With its picturesque 17th-century canals, world-class museums and non-stop nightlife, it’s no surprise that Amsterdam is one of Europe’s top tourist destinations.
Thanks to its compact city center, the Dutch capital is a breeze to explore on foot, but other means of transport are more fun. Do as the locals do and take to two wheels or the water for a new angle on the city.
What are the best things to do in Amsterdam?
While the range of attractions can be bewildering, we’ve narrowed down the city’s top sights with our list of the 21 best things to do in Amsterdam. Spanning crowd-pleasers and insider tips.
If you have limited time to explore the city, check out the 1 Amsterdam City Card (from around €60 for a 24-hour pass). This includes access to over 70 museums, favorite attractions like the Heineken Experience, bike rental, and a canal cruise.
- Make for Museum Quarter
- Shop the 9 Streets
- Rent a bike
- Anne Frank House
- Wander in the Vondelpark
- Scope some street art
- Sample the music scene
- Try a food tour
- Enjoy epic views of the city
- Visit Rembrandt’s studio
- Hit the water
- Hang out in NDSM-Wharf
- Tour a brewery
- Albert Cuyp Market
- Explore an eccentric museum
- Eat at Foodhallen
- See a secret church
- Visit the Begijnhof
- Soak up a brown bar
- Head to Hortus Botanicus
- Escape to the country
1. Make for Museum Quarter
Handily, Amsterdam’s “big three” art museums are all in one spot — Museumplein — with the superb Rijksmuseum’s treasure trove of Golden Age paintings culminating in Rembrandt’s The Night Watch.
For fans of tortured Dutch artist Van Gogh (basically everyone, then), nowhere rivals the collection at the Van Gogh Museum. Here you’ll find the iconic Sunflowers sitting alongside letters illuminating his life (pre-booking a timed slot is essential for both venues).
For a slightly less busy experience, Modern art and design hub the Stedelijk, whose striking extension won it the nickname “the bathtub”, has a big-hitting permanent collection featuring Picasso, Warhol, and Rothko.
2. Shop the 9 Streets
Set between the Singel and Prinsengracht canals, in the happening Jordaan district (and just a five-minute walk from the Royal Palace on Dam Square), this micro-neighborhood draws discerning shoppers for its appealing cafes, indie boutiques, and art galleries.
In a gorgeous canal house, Huis Marseille is a must for shows by internationally renowned photographers, while De Kaaskamer, packed with giant wheels of cheese, is the ideal spot to grab ingredients for a superior picnic on the canal.
3. Rent a bike
Given the longstanding Dutch obsession with cycling, Amsterdam is about as bike-friendly as major cities get. Just as well given that it’s home to an amazing 881,000 thousand bikes. Rental companies abound — many clustering near Central Station — with daily bike hire a reasonable €10 or so.
If you’re nervous about navigating the winding streets, opt for a guided tour: top-rated We Bike Amsterdam run three-hour tours (adults around €30) combining small group sizes and a winning mix of humor and history.
4. Anne Frank House
Of all the things to see and do in Amsterdam, a trip to the Anne Frank House museum dedicated to the young Jewish diarist is invariably the most emotional. It’s also something you’ll have to plan for well in advance: tickets are released every Tuesday at 10 am EST for visits around six weeks later.
The main draw here is the secret attic where Anne penned her account of life in hiding from the Nazis during World War II, but the 17th-century house also includes a moving permanent exhibition on her life.
5. Wander in the Vondelpark
Designed in the English style, this sprawling 120-acre green lung opened back in 1865. Today, you’ll find Amsterdammers out for a run, bike ride, or picnic, or taking advantage of numerous play areas and cafes.
Modernist pavilion ‘t Blauew Theehuis (the “Blue Tea House”) is a favorite for its ample terrace and fairly priced food. For a culture fix, make for the heart of the park to find Picasso’s soaring fish sculpture, or check out a show at the open-air theater come summer.
6. Scope some street art
Amsterdam’s street art and graffiti scene is thriving — so much so that it’s the subject of two dedicated museums. Best known for its hoard of works by street-art provocateur Banksy, Moco Museum also showcases American greats like Keith Haring and Jeff Koons.
On a more vast scale, ex-welding warehouse STRAAT offers over 160 freewheeling works mostly made on-site. A highlight: Kobra’s Anne Frank portrait, which graces the museum’s entrance.
7. Sample the music scene
If you’re not up for taking advantage of Amsterdam’s 24-hour clubbing scene, a brilliant (and family-friendly) alternative is the one-of-a-kind Our House.
Launched in 2021, this museum dedicated to electronic dance music tracks the story of the all-conquering genre over the decades. The experience focuses on fun immersive activities: you can have a go on iconic gear like the Roland TR-808 drum machine or the world’s largest analog sequencer.
8. Try a food tour
There’s no better way to get to grips with the Jordaan district than a food tour by the award-winning Eating Amsterdam.
Limited to small groups, their itineraries include a dozen tastings at delis and cafes. Here you’ll get to meet and greet local food players while discovering the influence of Surinamese and Indonesian cuisine on the Amsterdam scene.
