Top Amsterdam Unique Experiences

Leave Amsterdam behind for a few hours and discover the typical Dutch countryside outside the capital. You'll drive through a picture-perfect landscape crisscrossed with canals, see authentic wooden houses, windmills and fishing villages, and witness traditional crafts from days gone by. The picturesque village of Zaanse Schans is famous for its original buildings, vividly capturing Dutch life in the 17th and 18th centuries. You'll see the historic shipyard and windmills, and pay a visit to a shoemaker who works with wood to watch his clog-making techniques first-hand!

The best way to explore the UNESCO-listed Amsterdam Canal Ring is indisputably by boat. Get a different perspective of the Dutch capital while avoiding the crowds on land during this relaxing canal cruise that, unlike other similar tours, includes unlimited Heineken beer, wine, and soft drinks for a budget-friendly price. Plus, several departure times throughout the day mean you can slot the cruise into almost any schedule.

Cycle away from the urban noise and disappear into the countryside on this guided bike tour from Amsterdam. Visit a historical windmill, a farmhouse and factory, where you’ll sample Dutch cheese and watch how wooden clogs are made. This leisurely ride takes you along the Amstel River, past country villages and verdant fields dotted with cows. Learn about rural Dutch traditions and history, and wrap up your tour exploring Amsterdam’s parks including Vondelpark, Amsterdamse Bos and Beatrixpark.

The combination of foot, bike, car and bus traffic on the cobblestone streets of Amsterdam can be overwhelming, so experience Amsterdam in peace from the water. Experience the city’s waterways from a unique vantage point on this canal tour while a local guide gives you insight on the history and architecture of this beautiful city. Get a great price when you book this cruise online.

Discover the delights and history of Zaanse Schans and the Dutch countryside on a 3-hour, small-group trip from Amsterdam. With an informative guide, admire the lush, canal-crossed Dutch landscape. Take a tour of pretty Zaanse Schans, famous for its wooden windmills and green-painted houses, and visit a cheese farm and clog-making workshop to learn about these traditional crafts. Lastly, visit a working windmill to learn how these waterside factories helped drive the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age. Numbers are limited on this tour for a small-group experience.

Experience three quintessential icons of the Dutch countryside — windmills, cheese and wooden clogs — on this 5.5 hour tour from Amsterdam. Journey to the North Holland towns of Zaanse Schans, Edam and Volendam, where you can view working windmills at an open-air museum on the Zaan River, visit a dairy farm or cheese weighing house, and step inside a clog factory. You’ll travel outside the city aboard a single-decker coach, allowing for a smaller group experience with your professional guide.

Experience an iconic landscape of fishing villages, windmills, and craftsmen’s shops on a small-group tour from Amsterdam into the Dutch countryside. Visit a series of traditional, restored windmills in Zaanse Schans, and walk the dikes and harbor of Volendam, a pretty port lined with bright houses and sailboats. Sample locally-make cheeses and Dutch schnapps, with time to choose a restaurant for lunch, then enjoy sweeping views of the landscape during the return trip to Amsterdam.

Nibble your way through Amsterdam's international dining scene on a private tasting tour led by a local foodie guide. Learn about the international flavors that have influenced Dutch cuisine while grabbing bites at a local market, beer garden and family restaurant. Savor handpicked local delicacies including the best fish in town, a sweet ‘stroopwafel’ and artisanal cheese.

Home to some of the world’s most iconic Van Gogh paintings, Amsterdam’s Van Gogh museum attracts lines often in excess of two hours. Beat the crowds with this priority admission ticket that also includes an Amsterdam canal cruise, during which you get unobstructed views of the city's waterside attractions. This stress-free combo ticket is an ideal choice for first-time visitors with limited time in the Dutch capital.

Feel the pulse of Amsterdam’s Red Light District and coffee shops on a private walking tour with a local guide. As you stroll the cobbled lanes, see red-lit windows, sex shops, and erotic theaters; and listen as your guide separates facts from fiction about the area’s past and the legalization of prostitution in 2000. Discover Amsterdam's coffee shop culture or upgrade to include admission to the Sexmuseum, whose exhibits chart eye-popping erotica through the ages.

Delve into the rich tapestry of typical Dutch culture on an enriching half-day tour to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam. With a knowledgeable guide, observe traditional cheese making processes; marvel at the interior of a working windmill; try on some authentic wooden clogs for size; and admire the quaint and colorful architecture of Zaanse Schans village before returning to Amsterdam by comfortable coach. Gain fascinating insight into the unique culture of the Netherlands on this educational tour.

