In a nutshell
- Amsterdam is overflowing with great sights. From ancient architecture and world-famous museums to cool, modern attractions, there is so much to see and experience in the city.
- So that you can plan your sightseeing perfectly, we show you 12 places to visit in Amsterdam that are really worthwhile – recommended by an Amsterdam expert.
- Don’t miss the beautiful canal belt, the Anne Frank House and one of the great art museums in Amsterdam.
- If you do want to visit many attractions, the I Amsterdam City Card is probably worthwhile for you – buying a city pass is one of our best travel tips for Amsterdam.
- Are you in Amsterdam for a weekend? Then take a look at our 3 day program for Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Attractions on a Map
For better orientation, we created a map with the top attractions in Amsterdam. You can visit all places really well on foot.
Amsterdam Canal Belt
What do you need to know? The canals make up Amsterdam’s cityscape. There are a total of 165 canals. Small bridges cross the water, gabled houses line up to the left and right, and boats sail and lie everywhere. The row of canals in the city center is called the canal belt.
Is it worth it? You can’t avoid the Amsterdam canals! And that’s a good thing. You can enjoy their special charm as you stroll through the city. Incidentally, the Brouwersgracht is undisputedly the most beautiful canal in Amsterdam.
Our tip: you should definitely take a canal cruise in Amsterdam! You’ll see the city from a different perspective. In our opinion, the best canal tour is the Open Boat Tour.
Read more about our experience with the Open Boat Tour:
Anne Frank House
What do you need to know? The Anne Frank House is a poignant historical landmark. During the Second World War, Anne Frank hid here with her family for two years and wrote her famous diary. Today the house is a museum and one of the most visited places in Amsterdam.
Is it worth it? We don’t know where to start and where to stop. We’ve visited the house several times and are always very moved. Whether it’s worth it is the wrong question. You have to see the Anne Frank House. Nowhere else do you have the opportunity to experience poignant history so close and so real.
Our tip: make sure you book your ticket well in advance! Demand is very high and there is no daily quota at the ticket office! You won’t get in spontaneously, and the museum is often fully booked weeks in advance.
Book Anne Frank House tickets online
Read more about the Anne Frank House:
Rijksmuseum
What do you need to know? The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is one of the world’s most famous art museums. Hundreds to thousands of paintings, impressive halls and even a library await you. Not to mention the incredibly beautiful, huge building!
Is it worth it? We have visited the Rijksmuseum several times and are always impressed. Everyone discovers that one painting here that never lets them go. Of course, we are particularly impressed by the crowd-puller “The Night Watch” by Rembrandt – Amsterdam’s very own Mona Lisa.
Our tip: plan enough time for the Rijksmuseum. We always block out a whole morning for the visit. If you need a break in between, you can eat and drink something at Het Café right in the museum.
Book Rijksmuseum tickets online
Read more about our experience with the Rijksmuseum:
Van Gogh Museum
What do you need to know? The Van Gogh Museum on Museumplein in Amsterdam is the world’s largest Van Gogh collection and was even built by Vincent van Gogh’s sister-in-law and nephew. Isn’t that cool?
Is it worth it? The museum is a real top attraction in Amsterdam for Van Gogh fans! Some of his most important works are exhibited here, and his moving life story is told in an exciting way. The audio guide provides you with interesting additional information.
Our tip: make sure to book your ticket online in advance, as there are no purchase options on site!
Book Van Gogh Museum tickets online
Read more about our experience with the Van Gogh Museum:
Rembrandthuis
What do you need to know? The Rembrandt House was once the home of the Amsterdam painter Rembrandt van Rijn. He lived, painted and taught here with his family in the 17th century. Today it is a perfectly restored museum in Amsterdam and great place to visit.
Is it worth it? For us, the Rembrandthuis is – surprisingly – the most authentic and best art museum in Amsterdam. Not only can you admire important works here, but you can also experience first-hand how a great artist lived and worked. A perfect combination!
Our tip: make sure you take an audio guide on site! It’s great and even reveals one or two of Rembrandt’s family secrets, hehe.
