Amsterdam City Highlights and Hidden Gems - Private & Custom Tour
Recommended by 96% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Amsterdam, Netherlands
- 2 to 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Get to know Amsterdam like a local on a private, fully personalized experience. Starting from your 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 the heart of authentic Amsterdam.
- Choose from multiple duration times to best fit your schedule
- See only the parts of Amsterdam that interest you most
- Learn behind-the-scenes facts and stories you'd miss if exploring alone
- Benefit from your guide's insider knowledge and city tips
What's Included
- Private and personalized walking experience with insider tips from a passionate local
- Online questionnaire link sent after booking to tailor your experience and match you to a local host
- Get picked up (on foot) at your accommodation if it's central!
- Flexible durations and start times – pick your preferred duration when you book
- Direct communication with your host for itinerary planning and local recommendations
- Food, drinks and tickets to any attractions
- Transportation (primarily a walking experience, public transport may be used at an additional cost)
- Gratuities (optional)
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
Amsterdam (Pass By)
Canal Ring (Grachtengordel) (Pass By)
9 Little Streets (Negen Straatjes) (Pass By)
The Jordaan (Pass By)
Albert Cuyp Market (Pass By)
Spui (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private City Unscripted experience: real people, real connections
- After booking, you'll receive a short online questionnaire to share your interests, preferences, and must-sees. Your City Unscripted guide will personally reach out to craft a fully customized itinerary that suits your style—whether you love history, food, hidden gems, or cultural experiences.
- This private tour is a walking experience. A private vehicle is not included.
- Public transportation or local taxis may be used to transfer between sites. Exact transportation costs can be discussed with your host after your reservation is finalized.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.8
based on 231 reviews
Lisa_L, Jan 2026
We had such a great day in Amsterdam on our walking tour with Craig. He was very knowledgeable and personable and helped us familiarize ourselves with the area. Travelling with our two teen boys, he kept the day interesting and fun for all of us. He was great with communicating before to find out our likes/dislikes and was flexible with our meeting and drop-off locations to help maximize our time together. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such a great day in Amsterdam with Craig. His knowledge, friendly approach, and flexibility truly help create engaging experiences, and we’re glad he made the tour enjoyable for both you and your teens. We appreciate the recommendation and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Trish_L, Nov 2025
This is the ultimate way to view Amsterdam - with a local! Alan was very knowledgeable and tailored the tour to our tastes. We were taken to lots of hidden gems that you won’t find on your own and given numerous insights along the way. The walking pace was very manageable also. Our time in Amsterdam was limited and Alan created an awesome experience for us! I loved all of it!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
We’re so happy to hear your Amsterdam experience with Alan was such a highlight of your trip! It’s wonderful that his local insights, hidden gems, and thoughtful pacing helped you make the most of your limited time. Thank you for your kind words and glowing feedback!
Terry_T, Oct 2025
Alan was a terrific Tour Guide! He took us to Markets, historical sites off the beaten path and away from the crowds. We went by Anne Frank house, Rembrandt house, red light district and walked around the canals, bought Dansk souveniers and found local art in the Market. Saw beautiful flowers and plantings along the canals. We stopped for coffee but still managed to see many of our requested interest points.
We would definitely request Alan to guide us should we ever be fortunate to spend more time in Amsterdam Netherlands!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We’re so glad you got to experience Amsterdam through Alan’s eyes, local markets, hidden corners, and all! Your kind words mean a lot, and we hope to see you on another City Unscripted journey soon!
Marla_K, Oct 2025
We had a great morning walking the city - seeing canals and secret gardens - learning about the city and its charms - our guide was so patient with US being an HOUR late because of traffic and things outside our control - she rolled with it all and we couldn’t be more thankful - highly recommend!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring the city’s canals, secret gardens, and hidden charms. We truly appreciate your kind words about your host’s patience and flexibility — we’ll be sure to share your compliments with her.
Lee_R, Oct 2025
Having a private tour is the best way to get around and see Amsterdam. Our tour guide took us to the places we wanted to see, and moved at our pace since I am a very slow walker.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
That’s exactly what a private tour should be — comfortable, flexible, and all about you! We're so glad that you enjoyed your private tour of Amsterdam and that your guide was able to tailor the experience to your pace and preferences. Thank you so much for your lovely review! We hope to welcome you back again for more exploring at your own speed.
Daralyn_L, Oct 2025
Alan was an absolute gem! He navigated us through the city with ease. Alan’s walking tour was totally immersive and very authentic.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Alan and found it both immersive and authentic. He’ll be so happy to know you appreciated his guidance and local insight. We hope to welcome you on another City Unscripted experience soon!
