Skip the line Rijksmuseum and Canal cruise tour?

I've visited the Rijksmusem several times on my own, and didn't see a need for a tour, plus I could go at my own pace. But I've never visited during the busier tourist season.

The canal boat tours (booked online) cost €17 (adult), €8.50 (child). Looks like the cost of your combo tour would be competitive.

Thanks Cjean-at those prices, the tour is a pretty good value. And now that I am writing this, I don't think this tour has a guide-I was looking at so many today I get them jumbled. We are going at the end of May, so I know it will be crowded :)

We used Blue Boats last year and did the combo ticket for the Rijks. We saved a couple Euro off the separate cost. The cruises had different prices. I'm not even sure which one we took, as we picked one, but there was no where for my husband and I to sit, so we got on a different one. It went down towards the Rijks (we got on by Heineken) but they were doing work on a bridge, so it had to turn around, which I don't think was planned. I think it had something to do with the diamond exchange, because it stopped there and 95% of the boat got off. It was a narrated tour thru headphones.

The Rijks ticket didn't need to be used the same day.

Thanks Nicole! I think Blue Boat was the tour company I was looking at. Do you know if you can do the Rijks first, and then do the boat tour? Or is there one place to get on the boat? I ask because we are staying near Vondelpark, so it may be more convenient to do the museum first.

hey ferrin
we just did riks museum on our own, go early. we did an 1.5 hour evening cruise with getyourguide.com
which we really liked. one drink no dinner, saw the lighted bridges, with audio of where we were cruising. they do have other combo things you can check out. if your are interested in a food toyr veryhungrynomads.com/street-food-tours-amst/erdam think you have to contact and email to book. also eat poffertjes and stroopwafels. happy travels
aloha

When we bought our tour, we also got the tickets for the Rijks in hand. I’m pretty sure you could go and book the tour for later in the day (we were there so didn’t want to wait) and get the tickets for the rijks first. You could maybe even book the canal tour for the next day and still get the tix for Rijksmuseum. Don’t quote me on that tho, because I’m not 100% sure.

I will say, we went to the rijks a few hours before closing. It was mid-April and there wasn’t a big line to get in. Not sure if because time of day or time of year. Tho April has lots of tourists around. We saw half of the museum, I’d say. Not overly crowded inside, but the line up of people waiting to pick up their bags or coats from the bag check at closing was super long.

I’m sure there are a few places with blue boat to get on. We were in the De Pijp area, so not too far from rijks. It was 5 min on a tram. At the time we were there, we had to walk about 15 min to where the Heineken brewery was, and the blue boat dock. They were working on a tram line while we were there, so I’m sure if we were there now, we could hop a tram and be there in 5 min. Rome2rio is a great website AND app to figure out how to get from A to B. So you could look into how far away you are walking or to take a tram. Or I’m sure blue boats must have a map on their website showing where you can get on. I’m sure they told us there was another spot further up the canal (which way or which canal I do not remember).

We also went in April and did not experience lines at the Rijks. I will say, though, it was the least favorite thing I did in Amsterdam. I guess I'm just not a fan of dark Dutch art. :) Now the Van Gogh museum - loved it!

Just wanting to add - I kinda wish we had done an evening cruise so we could have seen the bridges all lit up, and the city at night. I wasn't feeling too well when we were in Amsterdam, and the weather was cooler, so most evenings we'd go back to our airbnb and watch tv and have something hot to drink. I'd love to return to Ams someday, and an evening cruise would be the route I'd take.

G'day all.
ive bought online tickets to Rijks for june. this means i wont have to que right? or do i just join a different (long) line?
Thanks