Best of Amsterdam

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Amsterdam

The most famous city in the Netherlands is best known for its scenic canals, bicycling culture and anything-goes nightlife. Packed with grand museums and eye-catching architecture, Amsterdam is also one of the world’s most fascinating cities for exploring. You can spend your days happily getting lost amid cobblestone lanes and 17th-century canal houses, or browse the curiosities at the city’s outdoor markets. When the weather sours, you can retreat to a candlelit cafe and linger over a warm drink while the rain falls outside.

Specialized tours take you to the iconic sights and historic places around the city. You can journey into the past on a visit to the Anne Frank House, and see famed works by Dutch Masters at the Rijksmuseum. You’ll experience more great art and gain insight into the Netherlands’ most famous native son at the Van Gogh Museum. You can also see the city by small open boat on a canal cruise and check out Amsterdam’s newest epicenter for the arts and culture at NDSM Wharf.

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Spend a week exploring the Benelux capitals, starting in Amsterdam

Discover the Benelux Capitals: Amsterdam, Brussels & Luxembourg City - 7 Days

Experience the beautiful capitals of the Benelux countries (the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg) during this whirlwind trip. In Amsterdam, you'll cruise the canals and take a walking tour of the historic streets while stopping to see the famous Dutch masters. Then, head to Brussels, the capital of Belgium, for waffles, beers, quirky museums, and a rowboat excursion. Finish the trip in Luxembourg City, where you'll wander through the compact and historic streets, as well as its famous palace.

Best of Amsterdam & Haarlem - 5 Days

This enlightening 5-day journey will take you to the highlights of Amsterdam and its surrounding region. Start at the Anne Frank House, then enjoy a private boat tour along the city's canals before visiting two world-class art museums, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. On a day trip to the countryside, you'll see historic windmills, wander around a quaint fishing village, and sample traditional Dutch cheese in Edam. Spend the last part of the trip in the charming city of Haarlem, an easy side trip from the capital, where you'll visit the oldest museum in the Netherlands.

Historic monuments on a tour of Holland and Flanders

Highlights of Holland & Flanders - 7 Days

There's no need to choose between Holland and Flanders (the Dutch-speaking half of Belgium). This weeklong itinerary takes you to the highlights of both, including sightseeing in Amsterdam, an architecture tour in Rotterdam, a gourmet food tour in Antwerp, and a boat tour past medieval castles in Ghent. You'll sample cheeses where they're produced, spot windmills in the Dutch countryside, and relax with a Belgian crowd on a river beach. This whirlwind itinerary has something for everyone!

Highlights of Holland & Flanders - 10 Days

This itinerary combines the highlights of the Netherlands with the best of Flanders (the Dutch-speaking half of Belgium). Start by exploring the famous art museums of Amsterdam, then head into the Dutch countryside to see small fishing villages, cheese markets, and picturesque windmills. You'll travel to the port city of Rotterdam for a bicycle tour before crossing into Belgium. Finish the trip by tasting gourmet local specialties on a food tour of Antwerp and cruising around medieval Ghent on a boat.

Wander around Amsterdam's historic canals and cobblestone streets

Grand Tour of Benelux: the Netherlands, Belgium & Luxembourg - 14 Days

Spend two glorious weeks in the tri-nation Benelux region with this action-packed itinerary. Start by cruising the canals and visiting the world-famous artworks of Amsterdam, cycling through the innovative streets of Rotterdam, and cruising past windmills in Kinderdijk. You'll then head to Brussels for mussels, beer, and museums, followed by kayaking in Belgium's picturesque town of Dinant. Finish the trip in Luxembourg, where you'll check out the capital and nearby castle of Vianden.

Muiderslot Castle in the Dutch countryside

Cycling in the Dutch Countryside - 5 Days

Holland is a cyclist's paradise! On this lively 5-day trip, you'll pedal past green meadows, small canals, peaceful lakes, picturesque villages, old fortified towns, and medieval castles. Start the adventure with some sightseeing in Amsterdam before you cycle through the Gooi, stopping to tour Muiderslot, a 13th-century castle. Explore historic Naarden, then sleep in a riverside hotel. Continue the journey through the "Green Heart" of Holland, taking a break from your e-bike to canoe or boat on a lake. You'll ride back to Amsterdam along the Amstel River, then spend one last night in the city before the trip ends.

