Buses and boats are well maintained and clean. This is a great way to see parts of Amsterdam you might not see if you walked everywhere, we got a joint ticket with the bus so we saw everything well worth giving it a try. We had the 48 hr ticket for bus and boat and used it all the time.

In 2026, the Amsterdam Hop-on Hop-off bus is generally only worth it for a very specific type of traveler: those with limited mobility or those only in the city for a few hours. Because Amsterdam’s historic center is a maze of narrow streets and canals, the large buses are often forced to stay on the perimeter "ring" roads, meaning you still have to walk quite a bit to reach the actual attractions like the Anne Frank House or Dam Square. A much better "worth it" alternative is the Hop-on Hop-off Canal Cruise. These boats move through the actual heart of the city, offer a more scenic experience, and drop you off much closer to the main museums. Amsterdam is incredibly walkable and has one of the world's best tram systems; most tourists find that a "GVB Day Pass" for the trams and a pair of comfortable walking shoes provide much more flexibility and value than the bus-based tour.