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What to expect

Light Festival Cruise

Light Festival Cruise

Experience the festival from the water

Guided Cheese Tasting

Guided Cheese Tasting

Sample traditional Dutch cheese

Amsterdam City tour

Amsterdam City tour

Explore Dam Square & the Canal Ring

Christmas Markets

Christmas Markets

Discover local crafts & festive treats

About this trip...

Amsterdam comes alive in winter, its canals glimmering with light and its squares buzzing with festive energy. This city break captures it all — from wandering the UNESCO-listed Canal Ring and admiring the architecture of Dam Square to soaking up world-class art at the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. Sample Dutch cheese and waffles, browse the Christmas markets for gifts and local treats, and see the city from a new angle as you cruise through the illuminated waterways of the Amsterdam Light Festival. With a friendly Solos group and Tour Leader alongside, it’s a few unforgettable days in one of Europe’s most enchanting cities.
Activity Level: Activity Level Rating
What's this?

What's included?

  • Return flights & transfers
  • One piece of checked luggage
  • GVB public transport card (48 hours)
  • Airport taxes & charges
  • Room for sole occupancy
  • Daily breakfast and one farewell dinner
  • Traditional waffle treat
  • Cheese tasting
  • Welcome drink
  • Tour of Amsterdam
  • Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise
  • Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
  • Fully financially protected

What's extra:

  • Insurance click here

Itinerary

  • Arrive in Amsterdam
  • City tour and cheese tasting
  • Explore the Christmas markets & evening light festival cruise
  • Departure day

What you'll be doing

Day One: Arrive in Amsterdam

Day One: Arrive in Amsterdam

We arrive at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, before transferring to our hotel. This evening, we come together for a welcome drink and information evening and get to know our fellow travellers and Tour Leader.

Day Two: Amsterdam City Tour & Cheese Tasting

Day Two: Amsterdam City Tour & Cheese Tasting

We enjoy breakfast at the hotel before setting out with our guide on a walking tour of Amsterdam’s most iconic sights. Stroll through the historic Canal Ring, a UNESCO World Heritage site lined with elegant 17th-century architecture. Highlights include the Anne Frank House, the lively Dam Square and its Royal Palace, the fragrant floating flower market, and Museumplein – home to the world-famous Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. We’ll pause along the way to sample freshly made Dutch waffles before enjoying free time to find lunch and explore the city at leisure.

(Please note: visits are of the exteriors only.)

Later this afternoon, we head out to enjoy a special cheese tasting, guided by expert staff who explain the cheese-making process. We then taste a selection of these homemade cheeses, traditionally served with mustard or a dip accompanied by a glass of wine, beer or a soft drink.

  • Breakfast included
Day Three: Christmas Markets & Light Festival Cruise

Day Three: Christmas Markets & Light Festival Cruise

Today is yours to explore Amsterdam at your own pace. Use your transport pass to visit the city’s Christmas markets, where dazzling lights, festive stalls and the scent of spiced treats fill the air. Head to Museumplein to wander through the Christmas Village, pick up a few gifts and enjoy a hot drink as you take in the festive buzz. This evening, we step aboard a canal cruise to experience the Amsterdam Light Festival — a dazzling open-air gallery of more than 20 illuminated artworks that transform the waterways into a glowing masterpiece.

(Please note that the light installations change each year and images are for illustrative purposes only).

Afterwards, we head to a local restaurant and enjoy a delicious farewell dinner.

 

  • Breakfast & dinner included
Day Four: Departure day

Day Four: Departure day

We enjoy our final breakfast before check-out and transfer to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

 
  • Breakfast included

Accommodation

Leonardo Hotel Amsterdam

Experience the best of Amsterdam from the Leonardo Hotel Amsterdam City Centre. Tucked away in a quiet residential area, it’s just a short walk from the lively bars and restaurants of Leidseplein, the city’s picturesque canals and bridges, and the world-class museums of Museumplein.

Hop on a tram or rent a bicycle and you’ll be in the heart of Amsterdam’s cultural quarter within minutes. Discover spectacular art at the city’s renowned museums, browse the luxury boutiques of P.C. Hooftstraat, or venture a little further to visit the Heineken Experience, the floating flower market, Artis Zoo and the Anne Frank House.

Facilities include:
Restaurant for breakfast service, a lounge and a bar.
Room includes:

TV, desk, telephone, heating and air-conditioning, safe, minibar and tea/coffee-making facilities.

Dates & Prices

Departure Return Nights Price from Other Info Regional flights
11 Dec 2026 14 Dec 2026 3
£1395
  Book regional flights online

Essential Information

Transfer time
Transfer time from Amsterdam Airport to the hotel is roughly 15 minutes depending on transfers.
Dress code
The dress code for during the day is casual, comfortable shoes for walking and sightseeing are recommended. 
 
In the evening we suggest smart casual attire.
Gratuities
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. In order to give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below. Your Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection to cover drivers, porters and hotel staff of €20.00. 
 
Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip. The tipping of housekeeping will be left to your individual discretion (a small amount left in your room on departure should cover this and would be much appreciated). As is customary, ‘the hat’ will be passed around for the driver and guide on all optional excursions. For any meals that are not included in your itinerary, or taxi fares, your Tour Leader can advise of an appropriate add on.
Passport, visa & entry requirements

Passport validity

If you are planning to travel to an EU country (except Ireland), or Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino or Vatican City, you must follow the Schengen area passport requirements. Your passport must be:
  • Issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the ‘date of issue’)
  • valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)
You must check your passport meets these requirements before you travel. If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Contact the embassy of the country you are visiting if you think that your passport does not meet both these requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

Visas

You can travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training. If you are travelling to the Netherlands and other Schengen countries without a visa, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days.
 

From the 12th October 2025 the EU is introducing a new European Entry System (EES) that will be phased in and fully operational by the 10th April 2026. Non-EU nationals including British passport holders will now be required to complete biometric checks on arrival and exit to Schengen countries, which will include facial recognition and fingerprints. There is no cost for this, and no action needs to be taken prior to departure.

 

Currency
The currency is the Euro. 

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Rated as Excellent (4.8/5) by our customers

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First Class

I’d highly recommend Solos to people looking to travel on their own with a group of like minded people.
-David F

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Fabulous experience

Solos are extremely organised and provide fantastic holidays for people on their own. The tour leaders are of a very high standard and are extremely caring with the guests.
-Carole

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Don't Delay any Longer!

This was my first Solos holiday and it hugely exceeded my expectations. Lovely, lovely people made the holiday so special.....it will stay with me for always
-L Heaton

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Well worth going

I’ve recently returned from my first Solos holiday and had a fantastic time. I can honestly say that I enjoyed every minute, and the memories will last a lifetime.
-Patricia B

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