10 Best Things to Do in Amsterdam
What is Amsterdam Most Famous For?
The best things to do in Amsterdam highlight the city’s unique history and easygoing charm. This upbeat destination is known to be very liberal, with its array of lgbtq+-friendly accommodation, bars, and festivals. While there’s no denying that many come to partake in the cannabis culture and Amsterdam’s infamous red-light district, the city has plenty of unique sightseeing options for travelers of any age.
Amsterdam boasts one of the highest densities of museums in the world covering everything from sex to handbags. Cycling is the best way to get around Amsterdam and experience life like a local. So, experience the best of the city with these great things to do in Amsterdam.
What are the best things to do in Amsterdam?
1. Royal Palace Amsterdam
The home of the Dutch king
Good for: History, Photo
The Royal Palace Amsterdam is for many people their first stop, offering a look at a historic 17th-century Dutch Golden Age building, now home to the royal family. Originally, this exuberant palace along Dam Square was built as a city hall to host administrative functions of the town and to symbolize the international influence of the city.
The architecture is pure classical in style, paying homage to ancient Greco-Roman buildings of thousands of years ago. You can walk the elaborate rooms and galleries to view authentic furnishings and decor from hundreds of years past and explore mysterious stories of the city’s past. It’s found in the heart of the city center. Read more
Location: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 147, 1012 RJ Amsterdam, Netherlands
Open: Wednesday–Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm (closed Mondays and Tuesdays)
Phone: +31 (0)20 522 6161
Royal Palace Amsterdam
2. Dam Square
Street performers in a vibrant public square
Good for: History, Photo, Budget
Dam Square is a beautiful open-air space in front of Amsterdam’s Royal Palace (Koninklijk Palace). The public square dates back to the 13th century, and has cobblestoned pathways lined with restaurants, bars, and pubs. It’s close to touristy landmarks such as the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Beurs van Berlage Hall, and New Church (Nieuwe Kerk).
The middle of Dam Square often hosts street performances and concerts, especially in the summer. The bars and pubs around the square provide a lovely atmosphere to enjoy dinner or drinks in the evening. Read more
Location: Dam, 1012 RJ Amsterdam, Netherlands
Dam Square
3. Anne Frank House
Anne Frank’s original diary on display
Good for: History, Photo
The Anne Frank House was the hiding place of German-born Anne Frank during World War II, where she wrote her famous diary. Today, you can learn about her family’s life through exhibitions within this museum.
Located half a mile east of Dam Square, the 17th-century home is a popular museum in Amsterdam, and attracts those who are curious about the life of the Holocaust victim. The Diary Room displays Anne’s original diary, while her room is decorated with various postcards and photos of celebrities. Read more
Location: Westermarkt 20, 1016 GV Amsterdam, Netherlands
Open: Daily from 9 am to 10 pm
Phone: +31 (0)20 556 7105
Anne Frank House
4. Rijksmuseum
Over 400 paintings in the Masterpieces Collection
Good for: Couples, History, Photo
The Rijksmuseum, founded in 1800, is a national museum of arts and history with over 1 million valuables. The museum occupies a Gothic-Renaissance building with a garden courtyard in Museumplein, about 300 meters east of the Van Gogh Museum. The Masterpieces Collection showcases over 400 important paintings from the Rijksmuseum’s permanent collection as it undergoes refurbishment.
Highlights include Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, Johannes Vermeer’s The Milkmaid, and Jan van Goyen’s Landscape with Two Oaks. Guided tours are provided in various languages. Read more
Location: Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam, Netherlands
Open: Daily from 9 am to 5 pm
Phone: +31 (0)20 674 7000
Rijksmuseum
5. Canal cruises
Gorgeous views of the city from a canal boat
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo
Amsterdam’s Canal Ring is a unique landscape made up of over 165 canals, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. For this reason alone, you should take a tour of the city by boat, whether you’re having a dinner cruise or taking advantage of the Rijksmuseum art tour.
Most tours depart from central Amsterdam, and if you choose an evening boat ride, you get to enjoy views of canal homes and bridges which are beautifully illuminated with fairy lights.
6. Vondelpark
Summertime dance and music concerts
Good for: Couples, Families, Budget
Vondelpark is Amsterdam’s equivalent to New York’s Central Park, spanning 120 acres of green space filled with flowery lawns, ponds, playgrounds, and pathways. Families get to frolic about at the park’s 6 play areas, rent skateboards or bicycles, and enjoy picnics overlooking a large pond.
Vondelpark is particularly special in summer when a never-ending festival vibe takes place at Openluchttheater, an open-air theatre in the middle of the park. If interested in the park’s history and fancy some exercise, you can even take a guided bike tour, in typically Dutch fashion. Read more
Location: 1071 AA Amsterdam, Netherlands
Vondelpark
7. Negen Straatjes
Vintage stores in Amsterdam’s shopping district
Good for: Budget, Shoppers
De Negen Straatjes is a trendy neighborhood consisting of 9 small streets within the Centrum borough. The best way to explore is by cycling or walking, as you get to stop by dozens of independent boutiques, vintage shops, jewelry shops, and artisanal stores along the way.
If you’re a fan of photography, head over to Keizersgracht Street to check out Huis Marseille, Amsterdam’s first photography museum situated in a historic 17th century merchant’s house. When hunger calls, the region also contains a great selection of trendy cafes and restaurants for canalside treats. Read more
Location: De 9 Straatjes, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Negen Straatjes
8. Foodhallen
International cuisine galore at this foodie market
Good for: Families, Shoppers, Food
The Foodhallen is an indoor food hall in Amsterdam Oud-West, where you can enjoy authentic cuisines from all over the world. Over 20 stalls occupy the De Hallen cultural complex, a refurbished tram depot dating back to the 17th century.
Must-tries include Creme de la Crepe’s beautiful pancakes, Vietview’s fresh spring rolls, De Ballenbar’s bitterballen (Dutch meatballs), and Parisian sweet treats and desserts at Petit Gateau. For those seeking hearty comfort food, there are also great stands offering everything from hotdogs and fried chicken to Mexican dishes and Mumbai streetfood.
Location: Hannie Dankbaarpassage 16, 1053 RT Amsterdam, Netherlands
Open: Sunday–Thursday from noon to midnight, Friday–Saturday from noon to 1 am
Foodhallen
9. Amsterdam coffeeshops
Mainstays of the Dutch capital’s cannabis culture
Good for: Food, Unusual
Amsterdam is synonymous with its liberal cannabis culture, where there are hundreds of licensed coffeeshops selling pre-rolled cannabis joints (cigarettes) and various brownies with cannabis baked into them. There’s no denying that many visitors come to Amsterdam to indulge in the local wares.
Famous outlets in central Amsterdam include Dampkring on Handboogstraat, Coffeeshop Smokey with its tropical themed decor, and of course, The Bulldog The First, one of the longest-running cannabis dispensaries in the city having been established in 1975.
10. De Wallen
Amsterdam’s nightlife district
Good for: Nightlife, Unusual
De Wallen is Amsterdam’s notorious red-light district, and one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. It holds a great deal of history in its walls, which now separate the erotic, religious, residential, and the commercial. It’s a fascinating and fun place to explore, so long as you’re not easily shocked.
This region includes the Erotic Museum dedicated to all things sensual. While in the area, be aware that cameras are not usually welcome, particularly near the red-hued windows. Oudekerksplein Square features unique sculptures dedicated to sex workers, including a bronze relief of a hand holding a female breast on the cobblestoned sidewalk. Read more
Location: De Wallen, Amsterdam, Netherlands
De Wallen
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