13 Top Things to Do in Amsterdam for an Unforgettable Visit

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Living on a houseboat has always been a wild dream of mine. That’s why Amsterdam, a city built around a network of canals over six feet below sea level, captures my heart. There’s even a houseboat there just for cats, De Poezenboot!

With over 165 canals stretching 60 miles, you could explore the capital of the Netherlands without traversing the same waterway twice. It’s a small city with just over a million people, but Amsterdam city offers a lot when it comes to history and culture.

This Amsterdam travel guide covers the big hitters like Van Gogh’s bold brushstrokes, the Anne Frank House, tulips in bloom, cozy cafés, and local breweries, but also dives into a few offbeat gems that made my Amsterdam itinerary unforgettable.

Why Do Tourists Love Amsterdam?

Tourists keep coming back to Amsterdam for good reason. Just like all Netherlands travel, people are friendly and helpful, and the country has a relaxed attitude that adds to its charm.

Museums & Nightlife

An Amsterdam vacation is perfect for culture vultures, with world-class museums and art attractions in the Museum District and beyond. Just like all cities that never sleep, it has a lively nightlife with great clubs and bars.

Outdoor Activities

With over 30 parks, finding a peaceful retreat is so easy. Plus, the city’s many canals and bridges make it a true “Venice of the North.”

Amsterdam is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world. Its flat terrain makes it ideal for tourists to cycle through its charming streets, with bikes readily available for rent.

Food & Drinks

Craving Dutch food and drinks? Amsterdam has all the local specialties like bitterballen, deep-fried meatballs eaten as a snack; stamppot, a hearty dish of mashed potatoes and vegetables; and stroopwafels, made with a caramel syrup filling.

The Netherlands is also a top beer exporter and home to Heineken, so expect nothing less than the best from the Heineken experience.

Don’t mistake Amsterdam’s cafés for coffee shops. They’re more like cozy pubs where you can enjoy an “herbal refreshment,” drink a beer, or eat a tasty snack.

Location

Amsterdam’s location between Germany and Belgium makes it a great home base for exploring other European cities, such as Paris, Brussels, Cologne, and London.

1. Van Gogh Museum

One of the major Amsterdam attractions, no visit is complete without a visit to the Van Gogh Museum. It’s the world’s biggest collection of Vincent van Gogh’s works, featuring over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and more than 750 letters. This art museum also offers exhibitions on general 19th-century art.

Experience the infamous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear up close and feel the raw emotion in The Potato Eaters painting.

If you love art, this is the best place to go sightseeing. Trust me, you’ll never see sunflowers the same way again after visiting!

2. Anne Frank House

Visiting the Anne Frank House will make you feel a mix of hope and sadness. This 17th-century piece of history is both moving and intense.

If you’ve read The Diary of Anne Frank, you’ll find this visit unforgettable. The museum shows the real spaces where Anne and her family hid during the holocaust of World War II, including their tiny living quarters and Anne’s own room. You’ll also see personal items from the people in hiding and the original red-checked diary Anne got for her 13th birthday.

You’ll need to book your ticket online for a specific time slot or or take this excellent Life of Anne Frank and World War II Walking Tour, which includes entry to the house.

It’s a place that will stay with you long after you leave.

3. World’s Only Floating Flower Market

Amsterdam’s floating flower market is a one-of-a-kind experience that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. This unique blend of nature and urban architecture has been around since 1862, with flower stalls set up on houseboats – a nod to the days when flowers were delivered around Amsterdam’s canel belt by boat.

You’ll find all sorts of flower bulbs, especially tulips, bouquets, and single flowers. Fresh tulip bulbs are only sold from late August to December, though. They say that if the bulbs are older, they might not produce the best tulips outside of this time.

The floating flower market is right in the city center, on the Singel Canal between Koningsplein and Muntplein. It’s open year-round and is a vibrant, colorful place to visit you should add to your Amsterdam bucket list. You can hop on trams 2 or 12 to get to Koningsplein.

