In a nutshell
- We’ll show you 11 activities in Amsterdam that are truly great — from classic highlights to lesser-known experiences alongside the top Amsterdam attractions.
- From active to relaxed to fun things to do in the evening, there’s something here for every type of traveler.
- Our personal favorites are the canal cruise, the A’dam Lookout, and Amsterdam’s Chinatown.
- For families with kids, we recommend the Amsterdam Zoo and a pedal boat canal tour as top kid-friendly activities in Amsterdam. Also check out our article Amsterdam with Kids.
Take a Canal Cruise
What do you need to know? A canal cruise is THE activity in Amsterdam, full stop. These boat tours are seriously popular, so you’ll find all kinds of operators and docks throughout the city center ready to take you out on the water.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! You simply have to see Amsterdam from the canals at least once — otherwise, can you really say you’ve been there? The city looks genuinely different from this perspective. And you get to do your sightseeing while sitting down. We love it!
Our tip: Our favorite is the Open Boat Tour through Amsterdam. Check out our Amsterdam Open Boat Tour review for all the details.
Book an Amsterdam canal cruise online
Also read:
Swing on the A'dam Lookout
What do you need to know? The A’dam Lookout is a 360° sky deck on a 22-story building at Amsterdam’s waterfront. The cool part: it’s not just an observation deck — it also has a restaurant and the highest swing in Europe! You’ll swing 100 meters above the city, right over the edge of the rooftop.
Is it worth it? Totally! The A’dam Lookout is an unforgettable experience — even the elevator ride up with its light show is genuinely special. At the top, you get a breathtaking panorama of the harbor and the historic center. Nearly 20 euros is a bit steep, but it’s worth every cent. Oh, and before you head up, you even get to take the ferry across the IJ for free. Awesome!
Good to know: The swing is suitable for kids too! Children need to be at least 1.20 meters tall, and admission for kids is 6 euros cheaper. So if you’re traveling with adventurous children, this is a really fun kid-friendly activity in Amsterdam.
Book A’dam Lookout tickets online
Explore Amsterdam's Chinatown
What do you need to know? Amsterdam’s Chinatown is called Little China and sits right next to the Amsterdam Red Light District. It’s actually the oldest Chinese quarter on the European mainland.
Is it worth it? Definitely! Little China offers several unique indoor and outdoor experiences in Amsterdam. You can visit the Fo Guang Shan He Hua Temple for free, browse through Asian shops, and — when hunger strikes — find some great Chinese restaurants right on your doorstep.
Take a Pedal Boat Canal Cruise
What do you need to know? As we mentioned, a canal cruise in Amsterdam is an absolute must. But if you’re not in the mood for a classic boat tour — or you’ve already done one — you can explore the canals by pedal boat instead.
Is it worth it? 100%! The pedal boat cruise is a fun and genuinely active way to see Amsterdam. You get a real workout while exploring the canals at your own pace. And at 35 euros for up to four people, the price is honestly hard to beat — making it one of the best-value Amsterdam activities for families and groups.
Book a pedal boat canal cruise online
Visit an Amsterdam Park
What do you need to know? Amsterdam has more than 30 parks. The most popular are the large Vondelpark, the Westerpark with its markets, the very green Rembrandtpark, and the somewhat wilder Flevopark — a great under-the-radar pick in Amsterdam East.
Is it worth it? Amsterdam’s parks are perfect for enjoying good weather, going for a walk, and finding a little peace within the city. Picnic tables are dotted throughout, so you can kick back and relax. If you’re visiting Amsterdam with kids, you’ll find great playgrounds in just about every park. Also check out our article Experiencing Amsterdam with Kids.
Take a City Tour
What do you need to know? Because Amsterdam is not only rich in history but also incredibly diverse, a wide variety of city tours are available. Most tours last about one to two hours and cost between 25 and 60 euros.
Is it worth it? A city tour through Amsterdam lets you not only deepen your knowledge of the city considerably, but also shows you corners you might have missed on your own.
Our tip: A classic sightseeing tour is a really great Amsterdam activity for first-time visitors. If you want something a bit different, we recommend a tour through the Amsterdam Red Light District or a tour through Amsterdam’s coffeeshops.
Book a classic city tour online
Book a Red Light District tour online
Stroll Through Amsterdam's Markets
What do you need to know? In Amsterdam, markets happen every week — and not just on weekends. You’ll find antiques, books, clothing, local specialties, and flowers, among other things.
Is it worth it? Amsterdam’s markets feel totally like a scene straight out of a picture book. Someone’s calling out over here, something smells delicious over there, and two meters further you suddenly stumble upon the most beautiful vintage bag in the world. A great outing and a wonderful place to hunt for unique souvenirs.
Our tips: We recommend the Albert Cuyp Market in the De Pijp neighborhood near the Rijksmuseum. It runs Monday through Saturday and is not only huge but also has the best stalls.
By the way: De Pijp is right next to the Oud-Zuid neighborhood — a great area to stay in Amsterdam. If you’re interested, take a look at our Amsterdam hotel tips.
