Amsterdam may be the most important sight when visiting The Netherlands. The canals, the museums, the boats, the cycles, and many more things make this a perfect city to see as a city trip or as a start for your trip through The Netherlands. What do you want to do in Amsterdam? Take a look here:

Visit the Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. It offers great views both in the evening and during the day. When you enter the Rijksmuseum, the Nachtwacht and the Melkmeisje are the main paintings to see. This is the art museum to visit when in Amsterdam. It is also a delight to walk or bike underneath the museum. It can be convenient to book your tickets in advance.

Price: €22,50

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 2-3 hours

Walk around and see the canals of Amsterdam

For me, the best thing to do in Amsterdam is see the canals. The beauty of the water and the gorgeous houses make this a very special sight. In the city centre, you cannot miss them. The most famous are the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht (with the Gouden Bocht/ Golden Corner, with the most beautiful houses), and the Singel, which you should absolutely see, and they are very close to each other. The Groenburgwal is one of the most picturesque ones to see. You will see cool towers, churches, squares, and neighborhoods when walking around, and because the city is small, it is easily done.

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How much time needed: 3 hours, but you will see them a lot when here.

Visit the Dam

The Dam is a good square to visit, with the impressive Dam Palace (see picture above) on it. There are not many bars or restaurants, but it is cool to see. Besides, Madam Tussauds and the Second World War Monument (see picture below) are at the Dam.

At the monument every year on May 4, there is a ceremony to think about the victims of the Second World War with 2 minutes of silence. It is in the real city centre and you will come across it, but you don't need to stay here too long. 

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 20 minutes.

See the work of Van Gogh at the Van Gogh Museum

The Van Gogh Museum is the biggest collection of the famous painter in the world. The Potato Eaters and The Sunflowers are the best paintings Van Gogh ever painted. Make sure you book your tickets in advance; otherwise, it won't be possible.

Price: €20

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 2 hours

Understand the history at the Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank Museum is a must-do in Amsterdam to understand the history of the Second World War in the Achterhuis. You will see the famous closet, the rest of the house, and the real diary. Book your ticket far in advance to ensure your spot or by getting there extremely early.

Price: €16

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 1 hour 

Relax in the Vondelpark

The Vondelpark is the most popular park in Amsterdam. You can relax on a lovely summer evening. You can stroll in the park and see the statues, flowers, and fountains. There are playgrounds, multiple places for a drink, and stops to have some food. In the summer, the park can get very crowded, especially in the weekends.

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 1-3 uur

Have a swim at Bogortuin

Amsterdam has some good places to swim, but my favorite is Bogortuin. You swim in the Ij River, and you can jump from 2-3 metres (look out; make sure you are enough to the right). It can be crowded, but not overwhelming. Other places are Blijburg (far), Marineterrein (crowded), Bar Hesp, Nieuwe Meer (far), and many more. 

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How to get here: 2 hours

Take a swing at the Amsterdam Tower

For this sight, you have to take the Buiksloterweg ferry, behind central station. This is free and fun to do, so there is no problem at all. The Amsterdam Tower is famous for its swings on top of buildings, and that is very thrilling, but it is not for the fainthearted. This building and activity are pretty new in the city. Next to it is the interesting EYE. The view without swing is also the most impressive of the city of Amsterdam.

Price: €17 for the experience to go up and an additional €15 for the swing

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 30 minutes

Enjoy the view of Central Station

Amsterdam Central Station is not interesting when inside the station, but from the outside, it looks very pretty. Cuypers is the architect of the building (he also created the Rijksmuseum), and you see a similar style. The station is located in the centre and is an important place to go to different parts of The Netherlands. 

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 10 minutes.

Enjoy a stroll at the Albert Cuyp market

This is the most famous market in the city, and it contains many different market stalls to find food from all over the world. Also, you can buy local cheese and good fish. There are market stalls with clothes and other souvenirs, which are worth visiting. Around the market are restaurants and bars as well. There is a statue of the most important singer in Amsterdam, André Hazes. The market is open every day from 9-5, but closed on Sundays.

Tourists occurrence: High

How much time needed: 1 hour

Head to NDSM to see an alternative neighborhood

Take the ferry from behind the Central Station to NDSM (the one on the left) and head to the most alternative neighborhood of the city. There are some very cool restaurants, markets, terraces, and graffiti around the ferry harbor. It can get crowded, but often you can have a nice stroll to see a totally different side of Amsterdam.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 2 hours

Taste a beer at the Heineken experience 

In the Heineken Experience, you will get to know more about Heineken. First, you will get some history, and afterwards, you will get to know how they make and how to tap one of the most famous beers in the world. There is also a fun activity during the walk-by-yourself tour. At the end, you get 2 included beers in a bar to end the tour. 

