# Day Trip to Volendam and Marken from Amsterdam: Bus, Boat and Lighthouse

A half-hour bus to Volendam, the dyke and the harbour, smoked eel, a boat across the Markermeer to Marken, the wooden houses and the lighthouse. Return by bus from Marken.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/the-netherlands/volendam-and-marken/itineraries/bus-boat-and-lighthouse-from-amsterdam · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## El día
- 09:30 · Salida: 30 min by bus (EBS bus from the IJ bus station, behind Amsterdam Centraal)
- 10:15 · The dyke and harbour of Volendam (the dyke and the Doolhof district before the crowds arrive)
  - 10 min on foot
- 11:15 · Volendams Museum (Tuesday to Sunday · costumes and fishermen's houses)
  - 10 min on foot
- 12:30 · Smit-Bokkum (smoked eel · Tuesday to Sunday, with reservation) · Smit-Bokkum, €€€
  - 10 min on foot
- 14:00 · Boat from Volendam to Marken across the Markermeer (Volendam Marken Express from Haven 39) · Volendam Marken Express
  - 30 min by boat
- 14:45 · Marker Museum, six little houses of Marken (€4 · late March to October)
  - 30 min on foot
- 15:30 · Dyke walk to the Paard van Marken lighthouse (along the dyke; return the same way)
- 17:30 · Vuelta: 45 min by bus (bus from Marken to Amsterdam Centraal)

Volendam and Marken are in sight of each other, on either side of a bay of the Markermeer, and the nice thing is to link them by water. This plan goes by bus to Volendam, walks the dyke and the harbour before the rush, eats smoked eel, crosses by boat to Marken and ends with a walk to the lighthouse before returning to Amsterdam by bus. No car and no rush.

## The day, hour by hour

9:30 · Bus to Volendam. It leaves from the upper-level bus station, on the IJ side, behind Amsterdam Centraal. About 30 minutes. Pay by contactless card.

10:15 · The dyke and the harbour. Walk the Haven from end to end and go down to the Doolhof, the district of alleys behind the dyke.

11:15 · Volendams Museum. Fishermen's houses, the traditional costume and the history of the village. Open Tuesday to Sunday.

12:30 · Lunch at Smit-Bokkum. A fish restaurant beside its smokehouse: order the smoked eel. Closed on Mondays; book.

14:00 · Boat to Marken. The Volendam Marken Express crosses in half an hour from Haven 39. Go up on deck.

14:45 · Marker Museum. Six little houses joined together with the interior of the past and the island's costumes. €4, from late March to October.

15:30 · Paard van Marken lighthouse. Along the dyke, between the lake and the polders, there and back in an hour and a half.

17:30 · Return. Bus from Marken to Amsterdam Centraal.

## With children or in the rain

With young children, stay with the harbour, the boat and the Marken museum, and swap the lighthouse for a while at Marken harbour. If it rains, the boat is covered and the two museums make the day; leave the lighthouse for another time.

## Cómo llegar

### Without a car
EBS bus from Amsterdam Centraal to Volendam, boat to Marken and bus back from Marken. Check lines and timetables on 9292.nl.

### By car
About 20 km to Volendam. In Marken you cannot drive in: leave the car in the car park at the entrance. With a car, the boat forces you to come back for it; better to go by bus.

## Consejos

### Do it the other way round if you are an early riser
Marken first thing is almost empty; Volendam in the afternoon.

### Bring a coat
On the boat and on the dyke the wind always blows.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How much does the day cost?
Buses are paid by card according to the journey; the boat, the ticket on the shipping company's website; the Marker Museum, €4, and lunch, whatever you choose.

### Can you do it on a Sunday?
Yes: the boat sails every day and Smit-Bokkum opens on Sundays. The Volendams Museum closes on Mondays.

### Is the boat worth it?
Yes: it is the natural way to link the two villages and the part you remember most.