Best Tours in Amsterdam
Enjoy self-guided audio tours with included attraction tickets in one appTop sights in Amsterdam
All self-guided activities
Getting around a city that's not your own can be tough. So, when you arrive in Amsterdam, you'll want a hassle-free travel ticket that gets you where you need to go. Not only does this Amsterdam travel ticket get you from Schiphol Airport to central Amsterdam, with unlimited transport around the city, but you can also use it to visit surrounding towns like Volendam, Zaanse Schans and Haarlem. Ideal, if you've found a great hotel deal outside the city!
This self-guided audio walk explores Amsterdam’s southern neighborhoods through local streets, food culture, music, and modern art. It is a great fit for first-time visitors who want to go beyond the canals and discover how everyday city life blends with major cultural landmarks. The route starts at Amsterdam RAI and moves north through Rivierenbuurt into lively De Pijp. Along the way, you pass the green calm of Sarphatipark, local spots such as Brouwerij Troost and ARIE, and the busy stretch around Ceintuurbaan. The walk then leads into the famous Albert Cuyp Markt, one of the city’s best-known street markets, before continuing past lesser-known corners of the district. From De Pijp, the route shifts toward Amsterdam’s grand cultural heart. You visit the Old Catholic Church, arrive at the celebrated Concertgebouw, and finish at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam in the Museum Quarter. Memorable moments include the contrast between quiet residential streets and bustling market life, the scent of fresh food and beer, elegant 19th-century architecture, and the feeling of ending among some of the city’s finest music and art venues.
This self-guided audio tour explores Amsterdam through curious local stories, historic buildings, and everyday places that reveal the city’s character. It will appeal to first-time visitors who enjoy history, architecture, canals, and small details that often go unnoticed. The route begins at Lie for Pampus in the old harbor area and leads south and west through the historic center. Along the way, you pass In ’t Aepjen, the remarkable Our Lord in the Attic Museum, lively shopping streets, canal bridges, and the elegant lanes of The 9 Streets. The walk continues past theater culture, old houses, traces of Amsterdam’s fight with water, and monuments tied to dramatic episodes from the city’s past. The tour ends near Leidseplein at The Pantry, after reaching the area around the former Palace for Volksvlijt. By the end, traveler will have experienced Amsterdam as more than postcard canals: hidden churches in attics, crooked wooden houses, storied bridges, sweet stroopwafels, and the constant presence of water shaping the city at every turn.
Soar like an eagle and swoop over some of Holland's best bits! Thanks to THIS IS HOLLAND's huge spherical screen and a host of cool special effects including wind and smells (the nice kind, don't worry), you can tour the Netherlands without moving your feet. See Heritage Sites, windmills, Amsterdam's famous canals, and more, with THIS IS HOLLAND Amsterdam tickets. This simulated flight takes you over important Dutch World Heritage sites, so expect to see things like Amsterdam's famous canal ring, the Wadden Sea and of course, plenty of windmills! Travel through mist, wind and different smells and fall in love with the feeling of flying. In fact, it could be the perfect warm-up flight for someone who's afraid to head to Schiphol. It's a multi-sensory experience that will make you feel like a _flying Dutchie_ in no time!
See, smell, listen and be afraid, very afraid. All your senses will be on red alert at the Amsterdam Dungeon as you take a spooktacular walkthrough adventure into the 500-year-old history of Amsterdam. Enjoy 7 shows, meet a cast of characters, and prepare for goosebumps. Screaming encouraged.
Located atop the A’DAM Tower in Amsterdam-Noord, visit A'DAM Lookout for unmatched views of Amsterdam from an observation deck. See the city's historic center, the busy harbor, and the Dutch polder landscape. Spot the famous canals listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Engage with a modern interactive exhibition and use a free audio tour to learn about Amsterdam's history and culture. For thrill-seekers, try Europe’s highest swing, 'Over the Edge." Swing 100 meters above the ground and get the view of Amsterdam from a unique perspective. Your entry ticket also includes two drinks. Choose from coffee, tea, Heineken beer, house wine, or soft drinks.
Explore the Royal Palace of Amsterdam – an iconic symbol of the Netherlands' rich history and cultural heritage! Step into this magnificent architectural wonder to experience the royal splendor and opulence. The Royal Palace of Amsterdam holds a profound significance for the Netherlands. Originally built as a city hall during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, this majestic edifice was later converted into a royal residence, making it an embodiment of the nation's political and regal heritage. It remains an official residence of King William-Alexander to this very day. Admire the stunning architecture adorned with intricate carvings and ornate decorations, truly reflecting the opulence of a bygone era. Explore the various rooms and chambers, housing an extensive collection of art and artifacts from the Golden Age, showcasing the nation's cultural heritage. One of the highlights of your visit will undoubtedly be the chance to stand in the very room where important state ceremonies and receptions take place. Feel the weight of history as you step into the Citizens' Hall, where royal inaugurations and official events still occur to this day. And the Marble Gallery, with its grandiose columns and magnificent artworks, will leave you in awe, offering a glimpse into the luxurious lifestyle of the Dutch monarchy.
Fly over Holland's highlights with THIS IS HOLLAND. Thanks to a large spherical screen and special effects like wind and scents, you can see the Netherlands without moving. View heritage sites, windmills, Amsterdam's canals, and more with one ticket. This simulation takes you to Dutch World Heritage sites, such as Amsterdam's canals, the Wadden Sea, and many windmills. Move through effects like mist, wind, and various scents. This can even be a good practice flight for those hesitant about flying. Have a multi-sensory experience that creates the sensation of flying over the Netherlands.