Price: €23 for a regular tour

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 1.5-2 hours

See the Amstel river from the Magere brug (skinny bridge)

Personally, this is my favorite place in Amsterdam, although for a tourist, this can be different. The Magere Brug (left in the picture above) itself is a cute and beautiful bridge to see and admire at first. Afterwards, stand on the bridge and see the river with some lovely sights next to it, such as the biggest theater, Carré, the gorgeous Amstel hotel, gorgeous houses, and the opera house/city hall called Stopera, which is not very pretty though. 

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 15 minutes.

Find flowers at the Flower Market

This is not a favorite place to go for me, but I understand that you want to see it when you are here as a tourist. There are many market stalls where you can buy many types of flowers and their seeds, so you can plant them yourself in your country. There are nice houses here (as in many places), and you can find a Smart shop as well. 

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How much time needed: 30 minutes

Be quiet at Begijnhof

Begijnhof is a silent oasis in the middle of the chaotic city centre. If you want to escape the crowds, this is the place to go. The beautiful houses and the statue make it fantastic to visit, and this should be on your list to take a short stop. Respect the inhabitants and keep in mind that you don't come to close to the houses.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 10 minutes 

Find a club at Rembrandt Square

If you want to go clubbing and you don't have a certain club to go to, this is the most important area to try to enter a club. Most clubs play famous international hits or techno, but you can find others as well. This is one of the main places to go to the bigger clubs in Amsterdam when not going to a certain party. During the day, it is fun to walk around, but not the most spectacular.

Tourists occurrence: High

How much time needed: An evening.

See the beauty of the Concertgebouw

At the Museum Square (see later below), you can admire the gorgeous Concertgebouw with its golden harp on top. Be there for a while, and if you are interested, check out if there are concerts playing during the days you are in Amsterdam.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 10 minutes

Celebrate a goal of Ajax Amsterdam

Ajax is the proud football club in Amsterdam, which is also the most successful club in The Netherlands. If there are tickets available and you are a football fan, this is a great thing to do. The Johan Cruijff Arena is pretty far, but reachable by train and metro. Have a beer in and around the stadium to have the real Ajax experience. Buying tickets can be difficult, so try in advance. Otherwise, you can do a stadium tour at the stadium when they are not playing.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 3 hours

Party with everyone on King's Day

On the 27th of April (NOT 30th of April any more) or the 26th, when the 27th is on a Sunday. It is the birthday of the king, but most people are not really busy with that. It can be celebrated throughout the country, but it may be best in the big cities. There will be stages, boats on the canal, bars, orange everywhere, and a lot of fun in the whole city. People are trying to sell their old belongings to make money by throwing eggs on them or other ways. This is a fantastic day to be in Amsterdam or The Netherlands. The night before is also busy, but I prefer the day.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 1 full day 

Visit the "real Amsterdam" neighborhood at the Jordaan

The Jordaan is my favorite neighborhood of the city, as it has a lot of bars, restaurants, the Noordermarkt, and beautiful houses. Head here to find the most classic Amsterdam, as it is one of the oldest regions of Amsterdam, and a lot of families have lived in Amsterdam for generations. You can also see famous statues of singers like Tante Leen and Johnny Jordaan (his nickname after the neighborhood).

Tourists occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 4 hours, including having a drink and a bite.

Find lions and elephants in Artis zoo

In the middle of the city, there is a zoo that has some great species of animals. Because it is in the middle of the city, there is no expansion possible. The exhibits can be small, but the zoo does everything to get more space with fewer animals. In the last few years, it has improved significantly, and new exhibits have been created. On Saturdays in July and August the zoo is open late and you can enjoy a bite, a drink and some live music (see picture below).

You can also visit Micropia, which is a museum of small organisms. You can also visit the Groote Museum, which is about the connection between humans and other organisms. 

Price: €25 for the zoo and both museums are €17,50 each. There are combined tickets available as well.

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 3 hours for the zoo, 5 in total.

Enjoy the Amsterdam Light Festival

The Amsterdam Light Festival is held in December and January each year. There are many different lights made by artists around the canal. A special canal cruise is recommended to find them all, or you can walk and find them all. This is mostly fun in the evening, when lights thrive. 

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 2 hours

Walk around the Leidse square

Leidse Square is one of the most popular squares in the city, and it consists of fast food and the most famous coffeeshop in the city, The Bull Dog. There is a theatre, the Apple Store, and terraces. There is a lot going on, and it is one of the most famous places for tourists to visit. Do not be here too long, as it is not the best.

