Travel Insights

Amsterdam has an infectiously happy vibe that will scoop you up the moment you step out of Schiphol airport.

The city offers a gamut of experiences at any time of the year: from sobering museum visits and serene canal cruises to the most happening festivals and parties. Armed with your trusty GVB/I amsterdam city card or a rental bike, you can do anything in this buzzing city.

So, whether you’re in Amsterdam for a week or just the weekend – here are the 14 best things to see and do on your trip.

1. Amsterdam Canal Cruise

Sure, some touristy experiences are overhyped. But experiencing Amsterdam from the (UNESCO-protected) canals is something you don’t want to miss. In the day time, you’ll marvel at the iconic, picture postcard views of the city from a whole new perspective: a periwinkle blue sky, swans (yes swans!) paddling away peacefully, and happy tourists waving at you from the streets. At night, the city sparkles with fairy lights and everyone’s out to have a good time, so an evening cruise with a couple of drinks on board is pretty magical.

Some prominent cruises to check out: Lover’s cruise (day cruise), Blue Boat Company’s Rembrandt Cruise Canal Cruise (day cruise – great for art and history lovers), and the Champagne cruise with Friendship (an evening cruise to explore De Wallen – Amsterdam’s famous party district and red light area – from the canals).

2. Vondelpark

Built in 1850, Vondelpark is a hit among both locals and tourists. If you’re in Amsterdam for at least a week and you want to take a break from the city things, head over to Vondelpark. Vondelpark is huge and picturesque to boot, with lots of space to ride your bike; take a leisurely stroll; or simply lounge by a pond (or under a tree), sip some wine, and read.

The park also has a beautiful open-air theatre that hosts the Vondelpark Festival in summer – a melange of music, theatre, dance, and cabaret.

3. Anne Frank Huis

Anyone who’s read The Diary of Anne Frank should visit this biographical museum. The museum is a 20-minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station and is a moving experience. The story of the teenage wartime diarist unfolds as you walk through the house (artifacts include documents, photo, and belongings of the residents, including the Anne Frank’s original diary) and climb up the steep stairs to the Secret Annex.

Expect to spend at least an hour in the museum. And, tickets for the tour sell out pretty fast – in fact, 80% of the tickets are sold out 2 months in advance and 20% are released on the day.

Our advice? Book yours well in advance.

4. Jewish Quarter in Amsterdam

In the 1700s, Amsterdam had the highest Jewish population in Western Europe. They fled from the persecution in Spain to settle in the Netherlands and boosted the trade economy of Amsterdam.

Now, Joodenbuurt or the Jewish quarter is an area in Amsterdam between Nieuwmarkt and Plantage that contains many historically important buildings maintained by the Jewish Cultural Quarter (an organization dedicated to preserving Jewish culture in the city).

What to see here:

The Hollandsche Schouwburg and the National Holocaust Museum

Formerly a theatre, the Hollandsche Schouwburg functioned as a deportation centre for Jews during World War II. Currently, it’s a memorial building.

The National Holocaust Museum was formerly a teachers’ training college and was used by Dutch resistance workers to smuggle out children in captivity to safehouses. Currently, this building is a museum dedicated to retelling the story of the Holocaust.

The Portuguese synagogue

This is still a place of worship and houses the one of the oldest Jewish libraries in the world.

The Jewish Historical Museum

This museum houses over 11,000 cultural artifacts and regularly hosts special exhibitions touncover specific aspects of Judaism today.

5. Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art, and the Van Gogh Museum are all located in Museumsplein, an open space bustling with cultural activities all day.

The Rijksmuseum houses art and artifacts spanning 800 years of Dutch history – from the middle ages to the present day. Check out original Rembrandts as well as paintings by other asters such as Johannes Vermeer and Frans Hals paintings, miniature dolls houses, and the Cuypers library.

Visit the museum any day between 9 AM to 5 PM. The museum also has a gift shop and cafe open to visitors without tickets.