4. The Nine Streets

The Nine Streets is a shopper’s dream come true.

This lively neighborhood along Amsterdam’s grand canals is packed with photo-worthy spots. Locals call it De Negen Straatjes, and it’s famous for its charming boutiques and specialty stores, offering everything from upscale vintage finds to retro furniture. You’ll also discover amazing foodie spots, intriguing monuments, and elegant canal house museums.

Here are the must-see Nine Streets of Amsterdam: Gasthuismolensteeg; Hartenstraat; Reestraat; Berenstraat; Wolvenstraat; Oude Spiegelstraat; Wijde Heisteeg; Huidenstraat; Runstraat.

5. Rijksmuseum

Visiting the Rijksmuseum is like traveling back in time to explore the Golden Age of Dutch history and art.

Located in the heart of the city, this must do in Amsterdam showcases over 8,000 pieces, including famous works by Dutch masters Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Van Gogh, along with pieces by Marlene Dumas, Robert Mapplethorpe, Erwin Olaf, and Charley Toorop.

6. Dam Square

Dam Square is the historical heart of Amsterdam, where the city first took shape around a 13th-century dam in the Amstel River. Today, it’s a sprawling cobblestone plaza packed with street performers, clattering trams, and camera-wielding tourists, but there’s real substance beneath the bustle.

The Royal Palace looms on one side—once a city hall, now a regal showpiece with marble interiors and grand chandeliers you can actually tour. Just opposite, the National Monument rises in stark white stone, a quiet tribute to the Dutch lives lost in World War II.

It’s not all solemn and stately though. Dam Square is where protests, festivals, pigeons, and pop-up markets collide. It’s a great place to pause with a stroopwafel, soak in the chaos, and feel the pulse of Amsterdam in real time.

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7. Amsterdam’s Canal Belt

This Amsterdam must do isn’t just pretty; it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, carefully carved into the city during the 17th century to manage water and wealth at the same time. The result is a graceful horseshoe of waterways lined with gabled townhouses, stone bridges, and reflections that shimmer like oil paintings.

Wandering the canals is like stepping into a storybook. Bikes rattle past leaning buildings, houseboats bob gently by the quay, and quiet courtyards peek out between rows of tall, narrow homes. Each turn feels cinematic, especially in the golden hour when everything glows.

It’s also the best way to get deliberately lost. Whether by foot, bike, or boat, the canal belt invites slow travel. You’ll pass hidden cafés, bookshops tucked into corners, and the occasional local tossing breadcrumbs to ducks from their front stoop.

8. Wild Ride At A’DAM Tower

Bike tours and canal cruises are great when you’re in Amsterdam, but what if you want a little more adventure? Try the wild ride at A’DAM Tower!

The top of this 1970s high-rise is where you can swing out over the city, 100 meters (328 feet) high, with your feet dangling below. For more thrills, try the virtual-reality roller coaster or soak up the views from the 360-degree observation deck, the revolving restaurant, or the rooftop bar.

9. Shop, Eat & Watch at De Hallen

There are many places to shop in Amsterdam – cheese markets, flower markets, and more. However, De Hallen is a vibrant hub where visitors can shop ‘til they drop and satisfy their cravings.

This lively place, once a tram depot and now a national monument, is open every day and has been buzzing with style and culture since 2014.

Located in Oud-West, just behind Kinkerstraat, it’s packed with trendy fashion boutiques, unique jewelry shops like The Maker Store and The Gathershop, cool street art, and the tasty Foodhallen inspired by top indoor markets from around the world. Plus, film buffs will love De Filmhallen’s nine-screen cinema.

10. Explore The World Of Cinema Through the EYE Film Museum

The EYE Film Museum in Amsterdam is a film lover’s paradise. This futuristic spot boasts four comfy cinemas showing everything from arthouse films to classic movies.

