Top Amsterdam How to Get Around

Don’t settle for crowded museums that rush you through history, elbow-to-elbow with the masses. This intimate walking tour follows Anne Frank's journey through the streets of Amsterdam, each lesser-known site offering profound insights into this era—and proving the enduring need for empathy to this day. Your tour wraps up at the iconic Secret Annex, leaving you with a deeper understanding that standard tours simply can't provide.

Explore Zaanse Schans and the Dutch countryside this tour from Amsterdam. With an informative guide, admire the lush, canal-crossed Dutch landscape. Take a tour of pretty Zaanse Schans, famous for its wooden windmills and green-painted houses, and visit a cheese farm and clog-making workshop to learn about these traditional crafts. Lastly, visit a working windmill to learn about the role of windmills in the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age.

The best way to explore the UNESCO-listed Amsterdam Canal Ring is indisputably by a small electric boat that can access the narrow historic canals that larger tour boats can't reach. Get a different perspective of the Dutch capital while avoiding the crowds on land during this relaxing cruise through the Red Light District, Anne Frank House, and the Skinny Bridge (depending on the route chosen). When the weather is good, enjoy an open-air boat ride as well as heated seats during the winter or bad weather.

Some of the best views of Amsterdam are from the water, so hop aboard and see the city as you glide along the scenic canal ways and under the historic bridges. This cruise pairs sightseeing with food tasting for a fun and interactive experience. While on board, tuck into delicious Dutch cheese and sip unlimited local wines as you cruise past the Anne Frank House, 9 Little Streets, Amsterdam Flower Market, and the Houseboat Museum.

See Amsterdam at your own pace with a hop-on hop-off bus or boat tour, including the option to combine both onto one ticket. Select a 24- or 48-hour ticket with several stops around town, enhanced by optional sightseeing around Amsterdam’s postcard-perfect network of waterways on the canal cruise. Pass by the Anne Frank House, National Maritime Museum, Heineken Experience, and eclectic neighborhoods like Jordaan and the historical Red Light District, where you can disembark to explore.

Get a feel for Amsterdam, without getting sore feet as you explore the city, with this canal cruise. Simply board your boat, and let your skipper-guide handle the navigation and the route. Enjoy an itinerary that passes historic buildings and lively neighborhoods, as you listen to insightful commentary along the way.

Get a fresh perspective on Amsterdam's Red Light District (De Wallen) on this small-group walking tour of the area. Delve into the city's history with the help of your guide and learn about what life is like for sex workers there, plus the laws surrounding the profession. As you explore, find out about local coffeeshops culture and other ways of life than make central Amsterdam unique.

Cruising down Amsterdam’s iconic canals is one of the most popular activities in the city. Join this exciting small-group cruise guided by local skippers who share the city's most beautiful spots. Sip on an optional drink (alcoholic or soft drink), as you pass highlights like The Dancing Houses and the Skinny Bridge. The skipper provides commentary in English, with digital guides available in multiple languages.

As the sun goes down over Amsterdam, take in its illuminated waterfront and history on an atmospheric canal cruise. Savor a 4-course gourmet dinner with wine, beer, soft drinks as you drift past historical attractions including the Anne Frank House and the Bloemenmarkt, while listening to informative commentary. Please note only available Wed -Sat

Spend less time wandering and more time admiring the masterpieces of the Rijksmuseum on a small-group guided tour. Designed with time-pressed travelers in mind, this tour takes you straight to the highlights to admire paintings by European masters such as Rembrandt and Hals, and offers insight into European art history that you’re unlikely to find in the guidebooks. Plus, a small group means that you have plenty of opportunities to ask your guide questions.

If there's one must-do activity for first-time visitors to Amsterdam, it's a scenic sightseeing cruise along the city's UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal ways. Unlike the popular party boats, this cruise prioritizes a quieter and more comfortable experience. Settle into the cushioned seats, tuck into some traditional Dutch snacks, or purchase a drink from the onboard bar as you glide past Amsterdam's waterfront landmarks.

Immerse yourself in the countryside of the Netherlands and enjoy a quintessentially Dutch experience on the back of a comfortable bike on this guided tour from Amsterdam. Escape the bustling city crowds with the help of a local guide to lead you along at a comfortable pace. See picturesque villages and windmills, with plenty of time to stop for photos, and take a break at a farm to try two freshly-made cheeses.