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How much time needed: 30 minutes

Hike around the Sloterplas and see I Amsterdam

Sloterplas is a lake pretty far from the city centre. This is something you can do when you are in Amsterdam for a long time or when you want to escape the crowded centre. This 10 kilometre easy walk is lovely to walk, and you will see a harbour, the water, nature, the city, and beaches. You can have a swim in here, which is nice in the summer. There is also one of the two permanent I Amsterdam signs (the other is at the airport) after their removal at the Rijksmuseum. 

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How much time needed: 3-4 hour.

Spot museums at Museum Square

Museum Square is a bit south of the city centre and it has many important museums and buildings on the square. It mostly consists of grass, and it has some water (which will be a place for ice skating in the winter), a basketball court, and some food stalls. The buildings on the square are the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, the Concertgebouw, embassies, and the Stedelijk Museum (modern art). You can combine the sights, of course.

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 1 hour

Go on a canal cruise

Seeing the canals is absolutely the highlight of the city, but going by boat through them may be even cooler! During a cruise, you will get a lot of information on what you see, and the views from the river are stunning. You can also try to contact someone with their own boat or rent a boat to go through the canals. This is one of the absolute must-dos in the city.

Price: Depending on a tour or how you are doing it but a cruise is mostly €17-20.

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How much time needed: 1-3 hours.

Have a bit of marihuana 

Let me say that I am not a fan of weed, but it is easy to get it in Amsterdam in a regular coffee shop (you can't buy coffee here). There are some restrictions nowadays, as in some parts of the city centre (around the Red Light District), it is forbidden to smoke weed. I would recommend doing it maybe once, but don't let this be the only thing to do, as there is so much more to see and do.

How much time needed: 1 hour.

Rent a bike to see the city differently

Bikes are the main mode of transportation in the city for locals, so why not try to use them yourself? You can easily rent it in the city or take a tour. You will see the real Amsterdam, and you are faster than by foot. Maybe head a bit out of the city? Note that you are part of traffic, so look out and use your mind when cycling, because where you are looking at the city, other people are going to their job or school and are more rushed than you will be.

How much time needed: You can rent it the whole the time, but maybe a full day is sufficient.

See modern art during ArtZuid

Every two years, there are around 50 sculptures and statues in the south of Amsterdam (around the Apollolaan), which are easily visited by a nice stroll to see modern art. This is mostly in May–September, and it is in odd numbers of years, so in 2023, it will be in 2025, etc.

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How much time needed: 1.5 hours

See the gorgeous Westerkerk

Have a look at one of the most beautiful churches in Amsterdam and go in here. There can be ceremonies, but mostly it is easy to enter. The tower is 87 metres high and is very beautiful. The church was built in 1621 in the city centre. 

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 15 minutes.

Visit one of the most vibrant neighborhoods, called De Pijp

De Pijp is a great neighborhood if you want to see bars and restaurants. There are many students in this area, and they make it a very vibrant region of the city. Also, the Albert Cuyp Market and the Heineken Experience are in this area. The area comes to life most in the evening, and it is great to be here during that time.

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: An evening 

Taste some food from over the world at the FoodHallen and the Ten Kate market

In the west of Amsterdam, there is a big hall with many food stalls from around the world. You can get Asian, Italian, French, American, and more. These are mostly small bites, so you can try a lot of food. It is pricy, but worth the experience. Just a 2-minute walk from here, you can find the Ten Kate Market for some more market stalls and have a little stroll. 

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 1.5-2 hours

Celebrate freedom during The Gay Pride of Amsterdam

Pride Amsterdam takes around one or two weeks, but the highlight is when the Gay Pride happens in early August. It is a unique pride, as the pride is on boats through the Prinsengracht (probably the most famous canal). Many people are dressed up, and it looks very cool. The city turns pink, and you can party all night. It can get crowded, but the vibe is very good.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: A full day.

See the Waag and Nieuwmarkt

In the middle of the city, you will find the last city gate of Amsterdam, called De Waag. The building is gorgeous, and you can admire it. Besides, the area called Nieuwmarkt is great to get some lovely international food and have a beer in a bar, like Café Fonteyn.

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 1 hour.

Do some experiments at NEMO

NEMO is a museum in the city centre, where you can perform some very fun scientific experiments. This is a perfect thing to do with children. You can also go to the roof of the green, fun-looking building to enjoy the view of the city. This is a great stop for the whole family. 

Price: €18,50

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 2 hours

Be surprised in the Red Light District

Amsterdam is famous for its Red Light District, and although other Dutch and Belgian cities have these areas, Amsterdam has by far the biggest. It may be weird to see girls in front of windows asking to get in, but it is something you can do in Amsterdam. Don't let this be the only area to visit in this city. Yes, it is fun to see, but Amsterdam offers way more. Please don't take pictures of the people working here, and most important, please respect the people working here and don't be rude

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How much time needed: 1 hour

Find exotic plants at Hortus Botanicus

The Hortus Botanicus is a lovely place to see some exotic plants from all over the world. The variety is impressive, and you can walk outside and inside in several areas and enjoy this unique ecosystem. This is not the most important thing to see, but you will not regret it.

