More about: Amsterdam Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
Given the particularities of this city, full of canals but also of interesting attractions and museums, there are many varieties of tours aboard a bus or a cruise to get to know this charming city. Here is a list of the best options.
The most classic option: Amsterdam City Sightseeing Bus City Sightseeing Amsterdam
With this sightseeing bus tour with free stops in the city of Amsterdam and with the option to add a cruise paying a little more, you will have the freedom to visit the city in total comfort. You will cross Amsterdam aboard a double-decker open-top bus with audio guide in English and passing through up to 38 points of interest in the city, including:
Rijksmuseum
Retrace the history of Dutch Golden Age painting with masterpieces such as Rembrandt' s "The Night Watch" and paintings by Vermeer and Frans Hals.
Jordaan and Red Light District
Meet what was called the "European Jerusalem" during the settlement of Jewish refugee communities in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and the most controversial district of Amsterdam, with its shop windows bathed in red lights and where legal prostitution is practiced.
Madame Tussauds
Surprise yourself and have a great time with the hyperrealism of the wax figures of famous historical figures in this replica of the famous wax museum in London.
Itinerary
- Rijksmuseum
- Damrak
- Dam Square
- Leiden Square (Leidseplein)
- Van Gogh Museum
- Anne Frank House
- The Jordaan
- Red Light District
- Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
- NEMO Science Museum
- The National Maritime Museum
- De 9 Straatjes
- Casa-Rembrandt Museum
- Madame Tussauds Amsterdam
- Casino Holland
- Amsterdam Centrum
- Hermitage Amsterdam
- The Amsterdam Dungeon
- Torture Museum
- Xtracold Icebar Amsterdam
- Body Worlds
- De Gooyer Mill
Pass for a boat cruise with free stops along the canals
Taking a cruise is a must on your visit to the Dutch capital and this one or two-day pass for a cruise on the canals of Amsterdam is a good option. You can make the full tour without getting off to enjoy a nice walk or you can use it as a means of transport, as it makes a fairly extensive tour (passing through 18 points of interest) and you can get on and off at any of the stops.
In addition, you can round off the cruise by upgrading your ticket with fast-track entry to two of the best attractions in the city, the Van Gogh Museum or the interactive visit to the old brewery of the Heineken Experience.
- Rembrandt House: visit the former home of the great artist now converted into an interesting museum about his life and work.
- Magere Brug: see the narrowest and most famous bridge in Amsterdam and learn about the legend of its origin.
- Keizersgracht: cross the Emperor's Canal, the most picturesque of Amsterdam's main ring, and stroll through its surroundings of impressive buildings, such as the House of Heads, the Felix Meritis Foundation and the Van Loon Museum.
Itinerary
- Van Gogh Museum
- Anne Frank House
- Rembrandt House Museum
- Heineken Experience
- Emperor's Canal (Keizersgracht)
- Hermitage Amsterdam
- A'dam Lookout
- Rijksmuseum
- Magere Brug
- The Amstel
- Leiden Square (Leidseplein)
- Vondelpark
The most complete pack: combines the sightseeing bus and the cruise
This tourist bus and cruise package works exactly the same as the previous ones, but combining both experiences: bus and cruise on the canals with unlimited stops.
It can come in handy if you have time and want to move around the city in a comfortable way without missing the tour of its canals or if, on the contrary, you only have two days in Amsterdam and you are looking to get an overview of the city by land and water. In both cases you will avoid wasting time and energy in public transport and you will know the essential things to see and do in Amsterdam through a total of 12 attractions:
- Anne Frank House Museum: relive the most tragic history of the city during the Nazi occupation in the house that hid the family of the young Anne Frank while she was writing her relevant diary.
- Leiden Square (Leidseplein): walk through one of Amsterdam's busiest areas and soak up its lively atmosphere of street musicians, terraces, Art Deco architecture and lively nightlife.
- Waterlooplein Market: enter the daily flea market held in the touristy Waterlooplein Square, home to important buildings such as the Stopera, seat of the city hall, and the opera house.
Itinerary
- A'dam Lookout
- Anne Frank House
- Rijksmuseum
- Van Gogh Museum
- Magere Brug
- The Amstel
- Leiden Square (Leidseplein)
- Vondelpark
- Heineken Experience
- Waterlooplein Market
- Albert Cuyp Market
- Westerpark
Combine cruises with other attractions in the city
Visit the Heineken Experience
The visit to the old brewery of the Heineken company is one of the most popular attractions in Amsterdam for the interest aroused by the process of making its famous beer, its interactive tour that includes two complimentary glasses of beer and the course where you can try to create your own drink.
Visit the Rijksmuseum
With this other pack you will also sail the central ring of canals of Amsterdam and you can hop on and off whenever you want to visit on your own important museums, monuments and areas of interest including the entrance to another fundamental attraction of the city, the impressive Rijksmuseum.
Get access to the sightseeing bus with the Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass
If you are going to spend several days in Amsterdam my final recommendation is to get the Amsterdam Pass. The Dutch capital is quite manageable for the visitor. If you spend more than 3 days there you can amortize a lot this tourist pass with quick access to its main attractions and also includes a bus pass and tourist cruises to move around the city and operation very similar to those already mentioned.
With this pass you will avoid wasting a lot of time in queues to the more than 30 museums and attractions and you will save considerable money, up to 50%, on their individual tickets. I have written a practical guide to tell you all its advantages and how it works in detail: Amsterdam Tourist Cards.
The Amsterdam Pass offers from the most cultural attractions of the city, such as the remarkable Rijksmuseum or the interesting Rembrandt House; to other leisure attractions, such as the famous viewpoint A'dam Lookout, the fun Heineken Experience or the immersive experience aboard a boat in the Amsterdam Dungeon.
How does the Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass work?
- It gives you quick and cheaper access to more than 30 cultural and leisure attractions in Amsterdam for half the price of standard tickets.
- It's completely digital: you purchase, receive and use it directly from your mobile device.
- It is customizable: you can choose to use it for 1, 2, 3 or 5 full days.
- Remember: it does not include the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House, whose visit, however, is not included in any of the Amsterdam tourist passes.
Other interesting activities in Amsterdam
By now you have seen that it is practically impossible to get bored in the Dutch capital, but I still recommend that you consider the option of taking a canal cruise. If you are one of those who prefer to cover everything without leaving a single corner to visit, the best option is the tourist bus, as it allows you to tour the city while enjoying the sights as you move around. I leave you here all the information: Amsterdam Hop-On Hop-Off Bus.