Guided walks
The best Amsterdam walking tours
Small-group walks through the old center, the Jordaan and the Jewish Quarter, a walk with a canal cruise and one with a stroopwafel tasting. Here is which Amsterdam walking tour to book, with honest advice on how big the group is, where you meet and what the price leaves out.
See our 8 picks
The best Amsterdam walking tour for most visitors is a 2- to 3-hour small-group walk of the old center with a local guide. Walks cost from €18 to €34 per person. Most groups are 8 to 12 people, and by city rules no guided group in the center may be bigger than 15. Every walk we list can be cancelled free up to 24 hours ahead. The guide’s tip is not included on most of them.
- 8
- tours compared
- from €18
- lowest price per person
- ★ 4.9
- best rating (470 reviews)
- 8 of 8
- free cancellation
Our 8 picks for Amsterdam walking tours
All eight are rated 4.5 or higher on GetYourGuide. Two have only 11 reviews so far, and the cards say so.
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from €19 per person Our top pick 2 h 30 min 4.7 (1,556) reviews on GetYourGuide
Small-group walking tour of the center
A 2.5-hour walk for up to 10 people, with a local guide in English or Spanish. It covers the Golden Age, the Red Light District’s history and Dutch drug policy. It meets on Beursplein. Tips, food and entry fees are extra.
Best for A first look at the center
Check availability: Small-group walking tour of the center on GetYourGuide -
from €28 per person 2 hours 4.9 (470) reviews on GetYourGuide
Small-group walk in English or French
A 2-hour walk through the old center, the canals and the Jordaan, for up to 10 people. The guide gives tips for food, shops and sights. It meets at Pancakes Amsterdam at the IJ, De Ruijterkade 35.
Best for The center, the canals and the Jordaan
Check availability: Small-group walk in English or French on GetYourGuide -
from €18 per person 1–2 hours 4.6 (386) reviews on GetYourGuide
History and highlights walk with a stroopwafel
A 1- to 2-hour walk from Nieuwmarkt 4 to Dam Square, ending next to the Anne Frank House. You taste a stroopwafel on the way. It runs rain or shine. Entry to the Anne Frank House is not included and is sold only on annefrank.org.
Best for A short walk with a snack
Check availability: History and highlights walk with a stroopwafel on GetYourGuide -
from €25 per person 2 hours 4.8 (319) reviews on GetYourGuide
Highlights and history walk
A 2-hour walk for up to 8 people, past Dam Square, the Anne Frank House and the Flower Market. It meets at the Park Plaza Victoria hotel, Damrak 1-5. The €1.50 city tax is included.
Best for The smallest groups
Check availability: Highlights and history walk on GetYourGuide -
from €34 per person 3 hours 4.6 (78) reviews on GetYourGuide
Small-group walk plus a canal cruise
A walk with a local guide, then a 1-hour canal cruise. Pick a boat with an audio guide, or an open boat with a live guide and a bar. It meets on Beursplein.
Best for Walk and boat in one booking
Check availability: Small-group walk plus a canal cruise on GetYourGuide -
from €27 per person 2 hours 4.5 (71) reviews on GetYourGuide
Historic center walk with a local guide
A 2-hour walk through Nieuwmarkt, Chinatown and Dam Square. You choose a private or a shared tour when you book. It meets at Nieuwebrugsteeg 13.
Best for Nieuwmarkt and Chinatown
Check availability: Historic center walk with a local guide on GetYourGuide -
from €33 per person 3 hours 4.8 (11) reviews on GetYourGuide
History, culture and hidden gems walk
A 3-hour walk for up to 12 people through the oldest neighborhoods. It covers the Jewish Quarter, Chinatown, Nieuwmarkt and the Dutch East India Company story. It meets on Beursplein.
Best for The Jewish Quarter and the trade story
Check availability: History, culture and hidden gems walk on GetYourGuide -
from €30 per person 3 hours 4.7 (11) reviews on GetYourGuide
Must-see sights walk you can shape
A 3-hour walk you plan with your guide, private or in a group. The guide can help you book entry tickets. It meets at Oudekerksplein 4, by the Oude Kerk.
