In a nutshell
- Amsterdam is overflowing with incredible things to see. From historic architecture to world-famous museums to cool modern experiences, there’s so much to explore.
- We’re sharing 12 Amsterdam attractions that are genuinely worth your time — recommended by people who’ve visited the city many times over.
- Whatever you do, don’t miss the beautiful Canal Belt, the Anne Frank House, and at least one of the city’s outstanding art museums.
- Planning lots of sightseeing? The I Amsterdam City Card will very likely pay for itself.
- Spending a weekend in Amsterdam? Check out our 3-day Amsterdam itinerary to make the most of your time.
Amsterdam Canal Belt
What do you need to know? The canals are the defining landmark of Amsterdam Netherlands — and there are no fewer than 165 of them. Small bridges cross the water, gabled houses line both sides, and boats are everywhere, moving or moored. The network of canals in the city center is known as the Canal Belt.
Is it worth it? There’s no way around Amsterdam’s canals — and that’s a great thing. Strolling through the city, you can soak up their special charm at every turn. The Brouwersgracht, by the way, is universally considered the most beautiful canal in the city.
Our tip: Make sure to take a canal cruise in Amsterdam! From the water, you’ll see the city and its highlights from a completely different angle. In our opinion, the best option is the Open Boat Tour.
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Anne Frank House
What do you need to know? The Anne Frank House is a deeply moving historical landmark. During World War II, Anne Frank and her family hid here for two years, during which she wrote her famous diary.
Is it worth it? We don’t even know where to begin. We’ve visited the house multiple times and are moved every single time. Asking whether it’s worth it is the wrong question — the Anne Frank House is something you simply have to see. Nowhere else can you experience such a gripping piece of history so intimately and authentically.
Our tip: Book your ticket well in advance! Demand is very high and there are no walk-up tickets at the door. You can’t just show up — the museum is often sold out weeks ahead of time.
Book Anne Frank House tickets online
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Rijksmuseum Amsterdam
What do you need to know? The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is one of the most famous art museums in the world. Hundreds to thousands of paintings, impressive halls, and even a library await you — not to mention the stunningly beautiful building itself.
Is it worth it? We’ve visited the Rijksmuseum multiple times and are always blown away. Everyone finds that one painting they can’t stop thinking about. The crowd-pleaser we find most impressive is, of course, Rembrandt’s “The Night Watch” — Amsterdam’s very own Mona Lisa.
Our tip: Set aside plenty of time here. We always block out an entire morning for the visit. If you need a break, you can grab something to eat and drink at Het Café right inside the museum.
Book Rijksmuseum tickets online
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Van Gogh Museum
What do you need to know? The Van Gogh Museum on Museumplein holds the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s work — and it was actually built up by the sister-in-law and nephew of Vincent van Gogh himself. How cool is that?
Is it worth it? For Van Gogh fans, this is a genuine highlight among the places to visit in Amsterdam. Some of his most significant works are on display here, and his moving life story is presented in a really captivating way. The audio guide adds a great extra layer of context.
Our tip: Be sure to book your ticket online in advance — there are no on-site ticket options!
Book Van Gogh Museum tickets online
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Rembrandthuis
What do you need to know? The Rembrandthuis was once the home of Amsterdam painter Rembrandt van Rijn. In the 17th century, he lived, painted, and taught here with his family. Today it’s a beautifully restored Amsterdam museum that takes you right back to that era.
Is it worth it? Honestly, the Rembrandthuis is — surprisingly — our favorite art museum in Amsterdam. You don’t just admire significant works here; you get an up-close look at how a great artist actually lived and worked. It’s a perfect combination.
Our tip: Make sure to grab an audio guide on-site! It’s fantastic and even lets a few of Rembrandt’s family secrets slip — always entertaining.
Book Rembrandthuis tickets online
9 Straatjes
What do you need to know? The Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets) sit right in Amsterdam’s city center and are a paradise for independent shopping, cozy little cafés, Dutch pastries, and great coffee.
