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Taking a canal cruise while in Amsterdam is one of those must do activities for any traveler visiting Holland. It not only gives you the opportunity to see the city and pick out any interesting buildings and museums you may want to take a closer look at, but a canal cruise also allows you to sightsee while relaxing on the famous waterways of Amsterdam as your guide takes you through the city.

Guides on the canal cruises are always multilingual and will give their tours in at least three languages. The guide will point on any places of interest that can be seen from the boat, such as Anne Frank's House and The Heineken Brewery, offering information on these as you pass as well as answering any questions visitors might have. The guide will also explain the parts of Amsterdam that can't be seen from the boat, giving any advice you need.

There are plenty of museums and places of interest in Amsterdam, and a canal cruise is a good way of beginning your trip to the city, as it gives you a feel for the overall place and allows you the chance to make a note of the sights you may want to go and visit later. Amsterdam has everything from The Van Gogh Museum and the architecturally stunning Rijksmuseum right down to the museum of bags and purses.

Whether you are interested in beer or not, the Heineken Museum, which your guide on the canal cruise can point out and introduce you to, is a superb museum to visit, and one which has the added bonus of not being expensive to get into. At 11 euros a ticket it's a bargain and includes a fantastic tour of this once working brewery. When you've been around the museum and learned all you need to know about the brewing process, Heineken is on offer for everyone to sample.

Another thing your guide can tell you about, and something which curious travelers will be interested in, is Amsterdam's famous red light district. This can't be seen from the boat, but your guide can still point out the way and tell you about it. The red light district is something you're unlikely to see anywhere else, but it's advisable to visit this area in a group and not alone. You also need to be aware that photographing the girls in the windows is strictly prohibited. Accompany this visit to the red light district with one to the condom museum and the famous Amsterdam condom shop and you really have a trip to tell people back at home about!

For something a little more gentle, your guide on the canal cruise will certainly show you the way to the flower market and give you the information you need regarding buying and taking home Amsterdam's famous bulbs and plants. Make sure you know what you are and are not allowed to travel home with before you buy. Something else which you will see from the boat are the many coffee shops and pancake houses. These are well worth a visit and make an excellent stop along your route when sightseeing on foot. From the boat on your cruise you will be able to pinpoint where the caf's and restaurants are and gain recommendations ready for when you are touring the city later. You will also be able to plan out your tour in this way, coupling any sights you want to see along with places to eat and drink.

An Amsterdam canal cruise can take you around the city in style. In a relaxed atmosphere and perfectly placed to view the city as a whole, taking everything in. But for a canal cruise that gives you a different experience you can take one of the many different evening cruises. These evening cruises are usually themed in some way, so you can take a jazz cruise which will be run with a party atmosphere, or for a more intimate, even romantic canal cruise, there are those such as the Thai Dinner which are like the floating restaurant of your dreams. Night time cruises in Amsterdam are a unique way of getting a feel for the city after dark. The city, including cafes, shops and hotels, will all be lit up as you pass by, giving Amsterdam a truly magical feel to it. Even the bridges are decorated with lights, making you feel you are really experiencing the city as you travel the waterways.

There's an awful lot to see and do in Amsterdam. So much it might be difficult to imagine how you can fit it all in. A canal cruise can help you to plan the remainder of your stay in Amsterdam as well as giving you the perfect way to see the city and get a feel for the people and the place. Cruising the canals by day or night offer a different experience. You may want to do both or you may decide to choose just one of the cruises. Whatever you decide to do while in Amsterdam, taking a canal cruise offers you a round up of the city, giving you the knowledge you need to enjoy your trip fully. It is also a peaceful, relaxing trip in itself, taking you around this cosmopolitan city in style. You can sightsee from the boat, or you can simply sit back, enjoy sailing the beautiful canals and watch the diverse inhabitants of Amsterdam go by.