Top Amsterdam Half-day Tours

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Orientate yourself in Amsterdam and discover the city’s highlights as well as its hidden gems on a bike tour. Zip easily between landmarks, saving time and covering more ground that possible by foot, ideal for visitors with limited time in the city. Enjoy the more personalized experience of a small-group tour and gain insight into Amsterdam’s history and culture from your guide.

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.

Explore two must-visit Amsterdam museums—the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum—on a half-day, skip-the-line, small-group tour combo. With a guide, bypass the main queues at the Rijksmuseum to see the exhibitions on Dutch art and history from the Middle Ages, including masterpieces such as Rembrandt’s ‘Night Watch’ and others. After time for lunch, skip the line at the Van Gogh Museum. Enjoy a guided tour of the highlights, seeing Van Gogh 'Sunflowers,' and more.

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.

This small-group walking tour, limited to just 12 people, gives you an intimate and insider’s view of the beautiful city of Amsterdam. An informative guide leads your group around Amsterdam’s historical center and past top attractions including Dam Square, the Royal Palace, Nieuwmarkt, and the infamous Red Light District. During this morning stroll, learn intriguing historical background and snap photos of the UNESCO-listed canals and 17th-century gabled houses.

Combine two Amsterdam essentials in one day with a canal cruise and skip-the-line admission to the Heineken Experience. Board a comfortable boat and admire the sights along Amsterdam’s UNESCO World Heritage canals on a 75-minute cruise. Waft by lovely canal houses, bridges and churches; and savor this delightful quarter from the water. Complement your cruise with fast-track entry to the Heineken Experience at the beer’s former Amsterdam brewery. See the vintage brewery equipment and learn about the production process on an interactive journey that finishes with a free beer tasting.

Bypass the main entrance lines for privately guided tours at Amsterdam’s top two museums—the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum—during this half-day excursion. With your own art historian guide, head straight inside the glorious Rijksmuseum. Chart the history of Dutch art as you explore the highlights, and view treasures such as Rembrandt’s ‘Night Watch.’ Following time for lunch, enjoy fast-track admission to the Van Gogh Museum. Follow your guide around the must-see pieces, including ‘Tree Roots and Trunks,’ van Gogh’s last work, and other sublime masterpieces.

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.

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.

A private walking tour is the perfect way to get an introduction Amsterdam and a personalized experience for your small group. Orient yourself to its center as you are transported through its history. Your guide leads you through Old Town, the Red Light District and the Jordaan neighborhood. An excellent start to your visit, you leave wanting to know more.

Discover the delights of Amsterdam on a private half-day walking tour of the city’s historical and cultural highlights. With a your personal guide, go to the Museum Square where the Van Gogh Museum is located; delve into the city’s renowned houseboat culture at the Houseboat Museum; and pleasure your palate with traditional Dutch snacks at Albert Cuyp, the largest street market in the Netherlands. Then, absorb the verdant beauty of Vondelpark and learn the poignant history of Anne Frank’s House on this comprehensive tour.

Pedal your way around historic Amsterdam and see the city like a local on this 3-hour guided bike tour. Cycle along Amsterdam’s scenic canal ways, landmark bridges and historic streets, and see the famous Red Light District, the bustling New Market and the lively Jordaan district. Stop along the way to admire the city’s quirky architecture and snap photos of attractions like the Old Church, the Royal Palace and the Western Church. This small-group tour has a maximum of 15 people and is suitable for all abilities.

Discover the delectable bites and cultural highlights of Amsterdam’s sophisticated Jordaan district on a culinary walking tour of the enclave. With an expert epicurean guide, visit local foodie hotspots to sample enticing delicacies like smoked sausage, creamy Gouda and pickled herring. Delve into the rich culinary culture of the Netherlands with your informative guide and enjoy an alternative experience of Amsterdam as you discover places off the conventional tourist trail. Receive personalized attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to only 12 fellow food-lovers.

Immerse yourself in the Dominican Republic's stunning natural scenery during this rugged, half-day dune buggy tour. Ideal for all levels, a pre-departure orientation is included. Drive off-road through muddy paths and picturesque coastlines in Puerto Plata Province. Small-group tours include a stop at Playa Bergantin with an optional swim.

It's easy enough to explore Amsterdam on public transport, but the countryside is a different matter. Join your private driver/guide for a signature Dutch adventure, with onboard Wi-Fi and pickup direct from your accommodation. See historic windmills, taste cheese at a cheese factory, watch a shoemaker carving traditional wooden clogs, and fill up your camera roll with classic photos.

This fun, multifaceted tour touches on everything the Dutch are best known for. Visit a windmill village, a clog museum (where you can watch traditional craftsmen work), a cheese farm (samples included), and take a canal cruise. The “100 Highlights” cruise passes many sites and landmarks, including the Anne Frank House, Westerkerk, and more.

Delve into traditional Dutch culture on a private countryside tour from Amsterdam. Skip the hassle of renting a car and navigating country roads, as a dedicated driver makes it easy to travel from the capital to charming villages like Zaanse Schans, Irene Hoeve, and Volendam. See working windmills, visit a cheese factory, watch how wooden clogs are made, and get tips on the top riverside restaurants for an authentic Dutch lunch.

During the spring months, when the symbolic tulips of Amsterdam are in full bloom, the Keukenhof Gardens are a must-see sight. Indulge your love of color on a day trip to the Keukenhof Gardens from Amsterdam—a stress-free tour that requires no advance planning. Rather than tackling an unfamiliar public transport system, you’ll be transported to the gardens in climate-controlled comfort and relish the convenience of hotel pickup and drop-off.

We will leave Amsterdam at 10:15 in the morning. Kasteel de Haar is only a 45-minute drives from Amsterdam and takes you back in time. We take you into a magical fairy tale to the most impressive medieval castle in the Netherlands! We have about 3,5 hours to explore the historic castle, garden and park and have lunch in one of the restaurants or as a picnic on the lawn! During the transportation our local guide will tell you something about the Netherlands and answer all the questions you might have. What makes this tour so unique is the flexibility. We are very flexible and can add new destinations upon request.