What to see in Amsterdam: the best tours and excursions
Ninety small islands linked by more than 400 bridges and separated by canals dating from the 17th century give shape to the city of Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands.
It is its main cultural and financial reference, a city that we recommend exploring on foot or by bicycle to enjoy its lively streets, relax in its tree-lined parks and soak up its unmistakable art and culture.
If you are wondering what to see in Amsterdam in a few days, here is a summary of the best free tours, routes and guided tours in English that will allow you to explore the most interesting parts of the city. You can book tours online for free(based on tips) or opt for the cheapest excursions for a unique and different experience.
If you have just arrived and need a little guidance on what to see in Amsterdam, the best introduction to the city is a free tour of Amsterdam's historic center. Your guide will take you back to the 12th century with the fascinating story of the local engineers who managed to turn a swamp into a perfectly urbanized city, allowing people to live on the Amstel River.
The warehouses built along the canals that were transformed into residential dwellings hint at Amsterdam as a traditionally commercial city. You can visit the Palace-House of the Trip brothers, who made a fortune selling weapons during the war and have become a benchmark of Dutch business prowess.
Other highlights that are part of this interesting tour are the Dam Square -one of the busiest places in Amsterdam and where the Royal Palace is located- and the Old Church(Oude Kerk), the oldest building in the city.
2. Anne Frank House
Anne Frank's house is worth a visit as it is a valuable World War II heritage site. It is the place where the young Jewish girl wrote her famous diary and where she and her family stayed in hiding during the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands. In this alternative tour you will learn in detail the sad story of a girl who serves as a testimony of the Holocaust and puts into context the consequences of this genocide for millions of people.
The Anne Frank route also includes a tour of the bohemian Jordaan neighborhood, which became the district of the working class from the seventeenth century. A few meters from this area is the Protestant Westerkerk or West Church, characterized by its Renaissance style.
On this tour you will also visit Leidseplein, a very busy area during the day and noted for its lively nightlife.
If you want to see the most authentic of Amsterdam and get off the beaten track, explore the charming Jordaan Quarter, full of striking shop windows, traditional cafes and rabbis. During the tour you can see the Homomonument, a monument that commemorates all people subjected to persecution because of their sexual orientation.
In the Jordaan neighborhood is the area of the Nine Streets (Negen Straatjes - in Dutch), which runs between Leidsestraat and Raadhuisstraat. It is one of the most picturesque areas of Amsterdam and the district par excellence of shopping lovers. Here you can find fashion boutiques and restaurants.
The Jordaan district is very close to Museumplein, the museum district, so at the end of the route you will see the exteriors of the famous Rijksmuseum, dedicated mainly to the canvases of the Dutch school, and the Van Gogh Museum, where many of the great works of this artist reside. If you like art, these will be essential visits.
There are plenty of things to see and do in Amsterdam, but without a doubt the Red Light District (De Wallen) is the place that most attracts the attention of visitors and produces mixed feelings. If you want to find out why Amsterdam is the city with the most liberal and tolerant spirit in Europe, join a tour of the Red Light District.
Coffee shops, bars, sex shops, suggestive locals and prostitutes waving from their windows contrast with the old church located in the same area. During the tour your guide will accompany you at all times and will explain the regulation of prostitution and the drug business in Holland while you go into the narrow alleys of the neighborhood. These tours are usually very complete, as they also include a tour of Dam Square, the PIC (Prostitution Information Center), the Sex Museum and the gay Warmoesstraat, among the highlights.
You will delve into the history and origins of the neighborhood, when sailors and forced laborers restored the place in the 17th century to become a haven for prostitution and the black market. Ironically, the Red Light District is now one of the safest in Amsterdam thanks to the efforts of the Dutch authorities to crack down on crime.
La Condomerie, the Marihuana Museum, the Magic Mushroom Shop and the Casa Rosso will be some of the great discoveries of this tour through the streets of the world famous Red Light District.
If you want to see the alternative side of Amsterdam, explore Jodenbuurt, the former Jewish Quarter of Amsterdam and learn a little more about the history and evolution of a neighborhood that suffered the consequences of World War II. Important personalities such as the painter Rembrandt or the philosopher Baruch Spinoza have left their mark in this humble district.
