Anne Frank walking tours

What do you see on an Anne Frank walking tour?

The streets of her story: the Westermarkt with Anne Frank's statue and the Westerkerk, the Prinsengracht facade of the hiding place, Stolpersteine in the pavements and the old Jewish Quarter with its memorials.

Routes differ, but these are the places most walks stop at, and what the guide tells you there:

• The Westermarkt. The bronze statue of Anne Frank by Mari Andriessen, unveiled in 1977 with Otto Frank present, stands beside the Westerkerk. Anne wrote about the tower's clock and bells, which she heard from the Annex. The Homomonument by the Keizersgracht is a few steps away.
• Prinsengracht 263. The front of Otto Frank's business premises, with the Secret Annex hidden behind it. The guide explains how a building full of offices and a warehouse hid eight people.
• Stolpersteine. Small brass stones set in front of a victim's last chosen address, each one starting "Here lived" and naming one person.
• Dam Square. The National Monument, where the Netherlands remembers its war dead.
• The Jewish Quarter. The Portuguese Synagogue from 1675, the Jewish Museum, the Dokwerker statue on Jonas Daniel Meijerplein for the February strike of 1941, and the Auschwitz Monument in the Wertheimpark, Jan Wolkers' broken mirrors from 1993.

Which Anne Frank walking tour is best?

The small-group walk for most visitors, the guided walk from the Westerkerk if you want to start by the house, and the Last Walk for the VR Annex.

All of these run with a live guide and free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Prices are GetYourGuide from-prices per person and move with the season.

Is an Anne Frank walking tour worth it?

Yes. Without a guide the canal belt is a pretty walk; with one, every bridge and facade has a story, and the museum visit afterwards makes far more sense.

The value is the context. A guide explains why the Franks left Frankfurt, what the anti-Jewish laws did to daily life in Amsterdam, how the helpers fed eight people for two years, and what happened to the Jewish Quarter, the heart of Jewish Amsterdam for centuries. The guides on the small-group walk have told this story on these streets for more than 12 years, and it shows in the rating: 4.8 from 15,449 reviews.

★★★★★

Excellent guide and such an interesting and at times emotional tour. Saw things I would have missed if I had just walked around unguided. Really worth it

Does an Anne Frank walking tour go inside the Anne Frank House?

The walks show the streets and the story outside. Reserve your timed museum slot on annefrank.org, about two hours after your tour starts, and you get both in one day.

The Anne Frank House sells its tickets only on its own website, for a fixed start time, released every Tuesday at 10:00 CET six weeks ahead. Book that slot first, then pick a tour that starts about two hours earlier. The walk in groups of up to 15 and the private tour both end at the house, which makes the timing easy. Full ticket details are in our Anne Frank House tickets guide.

The one tour that takes you into the rooms is virtual: the Last Walk ends with a virtual reality visit of the Secret Annex, with the furniture back in place.

What is Anne Frank's Last Walk VR tour like?

A 2.5-hour walk along the last part of the route the Frank family took to their hiding place, then a virtual reality visit of the Secret Annex through a headset.

The tour meets at Max Euweplein 36, near Leidseplein, and the guide reads short extracts from the diary as you go. It ends close to the Anne Frank House, where you put on the headset and walk through the reconstructed rooms, past the bookcase and up into the Annex. The real rooms are empty, at Otto Frank's wish, so seeing them furnished is the part people remember. It costs from $49, rated 4.8 from 736 reviews; the listing says it is not suitable for children under 6 or people with mobility impairments.

★★★★★

Very informative walk! Our guide was clear and well versed about the area. The Virtual Reality visit of Anne's home was fantastic, seeing the virtual rooms, books, & writings enhanced the visit.

The family's route to the hiding place with a guide, then the furnished Secret Annex in virtual reality, at your own pace.

★ 4.8 · 2.5 hours · from $49

Explore the Last Walk and VR Annex tour → Tour details

Small group, private tour or canal cruise?

Small groups suit most people and keep the price low. Book a private tour for families and questions, and the canal cruise if you would rather hear the story from the water.

• Groups of up to 15 ($18): room to ask questions at a thoughtful pace, finishing outside the Anne Frank House.
• The private tour ($24): two hours with your own guide from the Hermitage pier on the Amstel, through the Jewish Quarter to the Anne Frank House. The two-hour option of the small-group walk can be booked private too.
• The canal cruise ($39): one hour in an open boat with a licensed guide, past the Anne Frank House, the Portuguese Synagogue and the National Holocaust Names Memorial. It sails rain or shine.
• The Anne Frank and Jewish Quarter tour ($25): more on the war years in the city, from the February strike to the hunger winter, with a private option.

How long is an Anne Frank walking tour, and what should you bring?

One to three hours, depending on the tour; the guided walk from the Westerkerk covers about 2 to 3 km. Bring comfortable shoes, water and a rain layer.

The tours run in all weather, so check the forecast and pack an umbrella from October to April. The small-group walk asks guests not to bring luggage or large bags, and a charged phone is on its list of things to bring. Languages vary by tour: the guided walk runs separate groups in English, German, Italian, Spanish and French, so pick the right language when you book.

Children? The walks are outdoors and easy to follow for older children and teenagers. For the museum itself, the Anne Frank House advises a minimum age of 10. Rain plans and quieter hours are in our best time to visit guide.

Can you combine a walking tour with the Jewish Cultural Quarter?

Yes. One booking covers both: a two-hour Anne Frank walk plus tickets to the Jewish Museum, the Portuguese Synagogue and the National Holocaust Museum.

The walk with Jewish Museum tickets ($70, about 4 hours) includes entry to the Jewish Museum and its children's museum, the Portuguese Synagogue, the National Holocaust Memorial and the National Holocaust Museum, which you visit at your own pace, plus the guided walk at a time you choose. The walk ends close to the Anne Frank House. If you only want the museums, the Portuguese Synagogue and Jewish Museum ticket gives you a month to use it.

The four sites sit within one square kilometre; our Jewish Cultural Quarter guide explains each one.

Frequently asked questions