In a city as diverse and vibrant as Amsterdam, it is hard to give you the best things to do in Amsterdam. But these three sure are on top of every list. And we get that: these activities are known as Amsterdams highlights.
If you like going to museums you’ll be enlightened by the wide variety of museums in Amsterdam. Besides the world-famous Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam counts 50 more less-known museums.
A canal cruise is an absolute must-do in Amsterdam, as the city is known for its many iconic canals! The city center is practically a network of canals, along which you’ll find Amsterdam’s historical canal houses. Therefore, it is often said that Amsterdam is best seen from the water!
The variety of Amsterdam's attractions is immense. The city offers attractions for young and old. Find your way through all the best attractions in this beautifull, small and cosy city we like to call our home.
Visiting this vibrant city and wondering what to do in Amsterdam? We’ll leave you absolutely no time to be bored! On thingstodoinamsterdam.com we’ll show you both the highlights and hidden secrets of Amsterdam and guide you through them. Amsterdam is a unique city in many kinds of ways: from its parks to the many museums and the romantic canal belt and from its characteristic architecture to its liberal laws on drugs and prostitution. We make sure you don’t have to miss out on anything, as we tell you all the things to do in Amsterdam and provide you with the best tips, photos, discounts and information.
In Amsterdam, you’ll find enough museums to spend an entire month wandering through museums. However, most people only have a few days in the city, thus we selected three museums that you really can’t miss out on. If you have enough time, you might want to check out some of the other museums in Amsterdam as well! Even if you’re usually no the type of person that likes to visit museums, Amsterdam has some peculiar ones that might trigger your curiosity.
The Rijksmuseum is home to some of the world’s most famous artworks, including The Night Watch by Rembrandt van Rijn. Art lovers can literally spend hours wandering through countless artefacts. The majestic building is home to works from world notable Dutch painters such as Frans Hals, Jan Steen and many more.
This museum is dedicated to the life of Vincent van Gogh, one of the most influential painters The Netherlands has ever seen. Admire the world’s biggest collection artworks by the artist that cut off his own ear. Learn about his life, what inspired him, and how he became the icon he is today.
The Anne Frank House is the actual building where Anne Frank wrote her world-famous diary. Her diary tells the story of the horrors of WOII, through the eyes of a young Jewish girl growing up, hidden away from society. A fascinating but tragic story.
The best attraction of Amsterdam does not exist, everything is great on its own. There is something for every budget. Amsterdam is an easy city to spend a lot of money as there’s a lot to see and do. The attractions in Amsterdam can have a major impact on your travel budget, so choose wisely. Check out the entrance prices and discounts on this website to make the most out of your budget. We’re constantly working on adding new attractions and experiences.
Dive into the history of electronic and dance music in Amsterdam. Visit one of Amsterdam’s most unique and vital museums and learn about the beauty of one of the world’s most energetic music genres.
Visit the Ice bar and learn what it’s like to be stranded on the North Pole. Enjoy drinks in a glass made of ice, in a bar made of ice. A chilly, unique experience near the lively Rembrandt Square are with lots of possibilities for clubbing. Great start for a night out!
The House of Bols is a unique museum in Amsterdam that not only educates you on the history of liqueur and spirits but also lets you experience it yourself. This award-winning cocktail & genever experience is the perfect combination of heritage and history in a modern and beautifully designed environment.
As an online city guide, we always with the latest tips on upcoming events, that you shouldn’t miss out on! One of those upcoming events is the Amsterdam Light Festival (ALF). The 2023-2024 edition of the annual Amsterdam Light Festival will last 53 days, starting the 30th of November 2023, till the 21st of January 2024. Being yearly visitors ourselves, we’d highly recommend you to learn more about the annual festival and see if it’s something for you! Check out our blog about the Amsterdam Light Festival 2023-2024 for more information!
As Amsterdam is a popular tourist destination, there are always new things to do popping up. Below, you’ll find some of the latest attractions or activities in Amsterdam that have recently opened their doors. Have you been to Amsterdam before and looking for something new? Make sure to check out these latest attractions and activities!
In the Northern part of the city, a new museum has erected. STRAAT is, with 8000 squared metres of exhibition space, the world's biggest museum dedicated to street art. STRAAT features over 150 art works by international artists in this unconventional art scene.
If you're looking the learn more about the life of one of the Netherland's most iconic artists in a fun, exciting way, Rembrandts Experience is the place to go! In only 25 minutes you'll get some of the most interesting insights into the life of this world-renowned artist.
WONDR is the home of the coolest Instagram photos. WONDR Amsterdam is an artistic playground of 1200m² with fifteen interactive installation spaces. Have some fun in the world of WONDR!