Is it worth it? The quirky pop-up stores, record shops, jewelry boutiques, and secondhand shops in the 9 Straatjes offer a huge selection of unique finds and souvenirs. Don’t skip this one.
Our tip: On Berenstraat, one of the 9 Straatjes, you’ll find the secondhand shop Episode. One of our absolute favorites and a great Amsterdam insider tip!
Amsterdam Red Light District
What do you need to know? The oldest and most notorious part of Amsterdam is De Wallen — the Red Light District. During the day, you can visit quirky museums and grab a coffee. At night, the neighborhood transforms completely. Neon signs light up and strip clubs, corner bars, and live shows open their doors.
Is it worth it? The mix of the red light scene and everyday neighborhood life makes De Wallen a genuinely unique Amsterdam landmark. And the museums here are actually really good. The Red Light Secrets Museum was super interesting and we never felt uncomfortable for a moment.
Our tip: If you visit in the evening or at night, keep your camera in your bag. Neither the bouncers nor the women in the windows appreciate being photographed — and more than one camera has ended up in the canal.
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Royal Palace Amsterdam
What do you need to know? The Amsterdam Royal Palace, also known as Paleis op de Dam, stands on the central Dam Square (our number 9). The building was constructed around 350 years ago as a city hall. Today it belongs to the royal family and is open to visitors as a museum.
Is it worth it? Inside the Royal Palace you’ll find some truly impressive rooms. The enormous Citizens’ Hall and the Tribunal Room completely won us over during our visit. It’s a significant piece of the city’s history at a genuinely great admission price — one of the Amsterdam places to visit that you really shouldn’t miss.
Book Royal Palace Amsterdam tickets online
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Dam Square
What do you need to know? Dam Square is a large central plaza right in the heart of Amsterdam — this is where the city got its start, a long, long time ago. Here you’ll find the Royal Palace, Madame Tussauds, and plenty of great cafés and restaurants.
Is it worth it? Today, Dam Square is above all a great point of orientation for your sightseeing and the starting point for many guided tours through Amsterdam.
Our tip: On a nice day, we love dining at the Majestic on Dam Square. Prices are a bit higher, but the food is fantastic and the view of the lively square is seriously entertaining.
Begijnhof Amsterdam
What do you need to know? The Begijnhof is a historic courtyard complex in the center of Amsterdam, surrounded by typically Dutch houses. In the 14th century, it was home to the so-called Beguines — devout women who lived piously but outside of a convent. Today, the complex is still home exclusively to women. Entry is free, but visitors are asked to keep it quiet.
Is it worth it? The Begijnhof is one of Amsterdam’s lesser-known highlights — almost more of an Amsterdam insider tip. The courtyard is a truly beautiful spot away from the city’s bustle and offers great photo opportunities.
By the way: Beguine courtyards are typical of Dutch and Belgian history. In Bruges you’ll also find a really beautiful Begijnhof.
Coffeeshops in Amsterdam
What do you need to know? You could debate whether coffeeshops really count as proper attractions in Amsterdam. That said, the city is famous for them — you’ll find them all over the place. And just so you know: there’s no coffee here. Instead, you’ll find legal soft drugs like cannabis.
Is it worth it? Many tourists come to Amsterdam specifically for the coffeeshops. In our eyes, the city has so much more to offer — but the shops are fun, and you’re not obligated to buy anything. You can just pop in and take a look.
Our tip: The best coffeeshop in Amsterdam is Barney’s Coffeeshop. You can get both award-winning cannabis and perfectly normal, delicious food there.
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A'DAM Lookout
What do you need to know? The A’DAM Lookout is a 360° sky deck at the Amsterdam harbor. It’s home to the highest swing in Europe, where you can swing out over the city at a height of 100 meters. There’s also an Amsterdam VR Ride, interactive binoculars, and restaurants.
Is it worth it? The A’DAM Lookout is one of the coolest things to do in Amsterdam and a real standout if you’re visiting Amsterdam with kids. The view from the top is seriously incredible, and we think you shouldn’t skip the little thrill it offers while you’re already up there.
