The 10 best things to do in Amsterdam
All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The Dutch capital is a smorgasbord of Golden Age delights, from its centuries-old gabled houses to its picturesque canals to its art museums brimming with 17th-century masterpieces. There are must-dos for any first-time visitor: a canal cruise stops at the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, and drinks in a venerable brown cafe. After you’ve ticked those essential items off your list, it’s time to dig a bit deeper. Check out the wonderfully diverse neighbourhoods just outside the city centre: hop the ferry to the reinvigorated NDSM Wharf, browse the boutiques of trendy De Pijp, or venture to the lively, multi-cultural Amsterdam Oost. By day, relax in one of Amsterdam’s many beautiful parks before gearing up to explore the city’s vibrant nightlife. Read on to make the most of your trip with our favourite things to do in Amsterdam.
Can you do Amsterdam in 3 days?
Yes. You can explore nearly all of the Amsterdam attractions in three days, from visiting the city's ‘Big Three’ museums to enjoying a canal cruise. If you want to expand your horizons, we recommend spending an extra day or two in the city to explore Amsterdam's off-the-beaten path activities or even indulge in a day trip to Rotterdam.
Alamy1. Visit the ‘Big Three’ museums
Everything you’ve heard about Amsterdam’s famous trio of art museums is true – they are without a doubt among the best in the world. Known as the Big Three, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum all sit alongside the grassy expanse of Museumplein. The largest museum in the Netherlands, the Rijksmuseum spans 800 years of art history and houses more than one million objects, but most come for the phenomenal collection of Dutch Golden Age paintings in the Gallery of Honour. Beneath the arched ceiling of this long hall hang masterpieces by Vermeer, Frans Hals, and Rembrandt, whose enormous painting The Night Watch takes pride of place at the very end. An essential visit for any van Gogh fan, the Van Gogh Museum houses the world’s largest collection of his work, including iconic paintings like The Potato Eaters, The Bedroom, and one of his many Sunflowers, as well as hundreds of his sketches and etchings. For modern and contemporary art and design lovers, the Stedelijk Museum showcases a wide range of works in its permanent collection, including pieces by Chagall, Mondrian, Max Ernst, El Anatsui, and Steve McQueen, as well as furniture designs by Le Corbusier and Gerrit Rietveld. Temporary exhibits are uniformly excellent and well worth checking out.
Addresses: Rijksmuseum, Museumstraat 1, 1071; Van Gogh Museum, Museumplein 6, 1071; Stedelijk Museum, Museumplein 10, 1071
Alamy2. Cosy up in a brown cafe
Amsterdam’s version of the classic British pub, brown cafes (also known as brown bars) have served as neighbourhood watering holes for centuries. Sample local beer, jenever (Dutch gin) and regional liqueurs while soaking in the historic atmosphere of these dimly lit, wood-lined haunts. In the Red Light District, squeeze into one of the handful of tables at the pocket-sized Proeflokaal de Ooievaar, which dates back to 1782, and choose from a vast array of liqueurs and jenevers or one of six beers on tap. Around the corner, in a building dating from the 15th century, In’t Aepjen (which translates to “In the Monkeys”) is small in size but big in character, with statues, oil paintings, and vintage posters of monkeys everywhere you look. A short stroll from Dam Square, the minuscule Cafe de Dokter, founded in 1798, packs plenty of personality into its 18 square metres, with a jumble of antique chandeliers, clocks, and birdcages. Along with beer and wine, there’s a nice selection of whiskies, plus a cool jazz soundtrack.
Addresses: Proeflokaal de Ooievaar, Sint Olofspoort 1, 1012; In’t Aepjen, Zeedijk 1, 1012; Cafe de Dokter, Rozenboomsteeg 4, 1012
Getty Images3. Explore the city’s most diverse market
Since 1910, the Dappermarkt has served the Oost district, now one of the most vibrant, culturally diverse neighbourhoods in the city. Among the 200-plus stalls, you’ll find flowers, fresh fish, and fruit and veg, plus a huge range of specialty foods, spices, and colourful textiles from Turkey, Suriname, Morocco, and the Middle East – reflecting the area’s melting pot of nationalities. There are also plenty of Dutch products on offer, from stroopwafels to Gouda cheese. Prices here are much cheaper than what you’ll find at other markets, making it worth the short trip east. The Dappermarkt is open every day except Sunday.
Alamy4. Catch a concert at a legendary venue
Bowie, Prince, The Sex Pistols and Lady Gaga: these are just a few of the music gods who’ve performed at Paradiso, which opened in 1968 in a converted 19th-century church. Vestiges of its ecclesiastical past remain in the main performance space: a former church hall with enormous stained-glass windows behind the stage and two levels of balconies that allow for optimal viewing. The capacity is 1,500 people in the main hall, so concerts here have a wonderfully intimate vibe. A smaller, 250-person hall upstairs features eclectic programming and emerging acts, and the basement cafe also hosts regular live gigs.
Getty Images5. Have a wander in Vondelpark
An oasis of green in the bustling city centre, Vondelpark is Amsterdam’s largest and most popular public park. Its 47 hectares are awash with lawns, trees, lakes, ponds, and gardens, and crisscrossed with walking and biking paths. In summer, people flock here in droves: to see free performances at its Open Air Theatre or chill with a drink on one of the many waterside terraces. You can dine year-round at No Rules Vondelpark, set in a stately landmarked stone building with fabulous park views.