Maura_G, Sep 2025
Our guide was punctual besides the rain. As we were a small group of three, we easily walk through the city. We passed by the old part of the city, around the multiple canals and we took amazing pictures. The tour was private, and we were contacted by email, to find out what were our main focus. Decided that we wanted to explore the city, cafes, but our focus was not the Red Light district visit( although we pass through), or visiting the Anne Frank Museum . We visited the Van Stapale cookie shop, when was heavily raining, and it was an excellent decision from our guide. We didn’t have a lot of time in Amsterdam, but went to the flower market, pass by Our lord in the attic house/museum, visited the train station enormous bikes parking lot. One of the things we appreciated visiting was the Tutchinsky theater a jewel to see in Amsterdam, specially in a rainy day at the end of your walking.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
We’re so glad to hear your Amsterdam experience was so enjoyable despite the rain! It’s wonderful that your guide tailored the day to your interests, from hidden gems like the Tuschinski Theater to sweet stops and city highlights. Thank you for sharing such thoughtful feedback!
Kevin_S, Sep 2025
Rainy cold day in Amsterdam but our tour with Elle was wonderful. Amsterdam when cloudy and rainy is still beautiful and gives the city a different look and vibe. Our tour guide was wonderful and showed us the city from a local perspective which is so wonderful. Not a large group mega tour but a personal experience. Ask for Elle who was the best tour guide!!!!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
We’re so glad to hear Elle made your rainy day in Amsterdam such a wonderful experience! It’s great that her local perspective turned the weather into part of the charm and made the tour feel so personal. Thank you for your glowing recommendation!
MaryLou_W, Sep 2025
Anna was a wonderful guide. Very thorough with explanations and answering all of our questions. She took us to some of the older parts of Amsterdam and it was a lovely tour. She met all our expectations for this tour.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
So glad to hear you had such a lovely time in Amsterdam with Anna! It’s wonderful that her thorough explanations and thoughtful guidance made the experience so enjoyable. Thank you for your kind feedback!
Julie_S, Sep 2025
Jan was an amazing local guide who showed me and my friend around Amsterdam. He knew the city inside out! He took us to places like Oude Kerk, Damrak Square, and the Bloemenmarkt, where we saw the famous floating flower market. He was full of interesting facts and stories about Dutch history and culture. It was a great walking tour!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for this fantastic review! We’re delighted to hear that Jan made your Amsterdam experience so memorable, showing you iconic sights alongside fascinating stories about Dutch history and culture. It sounds like the perfect walking tour, and we’re thrilled you enjoyed it so much.
William_W, Sep 2025
Great walking tour with Elle. Walked to most of the central city areas. Good overview. You can customize to let them know what you would like to see.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
It’s wonderful to hear you enjoyed your walking tour with Elle — her overview of the city and flexibility to customize the experience clearly made it a memorable way to explore the central areas. Thanks for the great feedback!
RICHARD_M, Sep 2025
Exellent experience
Ana was attentive, well educated in subject
Loved our trip to Amsterdam.
Tempted to come live here
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled that you had an excellent experience and enjoyed your trip to Amsterdam. Ana will be delighted to know she made such a positive impact. Who knows, maybe Amsterdam will welcome you as a new resident someday! 😊 Looking forward to hosting you again on your next adventure!
Steven_L, Aug 2025
Leese was very communicative in advance to make sure she had an itinerary we would enjoy, and she really nailed it. We wanted to avoid the typical touristy stops and get a good sense of Material itself. She did a wonderful job of that. We booked 3 hours in the morning, and it set us up for a great lunch in a locals hotspot. This was a great choice, and we felt we really got our money's worth. It was most memorable for what it wasn't; we are always afraid that the guide is just going to walk us around to vendors with whom she has deals. This was definitely not that.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thanks for the thoughtful review — we're so glad Leese created a genuinely local and authentic experience that matched your interests perfectly. It’s great to hear it felt personal, memorable, and truly worth it!
Bradley_O, Jul 2025
This was a fantastic tour and is helpful to understand the city. This will definitely give you a proper orientation for further exploration of the city.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thanks for the great feedback — we're so glad the tour gave you a solid introduction and set you up perfectly to explore the city even more!
Kyle_H, Jul 2025
Anna was a wonderful guide. She spent the by one to pay attention to what we care about and share details of the city we found exciting. Her depth of knowledge was wonderful, sharing life in the city today and its history. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
We're thrilled to hear that Anna made the experience feel personal and engaging — thank you for sharing your kind words and for the warm recommendation!
ayanna_b, Jul 2025
We had a great time on our tour! Our tour guide was courteous, informative, and knowledgeable. Definitely recommended
Response from Host, Jul 2025
So happy to hear you had a great time and enjoyed the experience — thank you for the kind words and recommendation!
Louise_B, Jul 2025
Daan was great - took us all around to places that were local and interesting!! Really enjoyed all the sites and stories
Response from Host, Jul 2025
We're so thrilled that you had a great time with Daan and enjoyed exploring all the local and interesting spots he shared with you. It’s wonderful to know the stories and sights made your experience memorable. Thank you so much for your kind words! Daan will be so pleased to hear it!
James_F, Jul 2025
It is a great guided walking tour and our guide was great. He was very knowledgeable and very courteous.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for your kind words! We're so glad you enjoyed the walking tour and had a great experience with your guide. It's wonderful that he was both knowledgeable and courteous. We hope to see you again on another tour soon!