Enjoy a musical and whimsical day out at Utrecht's Speelklok Museum, and surround yourself with 'live' music performed by a huge collection of self-playing instruments. With more clocks, music boxes, orchestrions, and street organs that you can wave a conductor's baton at, it's a showcase of ingenious engineering and fascinating insight into life before the iPod.
Visit A'DAM Lookout, an observatory deck with views over Amsterdam. See the historic city center, the busy harbor, and the unique Dutch polder landscape. Spot the famous canals listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Complement your visit with a modern interactive exhibition and a free audio tour of Amsterdam’s history and culture. A'DAM Lookout is located on top of the A’DAM Tower in Amsterdam-Noord. For thrill-seekers, there is the chance to swing on Europe’s highest swing, 'Over the Edge.' Hang 100 meters above the ground and swing back and forth over the edge of the tower with the city below you. Your entry ticket also includes a choice of hamburger and crispy fries. Options are beef, chicken, or veggie.
Cities in Netherlands
About Amsterdam
The best walking tours to do in Amsterdam are:
The best tours in Amsterdam are:
The best indoor tours in Amsterdam for rainy days are:
The must-see attractions in Amsterdam for a first visit are:
Insider tips for visiting Amsterdam
Rolf Laimbock is a local guide who has been publishing tours since 2020 for your discovery of hidden gems and local specialities of Amsterdam on their personal guide page (view profile). Explore their expert tips planning trip to Amsterdam.
When I visit Amsterdam for shopping, I usually skip the obvious chains and head for De 9 Straatjes first. Between the canals, I browse independent fashion, vintage, and design stores tucked into old merchant houses. For sharper local style, I recommend the Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk area in Amsterdam; locals know it for small concept shops, excellent delis, and bookstores. If you visit Amsterdam and like contemporary labels with a more polished feel, Oud-Zuid around Beethovenstraat is a smart choice. In my travel guide Amsterdam, these are the areas I mention most because they combine browsing with some of the best things to do in Amsterdam: walking, people-watching, and café stops.
When I’m in Amsterdam on my own, I always start with a slow walk through the Jordaan early in the morning, before the cafés fill and the canals turn busy. For solo visitors, it’s one of the most rewarding things to do in Amsterdam because you can move at your own pace, browse small galleries, and sit unnoticed with coffee on the Noordermarkt. I often continue to the Begijnhof or the canal belt, which belong high on any list of what to see in Amsterdam. Unlike many tours in Amsterdam, this feels personal. These quieter corners are also among the most memorable attractions in Amsterdam for people traveling alone.
In my travel guide Amsterdam, I usually recommend three full days in Amsterdam as the sweet spot. That gives you time to settle into the rhythm of the city: an unhurried canal walk at dusk, a museum morning, and a neighborhood like De Pijp or the Jordaan where Amsterdam feels lived-in rather than staged. When I visit Amsterdam myself, I find two days can work if you stay central and choose carefully, but four lets you add ferries to Noord or a slow afternoon in the Plantage. For me, the best things to do in Amsterdam reveal themselves when you leave space between plans.
When I want a break from the center of Amsterdam, I head just beyond it to places that still feel connected to the city’s history. The ferry to NDSM is one of my favorite short escapes; in Amsterdam, it gives you a rawer, creative side with street art and old shipyard buildings. I also recommend taking the train to Haarlem for an afternoon, especially for quiet hofjes and excellent small museums. If you’re comparing attractions in Amsterdam with what to see in Amsterdam nearby, these are the places I mention first. Unlike many tours in Amsterdam, they let you feel how the city opens outward into very different neighborhoods and towns.
If you plan to visit Amsterdam around a major event, I’d time it for King’s Day in April or the Grachtenfestival in summer. King’s Day shows Amsterdam at its most exuberant, but I prefer the smaller pockets: families selling old treasures on the streets of the Jordaan and canal-side music drifting through quieter blocks. In my travel guide Amsterdam, I also highlight Open Monumentendag in September, when historic buildings in Amsterdam open doors usually closed to the public. For me, these are among the most memorable things to do in Amsterdam because they reveal the city’s character, not just its postcard image.
When families ask me where to go in Amsterdam, I often suggest the maritime area around Het Scheepvaartmuseum. For me, it’s one of the smartest things to do in Amsterdam with children because the old harbor setting already feels like an adventure, and the full-scale VOC ship draws them in immediately. From there, I like walking toward the Oosterdok, where Amsterdam opens up with wide views and room to move, which parents appreciate. Among the classic attractions in Amsterdam, this area feels less cramped than the canal core. It also works well if you’re deciding what to see in Amsterdam without relying on standard tours in Amsterdam.
In my travel guide Amsterdam, I always say the city makes most sense on foot, with trams for longer stretches. When I visit Amsterdam, I walk the canal belt and Jordaan because distances are shorter than they look, and you notice the details that make Amsterdam special: crooked gables, hidden courtyards, flower boxes leaning over bridges. For neighborhoods like Amsterdam Noord or the eastern docks, I use the free ferry or tram rather than a bike; locals know cycling here can feel hectic if you do not know the rhythm. For me, combining walking with public transport is one of the most practical things to do in Amsterdam.