Amsterdam is a city of a thousand faces, filled with variety, color and excitement. From its world-famous nightlife and unrivalled collection of cultural venues to the fabulous architecture and romantic canals, the town known as the Venice of the North has something to offer everyone.
Amsterdam is a vibrant and diverse city and perfect for a city break. The city is famed for its great museums, such as the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, its canals, amazing nightlife and relaxed atmosphere.
Amsterdam has a relatively small city centre, which makes it perfect for a short break as all the main sights are within easy reach of one another. If you like culture, there are museums galore.
If you like romance, there’s a network of pretty canals and cosy cafes and if you like a city that parties, the amazing nightlife set against a relaxed, liberal atmosphere make this city quite unique.
Amsterdam is one of my favourite cities in Europe as it really does offer something for everyone. View my tips and plan your break today.
Why Go?
Amsterdam is ideal for:
• Short breaks
• Museums and art galleries
• Cafe culture
• Bike rides along the canals
• Vibrant nightlife
When to Go
Amsterdam is a year-round destination, although spring – when the tulips are in flower – and summer are the seasonal high points. Typically the weather ranges from freezing in the depths of winter, though usually with little snow, to pleasant sunny days in high summer. The city can be cool and wet at any time of year, so take appropriate clothing.
Flights to Amsterdam
Direct flights are available from most UK/European airports with low cost airlines. Find cheap flights with Skyscanner.
Where to Stay
Whether you prefer superb value for money hostel or 2 star hotel or the luxury of a 5 star hotel, you can find the perfect choice for you in Amsterdam on Booking.com.
If you stay in a hotel in Amsterdam city centre you will be located in the historical heart of the city, just a short walk from both Central Station, Dam Square and some of the main attractions.
The 3 star Bellevue Hotel comes highly recommended and is located right in the heart of Amsterdam near the Central Station, making it an excellent base for exploring the city.
If you are on a budget check out the Flying Pig Hostel – this often gets voted as one of the best hostels in the world.
Getting Around
Although small enough to walk around, Amsterdam is blessed by excellent transport links. Train services from Schipol Airport are regular, fast and clean, while a national public transport information service will tell you how to get anywhere you need to.
Few Amsterdammers drive, preferring to use the excellent local tram service. A special circular service (number 20) traces a route past most major tourist attractions, although you may wish to hire a bicycle from Macbike at 220 Marnixstraat to make use of the city’s numerous cycle paths and lack of hills.
Amsterdam really is a great city to explore on foot or by bike – rentals are available throughout the city.
If you are keen to learn more about the places you visit or just go sightseeing in a group book tours and attraction tickets on GetYourGuide or Viator online in-advance to get the best prices.
It may be a tourist cliché, but taking a canal tour by barge is by far the best way to see Amsterdam and its magnificent buildings. With boats leaving Damrak by Central Station and Rokin by the Spui throughout the day, the 90-minute voyage affords a spectacular view of this thoroughly maritime city.
Amsterdam Sights – Navigating the City
With 129 different nationalities living together in relative harmony, Amsterdam is one of the world’s most cosmopolitan destinations. Home to a multitude of different communities and famous for its tolerant attitudes, the city comprises six districts, each with its own distinct character.
The Old Center, which is bordered by Prins Hendrikkade to the north, Oudeschans and Waterlooplein to the east, the Amstel River to the south and Singel to the west, is where Amsterdam began. Crammed with historic buildings, thriving bars and fun seekers, here the city’s main concentration of coffee shops coexists happily with the international diamond trade and the notorious red light district, creating a unique atmosphere not to be missed.
Take a short walk east from Waterlooplein and you enter The Plantage, where visitors can relax in the scenic beauty of the Hortus Botanicus (Botanical Gardens) and the world famous Artis Zoo. One of Amsterdam’s quieter districts, wide open spaces like the Sarphatipark make this the place to get away from it all.
For a faster tempo try visiting the Grachtengordel district, the central area north of the Old Center that plays home to many of the city’s favorite nightspots. Leidseplein is packed with an enormous selection of bars and eateries, while the pavement cafes of Rembrandtplein are a prime location for relaxation and people watching.
