In this article you can learn more about the best 7 options for sightseeing in this majestic city
Amsterdam, with its picturesque canals and bridges, rich history, and vibrant culture, offers numerous ways to be explored. Among the most popular options are various tours that cater to different personal preferences and each tour provide unique experience. Here’s a detailed look at the advantages and disadvantages of seven most popular types of tours available in Amsterdam such as: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, Walking Tour, Push Bike City Tour, Private Canal Boat Tour, Amsterdam Countryside Bus Tour, Peidcab (Bike Taxi) City Tour and Long Canal Boat Tour.
1. Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Advantages
- Flexibility: This type of hop on and off bus that circles around city center allows you to get on and off at various turistic spots, making it a perfect way to see some of the top attractions. Hop on and off buses provide some basic sightseeing experience and information.
- Coverage: The bus routes typically include major attractions and landmarks, ensuring that travelers see a major part of the city in a day or two of time.
- Informative: Most buses provide digital audio guides in many languages, offering insights about the city’s history, culture, and notable locations.
- Low Cost: Hop On and hop Off option for sightseeing also comes with some small discounts for museum tickets. The Price per ticket is 20€-40€ per person for 1 day bus ticket.
Disadvantages
- Traffic Delays: Being dependent on road traffic can lead to delays, especially during peak hours and busy tourist seasons. Amsterdam is one way city and some places have very old infructructure which makes travelling by bus or car very time consuming .
- Misleading promises: Dispite of offering multiple get on and off, these buses cannot be used many times during the day due to traffic conditions
- Limited Experience: A bus tour permits minimal interaction with the city center and old town; you miss out on the personal feel and local atmosphere that walking or biking provides.
2.Walking Tour
Advantages
- In-Depth Experience: Walking allows a closer look at the architecture of narrow streets and feeling the atmosphere of Amsterdam, giving travelers the chance to immerse themselves in the city’s culture.
- Social Interaction: Being part of a walking group often facilitates interaction with another travelers and your guide is there to provide on spot information. Walking tour guides are really good at engaging their group and telling interesting stories
- Low cost option: Walking tour is the cheapest option when comes to sightseeing in Amsterdam city center. Price ranges from 5€-15€ per person for 1 hour tour
Disadvantages
- Pace Limitations: The pace can be tiring, particularly for those who may have trouble walking long distances or for whom mobility is an issue. In big groups there is always someone slowing down the group.
- Small Area Coverage: Due to luck of vehicle walking tours cover very small areas of Amsterdam
- Weather Dependency: Amsterdam’s weather can be unpredictable. Walking tours can be unpleasent in the rainy or cold weather
3. Push Bike City Tour
Advantages
- Efficiency: Cycling is the fastest way to cover more ground in the busy center while still allowing for interaction with the environment and hidden landmarks
- Health Benefits: Active peddaling promotes better health and can be a refreshing way to see the city.
- Bike is the best: Bicycle reamins the top vehicle when comes to this `Bike friendly` City. Thats the only vehicle which can access popular places with restricted access for cars and buses
- Low Cost: Renting a bike for a day can cost 15-20€ per person. For bigger groups you can get a bike tour guide for free as a bonus from the bike company.
Disadvantages
- Traffic Risk: Navigating extemely busy bike lanes can be very risky for inexperienced cyclists or families. Don`t underestimate the specific traffic rules, bike thefts and bike parking which can ruine the experience
- Group Limitations: Those unfamiliar with biking may find it challenging, resulting not everyone to have fun in this type of tour
4.Private Canal Boat Tour
Advantages
- Personalized Experience: A private boat tour gives you the freedom to choose your route, making it fun and interesting to everyone
- Local private guide: Some companies offer private guides, who are familiar with the canal network and can take you to spots and hidden gems which you won`t find on your own
- Unique Perspective: Exploring the canals by water provides a unique view of the city’s iconic architecture and hidden landmarks that are often missed on foot or by bus.
- Comfort: Typically more spacious and comfortable than public tours, making it suitable for small groups or families.
Disadvantages
- Limited Speed: Boats are limited to maximum speed of 5kmh (3mph). Which sometimes result in boring experience.
- Cost: Private boat tours can be significantly more expensive than group tours, making them less accessible for budget travelers. Cost of that type of sightseeing can be 50€-150€ per person per 1 hour
5.Amsterdam Countryside Bus Tour
Advantages
- Scenic Beauty: These tours take you beyond the busy city to the beautiful Dutch countryside, showcasing picturesque villages, windmills, and tulip fields.
- Cultural Insights: Tour guides often provide context about rural Dutch life and history, enriching your understanding of the culture.
- Workshops: You will experience wooden shoes and cheese work shops
Disadvantages
- Less Flexibility: These tours often stick to a set itinerary, not allowing you to enjoy on your own pace
- Overcrowding: Many places in the provincy have visitors limitation and that results in long queues or overcrowded workshops
- Time-Consuming: Travel time to reach provincial areas can be way longer than exploring Amsterdam from inside.
- Cost: For such experience bus ticket cost around 30-50€ per person for both way ticket
6. Pedicab (Bike Taxi) Private City Tour
Advantages
- Wide Area Coverage: Electric Pedicabs can cover up to 5x larger areas than walking. These innovative cargo trikes promote sustainable tourism, reducing carbon footprints while allowing you to enjoy the refreshing bike ride.
- Local Perspective: Being pedaled by experienced local guide can provide unique bike lane prespective and real Amsterdam feeling, all that ensuring unforgettable pedicab experience
- Best for congested streets: Pedicabs follow strict town hall standarts and due to their widith of 1.20m they can fit in every bike path and narrow streets of old town. Bike paths in Amsterdam by standart are always 1.20m wide. Pedicabs can take you to historical places where cars and buses are not allowed
Disadvantages
- Weather discomfort: The ride can be little cold when raining or its windy, especially if you’re not accustomed to cycling and bad weather conditions.
- Limited Capacity: Single pedicab (Bike taxi) typically have space for only 3 passengers or family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids) which may not be ideal for larger groups.
- Cost: Pedicab Sightseeing tour could be anywhere from 10€-45€ per person for 1 hour tour
7. Long Boat Canal Tour
- Relaxing Experience: Long boat tour provide a quiet way to appreciate the sights without any physical effort.
- Comprehensive Views: Longer tours usually cover further areas of the canals, offering a broader perspective of the city.
- Low cost: Long Canal boats are the cheapest and most affordable canal tour. The price is 12€-20€ per person for 1 hour tour
Disadvantages
- Time Commitment: At times, long tours can feel prolonged, potentially becoming boring for those with limited attention spans. Also many times these boats are getting overcrowded
- Infrastructure Limitations: Depending on the time of year, crowded canals can make navigation for long boats difficult, leading to long delays and wating
- No Toilet stops: Due to many people on board and limited spots for stopping, these long boats have No toilets provided during the tour
Conclusion
Each type of tour in Amsterdam offers its own unique perspective and experience, coming with different feelings and sightseeing styles. Whether you prioritize timing, comfort, information, or safety, understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each can help you get prepared and have an idea before you visiting this beautiful city. Ultimately, the best choice will depend on your interests, budget, bike and boat experience, ensuring for you a memorable sightseeing experience in Amsterdam.