Best for A walk built around you
Check availability: Must-see sights walk you can shape on GetYourGuide
Amsterdam walking tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Not included | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small-group walking tour of the center | €19 per person | 2 h 30 min | Up to 10 | Tips, food, entry fees | A first look at the center | The most reviewed walk here: 4.7 from 1,556 reviews. |
| Small-group walk in English or French | €28 per person | 2 hours | Up to 10 | Tips, food, drinks | The center, the canals and the Jordaan | The top rating here: 4.9 from 470 reviews. |
| History and highlights walk with a stroopwafel | €18 per person | 1–2 hours | Not stated | Tips, drinks | A short walk with a snack | The lowest price here, from €18. Rated 4.6 from 386 reviews. |
| Highlights and history walk | €25 per person | 2 hours | Up to 8 | Food, drinks (city tax included) | The smallest groups | The smallest groups here, up to 8. Rated 4.8 from 319 reviews. |
| Small-group walk plus a canal cruise | €34 per person | 3 hours | Up to 10–12 | Tips, food, drinks | Walk and boat in one booking | The only walk here with a cruise. Rated 4.6 from 78 reviews. |
| Historic center walk with a local guide | €27 per person | 2 hours | Not stated | Tips | Nieuwmarkt and Chinatown | You choose private or shared when you book. Rated 4.5 from 71 reviews. |
| History, culture and hidden gems walk | €33 per person | 3 hours | Up to 12 | Tips, food, entry (city tax included) | The Jewish Quarter and the trade story | The walk with the most on the Jewish Quarter. Rated 4.8, from only 11 reviews. |
| Must-see sights walk you can shape | €30 per person | 3 hours | Not stated | Tips, food, drinks | A walk built around you | The most flexible walk here. Rated 4.7, from only 11 reviews. |
Small-group walking tour of the center
€19 per person2 h 30 min 4.7 (1,556)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 10
- Not included
- Tips, food, entry fees
- Who it suits
- A first look at the center
- Why we picked it
- The most reviewed walk here: 4.7 from 1,556 reviews.
Small-group walk in English or French
€28 per person2 hours 4.9 (470)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 10
- Not included
- Tips, food, drinks
- Who it suits
- The center, the canals and the Jordaan
- Why we picked it
- The top rating here: 4.9 from 470 reviews.
History and highlights walk with a stroopwafel
€18 per person1–2 hours 4.6 (386)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Not included
- Tips, drinks
- Who it suits
- A short walk with a snack
- Why we picked it
- The lowest price here, from €18. Rated 4.6 from 386 reviews.
€25 per person2 hours 4.8 (319)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 8
- Not included
- Food, drinks (city tax included)
- Who it suits
- The smallest groups
- Why we picked it
- The smallest groups here, up to 8. Rated 4.8 from 319 reviews.
Small-group walk plus a canal cruise
€34 per person3 hours 4.6 (78)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 10–12
- Not included
- Tips, food, drinks
- Who it suits
- Walk and boat in one booking
- Why we picked it
- The only walk here with a cruise. Rated 4.6 from 78 reviews.
Historic center walk with a local guide
€27 per person2 hours 4.5 (71)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Not included
- Tips
- Who it suits
- Nieuwmarkt and Chinatown
- Why we picked it
- You choose private or shared when you book. Rated 4.5 from 71 reviews.
History, culture and hidden gems walk
€33 per person3 hours 4.8 (11)
Details
- Group size
- Up to 12
- Not included
- Tips, food, entry (city tax included)
- Who it suits
- The Jewish Quarter and the trade story
- Why we picked it
- The walk with the most on the Jewish Quarter. Rated 4.8, from only 11 reviews.
Must-see sights walk you can shape
€30 per person3 hours 4.7 (11)
Details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Not included
- Tips, food, drinks
- Who it suits
- A walk built around you
- Why we picked it
- The most flexible walk here. Rated 4.7, from only 11 reviews.
- None of the eight include pickup. Each meets at the address on its card.
- All eight walks cancel free up to 24 hours before. On the walk with a canal cruise, the boat tickets can’t be refunded or changed with less than 48 hours’ notice.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Which Amsterdam walking tour to book
For a first visit, book a 2- to 3-hour small-group walk of the old center. Pick the rest by group size, route and price.
