Amsterdam is one of the most unique cities in Europe, with its stunning canals, hundreds of flower-lined bridges, and interesting culture and lifestyle. Dive headfirst into the Dutch way of life and find all the best things to do during your time in the city in this complete Amsterdam travel guide!
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GETTING HERE AND GETTING AROUND
If arriving via air, you’ll fly into Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS). The airport is about 21km (13 miles) from the city, so you’ll need to take a taxi or uber to your accommodation.
If arriving via train, I recommend arriving into Amsterdam Centraal. It’s the largest and best connected train system in the city, and is very conveniently located!
Once you’ve arrived into the city center, it’s quite easy to get around on foot, bicycle, or public transportation – so a rental car isn’t necessary at all. With the exception of a day trip to Zaanse Schans, we actually walked everywhere we went!
Bike culture is huge here in Amsterdam, and there are often more bicycles on the roads than pedestrians! I only recommend renting a bike here if you are experienced in riding one in a major city, as the bike lanes get very congested and people zip around you. If you’re walking, be sure to be mindful of the bike lanes and lights – you’ll find there are three separate stoplights for cars, bikes, and pedestrians!
If taking a day trip (like we did), the trains are very well connected and affordable here! We simply showed up at Amsterdam Centraal and purchased tickets for the next train to our destination.
Take a Canal Cruise
This was one of the best things we did in Amsterdam, for a few reasons! One, it’s such a unique way to see the city. There were plenty of attractions we might not have seen otherwise (including the smallest house in Amsterdam)! Second, the tour guides are so knowledgeable about the city’s history and culture. And third, our tour included bottomless wine + champagne, as well as a charcuterie grazing board!
We did the Ultimate Canal Cruise with Pure Boats, which I highly recommend! They have several other tour options available as well, depending on the length of tour and time of day you’re looking for.
I’ve also heard great things about Those Dam Boat Guys, who offer a bit more of a laidback tour.
Wander around Jordaan
My absolute favorite neighborhood in Amsterdam! Flower-lined bridges, narrow streets, trendy cafés, and beautiful canals make Jordaan the prettiest neighborhood in the city. We spent most of our free time here, just browsing the high end vintage shops, stopping for coffee, and taking lots of photos.
Visit the Museums
There are no shortage of museums in Amsterdam (about seventy-five, to be exact). If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I’m not much of a museum person. However, there’s some really interesting ones here in Amsterdam!
Rijksmuseum
Best known for the Rembrandt collection, and the famous “Night Watch” painting. There are over a million works here, so decide what you’re interested in seeing prior to showing up. Book your entry ticket here!
Van Gogh Museum
This museum features many of Van Gogh’s best works, as well as an insightful biography about his life. It is one of the busiest museums in the city, but the crowds subside a bit in the late afternoon. The Van Gogh museum is right next to the Rijksmuseum, so you could potentially combine the two. Book your skip the line entry ticket here!
Anne Frank Huis
The Anne Frank House is undeniably a must-visit. This house is where Anne Frank and her family hid during World War II. An audio tour is included with your ticket, and as you walk through the house you are able to gain insight into what life was really like for the Jewish people during the Holocaust. The rooms are all very well preserved, so you really feel like you have stepped back in time to World War II. Her original diary is kept on display here, and you’ll get to see it at the end of your tour through the house. It’s an absolutely humbling and heart-wrenching experience, but an important reminder of the necessity of our freedoms.
Book your tickets online well in advance, as spots are limited.
NOTE: When I did my tour, I wasn’t aware photography wasn’t allowed inside the museum. There were no signs and everyone was taking photos, so I’m not sure that this rule is actually enforced. However, I learned this fact while writing this post and for this reason, I will not be including any photographs I took inside!
Vondelpark
After a day browsing the museums, take some time to relax at Vondelpark! Set up a picnic, or head to the center of the park to Café Blauwe Theehuis for drinks. The park is the largest in the city, spanning over 120 acres, so there’s plenty of room to kick back and relax!
Take a Day Trip
If you’d like to explore a bit more of the Netherlands than just Amsterdam, head out of the city! The train system is fantastic and very well connected, so it’s quite easy to take a day trip if you’ve got the time. Here’s a few of the best:
Zaanse Schans
See the famous Dutch windmills! Zaanse Schans is an open air history museum that tells the story of traditional Dutch life. You will see the windmills and how they work, as well as dive deeper into the history of clog-making and cheese-making (and yes, there are samples!) The whole place just feels like you stepped back in time, and I found it so interesting! Also of note, the town has a large chocolate industry, making the entire town smell like chocolate. It’s incredible.
Zaandam
A small town famous for its “toy houses”! I didn’t quite realize JUST how small Zaandam is – there’s not really much else to do here once you’ve seen the houses. However, it’s a quick stop on the way to Zaanse Schans, and combining them was quite easy!
Haarlem
A small and quiet walled city dating back to the Middle Ages. It has a similar look to Amsterdam, but a bit more of a small town feel. You can take canal cruises here as well!