Visit the Amsterdam Zoo
What do you need to know? The Amsterdam Zoo, Artis, is located in the city center between Oosterpark and Hortus Botanicus. Around 8,200 animals live here, including giraffes, elephants, lions, and monkeys. Admission for toddlers up to two years old is free.
Is it worth it? The zoo is smaller than what you might be used to, but it’s wonderfully diverse and the enclosures are really lovingly designed. There’s also a café for breaks. Honestly, it’s one of the best kid-friendly activities in Amsterdam — the little ones absolutely love it.
Our tip: Zoo admission is also included in the I Amsterdam City Card.
Book Amsterdam Zoo tickets online
Go to Melkweg Amsterdam
What do you need to know? The Melkweg is a multimedia center at Leidseplein — an area known for its lively, alternative nightlife. There are always cool concerts, theater performances, exhibitions, and film screenings happening here.
Is it worth it? The Melkweg is simply brilliant and a great Amsterdam evening activity. Every week brings incredible events where you can mix with the locals.
Our tip: If you’re still on the fence about whether a concert is the right thing for you, let us just say: give it a shot. Go. We love going to concerts abroad — it’s a fantastic way to meet locals and discover new music.
Try a Febo Vending Machine
What do you need to know? Febo vending machines are snack machines — but instead of candy bars, you buy croquettes, hot dogs, and more. You’ll find these little shops with their wall-of-windows vending machines all over the city, including in the 9 Straatjes. And they’re open 24/7.
Is it worth it? Admittedly, this one doesn’t take long. But it’s super easy to fit into your Amsterdam sightseeing. For 2 to 4 euros, you get to try typically Dutch snacks in a fun and entertaining way.
Our tip: If there’s one thing you have to try, it’s the frikandel — deep-fried ground meat in the shape of a sausage. Sounds weird, but it tastes great and is incredibly popular in the Netherlands.
Take Cool Photos at Wondr Experience
What do you need to know? The Wondr Experience is a playground, photo backdrop, and museum all in one. You can take amazing photos in the various rooms and come away with a great memento of your Amsterdam trip.
Is it worth it? We think yes! The price is pretty high, but you end up with truly amazing photos you simply can’t get anywhere else — and you have a whole lot of fun in the process. The Wondr Experience is also a great option on a rainy day in Amsterdam.
Our tip: We’ve written up all our recommendations in our detailed Wondr Experience review. You’ll also find information on tickets and everything you need to know before your visit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Amsterdam Activities
What are the things you absolutely must do in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam offers a colorful mix of sightseeing, cool activities, and exciting insider experiences.
And our take is: do a little bit of everything.
But if you really press us — like, life-or-death serious — we’d say:
- Take a canal cruise,
- visit the Anne Frank House,
- do a little shopping in the 9 Straatjes
- and don’t miss the A’dam Lookout and the infamous Red Light District.
Oh, and make sure to try some Dutch snacks — whether at a Febo vending machine, a cheese shop, or a café.
And ideally, you’ll make it back to Amsterdam someday to see and explore even more.
Which Amsterdam activities are good for young people?
In general, the most popular sights and things to do in Amsterdam are suitable for pretty much any age.
If you want something a little more offbeat and edgy — do we sound old now? — we recommend:
- The Amsterdam Red Light District
- Vondelpark
- An Open Boat Tour with Bar
- The Museum of Prostitution
- The Heineken Experience
- A visit to a coffeeshop
What is the most popular Amsterdam activity?
Alongside the canal cruise, the A’dam Lookout is probably the most popular Amsterdam activity. And for good reason!
The view from the rooftop is seriously breathtaking, and swinging 100 meters above the city is an unforgettable thrill.
What are the best kid-friendly activities in Amsterdam?
For the best Amsterdam kids activities, we recommend the Amsterdam Zoo, the Nemo Museum, and 4D Blacklight Mini Golf.
If you want to let your kids burn off some energy for free, a trip to one of the city’s parks is always a great choice — Vondelpark and Flevopark are both fantastic.
Which activities in Amsterdam are free?
In Amsterdam, people know how to make money. That’s why very little is truly completely free.
That said, here are some things you can enjoy in Amsterdam at no cost:
- strolling through the city parks,
- enjoying the free view from the Openbare Bibliotheek,
- checking out Chinatown and the Red Light District, or
- visiting the hidden church De Papegaai.
Amsterdam also offers free city walking tours.
On GuruWalk you can search for suitable free walking tours in Amsterdam.
Which activities in Amsterdam are great for couples?
For a few romantic hours in Amsterdam, we recommend these activities:
- a picnic and a stroll in Vondelpark,
- a canal cruise with dinner, or
- one of the many cute little cafés along the canal ring.
And a bonus tip: at the floating flower market on the Singelgracht, you can pick up some beautiful flowers — not just on Valentine’s Day.
Which indoor activities in Amsterdam are worth it?
The best indoor activities in Amsterdam, in our opinion, are the museums.
Amsterdam has so many of them, and such a wide variety, that everyone can find something to their taste.
Our favorite museums in Amsterdam are:
- the Anne Frank House
- the Rembrandthuis
- the Rijksmuseum
- the Moco Museum
Alternatively, we also recommend the covered Foodhallen in Amsterdam West — the street food there is seriously delicious.