Family Tour of the Netherlands - 7 Days

Filled with outdoor adventures and colorful sights, this weeklong trip around the Netherlands is fun for the whole family. Cruise around the canals of Amsterdam on a private boat, cycle to the beaches of the North Sea, and learn how Dutch windmills work in Kinderdijk. Kid-friendly highlights include the interactive Maritime Museum in Rotterdam, where you'll learn all about sea monsters, and the walk-through model of the Netherlands at Madurodam. Getting around by train is half the fun on this itinerary, which is well-suited for families with younger travelers ages 6 through 12.

Dutch cheeses for sale at a shop in Amsterdam

Highlights of Holland- 7 Days

Welcome to the Netherlands! On this weeklong adventure around Holland, you'll see the famous canals and art museums of Amsterdam, the vibrant harbor city of Rotterdam, historic monuments in The Hague, and the windmills and cheese markets of Leiden and Haarlem. Train travel is quick and convenient between destinations, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy the Dutch lifestyle. Finish the trip with a relaxing bike ride to the coast of the North Sea.

Highlights of the Netherlands - 7 Days

This action-packed 7-day itinerary takes you to many of the Netherlands' top highlights. Not only will you tour world-class museums in the vibrant capital of Amsterdam and explore modern architecture in the port city of Rotterdam, but you will go inside a Dutch cheese market, visit windmills in the countryside, and ride a bicycle alongside locals. Also on the itinerary are picturesque fishing villages, a boat tour of Biesbosch National Park, and an e-bike excursion in Hoge Veluwe National Park, home to a museum that houses an impressive collection of Van Gogh’s work. With a mix of cultural exploration, outdoor activities, fine art, and local experiences, this weeklong adventure is an excellent introduction to Holland.

Viewing Vermeer's paintings in Amsterdam

Art Tour of the Netherlands - 7 Days

Johannes Vermeer, Vincent Van Gogh, Rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Hals, Piet Mondriaan: the Netherlands has been home to many world-class artists. On this weeklong tour, you'll learn more about the Dutch Masters, viewing their greatest works in person and visiting the places where they lived and worked. Along the way, you'll also enjoy a private boat tour along the canals of Amsterdam, explore the cobblestoned streets of Leiden, and ride an e-bike through a national park. While taking in such beautiful sights and landscapes, you'll understand the inspiration behind some of the great Dutch artists' finest paintings.

Discover Amsterdam, Utrecht, Deventer & Hoge Veluwe National Park - 7 Days

Explore the best of central Holland on this weeklong itinerary featuring a mix of classic sights and off-the-beaten-path experiences. Visit the vibrant capital of Amsterdam and its top museums before day-tripping to the countryside to see iconic Dutch highlights, including windmills and a cheese market. Adventure waits in Utrecht, where you will have the chance to canoe around the city's canals. Then continue on to the forested heart of the country and Hoge Veluwe National Park, which you'll explore on an e-bike. View Van Gogh originals at the excellent Kröller-Müller Museum before finishing up the trip in the charming city of Deventer, known for its countless bookshops, picturesque squares, and laid-back atmosphere.

Grand Tour of the Netherlands & Belgium - 14 Days

Castles, cathedrals, windmills, canals: this two-week itinerary takes you through highlights of the Netherlands and Belgium. Starting in the vibrant Dutch capital of Amsterdam and ending in the cosmopolitan Belgian capital of Brussels, the adventure offers a mix of cultural sightseeing and outdoor excursions. Learn about architecture in Rotterdam, see medieval Ghent from a boat, sample Belgian waffles in their place of origin, view original paintings by Vincent van Gogh, and experience natural landscapes with a ride through a national park on an e-bike. This grand tour has something for everyone!

Art Tour of the Netherlands & Belgium - 14 Days

The Netherlands and Belgium have produced some of the most famous names in art history: Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, Peter Paul Rubens, and Jan van Eyck, to name a few. On this two-week tour you'll learn all about their lives and work. Ride an e-bike through landscapes that inspired the Dutch Masters, tour Rembrandt's studio, view priceless masterpieces in world-class museums, and view the famed Ghent Altarpiece in St Bavo's Cathedral. This lively itinerary isn't only about art, you'll also enjoy a food tour of Antwerp, explore a national park, and relax on river beaches with locals.