Snacks depend on the season but may include herring, or the famous (Bill Clinton-approved) apple pie at Café Papeneiland. Choose the tour that includes a wooden saloon canal cruise, and you’ll also get to enjoy craft beer and delicious steaming bitterballen (meatballs).
KAYAK top tip: rather pave your own way? Some of our favorite food spots include t Smalle, Café Parlotte, Rijsel, and Winkel 43 – famous for their apple pie.
9. Enjoy epic views of the city
The observation deck at A’dam Lookout offers an unrivaled panorama of Amsterdam’s historic center, port, and the polders beyond.
To get there, take the free ferry from Central Station (bikes accepted), then zip up in the elevator, animated by a sound and light show.
For a supplement, you can brave Europe’s highest swing — free souvenir photos included — or a VR roller-coaster. There’s also a ridiculously scenic bar and restaurant.
10. Visit Rembrandt’s studio
Relaunched in 2023, Museum Rembrandthuis occupies a grand house on the edge of the Jewish Quarter that was home to the Dutch Golden Age painter from 1639 to 1658.
The perfect complement to visiting his masterpieces at the city’s Rijksmuseum, it tells the story of the artist’s life and entrepreneurial spirit, with impressively authentic period furniture, and a convincing recreation of his studio.
The collection of his works mostly focuses on etchings, including an amusing series of miniature self-portraits.
11. Hit the water
An Amsterdam boat tour is on most visitors’ bucket lists for a very good reason. A trip along the city’s canals — part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List — shows Amsterdam’s 17th-century (and cutting-edge contemporary) architecture in a new light. There really are few more idyllic ways to explore the city’s meandering waterways.
Most operators depart near Central Station, with a mini-cruise usually lasting 1–2 hours. Many will include snacks, drinks, or (for a price) dinners and jazz.
12. Hang out in NDSM-Wharf
Street art showcase STRAAT isn’t the only reason to head over to this former shipyard. Easily reached via the free ferry from Central Station: since the 1980s, when local artists began taking over disused industrial spaces, NDSM-Wharf has become a major cultural hub.
Time a visit with IJ-Hallen, Europe’s biggest flea market, to dig through 500-odd stalls packed with vintage fashion, knickknacks, and homewares. Then, once you’re hungry head to vegetarian-friendly hotspot Pllek. Here you’ll find a buzzing waterside bar and restaurant made from old shipping containers and celebrated for its urban beach, live music, and open-air films.
13. Tour a brewery
The Heineken Experience might be more famous – hence the queues – but it’s much more fun to visit local craft brewer Brouwerij ‘t IJ, located in a bathhouse by the Netherlands’ largest wooden windmill.
Take tram 7 or 14 from the city center, then enjoy a range of brews spanning five-beer samplers and seasonal beers, best sipped on the outdoor patio.
From Friday to Sunday, they run short afternoon tours in English. There are no reservations (so turn up early) and no set fee: you pay what you feel it’s worth.
14. Albert Cuyp Market
The beating heart of the De Pijp district, this century-old street market is amongst Europe’s largest, and a great place to rub elbows with locals bargaining over clothes, flowers, and food.
All the Dutch snack staples are present and correct: herring, cheese, and mini-pancakes, best enjoyed at the famed Poffertjes Albert Cuyp (no. 161), where the butter-and-sugar purist option is rivaled by more decadent versions.
Walk it off on Gerard Doustraat, one street to the north of the market, and eschewing tourist tat for stylish concept stores and independent boutiques.
15. Explore an eccentric museum
The Dutch aren’t known for wackiness, but when it comes to museums, there is no shortage of alternatives to the more highbrow institutions of the Museum Quarter.
A three-minute walk from Anne Frank House, Electric Ladyland (by appointment only) bills itself as the “first museum of fluorescent art” with displays spotlighting fluorescent adverts and nature’s naturally fluorescent marvels.
The posters, sculptures, and ads at KattenKabinet meanwhile celebrate the mighty feline’s role in the arts, with a few resident (real-life) cats padding between its exhibits.
16. Eat at Foodhallen
Located in Amsterdam Oud-West, industrial-chic tram depot De Hallen houses a cinema, craft-oriented boutiques, and a hotel, but it’s the decade-old food court that’s made it a headline attraction.
At Foodhallen, 20 superior stands run the gamut from Mexican street snacks to sushi and seafood, while fans of meatballs should make for De Ballenbar, launched by a Michelin-star chef. There’s no table service, so grab a selection of wares from the various stalls and join fellow foodies at one of the lively communal tables.
17. See a secret church
Even if you aren’t a church fan, make an exception for intimate house museum Ons’ Lieve Heer Op Solder – and be ready for the 1,000 steps.
Besides immersing visitors in life in a 17th-century canal house, the site offers a primer on local religious persecution: in the attic is an elaborate “hidden” church, dating from the Dutch Reformation, when Catholics were banned from public worship. The superb free audio guide makes that history vivid.
18. Visit the Begijnhof
One of the most serene spots in the city, just off central Spui square, this 14th-century courtyard once housed the beguines: a Catholic order of women who lived like nuns but without taking vows.