6. Van Gogh Museum

Learn all about the mysterious painter’s life and work at the Van Gogh Museum, which houses the largest collection of his original artworks.

Here are some of the must-see paintings:

• Sunflowers
• Self portrait as a painter
• The bedroom
• The potato eaters
• Wheatfield with crows
• Almond Blossoms
• Irises

Tickets to the Van Gogh museum are available four months in advance – so book early! The opening times vary around the year.

(Pro tip: Want to avoid the crowd? Visit between 9 AM to 11 AM or after 3 PM.)

7. Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art

This museum features artworks from the early 20th century up to the 21st century. Apart from Van Gogh, other modern artists featured here are Andy Warhol, Henri Matisse, Kilem de Kooning, Marlene Dumas, Lucio Fontana, and Gilbert & George.

Visit the museum any day between 9 AM and 6 PM (up to 10 PM on Fridays).

8. Rembrandt House Museum

The Dutch master purchased the house in 1639 and worked here between 1639 and 1656, when he went bankrupt and the house was auctioned. The auction list was instrumental in restoring the interiors and his belongings.

Now, the biographical museum gives you a complete Rembrandt experience, including an insight into his process – the house has been refurbished with art and objects of his time, the artist’s belongings, as well as a collection of his etches of his contemporaries and pupils.

Visit Rembrandt House any day between 10 and 6 PM.

9. Madam Tussauds, Amsterdam

Madam Tussauds has been modernized in Amsterdam, featuring A-list actors, marvel heroes, and musicians.

Spot: George Clooney, Kendal Jenner, Captain America, The Hulk, Afrojack, Ariana Grande, and recently, Zayn Malik.

The museum also has many exhibits, including a pop up studio where you can test out your tv hosting skills!

Visit the museum any day between 10 AM and 8 PM.

10. Dam square

Dam square is often a site of events of national importance, but it has a lot to offer on a regular day as well.

Here’s what you can do at Dam square:

• Visit the Royal Palace (more on this in a bit)
• Visit the National Monument erected to memorialize the victims of World War II
• Watch street performers
• Take a photo of yourself in a giant clog outside Dam Square Souvenirs
• Ride in a horse drawn carriage.

11. Royal Palace Amsterdam

The Royal Palace of Amsterdam has a rich history and is often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world. It was originally constructed as a city hall in the 17th century Dutch Golden Age before becoming the palace of Louis Napoleon (Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother) and later the Dutch royal family.

The paintings and sculpture in the palace are rife with symbolism. Spot

• the figure of Atlas that shows Amsterdam’s prominence in the world
• the figure of Poseidon who shows Amsterdam’s connection to the sea
• the maps on the marble floors in the Citizen’s Hall
• the four elements (earth, fire, wind, and water) on the arches leading up to the Citizen’s Hall.

12. Foodhallen

Eat around the world at Foodhallen. This huge hall is lined with all kinds of international street food, from Vietnamese pho to Greek meze.

Check out the specialty bars as well as the upstairs seating area that gives a bird’s eye view of the entire place.

13. Albert Cuyp Market

The market was established in 1904 and hosts over 300 stalls today. Shop for organic fruits, veggies, and cheese or sample traditional Dutch street food: bitterballen, pickled herring, frites (french fries), and stroopwaffles.

14. De Negen Straatjes (Nine Little Streets)

Want to wind up your trip with some shopping? Visit De Negen Straatjes, where you’ll find over 200 shops selling a wide variety of things: from designer clothes to handmade cosmetics.

The Wrap: When’s the best time to visit Amsterdam?

Visiting Amsterdam for the tulips? Plan your visit during spring (March to May). You can also plan your visit during fall (September to late October) when the summer tourists thin out and a number of local festivals are in full swing. Avoid the summer months (peak tourist season) and around New Year’s though, unless you don’t mind a party crowd and relatively expensive night outs.