Prefer a boat or your own guide? Compare all the tours Amsterdam offers, from private canal boats to a cheese and beer tasting.
- Smallest group: the highlights walk, up to 8 people.
- Best rated: the English or French walk, 4.9 from 470 reviews.
- Lowest price: the stroopwafel walk, from €18.
- Walk and boat: the walk with a canal cruise, from €34.
- Your own plan: the must-see walk, private or in a group.
A Jewish Amsterdam walking tour: the Jewish Quarter and Nieuwmarkt
The best walk for the Jewish Quarter is the 3-hour history, culture and hidden gems walk. It also covers Chinatown and Nieuwmarkt, from €33.
The historic center walk goes through Nieuwmarkt and Chinatown in 2 hours, from €27.
Would you rather ride? The big bike tour on our Amsterdam bike tours page passes the synagogue and the Holocaust memorial.
Things to do in the Jordaan, Amsterdam, on foot
The best way to see the Jordaan is on foot, with time to stop. One of our walks covers it, and a bike tour rides through its courtyards.
Join a guided walk first if you want the stories, then explore on your own.
A Jordaan tour in Amsterdam: which walks go there
Of our eight picks, the English or French walk names the Jordaan on its route. It lasts 2 hours and costs from €28.
The hidden gems bike tour also rides through the Jordaan’s courtyards and churches. You find it with the bike tours.
A walk and a canal cruise in one
The walk with a canal cruise is one booking for both. The cruise starts about 30 to 45 minutes after the walk and lasts about 1 hour.
Choose a boat with an audio guide in 17 languages, or a luxury open boat with a live guide and a bar. Your guide hands you the boat tickets at the end of the walk.
The boat tickets can’t be refunded or changed with less than 48 hours’ notice.
For a cruise alone, compare Amsterdam canal cruises.
The Red Light District on a walking tour: the City’s rules
Three of our walks talk about the Red Light District’s history. The City of Amsterdam sets clear rules for every guided group in the center.
Please be respectful there. Don’t take photos or videos of sex workers.
For the district itself, see our page on the Red Light District.
- A guided group needs a city exemption if it has more than 4 people.
- A group may have at most 15 people.
- Tours may run only from 8:00 to 22:00.
- Groups may never pass sex workers’ windows.
- No speakers or shouting, and no alcohol or drugs on the tour.
Free and self-guided walks
You can walk the old center on your own for free. Amsterdam Centraal to Dam Square is a 10-minute walk, and the Oude Kerk is 8 minutes from Centraal.
An Amsterdam free walking tour works on tips instead of a ticket price.
An Amsterdam walking tour app instead of a guide
The City Sightseeing Amsterdam app has free walking tours. They come with its hop-on hop-off tickets, from €28 for the boat and €30 for bus and boat.
Tips for an Amsterdam walking tour
Wear comfortable shoes
Most walks last 2 to 3 hours. Several listings ask you to bring comfortable shoes.
Dress for the weather
The stroopwafel walk runs rain or shine. The English or French walk asks you to bring an umbrella.
Find your meeting point first
Three walks meet on Beursplein. Others meet at Nieuwmarkt 4, Damrak 1-5, De Ruijterkade 35, Nieuwebrugsteeg 13 or Oudekerksplein 4.
Bring cash or a card for the tip
The guide’s tip is not included on most walks. Food and drinks are extra too.
Amsterdam walking tours: questions and answers
Is it safe to walk around Amsterdam at night?
How long is a walking tour in Amsterdam?
Is the guide’s tip included on an Amsterdam walking tour?
More Amsterdam walking tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideMore ways to see Amsterdam
Sources (10)
- City of Amsterdam: rules for tours
- City of Amsterdam: How to Amsterdam
- I amsterdam: sex and drugs in Amsterdam
- Dutch government: Participating in Dutch Traffic
- Anne Frank House: tickets
- Royal Palace Amsterdam: contact and directions
- Oude Kerk: getting here
- GetYourGuide: Small-Group Walking Tour
- GetYourGuide: Walking Tour with Canal Cruise
- GetYourGuide: Hop-On Hop-Off Boat