The last of the beguines, who enjoyed rare independence in their day, died in 1971, but time seems to have stood still in the magically tranquil square.
A visit to the Begijnhof (Begijnhof 30, 1071 DN Amsterdam) is free, including its tranquil garden, gabled houses, and two churches, plus one of only two wooden houses still left in central Amsterdam (Begijnhof 34).
19. Soak up a brown bar
Named after their dark-wood décor and brown-tinted walls (supposedly stains from decades of cigarette smoke), the casual pubs known as bruin cafés are atmospheric Amsterdam at its best.
Foremost among them, the pint-sized, legendary Café de Doktor (Rozenboomsteeg 4, 1012 PR Amsterdam), hidden in an alley, was popular with medical students back in the 1700s.
Still run by the family who founded it, the brilliantly oddball decor takes in old clocks, birdcages, and retro objects. If you’re not a beer fan, the short drinks list includes a decent array of whiskeys.
20. Head to Hortus Botanicus
Feel like you’re stepping into the desert or the jungle at this botanical garden – one of the world’s oldest – where various greenhouses support plants that thrive in different climate zones.
Star exhibits include a large array of carnivorous plants, a particular hit with kids, and a truly impressive butterfly house, where hundreds of tropical butterflies flutter about to visitors’ delight.
Afterward, the 18th-century orangery plays host to a beautiful light-filled cafe with a reliable menu and one of the city’s nicest terraces.
21. Escape to the Country
Amsterdam is surrounded by doable day-trip destinations if you feel like escaping the center.
Amongst them, a visit to the tulip fields southwest of the city is a must: from April to mid-May. At the 79-acre Keukenhof Flower Gardens, you’ll find over 800 species of brightly colored bulbs in bloom.
Year-round, historic village Zaanshe Shans, a 15-minute train ride from Amsterdam, reveals historic windmills and clog-making workshops.
Want to get even more out of your visit to Amsterdam? We have a range of other guides to help you unlock the delights of the Dutch capital.
On the food front, Amsterdam is fast becoming a culinary force to be reckoned with: our restaurant guide offers the lowdown on where to dine for work or play.
This is also a city that proudly flies the rainbow flag, as captured in our guide to LGBTQ-friendly Amsterdam. Keen to venture further afield? Try one of the fascinating Dutch cities in our Netherlands guide.
How did we choose what goes in our guide to the 21 best things to do in Amsterdam?
Whether you’re a single female traveler or a family of five, Amsterdam is known as one of the most tourist-friendly cities in the world. They even have a word, “gezelling”, for that warm feeling produced by company – a feeling I’ve experienced on my many visits to the city.
The recommendations in this guide draw on those all-important social connections to locals, plus KAYAK colleagues around the world. They make room for major tourist attractions, but also for insider addresses that can cast even a familiar place in a whole new light.
Visiting Amsterdam: FAQs
Do I need a car in Amsterdam?
Between the center’s narrow streets, crowds, and expensive parking, driving is one of the more stressful ways to get around Amsterdam. If you do come by car, use the Park and Ride (P+R) scheme, with parking from just €1/day if you continue into town by public transport.
Better still, rent a bike, or use the fine tram, bus, metro, and (free) ferry services. There are various day or multi-day passes on offer: the GVB website outlines which to pick, with some including travel to Schiphol airport or beyond.
You can buy tickets at Amsterdam Central, metro stations, or, for 1- or 24-hour passes, from tram and bus drivers (they don’t take cash).
When is a nice time to visit Amsterdam?
Amsterdam attracts up to 20 million tourists per year, so what time of year you visit will likely have a major impact on your experience. With warmer weather, and the peak of the festival scene, summer is the most popular choice – but why not avoid the crowds by timing a trip with the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn?
The Dutch capital’s weather can be fickle, but even in winter temperatures rarely fall far below zero, and if you’re in search of a deal, November to February is generally cheapest.
Come from March to May, meanwhile, and you’ll coincide with tulip time, as the colored bulbs come into bloom at popular attractions like the Keukenhof Gardens.
How long should I spend in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam is compact. With two days at your disposal, you can do the major sights, a few museums, and a boat tour, with leisurely stops for wining and dining. Add another 24 hours if you want to do a day trip, or a few more days to take in the Netherlands’ many highlights.
Is Amsterdam safe?
It might be known for its marijuana cafes and the Red Light District, but Amsterdam was recently ranked one of the safest cities in the world. Whether alone or in a group, even at night you can feel confident strolling in all the city-center neighborhoods.
As with most major cities, be aware of pickpockets operating in transit hubs – particularly Central Station, and Damrak, which links the station to Dam Square. If you’re bringing a bike with you, also bear in mind that the main crime in Amsterdam is bike theft.
Does Amsterdam have tourist passes?
The I amsterdam City Card offers impressive discounts and is worth purchasing if you intend to do some real exploring. All the major highlights (70 museums, plus popular attractions), public transport, a canal cruise, and bike rental are included.
The 1- to 5-day passes (from around €60 to €125) come in digital form – buy online and use in tandem with an app – or physical form, from the I Amsterdam store at Central Station.