In this free tour of the Jewish Quarter you will visit emblematic buildings such as the Portuguese Synagogue, used as a shelter by the Jews who emigrated to Amsterdam, or the Waterlooplein Market, where you can buy souvenirs, souvenirs or local crafts in the street stalls.
Other places that are part of this interesting route on the Jewish district of Amsterdam are the Nieuwmarkt square, the Auschwitz Memorial, the Etz Chaim Library and the Dutch Theater.
The windmills of the Zaanse Schans and the and the small villages of the Waterland region are a dream place for nature and cottage lovers. This tour includes a visit to the villages of Edam, Volendam and Marken, where you can take postcard-worthy pictures and enjoy their amazing rural environment, discover traditional Dutch houses and Protestant churches. You will also visit a factory where the famous clogs (shoes) typical of North Holland are produced and taste delicious Dutch cheeses.
If you are visiting Holland and you have time to explore other cities, don't hesitate to take the amsterdam to Bruges by bus. This is a very popular trip, especially because of the convenience of the journey and the relative proximity of the two cities (250 kilometers), despite the fact that they are in different countries.
Do not miss the opportunity to visit this beautiful Belgian city that still retains all its medieval structure, a fascinating combination of history and romance. You will fall in love with its impressive network of canals and ancient monuments that will take your mind back to another era.
Some places that are part of the itinerary are the Lake of Love, located in the Minnewater Park, which is usually the starting point of the tours; the Church of Our Lady, located in the historic center, and the famous St. Bonificio Bridge.
You can stroll along the Dijver, one of the most beautiful canals of the city, as well as through old markets and emblematic squares such as the Groote Markt, Burg Square or Walplein Square.
To see Bruges at your leisure, visit its cafés and taste its prized cheeses, you will also have three hours of free time before returning to Amsterdam.
If you want to go deeper and discover more about this city than the average tourist, from the history to the most curious customs, join one of the free Amsterdam tours in English available on our website and make the most of your stay. These tours are especially useful if you are planning to visit Amsterdam in a few days.
By Irene Lara
It is its main cultural and financial reference, a city that we recommend exploring on foot or by bicycle to enjoy its lively streets, relax in its tree-lined parks and soak up its unmistakable art and culture.
If you are wondering what to see in Amsterdam in a few days, here is a summary of the best free tours, routes and guided tours in English that will allow you to explore the most interesting parts of the city. You can book tours online for free(based on tips) or opt for the cheapest excursions for a unique and different experience.
1. Amsterdam Historical Center Tour
If you have just arrived and need a little guidance on what to see in Amsterdam, the best introduction to the city is a free tour of Amsterdam's historic center. Your guide will take you back to the 12th century with the fascinating story of the local engineers who managed to turn a swamp into a perfectly urbanized city, allowing people to live on the Amstel River.
The warehouses built along the canals that were transformed into residential dwellings hint at Amsterdam as a traditionally commercial city. You can visit the Palace-House of the Trip brothers, who made a fortune selling weapons during the war and have become a benchmark of Dutch business prowess.
Other highlights that are part of this interesting tour are the Dam Square -one of the busiest places in Amsterdam and where the Royal Palace is located- and the Old Church(Oude Kerk), the oldest building in the city.
2. Anne Frank House
Source: Adapted from Wikimedia Commons - Marion Golstejn [CC BY-SA 4.0]
Anne Frank's house is worth a visit as it is a valuable World War II heritage site. It is the place where the young Jewish girl wrote her famous diary and where she and her family stayed in hiding during the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands. In this alternative tour you will learn in detail the sad story of a girl who serves as a testimony of the Holocaust and puts into context the consequences of this genocide for millions of people.
The Anne Frank route also includes a tour of the bohemian Jordaan neighborhood, which became the district of the working class from the seventeenth century. A few meters from this area is the Protestant Westerkerk or West Church, characterized by its Renaissance style.
On this tour you will also visit Leidseplein, a very busy area during the day and noted for its lively nightlife.
3. Jordaan neighborhood
If you want to see the most authentic of Amsterdam and get off the beaten track, explore the charming Jordaan Quarter, full of striking shop windows, traditional cafes and rabbis. During the tour you can see the Homomonument, a monument that commemorates all people subjected to persecution because of their sexual orientation.
