Travel guide · Netherlands
Amsterdam travel guide
Canal rings, Golden Age art, brown cafés and a city made for bikes
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer), CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Amsterdam's 17th-century canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, curves around a compact medieval centre where almost everything is within a 30-minute walk or a short tram ride. The Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House draw most visitors, but the city's character is in its neighbourhoods: the Jordaan's narrow streets and brown cafés, De Pijp's Albert Cuyp market and the converted shipyards of Amsterdam-Noord, a free ferry ride across the IJ. Bikes outnumber cars, and windmills, cheese towns and tulip fields are all within an hour. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are April–June and September.
Key facts
- Country
- Netherlands
- Best time to visit
- April–June and September
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- AMS
- Mid-range daily budget
- $220–$360 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Canals, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House
Why visit Amsterdam
- Three major museums — the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk — stand around one square, Museumplein.
- The 17th-century canal ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is best seen on foot, by bike or from a boat.
- Brown cafés, jenever tasting rooms and Indonesian rijsttafel give the city a distinctive food and drink culture.
- Free ferries behind Centraal Station cross the IJ to the A'DAM Tower and the NDSM shipyard in minutes.
- Windmills at Zaanse Schans, the Keukenhof tulip gardens, Haarlem and Utrecht are all under an hour away.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
Museum · Museum Quarter
Rijksmuseum
The Dutch national museum's Gallery of Honour leads to Rembrandt's The Night Watch, with Vermeer's The Milkmaid, Frans Hals portraits and Delftware nearby.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Museum Quarter
Van Gogh Museum
The largest collection of Vincent van Gogh's work — around 200 paintings and 500 drawings — traces his development from the dark Potato Eaters to Sunflowers, The Bedroom and the Almond Blossom he painted for his newborn nephew.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- Rainy day
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Museum · Canal Ring
Anne Frank House
In the canal house at Prinsengracht 263, Anne Frank, her family and four others hid from the Nazis for two years in the Secret Annex behind a movable bookcase.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Iconic
- Rainy day
Waterfront · Canal Ring
Canal Ring walk
The Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht, dug in the 17th century, are lined with tall gabled merchants' houses, many with hoisting beams for lifting goods to the upper floors.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Couples
Experience · Canal Ring
Canal cruise
An hour on a canal boat passes the Golden Bend, the Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug) over the Amstel and the harbour front, with commentary on the history of the canal houses.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Couples
- Views
- Iconic
Neighbourhood · Jordaan
The Jordaan
The Jordaan's narrow canals, flower-filled lanes and hidden almshouse courtyards (hofjes) such as the Karthuizerhof reward slow wandering.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Couples
- Shopping
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Canal Ring (Grachtengordel) is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, luxury and culture
Canal Ring (Grachtengordel)
Gabled merchants' houses along the Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht
$$$ · Best for couples, food lovers, quiet stays and shopping
Jordaan
Narrow streets, brown cafés and Saturday markets west of the canals
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and budget
Old Centre (De Wallen and Dam)
Medieval core around Dam Square, the Oude Kerk and the Red Light District
$$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, solo travellers and budget
De Pijp
Albert Cuyp market, global food and terrace cafés south of the centre
What to eat
- Stroopwafel — Two thin waffle discs sandwiched with caramel-like syrup, originally from Gouda.
- Raw herring — Lightly brined raw herring eaten with chopped onion and pickles, either held by the tail or in a soft bun (broodje haring).
- Bitterballen — Crisp, deep-fried balls of thick beef ragout served with mustard, the classic snack with a beer.
- Kroket — The log-shaped big brother of bitterballen, often eaten on a bread roll with mustard.
- Fries with mayonnaise — Thick-cut fries in a paper cone with mayonnaise, or 'patatje oorlog' ('war fries') with mayonnaise, peanut satay sauce and raw onion.
- Poffertjes — Small, fluffy buckwheat pancakes cooked in a dimpled cast-iron pan and served with butter and powdered sugar.
When to go
The best times to visit Amsterdam are April to June and September, when days are long and mild and the canals and terraces are at their best. Late April brings tulips and King's Day but also peak crowds and prices. Winter is cold, wet and dark early but quiet, with the Light Festival and cosy brown cafés.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Bulb season, King's Day and Liberation Day, with mild, changeable weather and the year's highest prices in late April. |
| Summer | June–August | Long, mild days, festivals and Pride, with the biggest crowds; real heat is rare but showers are common. |
| Autumn | September–November | Settled September days, Amsterdam Dance Event and autumn colour, turning wet and windy by November. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold, grey and dark by mid-afternoon, but the Light Festival, festive markets and quiet museums make up for it. |
Getting there and around
Direct NS trains run from the station beneath Schiphol's terminal to Amsterdam Centraal in about 15–20 minutes, several times an hour and hourly through the night. Bus 397 runs to Museumplein and Leidseplein, and taxis take about 25–30 minutes to the centre.
Central Amsterdam is compact: Centraal Station to Museumplein is about 30 minutes on foot. GVB trams, Metro, buses and free ferries cover the rest, and you can tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone. Cycling is the local way to get around, though busy bike lanes take some confidence.
Plan your days
Two full days covers the canal ring, the Jordaan and one or two of the big museums. Three or four days adds the remaining museums, De Pijp and Noord; with five or more, add day trips to Haarlem, Zaanse Schans or, in spring, Keukenhof.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Dutch
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is excellent and safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Service is included in prices.
Amsterdam is generally safe, but pickpockets work around Centraal Station, on trams and in the Red Light District, and bike theft is common. Street dealers sell fake drugs, and most canal edges have no railings, so take care walking home at night.
Flights to Amsterdam
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Amsterdam?
Two full days covers the canal ring, the Jordaan and one or two of the big museums. Three or four days adds the remaining museums, De Pijp and Noord; with five or more, add day trips to Haarlem, Zaanse Schans or, in spring, Keukenhof. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Amsterdam?
The best times to visit Amsterdam are April to June and September, when days are long and mild and the canals and terraces are at their best. Late April brings tulips and King's Day but also peak crowds and prices. Winter is cold, wet and dark early but quiet, with the Light Festival and cosy brown cafés.
+What is Amsterdam known for?
Canals, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Bicycles, Brown cafés, Tulips and Golden Age architecture. Three major museums — the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk — stand around one square, Museumplein.
+Is Amsterdam expensive?
Amsterdam is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $220–$360 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Amsterdam?
No. The centre is designed for bikes, trams and walking, and parking is very expensive. A car only helps for exploring the countryside beyond the day trips.