When someone says Amsterdam what comes to mind? Do you think tulips? Van Gough? Or maybe “coffee shops” or even the red-light district. No matter what comes to mind, one thing is very clear: Amsterdam has OPTIONS for EVERYONE!
We recently had a chance to explore this eclectic city and we found we were overwhelmed with options. It was a full-time job trying to figure out what to do in the limited time that we had in the city.
The Good News
- Amsterdam is very visitor friendly: you can rent a bike, use their public transport, or even use UBER to easily navigate the city
- Most of these activities are close in proximity to each other so you don’t have to worry about running around the city to cover everything
- You can add Amsterdam to your existing Europe itinerary and get a GREAT price on tickets (we paid around $155 USD per person for roundtrip tickets from Paris to Amsterdam)
Our Favorite Activities
Obviously, there are a LOT of options and these are just a few. We wanted to give you a nice mix of culture, food and fun. To do all of these activities and really enjoy each of them ideally you should have 2 full days in the city, if not then rank the ones you like the most and tackle those. We know, we know, its going to be hard to choose 😊
1. Hang out at Dam Square
Dam Square is the center of the city. It is where the main palace is located and you could arguable say its the heart of this town. From Dam Square you can walk to many great restaurants, or even stroll over to the famed red-light district there are many major hotels as well as shopping plazas
2. Tour the Royal Palace Amsterdam
While reservations are now required, due to Covid, this palace is worth the effort. Compared to other palaces, it’s not huge (like Versailles, which needs an entire day IMO) and it is a nice relaxing way to spend an hour or so basking in the history of the royal family as well as salivating over the stunning architecture and art. The tickets are 10 Euros per adult and everyone 18 and under is FREE (reservations are still required for 18 and under)
*Fun Fact: The palace is still a “working palace”; that means when the royal family is visiting or when they have state visitors this palace is closed to the public.
You can find out the most recent information about Palace timings and events as well as book your tickets here.
3. Visit a Museum (or 2)
Amsterdam is home to a whopping 50 Museums! It is not a stretch to say there is literally something for everyone. Listed below are just a few of our personal favorites.
Rijksmuseum
Also known as The Museum of the Netherlands. A massive museum dedicated to showcasing the art, history, as well as work of various Dutch artist. There are over 8,000 pieces that are on display (the museum has over a million pieces in its collection and archives) It’s also nice to note that this museum is close to the Van Gogh Museum so you can enjoy both without having to trek across the city 😊 The tickets are 19.00 Euros per adult and everyone 18 and under is FREE (we LOVE the word free when we are on vacation, more money to spend on snacks and goodies) for more information about the timings as well as current exhibits check out their website
Van Gogh Museum
Housing the largest collection of the world-famous artist. With over 200 paintings, 500 drawings and a whopping 750 letters, you will leave knowing a bit more about the man himself. This museum gets busy and we recommend that you be prepared to wait and bring your imagination and your patience when coming to this museum😊. The price of admission is 19.00 Euros per person. You must book your tickets and pay online. To find out what is on display as well as to book your tickets you can check out their website
Ann Frank House
From a historical and humanitarian aspect, this museum has a deeper place in our hearts. The house where Ann Frank and her family hid during the Nazi occupation is a solemn building. You can see her famous diary as well as the staircase that shielded the family’s home from the Nazi’s.
The entire experience is full of deep respect as well as a deep sense of loss. It is VERY important that you pre-book and purchase your tickets.
The organization releases a limited number of tickets and you should book WELL in advance. Because this museum is on soo many people’s itinerary, they are very strict about punctuality as well as overall protocols. The cost for adult tickets is 12.50 Euros and 6.50 Euros for children. Photography is not allowed inside and you cannot buy tickets at the door.
To book your tickets and find out more about the museum itself you can visit their official site
Rembrandt House Museum
Everyone has heard of the famous Rembrandt. His paintings are some of the most valuable in the world. What you may not know is he died in poverty. He had a very colorful and turbulent life and the best way to fully appreciate all of his accomplishments is to take a stroll into the place he called home for 17 years.
The house went under a massive renovation to take it back to its’ style and design that was authentic to the time Rembrandt was in residence. The tickets for this museum are also available online only and with prior reservation due to the current Corona Virus protocols.
