Amsterdam · North Holland · Netherlands
Amsterdam Tours, Tickets & Things to Do
Discover the best Amsterdam tours, canal cruises, Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum tickets, Anne Frank walking tours, food and bike tours and day trips to the windmills of Zaanse Schans. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Amsterdam itinerary.
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Typical tour price in Amsterdam: €39 per person, 35% below the global medianHow much do tours cost in Amsterdam? →
Amsterdam
10 Tastes of Amsterdam Food Tour: Small Group, Full Meal & Drinks
from$108/ person
via Viator
Amsterdam
Giethoorn, Zaanse Schans Windmills Guided Day Trip from Amsterdam
from$132/ person
via Viator
Sunset tours in Amsterdam
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Amsterdam
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Amsterdam by interest
Whatever brings you to Amsterdam — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Canal cruises
The classic way to see the UNESCO canal ring.
ExploreVan Gogh Museum
The world’s largest Van Gogh collection.
ExploreRijksmuseum
Rembrandt’s Night Watch and the Dutch Golden Age.
ExploreAnne Frank & history
Walking tours of the Jewish Quarter and WWII history.
ExploreFood tours
Cheese, herring and stroopwafels in the Jordaan.
ExploreBike tours
Explore the cycling capital like a local.
ExploreZaanse Schans
The working windmills and clog and cheese farms.
ExploreDutch villages
The fishing villages of Volendam and Marken.
ExploreWhat to see
Top attractions in Amsterdam
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Canal ring
The UNESCO canals, best seen on a cruise.
180+ toursView tours
Van Gogh Museum
The world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s work.
90 toursView tours
Rijksmuseum
Rembrandt’s Night Watch and the Dutch Golden Age.
70 toursView tours
Anne Frank House
The moving story of Anne Frank and wartime Amsterdam.
60 toursView tours
Jordaan & food
Cheese, herring and stroopwafels on a food tour.
60 toursView tours
Zaanse Schans
Working windmills, clogs and a cheese farm.
80 toursView tours
Volendam & Marken
Pretty fishing villages on the Markermeer.
60 toursView tours
Bike tours
Explore the canals and parks like a local.
50 toursView tours
1 day
Amsterdam in 1 day
- 1Rijksmuseum
- 2Van Gogh Museum
- 3Jordaan & canals
- 4Evening canal cruise
2 days
Amsterdam in 2 days
- 1Day 1: museums & canals
- 2Anne Frank history walk
- 3Day 2: Zaanse Schans windmills
- 4Bike or food tour
3 days
Amsterdam in 3 days
- 1Day 1: museums & canals
- 2Day 2: Zaanse Schans & villages
- 3Day 3: bikes or tulips
- 4Food & evening cruise
With kids
Amsterdam with kids
- 1Canal boat ride
- 2NEMO & Vondelpark
- 3Zaanse Schans windmills
- 4Bike ride
Any day
Rainy day in Amsterdam
- 1Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh with a guide
- 2Foodhallen & covered shopping
- 3Dutch cheese & wine tasting
- 4Glass-covered canal cruise
Half day+
Amsterdam countryside
- 1Zaanse Schans windmills
- 2Cheese farm & clog workshop
- 3Volendam & Marken villages
- 4Keukenhof tulips (spring)
30 min awayZaanse Schans
Working windmills, clogs and a cheese farm.
from €30View trips
40 min awayVolendam & Marken
Pretty fishing villages on the Markermeer.
from €35View trips
1.5 hrs awayGiethoorn
The car-free “Dutch Venice” of canals and thatched houses.
from €65View trips
40 min awayEdam & countryside
The famous cheese town and Dutch countryside.
from €45View trips
45 min awayKeukenhof tulips
The spectacular spring tulip gardens (seasonal).
from €55View trips
1 hr awayRotterdam & Delft
Modern Rotterdam and the historic blue-pottery town of Delft.
from €60View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Amsterdam visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring (April–June) and early autumn (September–October) bring mild weather and lively streets — the best times to visit.
Tulip season (Apr–May)
Spring brings the famous tulips and the Keukenhof gardens, plus King’s Day on 27 April — beautiful but busy, so book ahead.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Warm, long days and a buzzing café and canal scene — the busiest, priciest season, so reserve early.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Crisp, golden days with thinner crowds — a lovely, comfortable time for museums and canals.
Winter (Nov–Mar)
Cold and atmospheric, with the Light Festival and cosy brown cafés; the quietest, cheapest season.
King’s Day (27 April)
The whole city turns orange for a giant street party and canal celebration — fun but extremely busy, so plan ahead.
One day
Enough for the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, the Jordaan and a canal cruise.
Two days
Add the Anne Frank history walk and a Zaanse Schans windmill day trip.
