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Hop-on Hop-off Amsterdam

Guide to using the hop-on hop-off buses and boats to explore the city

When it comes to hop-on-hop-off, Amsterdam does have the best of both worlds. With its canals and quiet streets, you have the enviable choice of using the bus route or the canal route to explore the city.

Enjoy views from high up as you make your way through the city, great for special photographs and a different view of the city. Or cruise along the canals and see the sights from the water.

Both routes cover main attractions, so if you choose a combined ticket you can switch and swap between road or water throughout the day. This makes the journey just as much fun as the destination.

There are also public transport methods of seeing the city. Learn about all the public transport ticket options in Amsterdam.

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City Sightseeing hop-on hop-off Amsterdam bus and boat tickets

City Sightseeing runs two boat routes in the summer and one bus route. In the winter they run one bus route and one boat route.

There are three ticket options to choose from. You can choose just the bus only ticket, the boat only ticket or a combined boat and bus ticket.  24-hr and 48-hr tickets are available. Prices vary and special offers are always running.

The bus and boat only tickets are only available as a 24-hr ticket. The 48-hr ticket is only available as a combined boat and bus ticket, we have noticed that this has reduced availability recently too with currently only the bus tickets and bus ticket plus canal cruise being available.

Amsterdam Hop-on Hop-off bus ticket prices

24-hr bus from €24

24-hr bus with 1-hour canal cruise from €35

bridges in amsterdam

When do the hop-on buses and boats run in Amsterdam?

City Sightseeing buses and boats run all season long. King’s day on 27th April is one exception. In winter the two boat routes become just one.

flowers on bridge in amsterdam

Amsterdam hop-on hop-off bus and boat routes

There is one main bus route that focuses mainly around the edge of the centre of Amsterdam, with one section dipping into the centre, around the Jewish historical quarter.

The boat route is more compact and central, though it winds its way around the centre rather than crisscrossing through it.

Both routes share some stops so you can switch between bus and boat. The notable shared stops are Central Station West, Passenger Terminal Amsterdam, Gassan Diamonds and a couple close to one another in the museum district.

Amsterdam hop-on hop-off bus route

1. Central Station West
2. Passenger Terminal Amsterdam
3. NEMO Science Museum
4. Gassan Diamonds
5. Amsterdam Icebar
6. Albert Cuyp Market
7. Museumplein/Rijksmuseum
8. Anne Frank House/Westermarkt

Amsterdam hop-on hop-off boat route

1. Central Station West
2. Passenger Terminal Amsterdam
3. Gassan Diamonds
4. Jewish historical quarter
5. Royal Theatre Carre
6. Heineken Experience
7. Museum District
8. Leidesplein/Vondelpark
9. Jordan/Westerpark
10. Westerdok

City sightseeing combination tickets 

You can combine your hop-on hop-off experience with entry to other acclaimed attractions and save money.

Madame Tussauds is available as ticket combinations with the hop-on hop-off Amsterdam bus and boats. You can explore the city and stop at these attractions without worrying about buying tickets before or at the door.

warm light in amsterdam

City sightseeing route map

There are two main routes around Amsterdam, a bus and boat route. In the summer there are two boat routes but both are broadly similar.

Use the map below to plan your day in advance or just to see where the bus will take you and where the boat will take you to help you decide if a combination ticket is worth the additional cost.

As the flexibility and experience offered by travelling by boat and bus is so good, we feel the additional cost of a combined ticket is worth it, if you are intending to fully explore the city and not just visit one or two attractions.

Check out the route map to plan your day

canals-at-night-amsterdam