Amsterdam City & Canal Cruise Shore Excursion from Ijmuiden

This half day Ijmuiden shore excursion includes round trip transfers to Amsterdam, where you meet a local guide for a city walking tour followed by a canal cruise, with a short amount of free time before heading back to the port.

After meeting your driver at the pier, you drive into the city center to meet your local guide, who can tailor the walk to your interests or offer a standard route for first time visitors. Along the way you see the Begijnhof, the oldest of Amsterdam's many hidden courtyards, created around 1346 to house Beguines, pious Catholic women who lived communally in small urban communes without taking formal vows. The city's oldest surviving house, built around 1420, still stands here. You also pass the Bloemenmarkt, the world's only floating flower market, which has operated on barges along the Singel Canal since 1862 and today sells flowers alongside typical Dutch souvenirs, with a short stop for shopping. In the Red Light District you learn about, and see, what the neighborhood is known for, while also discovering it is one of the city's most attractive areas, with long, narrow cobbled streets, 14th century architecture, and the Gothic Old Church.

After your walking tour you board a canal cruise, the activity millions of visitors choose each year as the best way to see Amsterdam. You glide past gabled houses and under historic bridges as your guide explains why the city is often called the Venice of the North. By the time the cruise ends, it is easy to see why Amsterdam is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. If time allows, you have a short amount of free time before your transfer back to the pier in Ijmuiden.

• Mobility: Due to uneven surfaces, steps, and walking distances, this itinerary is not suitable for guests using wheelchairs. Please contact us for alternative sightseeing options, including private driving tours that may better accommodate your needs.