Welcome to Amsterdam

Golden Age canals lined by tilting gabled buildings are the backdrop for Amsterdam's treasure-packed museums, vintage-filled shops and hyper-creative design, drinking and dining scenes.

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Urban Explorations

Amsterdam's canal-woven core is laced by atmospheric narrow lanes. You never know what you'll find: a tiny hidden garden; a boutique selling witty, stylised Dutch-designed homewares and fashion; a jewel-box-like jenever (Dutch gin) distillery; a flower stall filled with tulips in a rainbow of hues; an old monastery-turned-classical-music-venue; an ultra-niche restaurant such as an avocado or strawberry specialist or one reinventing age-old Dutch classics. Fringing the centre, post-industrial buildings in up-and-coming neighbourhoods now house creative enterprises, from art galleries to craft breweries and cutting-edge tech start-ups, as well as some of Europe's hottest clubs.

Admiring Art

You can't walk a kilometre without bumping into a masterpiece in the city. The Van Gogh Museum hangs the world's largest collection by tortured native son Vincent. A few blocks away, Vermeers, Rembrandts and other Golden Age treasures fill the glorious Rijksmuseum. The Museum het Rembrandthuis offers more of Rembrandt via his etching-packed studio, while the Stedelijk Museum counts Matisses and Mondrians among its modern stock. And for blockbuster displays, the Hermitage Amsterdam delivers: the outpost of Russia's State Hermitage Museum sifts through its three-million-piece home trove to mount mega exhibitions.

Bike & Boat Travel

Two-wheeling is a way of life here. It's how Amsterdammers commute to work, go to the shop, and meet a date for dinner. Abundant bike-rental shops make it easy to gear up and take a spin. If locals aren't on a bike, they may well be on the water. With its canals and massive harbour, this city reclaimed from the sea offers countless opportunities to drift. Hop aboard a canal boat (preferably an open-air one) or one of the free ferries behind Centraal Station, or rent your own for a wind-in-your-hair ride.

Feel Gezellig

Amsterdam is famously gezellig, a Dutch quality that translates roughly as 'convivial' or 'cosy'. It's more easily experienced than defined. There's a sense of time stopping, an intimacy of the here-and-now that leaves your troubles behind, at least until tomorrow. The easiest place to encounter this feeling is a bruin café (brown cafe; traditional drinking establishment). Named for their wood panelling and walls once stained by smoke, brown cafes have gezelligheid (cosiness) on tap, along with good beer. You can also feel gezellig lingering after dinner in snug restaurants while the candles burn low.

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Top experiences in Amsterdam

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Amsterdam activities

$69.81 Day Trips & Excursions

Zaanse Schans Windmills, Volendam, and Marken from Amsterdam

Next, you'll travel to the world-famous fishing villages of Volendam and Marken, on the coast of the former Zuiderzee (now called Ijselmeer). The old wooden houses here are built on stilts and locals still wear their colorful traditional dresses. Then, take a 20-minute boat trip from Volendam to Marken, with approximately 45 minutes at each stop (summer only). The cruise is optional but is included in the cost of the tour. During the day you'll also stop at one of the few farms where cheese is still made in the traditional way. 7-Hour tour departing at 12pmThis option was created based on customer feedback to offer an alternative itinerary and longer tour duration. The afternoon tour at 12pm is 7hours in duration. It visits the windmill village of "Zaanse Schans" and the towns of Marken and Volendam. However, this tour gives you more time at all 3 locations.
$105.30 Cruises, Sailing & Water Tours

Amsterdam Evening Canal Cruise with 4-Course Dinner and Drinks

Step aboard your sightseeing cruise boat near Amsterdam Central Station, and then help yourself to a drink from the bar. Take a seat at your table – either out on deck or inside the lower saloon – and gaze out at the sights of Amsterdam as your waiting staff serves your first course. Unlike many other Amsterdam dinner cruises, all food is prepared and cooked on board – ensuring that your meal is of the freshest quality! Savor a full four courses as you cruise, passing the sights of Amsterdam. The route taken is dependent on water levels on the day, but typical attractions that may be seen include the Anne Frank House, Hermitage Museum, Amstel River and Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge).  After 2,5 hours cruising around the canals, return to the start point and hop back onto dry land. For a sample menu, please refer to the section below. Please submit your menu choice (meat, fish or vegetarian) in the Special Requests field at time of booking! Customers will automatically get the meat menu if no choice has been made.
$29.58 Walking & Biking Tours