The price for admission is 14.00 Euros per adult and 10.00 Euros for Students. To plan your visit and reserve your time slot go to their official site
4. Visit the Albert Cyup Market
Originally this market was where the immigrants would go to find exotic fruits and veggies, nowadays you will find lots of diverse stalls selling everything from Swedish Meatballs to Lumpia (we were SUPER excited to see Lumpia, soo good). We found some local artist and managed to purchase a great etching of the canals.
You can buy local trinkets as well as souvenirs. Take some time out and enjoy the walk along one of the largest and most popular markets in the Netherlands. You will see vendors almost anything and everything.
The market is open 6 days a week and can get crowded. Check out their website to find out if there are any events or special activities when you are planning to visit.
*Pro Tip– Go with an empty stomach and grab lunch from the local vendors. Also, if you are buying souvenirs, don’t be afraid to bargain 😊
5. Eat Stroopwafels
DO NOT leave Amsterdam without enjoying these amazing cookies. What are they? Picture a thin, crispy, sweet, and if your lucky, warm, waffle cookie sandwich with delicious caramel in the center. Is your mouthwatering?
Excellent.
Our Job here is done.
Go Wafel. Seriously.
While you are visiting the Albert Cyup Market, you will find a few stalls that are making these delicious cookies hot and fresh. **Bonus points if you bring some (read a lot) back home.
6. Enjoy some Sweet Treats
Chocolate Covered Strawberries or even Nutella Covered Strawberries (fruit plus Nutella = a balanced meal in our books, its vacation). There are cafes (not to be mistake for “coffee shops” or weed bars) that sell all sorts of sweet treats. We ended up at PolaBerry, a small shop that looked like a fairy tale. The desserts we enjoyed not only looked great but were delicious as well.
7. Take a Canal Cruise
If you are short on time or heck, even if you have ample time. The city is famous for its canals and honestly it is the BEST way to see the city. There are a LOT of canal tours available and they are super flexible in terms of timings. This is a super relaxing way to enjoy the city views.
Almost all the boat tours have audio guides in various languages, so you can sit back and absorb the history of the city while the boat glides through the canals.
*note: Compared to other boat tours in other cities, these boats are lower and covered. It took us a minute to adjust as we had just come from Paris where the boat used in the tours were higher up and they had an open area for visitors to stand or sit outdoors.
8. Enjoy Some Local Seafood Delicacies
With the city being a port for many years, you can only imagine how delicious the sea food offerings are. We found this amazing place called The Sea Food Bar and even though there was an hour and a half wait, it was WORTH IT. Till date, Aamir and I both swear that THIS was some of the BEST seafood we have ever eaten. Go here, you will thank us later.** (not a paid or sponsored endorsement. The food was just mouthwatering)
9. Visit Zaanse Schanse
This picturesque town is a 40-minute car ride from Amsterdam and you feel like you are in another WORLD. The windmills, the greenery, even the shops are a tribute to the simpler times. We had the most relaxing time in this quaint town and honestly, we didn’t want to go back into the city. (we will have a dedicated post just for this town soon! Stay tuned)
10. Rent a Bike and Enjoy the City Like a Local
Okay so the locals take their bike riding VERRY seriously, they have designated bike lanes and the move fast!! It’s a great way to see the city and you have the added advantage of being able to go at your pace versus going on a prescheduled bus tour.
*Word of Advice: This is NOT the city to play around with bikes, if you are not comfortable riding a bike then maybe give this activity a pass.
11. Walk Through the Red-light district
Okay, so this is not very family friendly, BUT it is a historic district and even though we didn’t want to partake in the erm services offered, both of us were just curious. This is the first district where the world’s oldest profession is protected and the ladies are taxed. Providing them with legal protection as well as governing laws. It was, as expected PACKED. You can expect to see many tall narrow buildings with window fronts and ladies in each window. Personally, we both felt a sense of sadness at the fact that there are thousands of people walking by the windows just gawking (that can’t be fun for anyone).
*Caution– DO NOT take pictures of the ladies. Seriously. Also, in case you are like us and are curious but also a little worried, there are PLENTY of police officers and security. Never Once did we feel unsafe.
Final Thoughts
It doesn’t matter if you are planning a long stay or even a weekend getaway, there are PLENTY or activities that will keep you busy and make you fall in love with this vibrant, eclectic city. The streets are great to just walk through and absorb the energy and vibe of the city. We hope everyone has a chance to experience these activities first hand and enjoys them just as much as we did!