Zaanse Schans
walk through the red light district
The Netherlands legalized prostitution and regulates it, as to maintain healthy and safe conditions for sex workers. Of course, this is a bit of a culture shock to many tourists as most countries aren’t quite so progressive. I found the Red Light District to be a bit uncomfortable if I’m being honest – but that could just be my unconscious bias as its something I’m not used to. Among the actual sex workers, there are museums and information centers educating about the practices of the trade.
Please respect the workers and do NOT take photos of the women in the windows.
See the Tulips
Tulip season in the Netherlands starts in late March, and lasts until early May! The tulips are at their best in April. I visited in October, so I of course missed the season, but here’s the best places to see tulips:
Keukenhof
Keukenhof is one of the most impressive gardens in the Netherlands! It’s easiest to get to as well, since there is direct transportation to the gardens. There is every color of flower imaginable, and the photos are stunning!
The Tulip Barn
If you’re looking for more of a natural “field” vibe, check out the Tulip Barn! Take the train to Hillegrom station, and then the fields are just a short walk away! If you’d like to combine the Tulip Barn and Keukenhof, I recommend renting a bike and navigating this way, as the two are only 4km from each other!
Café vs Coffeeshop
Before we get into the actual recommendations: let me make sure to provide some clarity! Cafés sell coffee, coffeeshops sell marijuana. Marijuana is technically illegal in The Netherlands, but it is decriminalized – meaning you won’t be punished for consumption. You do have to be 18 to enter a coffeeshop, so if you’re set on grabbing a latte and are confused when you’re asked for your ID, you’re probably at the wrong place!
Box Sociaal
The absolute spot to go for brunch! You’ll find indoor and outdoor seating, as well as tables right on the canal! Order the stroopwafel espresso martini, the eggs Benedict, and Kim’s tacos. Trust me.
Foodhallen
A buzzing food hall serving up just about every type of cuisine you can think of. Grab a drink at the bar, and see how many stands you can sample from before you’re too full to move.
Try all the Street Food
Snacking culture seems to be pretty big here in Amsterdam (might have something do with the coffeeshops), so you’ll see plenty of little shops to pop in for a quick bite!
Fries
Such a delicacy! I love good fries with a tasty sauce, and you can find them all over in Amsterdam. Fabel Friet is the most popular, but I found Heertje Friet to be just as good with a significantly shorter line! I still dream about the parmesan truffle fries.
Stroopwafels
If you visit Amsterdam and don’t taste a stroopwafel, I hear you actually get arrested at immigration on your way out of the country. KIDDING – but you have to try one. We tried the ones from Melly’s, and the brownie one was to die for! A popular option is Van Wonderen, but I’ve read the shop is quite touristy and overpriced.
Febo
A food vending machine! We didn’t actually get a chance to try these croquettes, but I’ve heard fantastic things.
Try all the Cafés
There’s so many trendy cafés in Amsterdam to choose from, but here’s a few of my favorites:
Pluk
Half café and half homeware store! Pluk has lots of healthy options, and some seating on the second floor!
Benji's
The coolest interiors, with both an industrial and an organic feel. Benji’s is more of brunch place than a traditional café, but still deserves a spot on this list simply for the avocado toast!
Saint Jean
Tasty coffee and even tastier pastries!
De Luwte
My final food rec on this list! We sort of happened on De Luwte, and although it seems to be more of a reservation type place, they managed to find a table for us. And thank goodness they did – it was one of the best meals on our trip! The pornstar martinis were perfect, and the tuna tostadas and truffle pasta were mouthwatering delicious!
I personally recommend staying in the Jordaan neighborhood to experience the beauty of the canals and be close to many of the major attractions! Another great area to stay in is the museum quarter, near Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh. Most of the hotels in Amsterdam are pretty simple, which is fine since you’ll spend most of your time out exploring the city anyways!
This is where we stayed! A simple, yet unique, hotel on a beautiful canal in Jordaan. The hotel is walking distance to every attraction on this guide (with the exception of a day trip, of course)! The rooms were adorable and the staff are lovely – upon checkin, we were given a personalized handwritten list of recommendations based on our interests! You can choose to include breakfast if you are interested.
A great location, beautiful rooms, and an adorable terrace where you can enjoy a drink!
A beautiful hotel in Jordaan! The rooms are simple and tasteful, and there’s an adorable restaurant and bar!
A luxury hotel in Jordaan! The hotel is set within two canal houses, dating back to the 17th and 18th century! The rooms are spacious and beautifully decorated. You’ll find an elegant restaurant and bar, as well as a garden to relax in after a long day exploring the city!
If you’re looking for a more unique stay, check out these houseboats on the canals! It’s in a great location on the Prince’s Canal, walking distance from everything. It would be magical to wake up each morning to views of the canal!
Another stunning hotel made up of five canal houses. The location is fantastic – right on the canals in Jordaan. Rooms are tastefully decorated, and some even offer views of the canals!