By the way: You can reach the A’DAM Lookout by the free ferry that departs from Amsterdam Central Station. A cool bonus experience in itself.
Book A’DAM Lookout tickets
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Amsterdam Attractions on the Map
For easy orientation, we’ve marked all our top Amsterdam places to visit on a map. You can cover most of your sightseeing very comfortably on foot.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sightseeing in Amsterdam
What are the must-sees in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam has so many places to visit that it’s absolutely worth coming back more than once. That said, there are five highlights you really shouldn’t miss on your first trip:
- the canals
- the Anne Frank House
- one of the great art museums
- the 9 Straatjes
- the Red Light District
We deliberately chose these five so you can experience all sides of Amsterdam in a short amount of time.
If you have more days to spare, browse our tips for other great sights — whether that’s more top picks, exciting Amsterdam museums, or cool Amsterdam city tours.
How many days do you need in Amsterdam?
Don’t plan too little time for Amsterdam — the city has a lot to offer and a weekend flies by. Three to four days are ideal.
Short on time? No problem. You can still hit the most important Amsterdam landmarks in one day in Amsterdam. Just be prepared for some power sightseeing.
Which Amsterdam city pass is worth it for sightseeing?
The I Amsterdam City Card is our personal favorite among Amsterdam city passes.
It covers everything you’ll want on a first visit: a wide selection of attractions including excursions, observation decks, and a canal cruise.
Public transportation is also included, and you can rent a bike for one day.
Check out our more detailed review of the Amsterdam City Card or buy it directly here.
We have more info on Amsterdam city passes here:
Can you explore Amsterdam on foot?
Yes. The most important attractions are in downtown Amsterdam and are easy to cover on foot.
For sights that are farther out — like the Johan Cruijff Arena or the Keukenhof — public transit is your best bet.
And how does public transit work in Amsterdam?
Using it on the fly is really simple. You don’t even need to buy a ticket in advance.
On the train, just tap your credit card on the reader when you board to check in. When you get off, tap again to check out, and the fare is charged to your account. Super convenient.
You can find all the details on the various ticket options in our in-depth article on public transportation in Amsterdam.
When is public transit worth it in Amsterdam?
Public transportation in Amsterdam is especially worthwhile for reaching attractions a bit outside the center. For the top five Amsterdam highlights, you don’t need a bus or train at all.
If you want to check out points of interest outside the city center, you can hop on the metro or tram for about 3 euros per single ride.
If you’re planning to ride more frequently, a GVB ticket starting at 9 euros is worth it. GVB multi-day passes are available in durations of 1–7 days.
Get the GVB public transportation ticket
When boarding and exiting the tram, always hold your ticket up to the card reader. The same applies at the turnstiles in metro stations.
Is the hop-on/hop-off bus in Amsterdam worth it?
The hop-on/hop-off bus is only really worth it if you’re in Amsterdam on a rainy day. Otherwise, not really — the bus doesn’t run through the historic city center, which is exactly where Amsterdam’s most famous landmarks are located.
The hop-on/hop-off boat, on the other hand, is absolutely worth it! By boat, you cruise along all the canals and can hop on and off whenever and wherever you like.
You combine the canal experience directly with your sightseeing and get from A to B in a totally relaxed way.
Book hop-on/hop-off boat tickets online
Find more info on hop-on/hop-off in Amsterdam here:
Is renting a bike in Amsterdam a good idea?
Amsterdam is famous for its countless cyclists. But they move fast on the narrow, winding streets — and alongside the bikes, there are cars and countless pedestrians going every which way.
Sometimes just walking around Amsterdam requires your full attention. Cycling there is a whole level more stressful and, honestly, more dangerous.
That’s why we personally advise against cycling in Amsterdam on your own.
That said, if you really don’t want to miss out on a bike ride, a guided bike tour through Amsterdam is the safest way to go.
