Trying to plan your cruise port day trip to Amsterdam can be overwhelming because there is so much to see. You won’t be able to see everything, of course, but the good news is you can see quite a lot. First off, it’s a good idea to buy a tram pass. The city is mostly walkable, but it will help you cover more ground and is cheaper than taking a cab everywhere.
Next, it’s time to prioritize which major attractions you’d like to see. There are three popular art museums close together, and though you could see all of them it would take up most of your day, so you will want to choose just one or two. The Rijksmuseum is the most popular, followed by the Van Gogh Museum, and then the Stedelijk Museum. Another popular tourist attraction is the Anne Frank House. It comes highly recommended and is about a 30-minute walk from the other museums. It’s best to budget 1-2 hours for any of these choices. It’s also recommended to buy your tickets beforehand and get there early to avoid crowds.
Herring anyone?
After checking out a museum or two, you’ll probably be hungry. Try some Dutch food. There are many options, including Zagat-rated Moeders. Another option is to check out a fish stall and try the Dutch specialty raw herring. There is one next to the Rijksmuseum. Afterwards, a canal cruise is a nice way to get off your feet and see the city. You can do a hop-on and hop-off tour or a closed-loop tour. The dam of Amsterdam is another site to view, as well as Dam Square with the Royal Palace. Now, depending on how late you stay and what kind of tastes you have, you might want to walk through the Red Light District. There’s more activity at night, but there’s still lots of interesting things to see during the day. Finally, grab yourself some dinner at a café. Now you’ve seen Amsterdam!
Find your perfect European river cruise.