In the Jordaan neighborhood is the area of the Nine Streets (Negen Straatjes - in Dutch), which runs between Leidsestraat and Raadhuisstraat. It is one of the most picturesque areas of Amsterdam and the district par excellence of shopping lovers. Here you can find fashion boutiques and restaurants.
The Jordaan district is very close to Museumplein, the museum district, so at the end of the route you will see the exteriors of the famous Rijksmuseum, dedicated mainly to the canvases of the Dutch school, and the Van Gogh Museum, where many of the great works of this artist reside. If you like art, these will be essential visits.
4. Amsterdam Red Light District
There are plenty of things to see and do in Amsterdam, but without a doubt the Red Light District (De Wallen) is the place that most attracts the attention of visitors and produces mixed feelings. If you want to find out why Amsterdam is the city with the most liberal and tolerant spirit in Europe, join a tour of the Red Light District.
Coffee shops, bars, sex shops, suggestive locals and prostitutes waving from their windows contrast with the old church located in the same area. During the tour your guide will accompany you at all times and will explain the regulation of prostitution and the drug business in Holland while you go into the narrow alleys of the neighborhood. These tours are usually very complete, as they also include a tour of Dam Square, the PIC (Prostitution Information Center), the Sex Museum and the gay Warmoesstraat, among the highlights.
You will delve into the history and origins of the neighborhood, when sailors and forced laborers restored the place in the 17th century to become a haven for prostitution and the black market. Ironically, the Red Light District is now one of the safest in Amsterdam thanks to the efforts of the Dutch authorities to crack down on crime.
La Condomerie, the Marihuana Museum, the Magic Mushroom Shop and the Casa Rosso will be some of the great discoveries of this tour through the streets of the world famous Red Light District.
5. Amsterdam Jewish Quarter (Jodenbuurt)
If you want to see the alternative side of Amsterdam, explore Jodenbuurt, the former Jewish Quarter of Amsterdam and learn a little more about the history and evolution of a neighborhood that suffered the consequences of World War II. Important personalities such as the painter Rembrandt or the philosopher Baruch Spinoza have left their mark in this humble district.
In this free tour of the Jewish Quarter you will visit emblematic buildings such as the Portuguese Synagogue, used as a shelter by the Jews who emigrated to Amsterdam, or the Waterlooplein Market, where you can buy souvenirs, souvenirs or local crafts in the street stalls.
Other places that are part of this interesting route on the Jewish district of Amsterdam are the Nieuwmarkt square, the Auschwitz Memorial, the Etz Chaim Library and the Dutch Theater.
6. Excursion to the Zaanse Schans and Waterland Mills
Photo: Wikimedia Commons - Zairon [CC BY-SA 4.0]
The windmills of the Zaanse Schans and the and the small villages of the Waterland region are a dream place for nature and cottage lovers. This tour includes a visit to the villages of Edam, Volendam and Marken, where you can take postcard-worthy pictures and enjoy their amazing rural environment, discover traditional Dutch houses and Protestant churches. You will also visit a factory where the famous clogs (shoes) typical of North Holland are produced and taste delicious Dutch cheeses.
7. Amsterdam to Bruges Excursion
Bruges, Belgium.
If you are visiting Holland and you have time to explore other cities, don't hesitate to take the amsterdam to Bruges by bus. This is a very popular trip, especially because of the convenience of the journey and the relative proximity of the two cities (250 kilometers), despite the fact that they are in different countries.
Do not miss the opportunity to visit this beautiful Belgian city that still retains all its medieval structure, a fascinating combination of history and romance. You will fall in love with its impressive network of canals and ancient monuments that will take your mind back to another era.
Some places that are part of the itinerary are the Lake of Love, located in the Minnewater Park, which is usually the starting point of the tours; the Church of Our Lady, located in the historic center, and the famous St. Bonificio Bridge.
Bruges Canals.
You can stroll along the Dijver, one of the most beautiful canals of the city, as well as through old markets and emblematic squares such as the Groote Markt, Burg Square or Walplein Square.
To see Bruges at your leisure, visit its cafés and taste its prized cheeses, you will also have three hours of free time before returning to Amsterdam.
If you want to go deeper and discover more about this city than the average tourist, from the history to the most curious customs, join one of the free Amsterdam tours in English available on our website and make the most of your stay. These tours are especially useful if you are planning to visit Amsterdam in a few days.
By Irene Lara