Amsterdam Red Light District Walking Tour

The tour takes you to the area that's synonymous with Amsterdam, De Wallen (Red Light District), passing monuments and entering narrow old streets such as the well-known Zeedijk street. In the past it was one of the most dangerous streets in Amsterdam, where sailors could be found searching for local amusement. Nowadays, instead of the shady bars of yester year you'll find lively and welcoming Dutch pubs and restaurants.The walk includes the entrance to the Museum of Prostitution where you can take a look behind the scenes and listen to the secrets of the women themselves.Your safety is guaranteed during this excursion into Amsterdam's darker side, as a reliable and trustworthy guide will be accompanying you.
$128.96 Cruises, Sailing & Water Tours

Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum Skip the Line Tour, Canal Cruise

Your full-day tour starts in Amsterdam’s Museum District in the morning. Your guide will first take you to the Rijksmuseum, a Dutch national museum dedicated to the arts and history of the Netherlands. Enjoy skip-the-line entry and head straight inside for a small-group tour. This recently renovated museum has a magnificent collection of artwork, crafts and historical pieces dating back from the year 1200 to today. Admire and learn about masterpieces such as Vermeer’s Milkmaid and Rembrandt’s Night Watch. The entire collection of the Rijksmuseum is an incredible one million items, with 8,000 on display in 80 galleries.After the tour, you have free time to browse the museum shop. This is where you will also enjoy a light lunch at the Rijksmuseum. Next it's time to admire Amsterdam's outdoor beauty with a 75 minute boat tour along the city's picturesque canals. Relax as you cruise along the elaborate ring of UNESCO World Heritage-listed canals, passing charming bridges, canal houses, classic Dutch gables, churches, towers and other wonderful waterfront highlights.Following the canal cruise, your guide will take you to the Van Gogh Museum.The Van Gogh Museum is home to the world's largest collection of paintings by Van Gogh, with more than 200 paintings as well as many letters and drawings. You can also see the work of those who inspired Van Gogh throughout various displays of art by other 19th-century painters. Your art historian guide will teach you about select paintings and about Van Gogh’s life, plus answer any questions you have. After your Van Gogh Museum tour, your guide will take you to Coster Diamonds -- one of the oldest still-operating diamond polishing factories -- where you will receive an entrance ticket to the Diamond Museum. The guided portion of your tour ends here, and you're free to continue exploring independently.
$46.14 Cruises, Sailing & Water Tours

Amsterdam Dutch Wine and Cheese Candlelight Cruise

Head to central Amsterdam at night to board the boat and begin your romantic cruise of the city's historic canals, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. No matter where you sit aboard the glass-enclosed vessel, you'll enjoy great views of the canals and the waterfront. Sit back, relax and soak up the sultry atmosphere created by candlelight as you glide along Amsterdam's canals. Winding your way through the Canal Belt of the Amstel river, pass under bridges adorned in festive lights, see charming waterfront houses and buzzing cafes, and watch reflections of light shimmer across the water. During your cruise, you and your loved one will enjoy a glass of wine and cheese tasting. You'll be served a variety of fine wines and a selection of typical Dutch cheeses, as well as nuts, pickled cucumbers and other snacks. Spend 1,5 hours soaking up the romantic ambiance of the illuminated canals. Savor the last of this special moment before making your way back to central Amsterdam to conclude your candlelight cruise.
$65.07 Sightseeing Tickets & Passes

I amsterdam Card - City Pass for Amsterdam

Amsterdam has so much to offer, including world-renowned museums, delicious food and delightful canals. The I amsterdam city card makes it easy to get the most out of your stay in this vibrant city while saving lots of money. With your pass, gain free admission to illustrious Amsterdam museums including the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum (with time slot booking option), Rembrandthuis Museum and Hermitage Amsterdam. Save 25% off popular Amsterdam attractions such as Madame Tussauds and Icebar XtraCold, and receive discount offers for restaurants and shows. You'll also get a free city map to help you navigate the streets and canals of Amsterdam and unlimited use of public transport (airport train not included). Enjoy the sights from a free canal cruise, also included with your city pass. Your I amsterdam card contains 2 separate chips which can be activated separately, so you can choose when you will make the best use of the 2 components: museums and public transport.

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