Three days
The sweet spot: museums and canals, the windmills and villages, and bikes or tulips.
Four to five days
Add Giethoorn, Rotterdam and Delft, or more museums and markets.
A week or more
Use Amsterdam as a base for the tulip fields, the coast and the historic Dutch cities.
Travelling with kids
Mix a canal boat, the parks and windmills at a gentle pace.
On foot
The canal belt and old centre are compact and walkable, perfect for wandering the canals and lanes.
By bike
Cycling is the Amsterdam way — flat, fast and fun, with bike lanes everywhere; just watch the busy lanes as a pedestrian.
Trams & metro
An excellent tram and metro network covers the city; the GVB day pass is good value.
Canal boats
Hop-on hop-off canal boats and ferries double as sightseeing and transport along the waterways.
Day-trip transport
Trains and tours reach Zaanse Schans, the villages and the tulip fields quickly and easily.
From the airport
Schiphol links to Centraal Station by frequent trains in about 15–20 minutes.
Book museums ahead
The Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum and especially the Anne Frank House use timed tickets that sell out — book well in advance.
City cards
The I amsterdam City Card covers many museums, transport and a canal cruise — good value if you’ll visit several sights.
Mind the bikes
Cyclists have right of way and move fast — look both ways and avoid wandering into the red bike lanes.
Currency & cards
The Netherlands uses the euro and is largely cashless — cards work almost everywhere, though some spots are card-only.
Pack for the weather
Bring a rain layer year-round and warm clothes in winter; the weather changes quickly.
Respect the city
Stick to local rules in the centre and the Red Light District, where photography of people is forbidden and respect is expected.
Van Gogh & Rijksmuseum
Timed tickets sell out, especially in summer — book ahead.
Anne Frank House
Tickets are released online weeks ahead and sell out within minutes — book the moment they open.
Canal cruises
Popular evening and dinner cruises fill up — reserve ahead.
Windmill & tulip trips
Zaanse Schans and Keukenhof tours fill up in high season and spring — book early.
Bike & food tours
Small-group bike and food tours have limited places — reserve ahead.
Tulip season & King’s Day
Spring and King’s Day fill hotels and tours months ahead — plan early.
Canal cruises
Around €18–30 for a standard cruise; more for evening, dinner or unlimited-drinks options.
Museum tickets
Roughly €20–30 each for the Van Gogh Museum or Rijksmuseum, more with a guide.
Walking & history tours
About €20–45 for a guided Anne Frank or city walking tour.
Windmill day trips
Around €30–60 for Zaanse Schans with Volendam and Marken.
Bike & food tours
Roughly €30–70 for a guided bike or food tour with tastings.
How to save
Walk or cycle, use a transport or city card, and book combined cruise-and-museum tickets.
When to visit
Amsterdam through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Spring
Mar–May
- Best for
- The famous tulips, the Keukenhof gardens and King’s Day — vibrant and colourful.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Book tulip tours and hotels well ahead.
Summer
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Long, warm days and a buzzing canal and café scene.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- The busiest season — reserve museums and cruises early.
Autumn
Sep–Nov
- Best for
- Crisp, golden days with thinner crowds — great for museums.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Pleasant and better value as summer fades.
Winter
Dec–Feb
- Best for
- Cosy cafés, the Light Festival and the lowest crowds and prices.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Pack warm; days are short and cold.
People also ask
Amsterdam travel FAQ
What are the best tours in Amsterdam?
The highest-rated Amsterdam experiences are a canal cruise, the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum, an Anne Frank history walk, a bike or food tour, and a Zaanse Schans windmill day trip.
What should I book in advance in Amsterdam?
Book the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum and especially the Anne Frank House ahead — the latter sells out within minutes of release — along with popular canal cruises and windmill or tulip tours.
How many days do I need in Amsterdam?
Two to three days is ideal — the museums and canals, a Zaanse Schans windmill day trip, and a day for bikes, food or (in spring) the tulips.
Are Amsterdam canal cruises worth it?
Yes — a canal cruise is the quintessential Amsterdam experience, offering a relaxing, scenic view of the UNESCO canal ring, especially beautiful in the evening.
What are the best day trips from Amsterdam?
The Zaanse Schans windmills with Volendam and Marken top the list; Giethoorn, Edam, Rotterdam and Delft, and the Keukenhof tulips in spring are also excellent.
When is the best time to visit Amsterdam?
Late spring (April–June) and early autumn (September–October) offer the best balance of mild weather and lively streets; spring brings the tulips, while winter is cold but atmospheric.
How do you get around Amsterdam?
Amsterdam is compact and walkable, with excellent trams, a metro, canal boats and ferries; cycling is the local way, and Schiphol airport is 15–20 minutes from the centre by train.
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