Book Rembrandthuis tickets online
9 Straatjes
What do you need to know? The 9 Straatjes (Nine Streets) are located in Amsterdam’s city center and are a paradise for individual shopping and small cafés with Dutch pastries and coffee. They are definitely one of the best places to visit in Amsterdam.
Is it worth it? The original pop-up stores, record stores, jewelry boutiques and second-hand stores in the 9 Straatjes offer a huge selection of quirky favorites and souvenirs. You shouldn’t miss out on this.
Our tip: on Berenstraat, which is one of the 9 Straatjes, you will find the second-hand store Episode. One of our absolute favorites and a cool hidden gem in 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. By day, you can visit quirky museums and have a coffee here. At night, the district is transformed. Neon signs come on and strip clubs, corner bars and live shows open their doors.
Is it worth it? The mix of red-light district and everyday life makes the neighborhood really special. And surprisingly, the museums here are really good. The Red Light Secrets Museum was super interesting and we never felt uncomfortable at any point.
Our tip: if you visit the district in the evening or at night, it’s better to leave your camera in your bag. Neither the bouncers nor the women in the windows want to be photographed. One or two cameras have already ended up in the canal.
Read more about Amsterdam’s Red Light District here:
Royal Palace Amsterdam
What do you need to know? The Royal Palace of Amsterdam, also known as Paleis op de Dam, is located on the central Dam Square (tip number 9). The building was built around 350 years ago as a town hall. Today it is owned by the royal family and is open to visitors as a museum.
Is it worth it? You can see many very impressive rooms in the Royal Palace. We were particularly impressed by the huge Citizens’ Hall and the Tribunal Hall during our tour. An important piece of the city’s history for a really good entrance fee.
Book Royal Palace Amsterdam tickets online
Read more about our experience with the Royal Palace:
The Dam
What do you need to know? Dam Square is a large, central square in the heart of Amsterdam. This is where Amsterdam began a long, long time ago. Here you find the Royal Palace, Madame Tussauds and great cafés and restaurants.
Is it worth it? Today, Dam Square is above all a great orientation point for your sightseeing and the starting point for many city tours through Amsterdam.
Our tip: if the weather is nice, we recommend eating at the Majestic on Dam Square. The prices may be a little higher, but the food is delicious and the view of the bustling square is really entertaining.
Begijnhof Amsterdam
What do you need to know? The Begijnhof is a historic courtyard complex in the city center of Amsterdam, surrounded by typical Dutch houses. In the 14th century, the so-called Beguines lived here – pious women who were not bound to a monastery. Today, only women still live here. Access is free, but silence is requested.
Is it worth it? The Begijnhof is one of the lesser-known places to visit in Amsterdam. The courtyard is a really beautiful place away from the hustle and bustle of the city and offers great photo spots.
By the way: Begijnen courtyards are typical of Dutch and Belgian history. You will also find a very beautiful begijnhof in Bruges.
Coffee Shops in Amsterdam
What do you need to know? It’s debatable whether the coffee shops are real sights in Amsterdam. However, Amsterdam is famous for its coffee shops, which you can find all over the city. By the way, there’s no coffee here. But legal soft drugs like cannabis.
Is it worth it? Many tourists come to Amsterdam mainly for the coffee shops. In our eyes, the city offers so much better, but the stores are fun. You’re not forced to buy anything. You can just pop in and have a look.
Our tip: the best coffee shop in Amsterdam is Barney’s Coffeeshop. There you can get award-winning cannabis as well as normal, delicious food.
Read more about coffee shops in Amsterdam:
A'DAM Lookout
What do you need to know? The A’DAM Lookout is a 360° Sky Deck at Amsterdam harbor. It is home to the highest swing in Europe, where you can swing 100 meters above the city. There is also an Amsterdam VR Ride, interactive binoculars and restaurants.