Head a bit further east and you’ll arrive in Jordaan, one of Amsterdam’s most charming neighborhoods. Populated by a blend of working-class families and affluent newcomers, this quarter may not boast the historical splendor of the old town, but its modern outlook and good social mix provide plenty of fun and color.
Situated to the north of Leidseplein, The Museum Quarter is a must-see destination. Home to many pleasant hotels and friendly cafes, cultural attractions like the Rijksmuseum vie for attention with the high couture of some of Europe’s plushest fashion shops in an area noted for its natural style and sophistication.
Located east of the Museum Quarter and south of the Grachtengordel, The Pijp has become a melting pot of different cultures and nationalities that boasts a wealth of interesting and varied nightspots. It is also home to the Albert Cuyp Market, where bargain hunters browse amidst a lively wealth of noise and color.
Best Things to Do in Amsterdam
Combining the big city benefits of history, cuisine, entertainment and excellent transport links with the physically small size, low traffic levels and relative peace and quiet you’d expect from a small town, this uniquely cosmopolitan city has become one of Europe’s most popular destinations.
Amsterdam is built on 90 islands linked by 400 stone bridges and 62 miles of canals, each flanked by rows of the distinctive seventeenth and eighteenth-century gabled houses that have made Dutch architecture famous.
One of the most intact historical city centers in the world, every street offers a peek back in time.
Here are some of the main tourist attractions and places to add to your itinerary.
The Amsterdam Canal Ring
Running beside the old streets of central Amsterdam are the stunning canal rings. Not only do they offer the feeling of space, peace and freedom, but they’re an icon feature of city life that has kept Amsterdam on the map for decades. If the weather permits, taking a stroll down these canal streets is one of the best ways to see Amsterdam, but you can also take a boat tour if the skies look dreary.
If you’ve got a canal-boat licence, you can even rent one yourself! Another great way to see the Amsterdam Canal Rings are by Bicycle, and regardless of whatever form of transport you decide to take, we’re sure the stunning views of the city will leave you breathless.
Ann Frank House
No visit to Amsterdam would be complete without a trip to Anne Frank’s House to relive the moving story of Anne Frank and her family who hid in a secret annex during World War Two. Anne Frank House is one of the most famous attractions in Amsterdam, and tourists flock from all over the world to catch a glimpse of her diary, as well as the house where she hid families from the Nazis for over two years! Entry is a little pricey, however the experience is priceless.
Culture
Culture vultures are in their element here. With 42 museums and 141 galleries – ranging from important attractions from the internationally renowned Rijksmuseum to the lesser-known Kattenkabinet, not to mention the daily free classical concerts at the Concertgebouw on Museumplein – lovers of the arts are spoilt for choice.
Heineken Brewery
For beer lovers, Amsterdam attractions don’t come any better than the world famous Heineken Brewery at 78 Stadhouderskade. Now a museum and visitors center, the home of the Netherlands’ most famous beer offers two tours every weekday morning at 9:30 and 11:00 between June and September. The insight into brewing history is fascinating, but it is the generous free samples that make this attraction so popular!
Red Light District
If you feel like you have had enough of culture, then there is Amsterdam’s infamous Red Light District… definitely an eye-opener and not for the faint hearted!
Museums
Amsterdam is home to a number of world famous museums, which make it perfect if you are looking for a cultural short break.
Rijksmuseum
With more than a million visitors each year, the Rijksmuseum is the largest museum in the Netherlands.
The Rijksmuseum is also Amsterdam’s most popular museum, the central attraction being the collection of 17th-century Dutch Masters, featuring canvases from some of the finest artists in history, including Rembrandt, Vermeer and Halls.
Not only does the art displayed in Rijksmuseum reflect the pinnacle of creativity, but it also provides an insight into the culture of one of the greatest countries in the world. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to catch a glimpse of the museum treasury, which houses traditional Delftware and beautiful period doll houses.
The Van Gogh Museum
Housing over 500 sketches and 200 hundred paintings, this museum is the world’s biggest collection of Van Gogh art. Accompanied by hundreds of letters by the famous artist, there are also a number of Van Gogh’s contemporaries and friends’ works housed in this spectacular museum.