Are you looking what to do in Amsterdam with your kids? There’s more than enough to do with kids in Amsterdam! A canal cruise, for instance, is a treat for the whole family. Watch the city passing you by from a boat. Fancy an interactive and educative museum? Visit BODY WORLDS, Micropia in Artis Zoo and on the Nemo Science Centre either. If you’re willing to travel a fair bit, Mardurodam is amazing with kids. Also the theme park Efteling is a great place. In this fantasy theme park, you’ll be surrounded by fairy tales. For a more elaborate overview also check out our blog post on things to do with kids in Amsterdam.
Visit the Amsterdam version of Ripley’s believe it or not. Meet the people who made it into the Guinness Book of World Records and hear the stories behind the rare pieces of art collected by world traveler Robert Ripley.
Escape the busy streets of Amsterdam and relax at the Amsterdam Zoo. The kids will be able to enjoy themselves in the petting zoo. Not the biggest zoo, but definitely charming and romantic!
Nemo Science Centre is a great combination of entertainment and education. Probably coolest and most interactive museum that you’ll ever see! There’s a lot to see and do for practically all ages.
Looking for things to do in Amsterdam for adults? Some things that Amsterdam is best known for are not exactly the places that you’d go to with the whole family. The unofficial slogan for the city used to be ‘Come for the weed, stay for the hookers’. Nowadays, Amsterdam still is home to a fair share of adult-only entertainment in specific places. Want to know more about this naughty part of the city? Make sure not to miss the following places and attractions.
Red Light District or ‘De Wallen’ in Dutch is home to one of the oldest professions in the world. Wander around the area and pay a visit to one of the peepshows! This much-discussed neighbourhood has been around since the 15th century.
Smoke some world famous pot and fly away. Interested to find out how Amsterdam became famous for its marihuana? Take a few hours to find out why in one of the coffeeshops.
Check out the most (in)famous erotic theatre in the Red Light District! Casa Rosso is the most iconic theatre in the area around since 1968. Sit back and enjoy one of the live 18+ shows on stage.
As you already might know Amsterdam is not cheap. However it doesn’t mean that you can’t have a good trip to Amsterdam if you’re on a budget. You might have to plan your trip a bit better, so you can find cheap alternatives. We will try and provide you with tips that save you money while still having an amazing experience. Take a look at our restaurants in Amsterdam page for instance, you’ll find really good meals for around €10,-. Also for a canal cruise there cheap alternatives, such as sailing a small boat yourself. A day in the park, sightseeing or in a coffeeshop don’t have to cost much either! Stay tuned as we will be adding new things to do in Amsterdam as much as we can!
During New Year’s Eve, there are many special NYE events in Amsterdam. Via AmsterdamNightlifeTicket you can get early bird tickets, which provide you with a great discount. Take a look at their site for inspiration for your New Year’s Eve party to celebrate 2023-2024!
Discover the best NYE parties here
Amsterdam is a beautiful city to discover by bike! From our experience, it’s the best way to get around in town. Discover Amsterdam’s highlights or go explore the lovely rural areas.
If you like mini golf, you’re going to love this indoor version! Escape the rain for a moment while you enjoy these golf holes, brought to life with the aid of UV-lights.
Although the city is small, there are many many things to see in Amsterdam. The capital of the Netherlands is a unique city in many kinds of ways and sure is different than most of the European cities you might have visited. From the beautiful parks to the wide variety of markets and the many exhibitions. Get yourself a bike, this is the number 1 form of transport in Amsterdam! A fantastic way to tour and discover the city and surrounding areas. Really want to see it all? Visit the A’DAM Lookout for a magnificent view of Amsterdam.
Roam around in the Amsterdam canal belt, a Unesco World Heritage site. The romantic canals and countless bridges will make you fall in love with the city. Will you discover the stunning architecture by foot, boat or bike?
Take a break from sightseeing and have a cosy picnic in one of the parks. You’ll save money that you would have spend on a restaurant.
There’s no better place to explore culture, than at a local market. Best of all it’s totally free! Take a stroll along the many stalls at the Albert Cuyp.
So what to do on a rainy day in Amsterdam? In The Netherlands, we have a lot of rain. Big chance that during your trip to Amsterdam you will have to deal with a little rainfall. However, with some smart planning, you can try and make sure that you have some indoor activities planned. Luckily there’s a lot to do in Amsterdam that doesn’t require good weather. Our advice is to take a good look at the Amsterdam weather forecast just before coming to Amsterdam. A very popular website among locals is buienradar.nl; you can check realtime radar images to see if there’s any precipitation coming up. Bad luck? Rain coming up? Make sure to check out the following activities:
Learn more about the naval history of The Netherlands and how a small country played a big role in trade.