The National Monument on Dam Square, Amsterdam

World War II in the Netherlands - 5 Days

History buffs won't want to miss this five-day tour of World War II sites and monuments in the Netherlands. From the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam to the Camp Westerbork detention camp, and from refugee hideaways in the woods to military cemeteries and memorials, there's so much to see and learn. Spend the night at the site where the Netherlands was liberated from the Nazis, walk with a veteran across a landmark bridge at sunset in Nijmegen, and wrap up the itinerary with a visit to the National Monument in Amsterdam.

Flower Tour of Holland - 5 Days

This itinerary is all about flowers! In just five days, you will cycle through Dutch tulip fields on an e-bike, learn how tulips are grown, and see how they're sold at auction and at floating flower markets. View magnificent tulips on display at the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens, the largest flower park in the world, and learn all about the rich history of tulips and their value in Dutch culture at the Tulip Museum. The best time to plan this trip is March through May, with the tulips at their best in mid-April.

Family Adventure in the Netherlands & Belgium - 14 Days

Bring the whole family along on this kid-friendly journey around the Netherlands and Belgium! Start with a cruise along the canals of Amsterdam and a visit to a futuristic science museum. Then ride an old steam train to Medemblik, where you'll board an antique ship to Enkhuizen, known for its cheese markets. Cycle through the sand dunes to the North Sea, spot colorful tulip fields, and feast on traditional stroopwafels before spending three days at a popular Dutch theme park. Then cross the border to Belgium, where you'll go on a food tour of Antwerp, stay at a real Belgian farm, and relax at the beach resort of De Panne. Offering a great mix of outdoor adventure and cultural education, this itinerary is a hit with travelers of all ages.

Children playing on the rocky shore of the North Sea

Family Tour of The Netherlands - 5 Days

Filled with outdoor adventures and cultural highlights, this family-friendly tour is a wonderful introduction to the Netherlands. Cruise the canals of Amsterdam in a private boat, take a steam train to Medemblik, and cycle through the sand dunes to the North Sea. If you're traveling in spring, you'll see colorful fields of tulips, but this five-day journey is a pleasure throughout the year.

Highlights of Holland - 5 Days

Experience the best Holland has to offer! The picturesque yet lesser-known cities of Leiden, Delft, and Gouda include all the quintessential Dutch characteristics: cheese markets, famous painters, canals, rich history, churches with beautiful stained glass, windmills, lovely squares, and ancient cobbled alleys. In addition, these smaller cities have a laid-back but lively atmosphere. End the trip in Amsterdam which is, of course, a much larger city but very much worth a visit.

Windmills and tulip fields in Kinderdijk

Discover Amsterdam, Dordrecht & Rotterdam - 5 Days

Experience Holland in a nutshell on this colorful 5-day itinerary around some of the Netherlands' classic attractions. Start with a day in Amsterdam, exploring the city by boat and visiting the famous Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. Then you will travel by train to the city of Dordrecht, a charming historic city that offers easy access to Biesbosch National Park, which you'll tour on an e-bike. Also nearby are the world-famous windmills at Kinderdijk, which you'll see up close, and lively Rotterdam, where you'll go on a walking tour to learn about the city's fascinating architecture. Circle back to Amsterdam on day five, where the trip ends.

Highlights of Coastal Netherlands - 9 Days

The Dutch coast has so much to offer, from quiet beaches to bustling cities to pristine national parks. This 9-day itinerary takes you through some of the top highlights, including picturesque Amsterdam, beautiful Oosterschelde National Park, the charming artisan center of Delft, and the architectural capital of Rotterdam. Ride a bike along with the impressive Delta Works, view historic windmills at Zaanse Schans, and explore remnants of the Dutch Golden Age in Middelburg. From nature to culture to history, this adventure has something for everyone.