Het Scheepvaart Museum – The National Maritime Museum
Since its recent multimillion pound renovation, the Amsterdam Het Scheepvaart Museum is one of the most captivating attractions in the city. If you’re visiting Amsterdam with your family, then the museum provides a number of entertaining elements for your entry price, with kids going free!
Packed with modern multimedia attractions and with a 17th century sail ship guarding the museum, the collection of fine paintings, old maps and extensive exhibitions are a joy to behold. Once one of the most powerful forces on the sea, The National Maritime Museum is a one-stop-shop for Dutch history and culture.
Stedelijk Museum
If you’re up for more, try the Stedelijk Museum, which has by far the best collection of modern art in the country.
Cannabis Museum
Step inside the Cannabis Museum at 148 Oudezijds Achterburgwal to find out about the plant that made Amsterdam notorious. Open daily from 11am to 10pm, this unusual institution illustrates the use of cannabis as a medicine, raw material and intoxicant through the ages. There is even a working hemp garden on display.
Shopping
If shopping is more your bag, you can browse the arts and antiques shops that proliferate in quaint quarters. Meanwhile the Magna Plaza, a deluxe department store housed in the former General Post Office, contains a wide range of exclusive shops under one roof.
Food and Drink
The Dutch may not be famous for their cuisine, but Amsterdam is spoilt for choice when it comes to food. From street vendors to high-class restaurants, the city has something to suit every palate.
You can find restaurants and takeaway options for all budgets, from luxury restaurants to kebab shops.
Café Bern
Fondue may be a Swiss invention, but it has been a major feature of Dutch cooking for many years. Slump into the cozy surroundings of Café Bern at 9 Nieuwmarkt with some friends and grab a fork for one of the most relaxed and informal eating experiences available.
Vondelpark
This might sound like double Dutch, but hot Belgian potato chips smothered in thick mayonnaise are one of the most popular local delicacies. Buy some from a vendor in the Vondelpark and eat them on the grass as you watch the world go by.
‘t Swarte Schaep
If your tastes are more upscale, try ‘t Swarte Schaep (The Black Sheep) for an exquisite meal in one of Holland’s best-known restaurants. Housed in a sumptuous 300-year-old building on Leidseplein, the excellent food quality and historic surroundings bring a price ticket to match.
Jonge Roelensteeg
Less traditional but equally worthwhile is the Supper Club at 21 Jonge Roelensteeg, one of the city’s hippest and most unusual eateries. Here the customers are given beds instead of traditional seating and are treated with unusual food combinations and live entertainment as they eat.
Kilimanjaro
With a large population of Moroccans and a thriving Surinamese community, Amsterdam restaurants inckudes a burgeoning selection of African eating-places. Try Kilimanjaro at 6 Rapenburgerplein, where friendly staff offer a range of traditional recipes from Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Tanzania and Ethiopia amidst a relaxed atmosphere.
View my guide to the best romanic restaurants in Amsterdam if you are looking for something special with your partner.
Nightlife
It is at night that Amsterdam really comes to life. A late city where many shops don’t open until 10 in the morning and bars and cafés stay open until the early hours, revellers can choose from a rich selection of activities and atmospheres. From the lively restaurant and nightclub scene to the notorious red light district and its collection of cannabis coffee shops, Amsterdam certainly has a distinct character all of its own.
Best Day Trips & Places to Visit Near Amsterdam
Take a trip outside the city to Marken, a small island where many of the inhabitants still wear traditional Dutch dress and live in old-style wooden houses. Catching bus 111 from Central Station is the best method of getting there, although organized coach tours are available.
Plan a Trip to Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and apart from being uber unique and culturally diverse, life in the Dutch capital remains authentic. Small, compact yet bursting with life – that’s Amsterdam. Canals, museums, nightlife and a whole lot of fun await you!
From people-watching in local cafés to walking along the calm canal streets, there are many ways to observe typical Amsterdam life, and there are also number of opportunities that shouldn’t be missed during your visit.
View more of my Netherlands travel tips.