Amsterdam Canal Ring
Amsterdam Canal Ring
4.5
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The area
Neighborhood: Centrum
Amsterdam’s buzzing hub, with its sprawling network of tram rails and a seemingly constant flow of tourists and commuters, yields convenient access to some of the best sightseeing, shopping, and street life in Europe. Closest at hand are the Royal Palace, the quaint shops of Haalremmerdijk, the pedestrianized zones Kalverstraat and Dam Square with popular neighborhoods such as the Red Light District, and the Canal Ring hardly more than a moment’s stroll away. With the well-connected Centraal Station as Centrum’s base, it's easy to travel farther afield via one of the city’s iconic trams.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
1,152 reviews
Excellent
799
Very good
305
Average
37
Poor
7
Terrible
4
Thomas V
Oakland, CA19,054 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
The pattern of the canals do form a ring, making the old city look like a theater. The ring canals are linked to canals in straight lines so they make up streetlike formations for transport. Plan to take long walks along the canals to drink in the atmosphere and admire the scenery. That's what we did.
Written June 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ben F
Bloomington, IN1,841 contributions
Jun 2022
You just can’t miss the canals of Amsterdam when you visit this renowned global city. Water brings it all to life. As the people here are the savviest cyclists you’ll ever meet (tied with the Danish, perhaps?), bicycles are EVERYWHERE. Unlike the more competitive nature of cycling in the US you’ll find in parks and city streets where folks zip up and down “recklessly,” the bikers here are spatially-aware and patient with pedestrians. I never felt like I was about to crash into a speedy bike.
Minus a few spots where the city was doing road/bridge construction work, the area is clean and lively. You won’t be alone anywhere you go—this is obviously the most popular part of Amsterdam. Even with the summer crowds, I felt as safe as could be. Next visit, I’ll spend a bit of money to take a river cruise, which from seeing others’ experiences as they sailed underneath the bridges, looks like an absolute blast.
Minus a few spots where the city was doing road/bridge construction work, the area is clean and lively. You won’t be alone anywhere you go—this is obviously the most popular part of Amsterdam. Even with the summer crowds, I felt as safe as could be. Next visit, I’ll spend a bit of money to take a river cruise, which from seeing others’ experiences as they sailed underneath the bridges, looks like an absolute blast.
Written July 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vadim
Murmansk, Russia35,041 contributions
May 2023 • Solo
Now we perceive Amsterdam as a city of canals. However, the city has not always been like this. The Singel (belt) was the first to be excavated at the beginning of the XV century. It was more of a defensive moat. After almost 2 centuries, the Amsterdam City Council adopted the project of the humble carpenter Hendrik Staets. The plan was simple and ingenious. In parallel, Singel Status suggested digging 3 more channels. The excavated soil was used to create embankments for the construction of houses. Each channel had a depth of 2 meters and a width of 25 meters, so that 4 barges could disperse in the channel. The width of the embankments was assumed to be 30 meters. The height of the houses excluded the darkening of each other. The project started in 1612 and lasted for almost half a century. Up to 4000 channels could be in the created garland at a time (!!!) ships. The production and houses of the proletarians were moved to the territory of the modern Jordan district beyond the Prinsengracht canal. that's why the houses facing this canal have the most modest facades. The same cannot be said about Herengracht and Kaisersgracht. During the construction process, the city nobility began to buy up plots and decorate the gables of houses in every possible way. During the construction process, a curved pediment in the shape of a bottleneck appeared, invented by Philip Wingbons. These bell-shaped gables have become a signature feature of Amsterdam. Below the gable ridge there was a lifting beam with a lifting mechanism that allowed lifting loads directly from boats and barges to the upper floors. They are used even now, because it is impossible to move bulky furniture up steep stairs. Almost all houses have a narrow facade. This is explained by a large tax on the width of the facade, introduced by the city council. The ingenious Amsterdammers built houses, they built narrow but elongated houses, on the back of which servants lived without windows. It was in such a remote room on the Prinsengracht that Anne Frank's family hid for almost 2 years from 1942 to 1944. Like Venice, a typical tourist attraction is a canal tour. Since I did this 20 years ago, this time I just walked along the canals. It is worth doing both in the afternoon and in the evening, because the impressions differ...
Written January 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom&NikkiTravel
London, UK1,902 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
The canal area is nice in the summer to walk round. We came at the end of July so we had some nice weather with a touch of rain. Look for the decorated bikes that are over some of the main bridges. These are painted different colours and decorated with flowers.
