Amsterdam
What you need to know before you go
Amsterdam is a liberal city that boasts some of the world’s most renowned museums – its medieval Old Centre could even be mistaken for an Impressionist painting. You’ll struggle to be bored in this city built around the UNESCO-listed Canal Ring, where waterfront nightclubs and bars abound. See the best of the city on 2 wheels and soak up some fresh air with a bike ride to the lush, verdant Vondelpark. For a truly Dutch experience, enjoy one of the laidback canal boat trips offering spectacular views of Amsterdam’s distinct architecture.
What to see & do in Amsterdam
Featured stories & fun stuffThings to do in Amsterdam include exploring its expansive arts and culture communities, scenic canals, gabled houses and historic monuments to the 17th-century golden age. You can spend the day visiting the Museum District and taking advantage of many bike paths to get around, then later hit the famous nightlife scene to find plenty of adult entertainment in its cafes and clubs. If art is your thing, be sure... Read more
10 Best Things to Do in Amsterdam
The best things to do in Amsterdam highlight the city's unique history and easygoing charm. This upbeat destination is known to be very liberal, with its array of gay-friendly accommodation, bars, and festivals. While there’s no denying that many...10 Best Ways to Cruise the Canals of Amsterdam
Taking a cruise along the famous canals in Amsterdam is one of the city's most popular things to do. You’ll...10 Best Things to Do for Couples in Amsterdam
Couples in Amsterdam can enjoy plenty of romantic sights and activities throughout their vacation. The best time to visit the...9 Best Things to Do with Kids in Amsterdam
Amsterdam may not be your first thought when you’re listing family-friendly cities, but the range of attractions available offer...8 Things to Do Off the Beaten Track in Amsterdam
Within the city of Amsterdam, you’ll find some of the biggest tourist attractions in the Netherlands, but you’ll also find...10 Fun Ways to Explore Amsterdam
There are many different ways to explore Amsterdam depending on how much time you have and what you intend to...10 Best Canals in Amsterdam
The best canals in Amsterdam were mostly established in the 17th century as an expansion of the city and a...10 Most Popular Streets in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a city in the Netherlands full of rich history, culture and unique places to visit. With canals crisscrossing...10 Best Natural Sights Around Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and the locals will certainly agree with that sentiment, but...
Where & what to eat in Amsterdam
Food and dining in Amsterdam covers everything from French and international cuisine to American soul food, and the city boasts Michelin-starred restaurants, bistros, terraces and every style of eatery. Here you can grab an iconic Dutch frikandel or locate a vegan snack. You can even take a water tour of the city on a pannenkoekenboot—a Pancake Boat. Amsterdam also features many microbreweries and craft brewpubs that celebrate the... Read more
10 Places Where Locals Love to Eat in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of the best places to visit if you're looking for unique and delicious cuisine. You'll find a wide variety of options available, but even global dishes seem to have that special Dutch charm. To get the most...10 Best Local Dishes from Amsterdam
Amsterdam has a thriving food scene with unique dishes and treats that you won't want to miss out on. These...10 Best Coffeeshops in Amsterdam
The best coffeeshops in Amsterdam also happen to be among the top places to experience one of the world’s most...
Where to shop & what to buy in Amsterdam
Shopping in Amsterdam can be found among luxury, discount, big-box and independent shops spread across several unique shopping corridors in which many roads are designated pedestrian-only for added convenience. Most shops in Amsterdam operate between 9 am and 6 pm, but individual shops will vary. You can find unique and interesting shops along the 9 Small Streets in the Old City, explore covered and outdoor public markets with... Read more
10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Amsterdam
Our guide to the best places to go shopping in Amsterdam highlights the city’s legacy as a notable shopping destination. You can find a fantastic array of malls, markets, and independent shops that will keep you busy for hours. Each...10 Best Shopping Malls in Amsterdam
The best shopping malls in Amsterdam are excellent for finding some of Europe’s most famous brands, as well as excellent...10 Best Markets in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is packed with unique culture and history and offers some of the best shopping destinations in the Netherlands. Year...
