21 Best Things To Do in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of my favourite city breaks in Europe: a city brimming with history, culture and entertainment, whatever kind of traveller you are.

Art lovers will lose hours in its world-renowned museums, foodies can chase down everything from Michelin-star dining to food markets, and anyone here for a good night out has plenty of options, from hipster hangouts to grand rooftop bars.

I’ve visited Amsterdam many times over the years and have friends who live there, so this list draws on my own visits and their recommendations.

Watch my Amsterdam vlog to see what I got up to, or read on below.

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👀 At a glance

🗺️ Map of the best things to do in Amsterdam

Use the map below to see where everything on this list is.

🖼️ Museums and culture

1. Anne Frank House

The former home of Anne Frank, preserved as a museum offering a unique, moving insight into her family’s life in hiding during the Nazi occupation.

You can walk through the rooms where the family hid, see Anne’s actual diary, and explore photographs and documents that fill in the wider story.

2. Rijksmuseum

The Netherlands’ national museum, home to a vast collection of Dutch art and history since 1885, including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch and works by Vermeer and Van Gogh.

It’s a huge museum – allow four to five hours if art is a priority, or around two for a whistle-stop tour. Rembrandt’s The Night Watch draws the biggest crowd by far; I had to queue just to get close to it.

3. Van Gogh Museum

The largest collection of Van Gogh’s work anywhere in the world, with over 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 700 letters arranged chronologically to trace how his style developed.

Sunflowers, The Bedroom and The Potato Eaters are among the highlights, alongside interactive exhibits including a virtual reality experience.

4. Moco Museum

A contemporary art museum in a 19th-century villa, best known for its Banksy collection, including Laugh Now and Girl with Balloon, alongside works by Salvador Dalí and Roy Lichtenstein.

Exhibits rotate regularly, so there’s usually something new even on a repeat visit.

5. Rembrandt House Museum

Rembrandt lived and worked in this house on Jodenbreestraat for nearly 20 years, and it’s been restored to look much as it would have during that time, right down to his studio and the cabinet of curiosities he collected.

It’s a quieter, more intimate counterpoint to the Rijksmuseum’s grander Rembrandt holdings, and the included multimedia tour brings the etching and painting demonstrations to life.

6. Our Lord in the Attic Museum

A 17th-century canal house hiding a secret Catholic church in its attic, built when Catholicism was banned in Amsterdam during the Reformation.

The three floors take you through the church, sacristy and living quarters, giving a real sense of how the family who lived here practised their faith in secret.

7. EYE Film Institute

A striking modern building by the water in Amsterdam-Noord, home to a collection of over 40,000 films and a strong rotating programme of screenings and exhibitions.

The film poster and memorabilia collection is worth a look even if you’re not planning to catch a screening.

🍃 Canals, parks and city views

8. Take a canal boat tour

One of the best ways to see Amsterdam is from the water, gliding past leaning gabled houses, under the Skinny Bridge, and past landmarks like the Anne Frank House and the Red Light District.

Most one-hour tours come with a guide who fills in the history as you go, and some pair the trip with cheese and wine.

9. Vondelpark

The green heart of the city, and a lovely place to slow down between sightseeing.

Cycle or run its paths, picnic on the grass in summer, wander the rose garden, or catch a free performance at the open-air theatre.

10. A’DAM Lookout

An observation deck on the 22nd floor of a 1970s former Shell headquarters across the IJ, with panoramic views over the city and, if you’re after a thrill, Europe’s highest swing at 100 metres up.

The 19th-floor Moon restaurant is a good spot for lunch with a view, and there’s a combined ticket covering both the Lookout and a meal.

11. NDSM Wharf and STRAAT Museum

A former shipyard in Amsterdam-Noord turned creative hub, with artists’ studios, design shops and music venues worth an afternoon of wandering.

STRAAT, the world’s largest street art museum, is the main draw, and the monthly IJ-Hallen flea market (over 700 stalls) is worth timing your visit around if it lines up.

12. Begijnhof

One of Amsterdam’s oldest inner courtyards, founded in the 14th century as a home for the Beguines, a community of unmarried religious women, and still a quiet residential enclave today.

The oldest wooden house in Amsterdam (dating to 1475) and the 17th-century English Reformed Church both sit inside the courtyard, reached through an easily missed doorway on Spui.

13. Paddleboarding along the canals

A different, more active way to see the city, gliding along the 17th-century canal ring or through the Jordaan at water level.

Guided tours cover the scenic spots and include a safety briefing, so it’s a good option even if you’ve never paddleboarded before.

🍽️ Food and drink experiences

14. Foodhallen

A lively indoor food hall in Oud-West with over 20 stalls covering everything from Dutch classics to global street food, plus several bars for craft beer and cocktails.

The industrial-style hall and communal seating make it a good spot for a relaxed group meal.

15. Heineken Experience

An interactive tour through the brewery’s 150-year history and brewing process, with tastings built in, a 4D experience that puts you inside the bottling line, and a chance to learn how to pour the perfect pint yourself.

Worth doing even if you’re not a big beer drinker.

16. Cheese Museum

A small, free museum near the Anne Frank House walking visitors through the history of Dutch cheese-making, with over 100 varieties on show, from Gouda and Edam to novelty flavours like beer cheese.

The cheese-making demonstration is the highlight, and every visit ends with a chance to taste your way through the collection.

17. Van Wonderen Stroopwafels

Some of the best stroopwafels in the city, made fresh and served warm with a choice of toppings – chocolate, nuts and sprinkles among them.

18. Tony’s Chocolonely Super Store

The flagship store for the slave-free chocolate brand, with interactive displays on its sourcing and sustainability commitments alongside the usual retail shelves.

There’s also a chocolate-making workshop on site if you want to leave with something you made yourself.

🌷 Family-friendly and something different

19. WONDR Experience

An immersive, brightly coloured playground of a museum, with a ball pit, confetti room and rainbow tunnel built for photos as much as fun.

It’s a good one for letting your guard down for an hour, whatever your age.

20. Keukenhof

One of the world’s largest flower gardens, around 40 minutes outside the city, with over seven million tulips, daffodils and hyacinths in bloom for a few weeks each spring.

Explore on foot or by bike, and don’t miss the flower shows held in the garden’s pavilions during the season.

21. Floating Flower Market

The world’s only floating flower market, strung along the Singel canal since the 19th century, selling flowers, bulbs and souvenirs from boats moored along the water.

❓ Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need to see the best of Amsterdam?

Three to four days covers the main museums, a canal tour and a couple of neighbourhoods without rushing. Read my Amsterdam travel guide for a fuller trip-planning breakdown.

Do I need to book tickets in advance?

For the big three – Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum – yes, always. All three sell timed slots online only, and Anne Frank House in particular sells out weeks ahead.

What’s free to do in Amsterdam?

Vondelpark, Begijnhof, the Cheese Museum, the Floating Flower Market and NDSM Wharf are all free, alongside simply wandering the canal ring itself.

Is Amsterdam good for a family trip?

Yes – WONDR Experience, the A’DAM Lookout swing, canal tours and Vondelpark all work well with children, and most museums offer reduced or free entry for under-18s.

If you’re planning your trip, check out my Amsterdam travel guide or watch my Amsterdam vlog.

🇳🇱 Planning the rest of your Amsterdam trip

However you spend your time, Amsterdam rewards a slower pace over trying to tick off everything on this list in one visit. Pick a cluster or two that suits your trip, book the big museums well ahead, and leave room to just wander the canals without a fixed plan

I hope this list helps you make the most of your time in the city.

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