See Amsterdam in a unique light on this private tour of the port city’s most notable landmarks, plus tucked-away treasures that most visitors miss. Join up with a local guide to learn the fascinating history behind highlights like the Flower Market, Red Light District, and Rembrandt’s house, and discover hidden gems that lie off the beaten tourist track for an eye-opening exploration.

Discover hidden corners in Amsterdam’s scenic waterways unreachable by many boats on this canal cruise. Aboard a solar-powered vessel, hear tales with your audio-guide while snapping photos of the historical waterfront sights. Pass highlights such as the Anne Frank House and the Golden Bend district with its grand manor houses. A variety of departure times makes this a convenient sightseeing activity.

Discover the beautiful city of Amsterdam, known as the ‘Venice of the North,’ from the water on this sightseeing cruise. After reserving your preferred departure time, skip past any lines and set off on the UNESCO-listed waterways aboard a glass-topped canal boat. Glide under pretty bridges, past 17th-century buildings and landmarks like the Anne Frank House, and learn about the city’s history from the audio guide.

Get a flavor of Amsterdam’s famous coffee-shop culture on a walking tour with a local guide. Stroll through Amsterdam's narrow lanes and squares and dip two bohemian coffee shops to enjoy the laid-back atmosphere, savor delicious local snacks (own expense), and learn about the history and cannabis culture in the city. Upgrade to include more coffee shops, food tastings, and neighborhoods.

Don’t waste time trying to hit the Dutch food hotspots alone, only to end up in tourist traps. Instead, join this comprehensive, intimate, and off-the-beaten-path food tour through the historical Jordaan district, during which you stop at eight distinct locations. Listen as your Amsterdam-local guide explains each foodstuff—such as Poffertjes (pancakes) or Gouda cheese—as you go.

Combine two of Amsterdam’s top-selling experiences and save money with a Super Saver Heineken Experience and canal cruise package—a convenient and budget-friendly choice that’s ideal for first-time visitors. Guarantee your entry to the often sold-out Heineken Experience by booking in advance and get unobstructed views of Amsterdam’s UNESCO-listed waterways, without the crowds on land, during a canal cruise—a quintessential Amsterdam experience.

Glide through the canals of Amsterdam on a dinner cruise that features great views of the illuminated city. Learn about Amsterdam’s history and culture from your onboard guide as you dine on a original New York pizza accompanied by beverages such as beer, wine, soft drinks, and water. Top off your meal with a delicious brownie as your boat winds through the picturesque waterways of the Dutch capital.

Bring home a photo memento from your Amsterdam vacation when you take part in this photoshoot with a professional photographer. Pick from some of the most famous Dutch paintings, and dress in costume to mimic the picture for your photo session. Walk away with two prints, one enlargement, and an email with your original photo files.

During the Dutch Golden Age, some of the most recognizable paintings in the world were created. Step into a masterpiece and bring home the selfie to prove it. Choose your painting, then get into character and dress up to allow a professional photographer to capture the scene. Take home prints of the reenactment as the perfect memento to commemorate this unique Dutch experience.

Discover the rich heritage and modern culture of Holland on a private, full-day tour from Amsterdam. Travel with a local guide through the scenic Dutch countryside and neighboring towns, following an itinerary that’s designed just for you and your group. Explore traditional villages of windmills and wooden shoes, visit the hometowns of your ancestors, taste country cuisine or whatever else you choose!

Step aboard an historic saloon boat, built in 1912 and considered a floating monument, for a 90-minute private cruise. You'll travel with just your private group of 12 people and a guide, sipping drinks while you float by some of the city's top landmarks. Your guide will tailor their commentary to your interests and answer any questions.

Discover the truth behind the famous Amsterdam Red Light District on a private 2-hour tour, a great way for first-time visitors to orient themselves in the Netherlands’ capital. As you stroll along the UNESCO-listed Amsterdam Canal Ring, you’ll pass Oude Kerk (Old Church) and explore Chinatown. Plus, stop to sample three Dutch specialities, including cheese, kroket (croquette), and stroopwafel (thin waffles).

Take a bite out of Amsterdam’s delectable culinary culture on a private walking food tour that takes you to authentic eateries and street markets, with a serving of history along the way. See landmarks including Dam Square, the Waag, and Chinatown with a foodie guide, stopping to sample local specialties like Dutch pancakes and croquets, gouda cheese, and sweet stroopwafels. It's a fun and personalized wait to satisfy your curiosity — and your stomach.