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:

• Private Amsterdam Red Light District and Coffee Shop Tour

• Red Light District Tour in Amsterdam

• Amsterdam Red Light District Walking Tour in EN/DE/IT/ES/FR

• Amsterdam Red Light District Bar Crawl

• MUST DO: Amsterdam's Red Light District Tour With a Local

While it’s free to visit Amsterdam’s Red Light District on your own, there are plenty of affordable tours that can help you learn more about the city’s most notorious streets with an expert guide. Walking tours start at around US$24, while private tours are closer to about US$102.

Yes, Amsterdam's Red Light District is worth visiting. It is one of the city's oldest and most historic neighborhoods, with medieval architecture, hidden courtyards, and lively nightlife. It's also home to the Old Church, Amsterdam's oldest building, as well as several museums and bars worth ducking into. Join a guided walking tour to explore the area and hear from local expert guides who can offer the full picture of the district's complex history and culture, well beyond what you'd pick up wandering on your own.

Per one customer who booked the Private Amsterdam Red Light District and Coffee Shop Tour, "This tour was amazing!! We did the tour with my family of five, and we booked it privately. We were hesitating about doing this tour as a family, but Guido made everything really interesting and explained it in such a respectful way that it never felt awkward. Definitely recommend even for families!!"

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.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Red Light District. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Amsterdam:

• Anne Frank House

• Herengracht

• Bloemenmarkt

• Amsterdam Central Station

• Rijksmuseum

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Amsterdam.