Dive deeper into Dutch traditions and the beauty of the Netherlands with this fascinating day trip from Amsterdam. A great way to learn more about the country, this full-day tour is led by a local insider who will take you to some of the best sightseeing spots in Giethoorn. You’ll also visit the historic windmill village of Zaanse Schans and swing by a cheese factory and wooden clog workshop.

Eat your way around Amsterdam on this small-group food walking tour that covers 1.5 miles (2.5 km) of the city. It includes over 10 delicious tastings at five local eateries that most travelers miss. At each venue, try Dutch delicacies, from freshly-made stroopwafels (syrup-filled waffles) to artisanal Gouda cheese. As you take a leisurely stroll between locations, see the canals that Amsterdam is famous for, and ask your guide for recommendations.

Understanding Amsterdam’s Red Light District (De Wallen) can be difficult without local context, but this private walking tour offers a clear, informed introduction with a guide leading the way. Travel along Zeedijk Street and through Chinatown, all while learning about how the area has evolved. As you walk past red-lit windows and adult entertainment venues, your guide separates fact from fiction and explains the social history of the district, including how prostitution was legalized in the Netherlands in 2000, and the culture surrounding coffee shops (licensed venues where cannabis is legally sold and consumed).

Glide through Amsterdam’s canals in style and comfort aboard a 100% electric luxury boat. Enjoy a relaxed cruise past top landmarks such as the Anne Frank House and the Jordaan district, while your live guide and skipper share stories about the city’s history and culture and pour you drinks from the onboard bar (if option selected). In summer, cruise on an open boat and take in the views with a drink from the onboard bar. On colder or rainy days, stay warm and comfortable on a covered saloon boat, with blankets provided.

Enjoy a wide-ranging introduction to Amsterdam’s highlights and history on this small-group walking tour. Pick between morning and afternoon start times, meet your guide right in the heart of the city, and set off on foot. You’ll see highlights like the Royal Palace and the Red Light District, will learn about the city’s origins and key moments in its history, will admire its UNESCO-listed center, and more.

Want to see the sights of Amsterdam from a boat, yet avoid the tourist crowds? Step aboard an electric sloop with a small group and enjoy unobstructed views of the city's landmarks. Enjoy Dutch snacks like bitterballen, stroopwafels, and local cheese as well as drinks from the open bar—including beer, wine, mulled wine, hot chocolate, and Dutch jenever—while your captain shares stories about the secrets of the city.

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam houses the largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world, including famous masterpieces such as “Sunflowers” and “The Potato Eaters.” Tickets must be purchased in advance, so avoid disappointment by pre-booking your preferred timeslot and reserving a multimedia tour available in multiple languages. Upgrade to a guided tour for a deep dive into one of the Netherlands' most enigmatic artists.

Visit three of the Netherlands’ most interesting cities in one day on this small-group tour from Amsterdam. Led by a local expert, this full-day tour of The Hague, Delft, and Rotterdam offers travelers a fascinating overview of each city and select attractions. Highlights include Binnenhof & Ridderzaal—a 13th-century Gothic castle still used as a parliament building—Delft Markt, and the 14th-century Old Harbour in Rotterdam. Hotel pickup is included.

Discover the story of the Red Light District, Amsterdam’s most famous neighborhood, on this walking tour around the district's periphery. A guide shows you around this fascinating area of Amsterdam, takes you to places most tourists don’t get to see, and reveals the history of sex work in Amsterdam and its lasting influence on the city. Note that Amsterdam limits Red Light District tours to its periphery.

Get to know Amsterdam like a local on a private, fully personalized experience. Starting from your accommodation or chosen meeting point, explore the city in a way that reflects your interests—whether that's wandering the charming Nine Streets, uncovering hidden courtyards, sampling Dutch delicacies at a street market, or soaking in canal-side views. With a local host by your side, you’ll skip the tourist trail and dive into authentic Amsterdam.

Hit three Netherlands signature scenic areas in a group of no more than eight travelers on this action-packed day tour, with an itinerary you couldn’t hope to cover on public transport. Tour a cheese factory and a clog factory and watch a diamond-cutting demo in Zaanse Schans, take pictures at the Enclosing Dike (Afsluitdijk), and enjoy a boat cruise and free time in Giethoorn, the Venice of the Netherlands.