53 Comments
I loved Amsterdam so much! Your guide covers a lot of the things I did but sadly I didn’t get to go to the Anne Frank house because the line was out the door and around the corner. I also didn’t get to experience the Albert Cyup Market so I am definitely putting this on my list for next time I go! And yes, eat as many stroopwafels as you possibly can – they are amazing!
We are glad you found the post covered a lot, we felt like there is soo much to do in Amsterdam that it’s hard to make a list! The Anne Frank house is the one mueseum that is the booked wayy in advance. Fingers crossed next time you are in the city you get a chance to experience it as well as the market. Stroopwafels.. yummmmm 🙂
Remarkable place to visit
It was an absolutely beautiful city. You would love all the Tulips and wonderful streets to walk around and explore
Stroopwaffles are definately on my list! I never think of Amsterdam Canal Cruises but it looks like a great options. I will add it to my next intineray, right after musueam, Dam Square, and the market! I plan to bike around Amesterdam but it good to know that Uber is an option!
The cruises are a great option if you are pressed for time and want to see the city. For us it was a little underwhelming compared to the river cruises in Paris but still a nice way to relax for 1.5 hours. Biking is super fun on those streets for sure but yes Uber was our friend for sure 🙂
Amazing places to visit and enjoy the food
It is a wonderful place full of fun places to visit and yes the food is absolutely delicious!
Amsterdam is definitely on our list of places to re-visit. One day was not enough. I love when the inside of palaces are open to tour so would definitely want to tour the Royal Palace. I would love to learn more about the art of Dutch artists at the museum. Although I would not try to do both this and the Van Gogh Museum on the same day. Since I have never tried a stroopwafel, that would be something we would try. I would want caramel but hubby wants chocolate! A tasty way to refresh my energy after a long day touring.
We were there for 3 days and now we wish we would have stayed longer. The food really is outstanding and you have to go back! If nothing else go back for the Stroopwafels!!
Man there is so much I would love to do there! Zaanse Schanse looks so cute. Visiting the Anne Frank museum is a must. I remember reading the Diary of Anne Frank when I was in middle school. It is such an important piece of history and I imagining visiting the home would be such a powerful experience.
Oh you have noo idea, we havent even scratched the surface! The Anne Frank House was a sobering place and for humanitarian purposes we feel it is a must. We are glad you enjoyed the post and stay tuned for a dedicated post for Zaanse Schanse 🙂
I missed out the chance of visiting Amsterdam when I was in the UK, and now with things how they are, I’ve got absolutely no idea at all, as to when I’ll be able to tick Amsterdam off my list. I know Amsterdam has a lot of stuff to do, but I guess, my ideal trip to Amsterdam would revolve around exploring the city on a cycle, probably hopping on some canal boat tours, checking out some coffee shops, and of course hogging on the street food, including the waffles.
It really is an unfortunate situation right now, BUT the good thing is we can all use this time to get our bucket list ready and hopefully we will all be back out in the world soon enough 🙂
Now I feel like a Stroopwafel! I would love to go back to Amsterdam and explore this city again.
Stroopwafels and even the chocolate covered strawberries… mann.. our mouthes are watering. We regret that we didn’t explore more. It really is one of those cities that always has something going on.
We are right there with youu!! They are sooo delicious. They are also deceptively light so you can really inhale more than one 🙂
I love Amsterdam and have done most of these. Need to go back on a warm day so I can do the river cruise. Made so many great memories my first time in Amsterdam 🙂
We agree about the weather 100%. We were there in March and it was chilly. Imagine being able to go in May during Tulip season!!! bliss 🙂
I can’t wait to come to Amsterdam! Our trip has now been pushed back (thanks Covid) but I’m really wanting Stroopwafels NOW! Loving the beautiful architecture!
UGHHH Covidd (ruining all of our wanderlust!!) but yes, Amsterdam will be worth it when you go. Bringg loottsss of Stroopwafels 🙂
In all the cities that I have visited in Europe, Amsterdam has been my favorite and for pretty much the same reasons that you have cited. Sadly I did not get enough time to explore it all. One of my biggest regrets is not being able to see the Anne Frank Museum. And I agree, the best way to see the place is by renting a bike and taking in all the sights.