Addresses: Vondelpark Open Air Theatre, Vondelpark 5a, 1071; No Rules Vondelpark, Vondelpark 3, 1071
Alamy6. Go boutique shopping in De Pijp
As the famous Nine Streets shopping district becomes more commercialised, in-the-know fashionistas are heading to the boutique-lined Gerard Doustraat in hip De Pijp. There’s a smattering of big Amsterdam brands like Scotch & Soda and Love Stories, but most are independent stores stocking emerging local and international labels. At Verse, shop for ethical fashion and accessories, including vegan streetwear from the Embassy of Bricks and Logs and Amsterdam’s Maium, which crafts raincoats from recycled plastic. The concept store Anna + Nina carries their own branded merch, from affordable jewellery to colourful knitwear and home goods. For trendy, well-priced fashion mixed with smart home accessories, Felice Home of Brands is your go-to, or splurge at Goosecraft, specialising in edgy leather and suede jackets and pants for men and women. Stylish guys can check out Wahts for sporty-chic comfort wear and cool suede trainers, while De Kleine Parade stocks cute clothing and toys for newborns and kids.
Addresses: Verse, Gerard Doustraat 84, 1072; Anna + Nina, Gerard Doustraat 94, 1072; Felice Home of Brands, Gerard Doustraat 88HS, 1072; Goosecraft, Gerard Doustraat 78HS, 1072; Wahts, Gerard Doustraat 75, 1072; De Kleine Parade, Gerard Doustraat 142
Getty Images7. Get your groove on in the world’s first EDM museum
It’s fitting that the world’s first museum devoted to electronic dance music, Our House, is located in a country that spawned some of the world’s biggest DJs: Armin van Buuren, Afrojack, and Tiësto, to name just a few. This is a deep dive into the EDM culture, tracing the rise of the genre through documentary videos and memorabilia – check out the Daft Punk helmet! – and displaying the high-tech equipment used by some of the biggest performers in the business. Interactive exhibits let you mix tracks on drum machines, keyboards, turntables, and an enormous analogue sequencer. It culminates in a huge immersive 4D sound and light show, complete with a hydraulic dance floor, lasers, smoke, confetti and music from DJ legends.
Address: Amstelstraat 24, 1017
8. Cruise the canals in luxury
Amsterdam’s UNESCO-listed canal belt is particularly magical when viewed from the water, as you glide past 17th-century gabled houses and beneath iconic bridges. Skip the typical tourist canal cruises and sail in style on a 1909 saloon boat owned by the five-star Pulitzer Amsterdam – and no, you need not be a hotel guest to hop aboard. Seating just 12 people, the Tourist is a beauty: all polished teak and gleaming brass, with leather seats, a marble-topped bar, and original bevelled-glass windows. You can join a tour (€39 per person) or book a private cruise and add luxe touches like champagne or a picnic lunch (from €200). Even Winston Churchill was a fan: he toured the canals on this very boat in 1946.
Address: In front of the Pulitzer Amsterdam, Prinsengracht 323, 1016
Alamy9. Ferry to waterfront hotspot NDSM-Wharf
Set on the banks of the River IJ in Amsterdam Noord, the former shipyard of NDSM-Wharf has transformed into the city’s hottest cultural hub, with repurposed industrial buildings housing hip waterfront hangouts, edgy art spaces, and fab vintage shopping. Getting here is a breeze: hop the ferry from behind Centraal Station for the free 15-minute ride.
Graffiti fans can get their fix at STRAAT, one of the world’s largest street art museums, located in a massive old ship-welding warehouse. Inside, there’s a 150-strong collection of colourful works of different styles and techniques by established and emerging talents, while enormous murals – including Eduardo Kobra’s famous portrait of a smiling Anne Frank – cover the building’s façade.
Uncover all manner of retro treasures – from mid-century furniture to antique typewriters to vintage vinyl – at design mecca Neef Louis, set inside a vast 1,500-square-metre hangar. At IJ-Hallen, Europe’s biggest flea market, you can rummage through 500-plus indoor/outdoor stalls packed with second-hand clothing, home goods, toys, and assorted knick-knacks; the market takes place one or two weekends a month and has a small entry fee.
For casual cocktails and organic bites, head to Pllek, an airy, industrial-chic waterfront spot constructed entirely from recycled shipping containers. On summer evenings, relax with a drink in hand and your toes in the sand at its urban beach; on chilly nights, gather around its toasty bonfire that burns until the wee hours. Specialising in wood-fire-grilled dishes, the newly opened Helling 7, perched atop an old shipyard slipway, features spectacular views of the River IJ through floor-to-ceiling windows or out on the sprawling dockside terrace.
Addresses: STRAAT, NDSM-Plein 1, 1033; Neef Louis, Papaverweg 46, 1032; IJ-Hallen, NDSM-Plein 1, 1033; Pllek, T.T. Neveritaweg 59, 1033; Helling 7, T.T. Melissaweg 57, 1033
Alamy10. See a film in a historic theatre
The Koninklijk Theater Tuschinski opened in 1921, in a monumental Art Deco-meets-Art Nouveau building replete with two towers and an intricately carved stone façade decorated with stained-glass windows. Today, the historic movie palace is owned by Pathé and has been divided into six theatres, but fortunately, it hasn’t lost any of its former glory. A refurbishment restored many of the original design elements, including the colourfully woven carpet, ornate wall paintings, and bronze and marble accents in the impressive foyer. But it’s the main auditorium (Grote Zaal, or Great Hall) that truly wows with its baroque grandeur: soaring ceilings, historic murals, and balconies with plush red-velvet seats that wouldn’t look out of place in a royal opera house. A recent addition, the slickly contemporary Bar Abraham (named after the theatre’s founder, Abraham Tuschinski) serves cinema-inspired cocktails and small bites before or after the show. All films are screened in their original version with Dutch subtitles.
Address: Reguliersbreestraat 26-34, 1017 CN Amsterdam, Netherlands