Add dates

The Amstel Activities

Our most recommended The Amstel Activities

Amsterdam: Classic Boat Cruise with Cheese & Wine Option

1. Amsterdam: Classic Boat Cruise with Cheese & Wine Option

Relax on a canal cruise through the UNESCO Heritage listed Golden Age Canals of Amsterdam. View city highlights like the Skinny Bridge, the Red Light District, and the Old Harbor. Have the option to choose standard tour or a tour with unlimited delicious Dutch cheese, wine, and other drinks. Board the ship and let your local skipper tell you about local history as you sail past sights in the Jordaan district and the Skinny Bridge on the the Amstel River. Admire views of parts of the Red Light District, the former city locks, and Old Harbor. Capture pictures of the stately architecture of the Maritime Museum and the prestigious Gold Bend neighborhood. See pieces of history as you sail by places like the Anne Frank House. Ask your guide questions about the city and get recommendations for things to do and places to eat.

Amsterdam: Heineken Experience and 1-Hour Canal Cruise

2. Amsterdam: Heineken Experience and 1-Hour Canal Cruise

Book your combo ticket to a classic canal cruise and Heineken Experience in Amsterdam. Learn the art of brewing, sip 2 beers or soft drinks, and enjoy cutting-edge multimedia. Visit the Heineken Experience at the time you’ve booked; take your cruise at a pre-booked time slot of your choice. Learn the story of one of the world's most famous breweries with an entrance ticket to the Heineken Experience and enjoy an interactive, self-guided tour of the original factory, where all of the brand’s beer was made until 1988. Get a behind-the-scenes look at facilities including the gigantic copper tanks where the lager was brewed. Take part in a tasting session and test your skills at drafting a perfect beer. Then, see the 17th-century architecture of the city center on a 1-hour canal cruise. Avail of a GPS guide in several languages to get interesting information about iconic landmarks such as the Westerkerk, "Skinny Bridge" and the charming Negen Straatjes neighborhood.

Amsterdam: Canal Booze Cruise

3. Amsterdam: Canal Booze Cruise

You can drink in a bar in any city in the world, but for a true Amsterdam experience, you can’t do better than a boozy canal cruise along the world-famous waterways, taking in the sights with a cold beer in hand. Choose from a private or shared cruise. Depart from the city center and cruise through some of the city's main canals. Make your way onto the Amstel River, under the 7 bridges, and discover hidden gems that only a local skipper and host will know how to find. Your cruise will eventually return to the same spot in which you started, right in the city center, exactly where you will want to be after a cruise with an open bar.

Amsterdam: The Bulldog Smoke-Friendly Cruise with 2 Drinks

4. Amsterdam: The Bulldog Smoke-Friendly Cruise with 2 Drinks

Sit back and relax on a smoke-friendly canal cruise through the heart of Amsterdam aboard a sightseeing cruise. Gain facinating insights into the attractions that you pass and enjoy alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks as you sail through the canals. Hop on board and get cozy for a romantic cruise down the canal. Feel free to bring your own food and weed to enjoy on board. First, travel through the Redlight District that surrounds the Old Church. Take in views of the waterfront and the Eastern Dock. Follow the Old City Wall onto the Amstel River and see the Bridge of Monet which was made famous by the artist's painting of this spot. Smile at the wacky Deconstructivism of the Dancing Houses and snap a picture of the Blue Bridge. Enter the Canal Belt from the Herengracht along the Mayor's House and take the Golden Bend to the Seven Bridges. Take the Reguliersgracht canal to cross the Keizersgracht canal onto the Prinsengracht canal. Spot many houseboats including the oldest houseboat in Amsterdam and take in the fantastic designs of some of the typical hippie houseboats from the ’60s and ’70s. Return to the Amstel river and see the Skinny Bridge, the oldest and most picturesque bridge in Amsterdam. Along the Hermitage and the Stopera, get up-close views of the “View on the Groenburgwal” painted by Monet in 1884 before returning to Redlight District again.

Amsterdam: Smoke and Lounge 70-Minute Boat Cruise

5. Amsterdam: Smoke and Lounge 70-Minute Boat Cruise

Enjoy one of the most relaxing smoke-friendly lounge boat tours in Amsterdam. Sip on your favorite drink, smoke, or enjoy one of the hookah/shisha's onboard for an extra cost.   Start out in the heart of the Red Light District, one of the most popular locations in the city, and sail through the central area, the Herengracht and Prinsengracht canals, the Seven Bridges, the river Amstel, the Skinny Bridge, and the Dancing Houses before returning to where you started. Enjoy Amsterdam's stunning Light Festival from December 1st 2022 until January 2023 Mix the city highlights boat route with the light tour route, so you have the best of both worlds. The boat can accommodate up to 22 people. Whatever the weather, the boat is set up so passengers will have an enjoyable time. In summertime all windows can be opened, ensuring full visibility of Amsterdam’s iconic landmarks and monuments. In winter all windows can be closed, and we have heated seats to keep you warm. 

Amsterdam: Luxury Canal Cruise with Onboard Bar

6. Amsterdam: Luxury Canal Cruise with Onboard Bar

Admire Amsterdam’s picturesque waterside landmarks on a 100% electric cruise. Take in incredible views of the city’s famous landmarks from an open boat and experience a relaxing way to sightsee, free of traffic. Learn informative and entertaining insights about the sites along the route. See the 17th-century buildings lining the famous canals, as well as new stylish buildings showcasing the influential 21st-century city that Amsterdam has become. Sail by the Hermitage Museum, then glide past the Skinny Bridge, the posh Amstel Hotel, and the charming neighborhood of Grachtengordel. Enjoy an open-air boat experience on a sunny day or stay warm with a protective covering on cooler days. In the winter months, relax on an enclosed boat to keep you warm. Benefit from the flexibility of a one-use ticket that can be used on any one of the cruises departing within the hour you booked.

Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum Ticket & Canal Cruise

7. Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum Ticket & Canal Cruise

Combine a trip to the world-famous Van Gogh Museum with a spectacular 1-hour cruise through the historic canal district. The Van Gogh Museum has the largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh in the world. It is one of the most important museums in the Netherlands and has been visited by millions of people. There is no better way to complete a fun day trip to the Van Gogh Museum than with an exciting boat cruise. One half of the package includes a visit the Van Gogh Museum which has the world’s largest collection of paintings, drawings, sketches, and letters by the famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. With almost two million visitors a year, it is the second most-visited museum in the Netherlands and definitely a must see. The Van Gogh Museum has over 200 paintings, 400 drawings, and 700 letters by the artist. Some of the most famous pieces in the collection include The Potato Eaters (1885), Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette (1886), Sunflowers (1889), and Almond Blossoms (1890). The other half of the package includes an Amsterdam canal cruise. Amsterdam’s beautiful city center is listed as a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site, and there is no better way to explore it than with an Amsterdam canal cruise. The fun, 1-hour cruise will take you through the city’s most important canals, past magnificent 17th-century churches, mansions, boat houses, and bridges. You can see all of the best sights including the Westerkerk church, the Negen Straatjes district, and the Magere Brug on the Amstel river. The cruise features a GPS guide with information in several different languages and the boats are fitted with panoramic windows to ensure you enjoy a fantastic view of the city.

Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum and Canal Cruise Combo Tour

8. Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum and Canal Cruise Combo Tour

Combine 2 of Amsterdam’s must-do experiences with this tour of the Canal Belt by boat and entry to the legendary Rijksmuseum. Admire the beautiful canal boats and merchant houses from the water on a 1-hour canal cruise that takes you along some of the historic waterways. Dug in the Dutch Golden Age spanning the 17th century, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. Feast your eyes on the decorative façades of the canalside buildings, and marvel at all the different styles of gables, such as clock, spout and neck gables. Pass iconic architecture, including the Skinny Bridge over the Amstel River, the legendary home of the World War 2 diarist Anne Frank, the imposing Westerkerk, and the old Port of Amsterdam. Then, disembark to enjoy skip-the-line entry to the Rijksmuseum. See masterpieces by the Dutch masters of the 17th century, including Rembrandt’s “The Nighwatch” and Vermeer’s “The Milkmaiden.”

Amsterdam 1-Hour Canal Cruise and Ripley’s Believe it or Not

9. Amsterdam 1-Hour Canal Cruise and Ripley’s Believe it or Not

Climb aboard a glass-topped boat and see the sights of Amsterdam from a different perspective on a 1-hour canal cruise. Admire the centuries-old merchant houses and UNESCO World Heritage monuments of the 17th-century Golden Age from the historic waterways. Admire the decorative façades and iconic landmarks of the city center, such as Anne Frank's House, the imposing Westerkerk and the Skinny Bridge over the Amstel River. Enter an amazing museum that showcases the world’s most remarkable collection of natural, scientific, artistic and human oddities with a fast track entry ticket to Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Go on a journey into the bizarre as you explore ancient civilizations and see unusual contemporary art. Some say that it is one of the weirdest spots in the city, but a must-see if you’re interested in odd facts!

Amsterdam: Culture & History Walking Tour in German

10. Amsterdam: Culture & History Walking Tour in German

Visit famous sites of Amsterdam downtown and get an overview of the city on this walking tour dedicated to culture and history. Profit from tips every adventurous traveler needs to know and make the best of your trip. Find out which food you should taste and which districts can be discovered independently by bike. Listen to your guide telling you which architectural designs were popular in the past and get an idea of the people of Amsterdam. Hear stories about how merchants, salesmen, and the poor used to live in the Middle Ages, why the world of art blossomed in the Golden Era, how World War II has changed the people of the city and what it feels like to live in the tolerant, multicultural city today. Start your tour in the heart of the city at Dam Square, where Amsterdam was founded. The tour leads you past the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, the New Church Nieuwe Kerk, and past the former main post office, to Torensluis Bridge. See one of the tiniest houses of the city and learn more about the colonial times at the statue of Multatuli on Torensluis Bridge.  Stroll past romantic canal-side houses and cross Spui Square to get to the pearl of Amsterdam – Begijnhof. With its entrance hidden in a narrow side street, this very special hofje is waiting for you to be discovered. On the way back to Dam Square you will see the river that the city owes its name to: the Amstel. The city tour ends at the national monument that was originally built to remember the victims of World War II but is now a memorial to all victims who lost their lives in any war worldwide.

38 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 3

Other Sightseeing Options in The Amstel

Want to discover all there is to do in The Amstel? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about The Amstel

We left on time and were pleased to see a bucket of beers and soft drinks waiting for us on our assigned table. We really enjoyed the night time cruise, seeing all of the canals and buildings lit up was spectacular. The pizza was served soon into the cruise, we had a whole pizza each which was perfect and an ice cream cup for dessert. The staff were diligently walking back and forth serving drinks. Overall we were very happy with our experience and would recommend it!

We enjoyed the views of the canal houses and had a good tasting of wine and proper Gouda cheese (information on whether this was included in the price or not, could be more clear). Timing could not have been better (had the 6pm tour) for the mix of daylight and nighttime experience. Tourguides did a good job as well.

The best canal cruise in amsterdam the crew were friendly, sweet and funny, everything was fine. Good relaxed atmosphere TRY IT

Great experience. Very chilled. The weather was amazing. Everyone chilling with their drinks and smoke. Do take your own.

amazing experience staff were friendly and informative