Price: €13,50

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 1 hour

Have a walk in the Amsterdamse Bos

The Amsterdamse Bos is a man-made forest in the south of Amsterdam, where you can have a relaxed walk through the trees and fields. You can also have a swim here, see a children's farm, find beautiful flowers, and visit a playground. This is a nice thing to do when you are in Amsterdam.

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How much time needed: 2 hours

Party all night during ADE

The Amsterdam Dance Event is an event that attracts many people from around the world. During 5 days in the middle of October, DJs from everywhere come to Amsterdam to have parties. A lot of festivals and parties are throughout the city (most of them cost money). The coolest thing is that there are several parties in odd locations, like the Olympic Stadium, Johan Cruyff Arena, and old jails, as well as in regular clubs and bars.

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 1-5 evening/nights

See the outside of the Olympic Stadium

Although not a very important sight, when you are in the neighborhood, you can visit the stadium. Most of the time, you cannot enter it, but you can take a walk around it. The stadium was built for the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, and later it was used for important Ajax matches.

Tourist occurrence: Very low

How much time needed: 15 minutes.

Visit the Dapperbuurt

This neighborhood in the east of Amsterdam has many restaurants and bars. There is a very nice market called the Dappermarkt (see picture above) to get some souvenirs and food. There is also a cute Oosterpark and a nice museum called Tropenmuseum, which has a collection and information about many cultures throughout the world. In the evening, this is also a vibrant area of the city.

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: To see the market, museum, park and a drink and bite around 5-6 hours.

Get information at The Amsterdam Museum

This museum is in the city centre of Amsterdam. It gives you a lot of information on the past and present of this gorgeous city. There are also some very beautiful paintings in impressive galleries to view. Currently, the museum is at the Amstel River (2023), so check out where it is when you are visiting.

Price: €18

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 1-1.5 hours

See the ship at the Scheepvaartsmuseum

This museum will provide information on the East India Company and The Netherlands as a maritime country. There are artifacts such as weapons, paintings, scale models, and more. The eye-catcher is the old East India Company ship in front of the museum, which you can visit.

Price: €17,50

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 1.5 hours.

See the oldest building of the city

The Oude Kerk is the oldest still-standing building in Amsterdam. It was built in the 14th century and is still very impressive. You can find exhibitions of a museum, some cellars, statues, and the Gothic style of this church. Enjoy this building next to the Red Light District.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 20 minutes.

Try craft beer or even a small brewery

Of course you can (and should) visit the Heineken Experience. Nowadays, it is more popular to drink craft beer. There are many bars that have a lot of craft beers, and you can try as many as you can! There are also some breweries you can visit, such as the popular Brouwerij 't Ij, the cute De Prael, or Troost. There are a couple of bars throughout the city that have many different kinds of beers, but there are more bars that have this. 

See the temple of the evening Paradiso

Prince said this was the most beautiful place he ever played. This is a great place to have an intimate concert or a regular party. There can also be comedians or other cultural activities. It is close to the museums, and you should absolutely check out what is happening and get a ticket for something. 

Price: Depending on the concert or other activity.

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 1 evening.

Feel the typical Amsterdam atmosphere in Van Dobben

This is an authentic Amsterdam place where you can have classic sandwiches, including their famous croquettes. The service is not friendly, but it is absolutely part of the fun. The lights are very bright, but that also belongs to the atmosphere.

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 1 lunch

Visit one of the relaxed parks

Besides the Vondelpark, there are many other parks throughout the city. Flevopark is a wild park that has swimming opportunities and a more wild experience. Westerpark is a park with some bars and restaurants, which is very interesting. Other parks are Erasmuspark, Beatrixpark, Sarphatipark, Noorderpark, and Oosterpark.

Tourist occurrence: ,Depending on the park but generally low to medium.

How much time needed: Depending on the park, but around 0.5-3 hours.

Things I have not done, but could be interesting

• Rembrandthouse, I have never been in the old house of the famous painter Rembrandt, but it should be very cool. 

For the rest I think this is a good overview of things you can do in Amsterdam.

Final thoughts

Amsterdam has been my home for almost all of my life, and I love the city. However, that sometimes makes it more difficult to give the experience of a tourist. Here, I showed some very famous sights in combination with my knowledge of living here and gave you sights or activities that others don't know about. Amsterdam is a must-visit city, and the beauty of it will amaze you. It is not just drugs and prostitutes; it offers many good museums, outstanding canals, and great neighborhoods.

If you want to know more about The Netherlands, check out: