Amsterdam: The best cheap bike rentals and tours
To first timers in Amsterdam, it’s overwhelming to see a surplus of bicycles blanketing the city. Bicycles are leaning on everything, and transporting everyone, everywhere at all times of day and night.
Questions that come to mind are:
1. Which one is the bike lane?
2. Why do all the bikes look so shabby?
3. Why is no one wearing a helmet?
4. And finally, Where can I get a bike? I want in on this!
With these questions in mind, we’ve compiled a list of bike rental and tour companies in Amsterdam that all offer a very cheap way of exploring the city. No matter if you haven’t hopped on a bike since you were a kid or you’re ready to bike the city like a local, we’ve framed all of the affordable options so you can compare prices and details.
Bike rentals for beginners
If it’s been a few years since your last bike ride, look for bike shops with colorful rental bikes. There are a variety of business to choose from with obvious references: MacBikes offer bright red framed bicycles, Yellow bikes are yellow, and Green bikes are bright green.
To a local, these well-built but bold statements scream “tourist”, and for some visitors that’s a good thing. Locals know to be more cautious around the colorful bikes, which is great if you need more space and go at a slower pace. These places also offer rentals by-the-hour, so you can take a bike out for just a quick spin, if that’s more your speed.
Here are some colorful rental spots to try:
MacBike: Rates starting at €7.50 for 3 hours and €9.75 for a 24-hour period.
Yellow Bikes: Rates begin at €6 for 2 hours and go up to €20 for two days.
Green Bikes: Rent a pedal bike for €9 per day with each additional day for €6.50.
Bikes for more experienced riders
Most bicycles in Amsterdam have black frames and an old-fashioned build. Don’t expect a super mountain bike or sleek road runner around these parts, it’s just not practical. In fact, our bikes of choice are omafiets and opafiets, which literally translates to grandma bike and grandpa bike.
In terms of safety issues, make sure your rental bike is equipped with lights, breaks, and a loud bicycle bell. These will let you navigate the roads and help you feel like a real Amsterdam cyclist on the bike paths.
Here are a few companies that will outfit you like a local:
Star Bikes: A full-day starts at €7 for a traditional “granny bike.”
Damstraat Rentabike: City bikes are available for 7-day rentals at €35.25.
Holland Rentabike: Rates start at around at €8 per day.
Black bikes: Classic bikes with rates as low as €4 for a full day.
Affordable bike tours
If you’ve mastered the city bike life, or are looking for a guide to show you around on two wheels, there are plenty of guided bike tours to choose from. Some rides cater to the countryside or the harbors and waterways, while others focus on giving a city tour by bike or fun themes. Most of the popular bike rental shops mentioned above offer their own guided bike tours, but here are a few more to check out:
Mike’s Bike Tour: 2 to 3-hour tours of the city cost €21.
New Amsterdam Bike Tours: Free (yup, free!) tours by locals.
We Bike Amsterdam Tours: 3-hour group tours are €25 per person.
My bikes are a lot cheaper then this lot! However I don’t have that many yet. Check out my website
http://www.amsterdambikes.bigcartel.com/
Feel free to do wear a helmet it’s definitely safer!