10 Day Trips from Amsterdam Worth the Early Start

1.Day Trip to Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam and Marken from Amsterdam

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,392 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $45Our pick

Travel by coach from central Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans, Edam, a cheese and clog workshop near Volendam, Volendam and Marken. Your English-speaking guide, such as Tony, Laura or Rob, adds context along the way. The 6.5-hour tour includes tastings and transport, with an optional one-hour canal cruise at the end.

“Pia (Flamboyant Tour Guide) and Jesper (Elite Bus Driver) are amazing host and have taken good care of the entire pack. This is the best tour if at all you would like to experience the cultural of Amsterdam Holland. Extremely friendly and even more humourous. This will be the best memory of my life.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.From Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans, Edam, & Marken Full-Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,414 reviews · from $35Best value

Leave Amsterdam for Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam, and Marken with an English or Spanish-speaking guide. See working windmills, taste Gouda and Edam cheese, watch clogs being made, and enjoy free time by the harbor. The day lasts 6.5 to 7.5 hours, with an optional Amsterdam canal cruise.

“This is the best thing I could have since arriving this country for the past 4days. Karl Webster the tour guide was amazing. Great value for money. Really recommend for anyone who is tight in time to have an informative time.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Amsterdam: Giethoorn Day Trip with Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 2,372 reviews · from $90

Ride from Amsterdam to car-free Giethoorn, cruise past restored farmhouses, and explore the village on foot. A guide such as Tony, Petra, Ian, or Esmeralda may lead the day, with commentary in English or Spanish. You also stop at Afsluitdijk, the Netherlands’ famous 32-kilometer water barrier.

“We really enjoyed this day trip! I do think it’s a little too pricey for what it is. But that’s just a personal opinion. We had Katherine as our tour guide and she was friendly and funny. Jerard as our bus driver who was so friendly and helpful. They both made our trip more enjoyable. The tour was very well organised, when I first booked it I wandered if it would be long enough there, but it was a perfect amount of time. I definitely recommend if your wanting to visit giethoorn”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.From Amsterdam: Bruges Day Trip in English with Boat Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,989 reviews · 12 hours · from $61

Travel from Amsterdam to Bruges by air-conditioned coach with an English-speaking guide. See Minnewater, Begijnhof, Burg Square, the Basilica of the Holy Blood, and Grote Markt, then enjoy three hours to shop, eat, take an optional canal boat, or explore alone. Guides such as Blanca, Pia, Peter, and Gabriel are praised for lively commentary and practical tips.

“Blanca was an excellent guide, very informative and gave us great recommendations”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.From Amsterdam: Bruges Day Trip in Spanish with Boat Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,866 reviews · 12 hours · from $61

Travel by comfortable coach from Amsterdam to Bruges with a Spanish-speaking guide. Walk past the Lake of Love, Begijnhof, Church of Our Lady, Burg Square, and Grote Markt, then enjoy three hours for lunch, chocolate, lace, beer, or an optional boat ride. Guides such as Blanca, Adrian, and Juan Mi have earned special praise for clear explanations and helpful local tips.

“It was too hectic. Couldn't keep up with the guide. Not geared for seniors.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Amsterdam: Day Tour Keukenhof and Zaanse Schans Windmills

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,549 reviews · 8 hours · from $72

Travel by comfortable coach from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans, where you can see working windmills, taste cheese, and watch clog making. Then explore Keukenhof with its tulips, hyacinths, exhibitions, maze, and sculpture park. The tour is self-guided, and you may return to Amsterdam on any scheduled bus from Keukenhof.

“We enjoyed the zaanse schans windmill and keukenhof.small shops are amazing esp the cheese tasting.i got a lot of souvenirs and cheese also.people are very friendly and amazing.drivers are very good and excellent and we feel safe”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Bruges Day Trip from Amsterdam

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,517 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $70

Meet near Amsterdam Centraal at 9:30 a.m. for a 12-hour coach trip to Bruges. A bilingual guide introduces the medieval center, then you have free time for canals, churches, lace, chocolate, beer, and lunch. Guides such as Ian, G, and Marianne have earned praise for clear history and useful local tips.

“It’s a great trip. Our guide Marianne really did a fantastic job pointing out the main sites and taking us through the city, even though it was so crowded with the Easter holiday. She also pointed out different things along the way from the bus. The driver was also very good.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Amsterdam: Giethoorn Tour Scenic Cruise, Cheese & Free Time

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,461 reviews · 8 hours · from $75

Travel from Amsterdam to Giethoorn by air-conditioned coach with an English-speaking driver such as Gilbert, Peter, or Martin. Cruise the canals for one hour with a skipper born in the village, taste Henri Willig cheese, then enjoy about three hours to eat, walk, shop, or rent a boat independently.

“We had a fantastic time in Giethoorn. Lots of beauty to see here. Our driver and guide Gilbert was fantastic and very knowledgeable. would highly recommend as a day trip to get away from the larger cities.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Amsterdam: Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans Small Group Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 206 reviews · 9 hours · from $118

Join guide David for a nine-hour countryside tour from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans and Giethoorn. Visit a working windmill, sample more than 20 cheeses, watch clogs being carved, see a diamond demonstration, and cruise Giethoorn’s canals. With up to eight people, comfortable transport, free time, and flexible pacing, this suits couples, families, and first-time visitors.

“Beautiful day trip. It was nice to get out of the city and see windmills, cheese making, clog making and seeing the thatched roof homes. The canal ride was great Nd our tour guide was very informative!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Amsterdam: Day Trip to Flower Parade & Keukenhof on April 18

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 37 reviews · from $164

Travel from This is Holland to the 79th Flower Parade on April 18, watch the flower-covered floats from reserved grandstand seating, then visit Keukenhof Gardens. Round-trip transport and entry are included, with flexible afternoon buses back to Amsterdam. The last bus leaves Keukenhof at 6:30 PM. English host or greeter.

Check availability →Read our full review