Is it worth it? The A’DAM Lookout is one of the coolest activities in Amsterdam and is also a real highlight if you are in Amsterdam with kids. The view from the top is brilliant, and we think you shouldn’t miss out on the little thrill while you’re there.
By the way: you can get to the A’DAM Lookout on the free ferry that departs from Amsterdam Central Station. A cool experience on top.
FAQ about Places to Visit in Amsterdam
#1 What are the must-sees in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam has so many sights to offer that it is absolutely worth visiting more often. 5 highlights in Amsterdam that you definitely have to see are:
- The canals
- The Anne Frank House
- One of the great art museums
- The 9 Straatjes
- The Red Light District
We have deliberately chosen these 5 attractions so that you can get to know and experience all sides of Amsterdam in a short time.
If you have more time, you can choose other great sights from our tips – whether it’s more highlights, exciting museums in Amsterdam or cool Amsterdam city tours.
#2 How much time do you need in Amsterdam?
Don’t plan too little time for Amsterdam. The city has a lot to offer and a weekend will fly by. 3 to 4 days are ideal.
And if you don’t have 4 days? No problem. You can also see the most important attractions in 1 day in Amsterdam. But then it’s all about power sightseeing.
#3 Which Amsterdam Citypass is worthwhile for sightseeing?
The I Amsterdam City Card is our personal favorite among the Amsterdam City Passes.
It offers you everything you need for your first visit to Amsterdam: A large selection of attractions including excursions, viewing platforms and a canal cruise.
It also includes a public transport ticket, and you can hire a bike for a day.
Take a look at our more detailed experience report on the Amsterdam City Card or buy it directly here.
We have more information about the Amsterdam City Passes for you here:
#4 Can you explore Amsterdam on foot?
Yes, the most important sights are located in the city center of Amsterdam and easy to reach on foot.
For attractions outside the city, such as the Johan Cruijff Arena or the Keukenhof, it’s best to take public transport.
And how does public transport work in Amsterdam?
Using public transport in Amsterdam is really easy. You don’t even have to buy a train ticket anywhere in advance.
Simply hold your credit card up to the card reader on the train at the start of your journey and check in. As soon as you get off, you hold your card up to it again to check out and the amount for the journey is debited from your account. Mega progressive.
You can find all the information on the various ticket options in our detailed article on public transport in Amsterdam.
#5 Do you need public transport in Amsterdam?
Public transport in Amsterdam is particularly worthwhile if you want to reach attractions outside of Amsterdam. For our top 5 sights in Amsterdam, you don’t need a bus or train.
If you want to visit places outside the city center, you can hop on the metro or tram for around 3 euros per single trip.
However, if you travel more frequently, a GVB ticket from 9 euros is worthwhile. With GVB multi-day tickets, you can choose from a duration of 1-7 days.
Buy the GVB ticket for public transport
When getting on and off the tram, you must always hold your ticket up to the card reader. The same applies to the turnstiles at the subway stations.
#6 Is the hop-on hop-off bus in Amsterdam worth it?
The hop-on hop-off bus is only worthwhile if you’re in Amsterdam when it’s raining. Otherwise, not really.
Unfortunately, the bus does not go through the historic center. However, this is where Amsterdam’s most famous and important sights are located.
However, the hop-on hop-off boat is more worthwhile! The boat takes you across all of the city’s canals and you can hop on and off whenever and wherever you want.
You combine the canal trip directly with your sightseeing and get from A to B in a super relaxed way.
#7 Rent a bike in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam is known for its countless cyclists. But they are also really fast on the narrow, winding streets. And in addition to the cyclists, there are also cars and countless pedestrians criss-crossing the streets.
Sometimes you don’t have enough eyes for walking in Amsterdam. Cycling is even more stressful and dangerous.
That’s why we personally advise against cycling in Amsterdam.
But if you still don’t want to miss out on a bike ride, then a guided bike tour through Amsterdam is the safest way to go.
These were our 12 best places to visit in Amsterdam
Which attractions in Amsterdam do you think are unmissable? Do you have any cool tips for things to do in Amsterdam? Feel free to leave a comment.