Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is known for its beautiful canals, its reputation as a biking city, and of course, for the legal marijuana culture and red light district. It’s a pretty small city, which makes it super easy to explore on foot or by bike.
Despite its size, Amsterdam is full of history, with plenty of monuments and museums to visit. Whether you’re into art, history, or just soaking up the atmosphere, there’s a lot to discover!
What you need to know
- Rent a bike to travel trhough the city
- Almost everyone speak English
- Museum entrances are very expensive! I higly recommend getting a city pass.
- Take multiday ticket for public transport you do not have any city pass
City pass
There different type of City pass, with the most popular being I Amsterdam City Card. Starting with 65€ for one day, you get free entrance to over 70 museums and attractions, plus a canal cruise and free public transport. However it does not include Van Gohg museum.
The other one is Amsterdam City Pass. For 44€ you have acces to Van Gohg museum and Rijksmuseum, plus a canal cruise and a free transfer from the airport. You will also get 10% discuount in most of the other museums.
Place de Dam and Royal palace
Museum
Amasterdam counts a high number of museum, but which one to do? Here is a list of the main one you should definetly check out
- Moco Museum: Street are modern museum from artist like Banksy, Warhol, and Basquiat.
- Amsterdam Museum: history and cultre of Amsterdam itself.
- Jewish Historical Museum and Holocaust Memorial: History about the jew history especially from WWII.
- Stedelijk Museum: If you like modern and contemporary art and design then it’s where to go.
- Our Lord in the Attic Museum: Located in the oldest part of the city, learn the story about the 17th century.
- National Maritime Museum: Step out of the art galleries and dive into a true maritime atmosphere.
The main three of the city being, Van Gohg museum, Anne Frank House and Rijskmuseum.
Van Gogh Museum
One of the most visited museums in Amsterdam! The Van Gogh Museum holds the world’s largest collection of works by the famous artist Vincent van Gogh. It’s free for visitors under 18 and €19 for adults if you don’t have a pass. Make sure to reserve your ticket online in advance, as time slots fill up quickly!
Anne Frank House
This museum is on the banks of Prinsengracht, one of the main canals in the city. Anne Frank was a Dutch Jewish teen girl who hid with her family during World War II to escape the Nazis. A memorable and emotional place!
Some guided tours are organized, but you can also buy your ticket online, which I highly recommend, the line can be very long.
Rijksmuseum
This is the most important museum in the country! Inside, you’ll find a vast art collection from the Dutch Golden Age, featuring famous painters like Rembrandt and Vermeer. The museum has over 200 exhibition rooms and even an incredible library that’s worth checking out. Reserve your ticket online! You’ll be able to skip the line and save a lot of time.
Right outside the museum, you’ll also spot the famous “I Amsterdam” sign, a popular photo spot so don’t forget to take a picture!
Royal Palace
The Royal Palace, also called Paleis op de Dam, is hard to miss, it’s located right on Dam Square, the main square in Amsterdam. You can simply admire it from the outside, as it’s already a pretty impressive building, but if you’re curious, you can also visit the inside, just make sure to get a ticket.
Canal Cruise
Amsterdam is surrounded by canals, so take a break to explore the city from a different perspective and learn about its history at the same time. The canals are so narrow that boats can barely fit through in some places, it’s pretty impressive to see up close!
You can also opt for a canoe ride on the canals if you prefer something more active and quiet. It’s a fun and different way to explore the city at your own pace.
Red Light District
This district is one of the oldest in the city. Known for its vitrine and coffee shop, it is the neighborhood that has the most beautiful churches in the city. The best time to go there is at night to admire the streets enlightened by the red lights.
Vondelpark and Keukenhof
Vondelpark is the biggest park in the city, a perfect place to take a break and relax in a nice green space during your visit.
If you’re visiting in spring, don’t miss Keukenhof, the famous tulip garden just outside Amsterdam. The best time to go is April, but make sure to check if it’s tulip season before planning your trip!
Market
This is the Waterlooplein Market, a very nice and large flea market in Amsterdam’s city center. You’ll find all kinds of stuff here, especially vintage clothes, antiques, jewelry, and more. The market is open Monday through Saturday from about 9:30 am to 6 pm
One day excursion to the windmill
The Netherlands is known for Amsterdam, of course, but you can’t visit the country without seeing some of its famous windmills outside the city. Take a day to explore the Dutch countryside and its many traditional windmills, there are over 1,000 across the country!
I really recommend doing an excursion that not only takes you through the windmill areas but also includes a visit to a very cute island village. You’ll get to see how they make their famous wooden shoes and learn more about Dutch traditions along the way.
