Amsterdam city tours

A city of many attractions, Amsterdam tours include standard walking and coach tours around the big sights, and also those firmly aimed at younger party animals who are out for a good time. There's something for everyone in Amsterdam, one of Europe's most vibrant and engaging capitals.

The chances are that you'll want to see the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum, and the Van Gogh Museum - and remember that some tours and ticket options let you skip the queue to buy tickets, which can be very lengthy. The Amsterdam and Holland pass gives you discounts on many attractions, and is worth investing in if you plan to spend a lot of time sightseeing. In between, you can wander the streets of the Red Light District, and perhaps take a trip out of Amsterdam to one of the many fascinating nearby cities.

Sightseeing in Amsterdam in a treat, as the canals add atmosphere to the city. Unsurprisingly, cruises are a popular way of seeing the sights. Some evening include dinner - either pizza or a more formal offering - while daytime cruises give you the chance to listen to the commentary and find out about sites that you may choose to see later. There's also a hop-on hop-off canal bus that offers an aquatic take on the traditional hop on hop off tours. You can buy purchases to specific attractions in conjunction with the canal bus, including the Heineken experience or the Rijksmuseum, which allows you to receive a discount on the usual combined fare.

Of course, sex, drugs and rock'n'roll are all key parts of any Amsterdam tour too. There are guided tours around the euphemistically named coffee shops, where you can buy a lump of hash as well as a coffee. There are also walking tours of the Red Light District too, and you can also join a guided pub crawl for an excellent night out. The Amsterdam Dungeon is a fun if rather grisly attraction for anyone interested in medieval punishment and interrogation techniques - avoid eating immediately before you go as it is pretty gruesome!

If you're more interested in eating than drinking or smoking (or perhaps that visit to the coffeeshop has given you the munchies!) then there are plenty of excellent restaurants. The Hard Rock Café is a firm favourite with both locals and holidaymakers. Alternatively, a daytime visit to the Alkmaar Cheese Market and Edam will give foodies and insight into how one of Holland's most iconic foodstuffs is produced and traded, as well as giving you the opportunity to try some varieties of cheese.

There are many tours that begin in Amsterdam that will take you not just to other locations in the Netherlands, but further afield too. For example, you can do a day trip to Brussels and Antwerp in Belgium, and you can also visit the historic and beautiful town of Bruges. If you'd rather see more of Holland, then take a trip to tulip fields and windmills, go to Rotterdam or Delft and the Hague, the capital of the Netherlands.

In short, you'll find an Amsterdam city tour to suit you and your party, no matter what your interests are.