickets. In fact, they don’t exist. The area is open to the public 24/7. However, plenty of tours led by local guides are available that showcase the Red Light District. Guided walking tours start at around €18, boat tours at €20, bar crawls at €25, and private tours from €95.

There’s much more to Amsterdam’s Red Light District (De Wallen) than its illuminated windows. Top attractions include the 13th-century Old Church (Oude Kerk), the Dutch capital’s oldest building; the colorful Zeedijk Street, famous for its nightlife; Museum Our Lord in the Attic (Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder), a secret 17th-century Catholic church; and the Condomerie, the world’s first store dedicated entirely to condoms.

There are many different types of Red Light District tours, ranging from history-focused daytime walking tours, food crawls, or experiences that explore the progressive laws of the neighborhood. Some include stops at attractions, such as the Sex Museum. Other options include canal cruises and hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tours. Tours of the red-lit windows are not allowed.

While you can take photographs and videos of the gabled houses, canals, and cultural highlights of the Red Light District, you can’t capture the brothel’s red-lit window on camera. Showing respect to sex workers is an essential part of any visit to Amsterdam. Photography and recording are also prohibited during sex shows.

Yes, the Red Light District is considered safe at night. However, because of its popularity as a nightlife destination, it’s important to stay vigilant and keep your valuables close to you. Evening tours can help you navigate the area after dark.

The best time to visit the Red Light District depends on what you’re looking for. It’s busy day and night, but daytime is best if you want to admire the architecture and enjoy canalside coffee shops. Evenings are atmospheric and full of revelers. King’s Day in April sees the city erupt in orange to celebrate the monarch’s official birthday.

Because it's a residential neighborhood packed with history and culture, there’s no age restriction to explore the Red Light District. However, you need to be over 18 to enter the area’s coffee shops and to visit sex shows, and many of the bars and nightclubs require ID.