Look out for cyclist whilst walking these come in all different directions and at some serious pace. A lot of bikes seemed to have been left for some time covered in rust etc this seemed to clutter some of the pathways.
Look out for cyclist whilst walking these come in all different directions and at some serious pace. A lot of bikes seemed to have been left for some time covered in rust etc this seemed to clutter some of the pathways.
Written August 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James Clarke
Cardiff, UK86 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
The canals of Amsterdam are an endless labyrinth of beautiful bridges, buildings and boats that will have you in awe for your entire stay.
Just walking around them for an hour will make you realise why they’re a protected part of the city.
I highly recommend taking time from your holiday to just walk around them and see what you can find!
Just walking around them for an hour will make you realise why they’re a protected part of the city.
I highly recommend taking time from your holiday to just walk around them and see what you can find!
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Herbert C
1,855 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
This concentric semi-circles of canals surrounding Amsterdam’s old 17th century centre are the bedrock of the city and has placed the city’s urban map as one of the most recognisable city maps in the world. The picturesque canals is not only the city’s vital form of transportation, but has become the city’s most iconic and instagramable spots. The row houses and historical buildings dotting the many chic neighbourhoods certainly adds vibrancy to the area. So, hop onto one of the many cruise boats, peddle on a bicycle or simply walk to fully appreciate why UNESCO designate this as a World Heritage Site.
Written November 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Coryy20
Port of Spain, Trinidad6,376 contributions
Nov 2022 • Solo
This picturesque area by the canal is perfect for strolling esp at evening when the lights bring the area to life. It is great for simply strolling or to sit at one of the cafes and enjoy the scenery. There are lots of restaurants and bars in this area also, so you can enjoy which ever way you choose.
Written August 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phat_dawg_21
Alpharetta, GA17,331 contributions
Jul 2022
This network of canals was started in the early 1600’s to allow Amsterdam to expand beyond its medieval walls. The best place to learn about the Canal Ring is at the Canal Museum. We visit the museum first, then took a one hour canal tour. These two activities gave us a very good understanding of the layout of the city.
Written September 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
operalover939
Toronto, Canada2,948 contributions
Sep 2022
When you're in Amsterdam, it is difficult if not impossible to avoid the famous grachtengordel, the three canals added in the seventeenth century. My favourite is the Herengracht, with its large and splendid patricians' houses, but I like the other two as well. Visit the Grachtenmuseum on the Herengracht if you want to learn about the canals and their significance. Their well-treed beauty is self-evident.
Written September 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Juan Ca
Washington DC, DC138 contributions
Sep 2021
There are four canals with concentric belts that go around the city. If in Amsterdam you will visit those canals one way or the other. Those canals are manmade. The inner most canal is the Singel and enclosed the city until the late 1500's, it is the smallest of the four canals mention in this review and not consider one of the three major canals. The Second canal is the Herengracht, that means the Lords Canal, this is the first major canal, then we found the Keizergracht that means the Emprero's canal, and the last canal is the Prinsengracht means Prince's canal, besides those concentric canals, there are at least four more notable canals in Amsterdam.
Written September 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Please recommend a cruise company that covers the ,"Ring Canal" with the best cruise? Thanks
Written October 15, 2019
Hello, the best cruise is the open boat Flagship Amsterdam cruise, called the luxury canal cruise. It is an hour and docks in front of the Anne Frank house. The cruise is great and includes the Herengraacht canal. You will be in the Jordaan.
Written October 15, 2019
Is there a good canal cruise for kids? Our two boys will be 5 and almost 3. Everything I see seems to be more geared towards adults and I don’t want to book something that might set the kids up to fail
Written March 16, 2019
Several Canal cruise operators. Get one with a covered top and side enclosure. It rains a lot in October. We used Lovers and they can be readily found on the canal system. I have no way to compare Lovers to other cruise lines ; but,, the audio portion they had could have been more informative.Time one hour - rate 16 Euro's.
Written October 16, 2019
If I want to take a night cruise Do I have to book online ir I can book it there right away? And how much does it coast per person? Or we just rent a boat by hour?
Written November 4, 2018
Book it there then you can evaluate in person how busy each booth is, you may get lucky and have a boat less crowded
Written November 5, 2018
Paula K
Boynton Beach, Florida
Which canal trip do you recommend? Lovers or something else?
Written June 2, 2017
I went with lover but took a pizza dinner cruise the next night it was in outer canal at times and inland
Written August 8, 2018
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