With a collection of around 40,000 movies, from silent films to the latest digital hits and Russian avant-garde to American mainstream, it’s a cinephile’s dream. You can also explore cool exhibitions and festivals and enjoy a chic restaurant with one of Amsterdam’s best terraces.

11. Albert Cuyp Market

The Albert Cuyp Market is Amsterdam at its most down-to-earth: loud, colorful, and completely unpretentious. Set in the heart of De Pijp, this open-air street market has been running since 1905 and still draws locals and visitors alike with its no-frills energy and endless variety.

You’ll find everything from fresh stroopwafels made hot off the griddle to bike locks, vintage coats, tulip bulbs, and spicy Surinamese snacks. The smells alone, grilled fish, ripe cheese, warm syrup, are reason enough to wander through, snack in hand.

It’s not a polished experience, but that’s the point. The Albert Cuyp Market is where Amsterdam shrugs off its museum polish and gets back to its roots: lively, multicultural, and just a little chaotic in the best way.

12. Visit Keukenhof Gardens

Staying in Amsterdam’s city center? Getting to Keukenhof Gardens is so easy! Keukenhof dazzles every year with over seven million flowers and over 800 types of tulips during the Tulip Festival.

Visit the greenhouses to see a dazzling array of blooms. Watch flower arranging demos to learn how to turn tulips and other flowers into gorgeous arrangements. For an extra thrill, consider a helicopter flight over the tulip fields for a breathtaking view!

Make sure to arrive early to soak in the full beauty of Holland’s tulip fields in their glowing twilight.

13. Take a Day Trip

Amsterdam Centraal is your go-to spot for easy travel to the Netherlands’ coolest attractions. With frequent direct trains, you’ll zip from Amsterdam to places like Zaanse Schans, Kinderdijk, and Giethoorn without any fuss. Just grab your tickets, take a short walk to the platform, and you’re off on a fun excursion!

Zaanse Schans is a traditional Dutch village of typical historic windmills and a fascinating insight into local crafts in the Netherlands. Home to a weavers house, clog workshop, and a cheese farm, this open-air museum is a fascinating showcase of the Netherlands’ rich heritage. 

At Kinderdijk, you’ll discover 19 incredibly photogenic windmills dating back to 1740 that are a symbol of Dutch expertise in water management, earning them UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Giethoorn is a picturesque 13th-century village often referred to as ‘Little Venice.’ Giethoorn is renowned for its charming canals, quaint thatched-roof cottages, and lush greenery. What sets this village apart is its lack of roads; instead, narrow waterways wind through the village, and residents navigate by boat.

Tips For Visiting Amsterdam

Now that you have a solid list of what to see and where to go, how do you make the most of your trip to Amsterdam? Here are some tips:

Frequently Asked Questions About Amsterdam

How Do You Get To Amsterdam From Schiphol Airport?

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is a major international hub southwest of central Amsterdam. Getting into the city is easy, as there’s a train station right under the airport.

For a great way to start your Amsterdam trip, book a private transfer from the airport with Intui directly to your accommodation in the city center.

To get into the city by train, catch the NS Sprinter from platforms 1, 2, or 3. Trains leave ten times an hour and take 15-20 minutes. In Amsterdam, it is mandatory to check in and out of your train journeys using the yellow card readers located around the entrances and exits to stations.

The Amsterdam Airport Express Bus 397 leaves Schiphol Plaza bus stop B17 and arrives at Amsterdam Elandsgracht every 7 minutes. It stops in central Amsterdam, including Museumplein, Rijksmuseum, or Leidseplein.

How Many Days Is Best To Visit Amsterdam?

A stay of three to five days is just right for exploring Amsterdam. The city’s compact size means you don’t need much time to see the top spots.

Three days is perfect for a quick trip to hit the main attractions, enjoy a canal cruise, and dive into the lively nightlife. If you’ve got four to five days, you’ll have extra time to wander beyond the city center, take a few day trips, visit museums, and chill out in the parks.

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