Its great to see other travelers that have had a great experience here as well. We tried to come up with a list of activities that covers a lot of bases 🙂
Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities! This is a great list. I really loved visiting Zaans Schaanse.
We didnt want to leave Zaanse Schaanse … it was just such a relaxing and chilled out place. They have done such a great job preserving all the buildings. We went at towards the end of a long overall trip and it was a great way to de-compress
This looks so great. I would love to tour the palace and, of course, Anne Frank House. Let’s not talk about those stroopwafels–they look amazing!!
The Anne Frank house is one of the harder places to get tickets because they book out soo fast 🙁 Fingers crossed you get a chance to go again and experience it.
Amsterdam was on my list to visit this year but I don’t think I’ll get there now unfortunately. Fingers crossed I’ll get there next year instead! A canal cruise sounds like a lovely way to see the city! I’d love to visit the Anne Frank House and the Rembrandt House Museum. Also, those sweet treats look amazing! Thanks for the wonderful guide!
We can totally relate! We had soo many travel plans this year too 🙁 Its been a bummer for sure, but on the bright side we are using this time to do some super in depth research and create some great itineraries 🙂
I was in Amsterdam a few years ago and did a couple of things like the canal cruise 🙂 Unfortunately we didn’t go to Zaanse Schanse.
Zaanse Schanse was a last minute addition for us as well, but boy, was it worth it 🙂 Hopefully next time you are in the city you get a chance to explore 🙂
Amsterdam is a guy which is as fun to visit the first time or whether you been there a few times. I have had the chance to visit the city on more than 3 occasions yet there is always so much to do and see in this city. I simply love to sit in Dam Square and people watch and spend a evening. The Ann Frank museum is a must if you love literature . Thanks for sharing and bringing back memories.
Nice! We are glad that this post braught back memories 🙂
I’ve always wanted to stay longer in Amsterdam. But I only had a layover there on my way to Spain. So sad!
That’s a bummer!! Fingers crossed next time you have more time to stay and explore. You can totally do a weekend if you don’t have a lott of time and still see a lot of the city 🙂
I love Amsterdam! It’s such a beautiful place 🙂 I only been there for 2 days but definitely needs to come again and explore more. Thank you for sharing!
Oh for sure!! We were there for 3 days and now we wish we could go back at least for a weekend again 🙂
Wow Amsterdam is definitely on our bucket list and your things to do while there sound amazing! So much to see do (and most importantly eat) while visiting. Loved your photos and thanks for sharing!
We are soo glad (and not gonna lie, a little hungry) that you found the post informative 🙂
I love Amsterdam. It is one of my favorite places in the world though I haven’t visited Rijksmuseum yet. Thank you for sharing about it. Will make sure to drop by during our next tri. Happy to know kids are free. 🙂
It is always nice when the little ones are free, lord knows we know it can add up when you are travelling and you want to do a bunch of activities 🙂
Amsterdam is such a great city. It offers so much for travelers. I so want to visit this city for museums and those walking tours. Red light District is also somewhere I wish to visit. It’s a great guide for the first time traveler to the city.
oh yayy!! we are soo glad you found this post informative 🙂 There really is soo much to do in this vibrant city, you will have a great time 🙂
I love Amsterdam. Stroopwaffles are my favorite. Visiting the Anne Frank House was such a haunting expereience.
The Anne Frank house was one of the saddest but most meaningful experiences thats for sure. We are craving stroopwafels as well.
Amsterdam is on my bucket list since forever, and for some reason it never wants to work out… I’m hoping it will do soon, as it’s magical. Great post!
Fingers crossed you get there safely soon! Its a great city to add on to an existing itinerary. We added it to our Paris trip because inter Euro travel is soo easy!
Amsterdam has never been in my top ten Europe list but your post has changed that. Thank you for this wonderful post. Can’t wait to try some of the yummy things listed.
We were surprised at how much we enjoyed the city too! And honestly, there are soo many activities that we still have to experience! The food was really delicious and we would go back for the desserts any day of the week.
I can’t wait to visit Amsterdam! The first thing I want to do is visit Zaanse Schanse 🙂 I can’t wait to try everything you included in your guide!
You will have soo much fun! Get ready to eat your heart out!! Make sure to pack a sweater or light jacket at Zaanse Schanse gets windy!!
Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.Amsterdam is now on my bucketlist.
Great! Glad we were able to inspire you.