A mosaic rendition of "Girl with a Pearl Earring"

Discover the Dutch Masters - 5 Days

Rembrandt van Rijn, Vincent van Gogh, Johannes Vermeer, Frans Hals: Dutch art history is full of famous names. On this short trip, you'll view their masterpieces on display in world-class museums and visit the places where they lived and worked. Stroll along the cobblestoned streets and charming canals of Den Haag and Haarlem, step into Vermeer's former residence in Delft, and see where Rembrandt painted his iconic works in Amsterdam.

Vincent Van Gogh Tour - 5 Days

Learn about the life and legacy of the great Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh — one of the most famous artists in the history of Western art — on this 5-day tour around the Netherlands. Start in Amsterdam, where you'll view some of the artist's original paintings at the Van Gogh Museum. Move on to the Dutch province of Brabant and Noordbrabants Museum in Den Bosch, home to several Van Gogh masterpieces. Zoom around the artist's onetime home of Nuenen on an e-bike, then finish the itinerary at Hoge Veluwe National Park and Kröller-Müller Museum, which houses the second-largest Van Gogh collection in the world.

Countryside Escape in Northern Holland - 5 Days

Dutch cheeses, charming fishing villages, fields of flowers: these are just a few of the pleasures that await you on this quick but colorful 5-day adventure. After a day exploring the canals and museums of Amsterdam, you'll head to Zaanse Schans to see some of Holland's famous windmills. Then continue to the northern countryside, basing yourself in the small cities of Hoorn and Alkmaar. Sample delicious cheeses in centuries-old cheese markets, cruise around a historic harbor on a private boat tour, and ride to the North Sea on an e-bike for a relaxing walk on the beach. Since distances between destinations are short, you'll spend less time traveling and more time enjoying the highlights of this beautiful region.

Highlights of Holland - 10 Days

Experience the best of Holland along with some of its hidden gems on this 10-day trip! From big cities to charming small villages, you’ll experience a perfect cross-section of what the Netherlands has to offer. You’ll have the opportunity to admire all of the traditional Dutch characteristics: cheese markets, famous painters, typical canals, rich history, churches with stained-glass windows, windmills, lovely squares, and ancient cobbled alleys. In addition to exploring picturesque smaller cities such as Gouda, Leiden, and Delft, you will also visit Amsterdam, home to the country’s most famous museums, the vibrant, modern harbor city of Rotterdam, and even get some beach time!

Children walking on the coast of the North Sea

Family Tour of the Netherlands - 10 Days

Welcome to the perfect family destination — Holland! On this 10-day adventure, you'll explore the canals of Amsterdam on a private boat, see the windmills of Kinderdijk and learn how they work, spot beavers in their natural habitat at De Biesbosch National Park, and spend several days on the relaxed island of Texel. Travel by train, ferry, canoe, bus, and bicycle as you make your way between the country's top destinations. Featuring a mix of activities for adults and children alike, and diverse landscapes from mudflats to tulip fields, this itinerary is fun for the whole family.

Coastal Highlights of the Netherlands - 10 Days

The Dutch coast has so much to offer, from quiet beaches to bustling cities to pristine national parks. This 10-day itinerary takes you through some of the top highlights, including picturesque Amsterdam, beautiful Oosterschelde National Park, the charming artisan center of Delft, and the architectural capital of Rotterdam. Ride a bike along with the impressive Delta Works, view historic windmills at Zaanse Schans, and explore remnants of the Dutch Golden Age in Middelburg. From nature to culture to history, this adventure has something for everyone.

Art Tour of the Netherlands - 10 Days

Some of the most notable masters in European art history were Dutch: Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, Vincent van Gogh, Hieronymus Bosch, to name a few. On this leisurely itinerary around Holland, you'll learn all about their legacies. Visit the region where van Gogh lived and worked, peek inside Vermeer's studio, revel in street art inspired by Bosch's fanciful paintings, and view masterpieces on exhibit at a museum inside Hoge Veluwe National Park. The tour isn't only about art, though — there's time set aside for boat tours, sampling Dutch cuisine, and cycling to the coast at your own pace.