If you’re looking to explore the city of Amsterdam but the weather isn’t helping out, consider this comfortable tour by bus and boat.
Moco stands for modern, contemporary art. The museum never seizes to amaze, with regularly new exhibitions featuring the latest artists. Among others the museum has one of the biggest collections of artworks by streetartist Banksy in the world!
Amsterdam is one of those cities with hidden secrets and unique things to do. A truly unique way of admiring all that Amsterdam has to offer is on a private canal cruise that can be tailored to your wishes. Want to visit the former brewery of a world-famous beer? Go visit the Heineken Experience. Want to check out a bar which is completely made out of ice? Go visit the Icebar. And not only the attractions of Amsterdam are unique and one of a kind, think about the history which is displayed in many of Amsterdam’s famous museums.
Visit the only floating animal shelter in the world! A must-do for any cat friend. Visiting the Poezenboot is completely free of charge, but a donation is appreciated.
Want to see a hidden church in an attic? Museum Ons' Lieve Heer Op Solder is perfect for you. Find the one of the oldest museums in the heart of the city centre in the wellknown Red Light District.
Learn about a small, fringe minority of the Dutch people who were brave enough to put up a fight against the Nazi-regime. A valuable lesson to learn for both young and old!
During your stay in Amsterdam, you surely want to explore different kind of areas. Get a taste of this vibrant city. But where to go in Amsterdam? The variety of neighbourhoods, shops and different spots is wild. Therefore, if you like exploring, Amsterdam suits you well. Go shopping in the Nine Streets, visit all kinds of museums at Museumplein and take a rest in a so called Dutch ‘hofje’.
Begijnhof Amsterdam is an oasis of peace in the busy Amsterdam City centre. It is one of the oldest ‘hofjes’ in Amsterdam, which is a Dutch word for a courtyard with almshouses around it.
When you’re in Amsterdam to shop, you shop untill you drop it in the Nine Streets, also known as 9 Straatjes. This unique area consisting of nine streets can be found in between the canals and the famous Dam Square.
Museumplein, or Museum Square, is the place to be for museum lovers or people who just want to enjoy the sun. The Square, which feels like a park, contains all best museums of Amsterdam. Museumplein is a must visit.
Don’t get us wrong, we love Amsterdam. However, there’s much more to see and do in the Netherlands! The fact that the country is so small, makes it really easy to travel around. There are other towns and cities with a completely different atmosphere to explore within less than an hour by public transport. What about Leiden, Muiden, Volendam and Weesp? You can even flee the busy city by bike and explore these hidden secrets surrounding Amsterdam. Thus we strongly recommend reserving at least one day for a day trip from Amsterdam.
Within twenty minutes from Amsterdam Central Station, you’ll find the beautiful city Haarlem after which Harlem in New York was named.
Giethoorn is The Venice of the Netherlands. The watervillage is known for its bridges, waterways, and punts. It is a great day trip!
It is rather touristy, but the traditional Dutch Windmills and countryside are priceless here. Pretty pictures guaranteed!
Thingstodoinamsterdam.com was founded by two locals who grew up in and around Amsterdam. The city has no secrets for them. Therefore they decided to make this website to be your local city guide so you don’t miss out on anything. Read more on the page about thingstodoinamsterdam.com.
Amsterdam is located in the Netherlands, which a lot of people also refer to as Holland. It is located in the North Holland province on the West side of the country. ‘Mokum’, as locals like to call Amsterdam, is easy to reach as the public transport is great and the airport Schiphol is one of the biggest in Europe.
In one day you can already see a lot of the city as it is not as big as other European cities. You can just bike or walk everywhere. In general we do advise you to visit Amsterdam for 2 – 4 days. In this timeframe you can visit almost everything and enjoy the city.
We can already tell you: Amsterdam is a great city for fun and exploring culture every day of the year. Of course, on some days there might be rain, but there are still plenty of things to do with rain. To be honest, there is no answer for the best time to visit — it really depends on what experience you want to have during your trip.
Amsterdam is known for the beautiful canals, a great collection in many museums, the tons of bicycles and its liberal laws on drugs and prostitution. Want to know more about Amsterdam? Explore our website, we will tell you everything you need to know about this vibrant city.
The people of the Netherlands speak Dutch. But don’t worry, nearly everyone can speak English and some even speak more languages as Spanish, German, and French are taught from a very young age.
Amsterdam is located in the Netherlands, a small country in the North of Europe. The Netherlands is located north of Belgium and West of Germany. In the West, you’ll find the North Sea, which separates the Netherlands from the United Kingdom.
Looking for even more information on Amsterdam and what’s going on in the city? Make sure to also check out our blogposts on Amsterdam. You can view our latest 3 posts below. We regularly update our blog with news, and things to do in the city of Amsterdam.
