1. Home Page
2. Special Deals
3. London Hostels
4. Barcelona Hostels
5. Prague Hostels
6. Edinburgh Hostels
7. Amsterdam Hostels
8. Berlin Hostels
9. Bruges Hostels
10. Brighton Hostels
11. BathHostel
12. Newquay Hostels
13. Paris Hostels
14. Group Bookings

You are here: Backpacker Resources > Travel Tips > Green Bike Tours in Amsterdam

Green Bike Tours in Amsterdam

When you’ve had your fill of frites, pancakes, beer and maybe the more illicit substances on offer in Amsterdam, you might feel it’s time to repent and soak up some sights! Take a break for some culture, canals and art because after all ‐ you’re more than just a beer sponge right? Here’s one point of advice however before you start sightseeing in the city of sin ‐don’t stumble around on foot, don’t even think about that tour bus and save the canal cruise for later because there’s only one way to really see Amsterdam, and that’s by bike! Biking around is good for the environment, good for you and good for your hangover so no matter what you’ve imbibed on your travels ‐ don’t despair. Take it easy and see everything Amsterdam has to offer ‐ the two wheeled way.

Pedal Passion

Why should a bike be your chariot of choice in Amsterdam you ask? Well it’s green and cheap. There’s no gas guzzling or smoggy smoke here! Then there’s the size of Amsterdam’s streets. Just look at the city’s U‐shaped centre on a map and then look around when you arrive. It’s soon becomes apparent why motorised transport doesn’t work here. Most people already associate Amsterdam with cycles and even Holland’s Queen Beatrix has been spotted riding around on two wheels! If it’s good enough for a queen then it’s good enough for the backpacking set!

Go Dutch

Why is cycling so popular in Amsterdam? Does it really appeal to the Dutch? Is it just plain old practicality? Or is biking around town something that’s covered by all of the above? When you take into account that Amsterdam (like the rest of The Netherlands) is fairly small and flat, the popularity of cycling becomes obvious. It’s cheap and cyclists are so numerous that their needs ‐ including designated bike lanes, cycle shops and even a multi‐storey bike park at Amsterdam’s Centraal station ‐ mean it’s easy for visitors and residents alike, to cycle themselves silly!

Mike’s Bikes

Convinced that this is the best way to see Amsterdam and ready to ride? Once you’ve dropped off your bags at The Winston, you can go ahead and rent a bike from outlets across the city so don’t even think of BYOB (Bringing Your Own Bike). Also the bike theft figures are pretty high in the city and you may well be a prime target with a swish mountain bike ‐ among thousands of Amsterdammers on their rickety, beat up rides.

Up for cycling but worried about getting lost? Not ready to head off by yourself? Then get a feel for the city with Mike’s Bike’s Tours. These guys offer a city tour and also a guided ride around Amsterdam’s surrounding countryside, just for the nature lovers in the crowd. A recent addition to Mike’s repertoire is the walking tour of the Red Light District. You even get a discount for this one if you complete a bike tour earlier in the day. The commentary is insightful and funny, and having done the tour myself I can vouch that it’s perfect for leisurely sight seeing. Don’t worry about being left in the dust because Tour de France ‐ it aint!

‐ Jackie Reddy