Explore Dutch Cities & the Southern Countryside - 10 Days

Discover lively Dutch cities and idyllic landscapes on this well-balanced 10-day tour of Holland. The trip starts in Amsterdam, where you'll visit the famous Anne Frank House and two major art museums. Then head into the nearby countryside to see historic windmills and charming fishing villages. Explore the university city of Leiden, spend one afternoon on a bike excursion to the beach, then go on a cycling tour of Rotterdam's architectural highlights. Learn more about the legacies of great artists Vincent van Gogh and Hieronymus Bosch in the quaint town of Den Bosch, followed by a stay in the off-the-beaten-path city of Maastricht, known for its historical buildings and churches. Finish the trip with several days of hiking and cycling in the peaceful National Landscape of Zuid-Limburg — a few days in the great outdoors is a wonderfully relaxing way to end this action-packed itinerary.

Luxury Tour of Holland - 10 Days

Experience the best Holland has to offer on this 10-day luxury tour! You'll sleep in one-of-a-kind boutique hotels and dine in fine restaurants while exploring the capital city of Amsterdam, pristine Hoge Veluwe National Park, the lively university town of Leeuwarden, and the windswept islands of Vlieland and Texel. Highlights along the journey include a private gondola tour, a day trip to historic windmills in the Dutch countryside, a self-guided bike ride along picturesque sand dunes, plenty of time to enjoy viewing Vincent van Gogh's original masterpieces, and an overnight stay in a gorgeously restored complex of Golden Age canal houses.

Cycling Tour of the Netherlands - 7 Days

Enjoy a Dutch-style vacation by exploring western Holland on two wheels! On this dynamic weeklong cycling trip, you'll pedal through forests, flower fields, and sand dunes, stopping to see picturesque windmills and historic monuments along the way. You'll ride into the wilderness of protected national parks, sample cheeses in Gouda, and stop for sightseeing in charming cities and villages including Delft and Leiden.

Discover the Green Heart of Holland - 7 Days

Holland's scenic landscapes draw crowds from all over the world. On this weeklong adventure through the "Green Heart" of the Netherlands, a region celebrated for its rolling meadows, quiet forests, and picturesque sand dunes, you'll see some of the country's most beautiful outdoor destinations. In between sightseeing in Amsterdam, visiting museums in Leiden, and learning about architecture in Rotterdam, you'll explore this natural wonderland on foot and e-bike. Cycle to the beach for fresh seafood, see historic windmills in the countryside, cruise around Biesbosch National Park on a boat tour — if you visit in spring, you'll see dazzling fields of tulips, too!

A lush green landscape in the Netherlands

Grand Tour of the Netherlands - 14 Days

Fields of tulips, antique windmills, paintings by Vincent van Gogh, boat rides on the canals of Amsterdam: on this magnificent two-week trip, you'll visit many of Holland's top highlights. Stops along the itinerary include the port city of Rotterdam, forested Hoge Veluwe National Park, and the windswept island of Texel, where you'll spend a few relaxing days at the end of the trip. No adventure in the Netherlands, of course, would be complete without a bicycle ride. So this action-packed itinerary also features several chances to explore historic cities and idyllic landscapes on two wheels!

Family Tour of the Netherlands - 14 Days

Peaceful islands, maritime museums, a fairytale-themed amusement park — these are just a few of the attractions that make Holland a wonderful destination for a family vacation. On this two-week itinerary around the country, you'll explore the canals of Amsterdam on a private boat, see windmills at Kinderdijk, hike on a sandbar at low tide, explore interactive museums, and cycle from The Hague to a beach that's perfect for building sandcastles. Your accommodations, from a cabin on a windswept island to a fanciful suite on the edge of Holland's best theme park, are part of the fun. Bring the whole family — this well-rounded adventure is sure to please travelers of all ages!

Cycling Tour of the Netherlands & Belgium - 14 Days

Pedal past windmills, tulip fields, and castles on this wonderful two-week cycling tour of the Netherlands and Flanders! You'll explore green landscapes and coastal scenery as you make your way between historic Dutch cities like Haarlem, Delft, and Leiden, then cross over to Belgium, where medieval architecture and locally made chocolates await. There's so much to see and do in the region, and there's no better way to see it than on a bicycle.

Other popular travel destinations in The Netherlands
Rotterdam · Leiden · Haarlem · The Hague · Dordrecht · Delft · Texel · Hoorn · Bergen · Utrecht · Gouda · Nijmegen · Terschelling

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