Haidee_L, Jul 2025
Highly recommend Jan for this experience. Super friendly, knowledgeable, and funny! He took us on a loop around all the notable sites in Amsterdam proper. We’ll be back and would ask for Jan again!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! It’s great to know you’d love to tour with Jan again. We look forward to welcoming you back on your next visit!
Michael_F, Jul 2025
A marvelous tour. Paul Bierman, our guide, was extremely personable and knowledgeable, including regarding the history and architecture of Amsterdam. In addition to showing us the usual sites, he took us to a number of interesting out-of-the-way places. We learned a lot. I would highly recommend Paul and this tour
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for sharing this! We’re delighted to hear how much you enjoyed exploring Amsterdam with Paul. It means a lot to know you appreciated the mix of iconic sights and hidden gems — that's exactly the kind of experience we love to create!
Cecilia_C, Jul 2025
Gerg was a welcoming and warm guide to meet me at my hotel and walk me through the key handful of neighborhoods of my interest as a first time visitor to Amsterdam.
Perhaps a little more in depth information/details spent at each spot could have been provided making the tour more informative.
As a general guide he was very helpful and kind to text me a list of places we walked through.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
We also appreciate your constructive comments about wanting more in-depth details at each stop. Thank you again for choosing City Unscripted, and we hope to host you again in another city soon!
Carol_G, Jul 2025
Wendy was an excellent tour guide to show us around different areas of Amsterdam. She customized our tour because one of us had mobility challenges and also customized it towards our specific interests around history and culture. There was so much we learned that we would not have known otherwise -- it was very enjoyable!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
It's wonderful that Wendy was able to tailor the tour to both your interests and needs, making it informative, accessible, and enjoyable. We’re so glad you came away with new insights and a deeper appreciation of the city’s history and culture. We hope to welcome you on another City Unscripted tour in the future! Thank you so much for your lovely feedback!
Kevin_S, Jul 2025
Be prepared for a lot of walking. We put in several steps over our tour. With that said, we had a great time and learn a lot about the history of Amsterdam through the Middle Ages as well as during World War times. The tour was designed to meet our requests and it do that!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
We're so glad to hear you enjoyed your time exploring Amsterdam, even with all the steps involved! It’s wonderful that the tour met your requests and gave you meaningful insight into the city’s rich history—from the Middle Ages to World War II.
Robert_J, Jul 2025
Tour guide Fernando was very knowledgeable about the history of Amsterdam and The Netherlands. We covered a lot of ground in history and on foot. Good experience.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with Fernando and appreciated his deep knowledge of Amsterdam and Dutch history. We hope to welcome you back for another City Unscripted adventure in the future!
Catherine_L, Jun 2025
Thanks to our wonderful guide Alan, it was a perfect visit. It was evident that he loved his city and made us fall in love with it. He adjusted his visit to our need. A must!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We're thrilled to hear that Alan made your experience so special. It’s clear he shared his passion for the city in a way that truly resonated with you, and we’re so happy to know he was able to tailor the experience to your needs.
Coral, Jun 2025
A guided tour with Aarre was absolutely 💯 amazing. Full of knowledge of history as well as his experiences. I can not say enough good about this tour. We loved it .TY
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for this fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear Aarre made your tour so memorable with his deep knowledge and personal stories. It truly means a lot to us that you loved it—thanks for sharing!
Sara_M, Jun 2025
Anna was very knowledgeable and gave great insight into hidden gems for us to explore in Amsterdam. We tasted local eats, shopped in local stores, and we were offered suggestions for the remainder of our trip. Anna slowed her pace for us as we had just flown into town hours before. This tour was the perfect plan to get a quick taste of the city and places to see at your own pace. We were able to add additional time at the end if we wanted to. I highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review! It’s great to know the tour provided the perfect introduction to the city, especially after a long journey and that that Anna made such a positive impact on your time in Amsterdam! We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you on another experience in the future!
Roxanne_H, Jun 2025
Aarre guided us around for 3 hours showing off well-known and lesser-known areas of Amsterdam. It was the perfect way to recover after an all-night flight with very little sleep. He's knowledgeable and passionate about what he does, which made all the difference.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
We're delighted that Aarre made your time in Amsterdam enjoyable and helped ease you into the city after a long flight. His passion and knowledge really do make a difference. Thank you so much for your lovely review!
Sudha_T, Jun 2025
Excellent tour. Good pace, engaging information. Wonderful knowledgeable guide who curated a tour for us. Very relaxed and fun way to get to know the city.
Response from Host, Jun 2025
We're delighted you enjoyed the walking experience and found your host both knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Thanks for choosing City Unscripted, and here's to more great adventures!
Len_M, Jun 2025
Wendy was a wonderful guide and curated a lovely tour of the city. By the end of our tour, we considered her our new friend in Amsterdam. She is wonderful at her job and makes the tour fun and enjoyable! We highly recommend her!!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
It’s especially lovely to know you left the experience feeling like you’d made a new friend; that’s exactly the kind of connection we hope to create. Thank you for recommending Wendy, and think of us next time you travel.
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Amsterdam City Highlights and Hidden Gems - Private & Custom Tour
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