Where to go & what to do at night in Amsterdam
Nightlife in Amsterdam showcases a city that never goes to sleep and offers pub-lined squares, internationally renowned dance clubs, live music, DJs and a party atmosphere for every taste. Here you can hit up floating dance clubs right on the water. You can find colourful LGTBQ friendly bars across the city, microbreweries and laid-back speakeasy-style cocktail bars and clubs. At Paradiso, you can find an iconic club... Read more
10 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a Dutch city well-known for its vibrant nightlife, offering unique experiences to travellers every night of the week. At night, strolling through Amsterdam is particularly enjoyable, with the city lights reflected in canal waters below and locals...10 Best Places to See Live Music in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is known for its nightlife, and one of the best aspects of that scene is the music. You'll find quite a few different venues offering incredible experiences that you won't find anywhere else, and you can see all sorts...
Useful information
Information about Amsterdam demonstrates this is a city that values diversity and tolerance of all kinds of lifestyles and can help to overcome culture shock to visitors from other countries. Amsterdam offers all of the rich culture, vibrant nightlife, easily accessible public transport, great shopping and fine dining of big cities, but it has a quieter, more laid-back vibe with more foot traffic than vehicles. People here show a... Read more
Amsterdam Travel Essentials
Our Amsterdam Travel Essentials lays out the essential information you need to help planning your trip to the capital city of the Netherlands. No matter how frequently you travel, some questions will always need answers: What’s the weather like? How...10 Mistakes People Make When Visiting Amsterdam
Some of the mistakes people make when visiting Amsterdam won’t usually ruin a whole trip, but knowing what to avoid...10 Best Festivals in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the city of festivals in a very literal way. This place has hundreds of festivals every year celebrating...
More information about Amsterdam
There are so many ways to see the sights on an Amsterdam city break. Walk cobbled streets flanked by elegant townhouses, join bike-mad Amsterdammers on the leafy paths of Vondelpark or cruise the canals from your Amsterdam hotel.
Get your bearings
Amsterdam’s three main grachts (canals) – Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht – embrace the city centre in a horseshoe shape. At its northern head lies Centraal Station. Main street Damrak leads to Dam Square, flanked by the Royal Palace. Eastwards are the old docklands and west is the diverse Jordaan neighbourhood, a former working-class area now crammed with shops, bars and eateries. Southwards are the tourist hubs of Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein squares, leading to Vondelpark and the Museum Quarter.
Old Masters, modern culture
There are few places on earth with as many Old Masters per square metre as Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter. You might think you know Van Gogh’s Sunflowers or Rembrandt’s dramatic Night Watch from countless posters and postcards, but nothing can compare to seeing them in the flesh. Cultural gems lurk behind the façades of Amsterdam’s canal houses like the 17th-century rooms in Amstelkring near the Red Light District. Amsterdam’s cultural calendar includes the summertime music Canal Festival and theatre and music during December’s Winterparade.
City nightlife
Lazy evenings in lounge bars, supper clubs, and old-style pubs characterise an Amsterdam short break. The old quarter by Oude Kerk (Old Church) near Dam Square is home to the Red Light District, one of Europe’s most unlikely tourist sights. Amsterdam’s ‘brown bars’, so-called for their nicotine-stained decor, dot Zeedijk near Centraal Station, Jordaan and along Utrechtsestraat, near Rembrandtplein. In De Pijp and Jordaan you’ll find everything from Syrian to Surinamese cuisine. During summer, Vondelpark hosts free musical events.
Heydays and history
Get a glimpse of 17th-century Amsterdam’s Golden Age in the Amsterdams Historisch Museum. In Anne Frank’s House, a 10-minute walk from Dam Square, memories of the Second World War come to life in the Secret Annexe where she wrote her diary. A stroll through Jordaan shows its transformation from a working-class neighbourhood into a creative cosmopolitan community.
Eclectic shopping
Food-lovers flock to Saturday’s Farmers’ Market in Jordaan for smoked mozzarella and crêpes. Across town, Bloemenmarkt’s barges on the Singel canal make up the world’s only floating flower market. One-off boutiques pack De 9 Straatjes (the 9 Streets) in Jordaan. Shop for Dutch fashions in Van Ravenstein or try Yvette Riemersma’s trendsetting footwear at Antonia.
Family-friendly fun
The ship-shaped Nemo building houses a hands-on science centre next to Centraal Station, with city views from the rooftop café. A hop-on, hop-off canal trip is entertaining and all-weather-friendly, as is Artis park, with the oldest zoo in mainland Europe, a planetarium and aquarium. Sunny days call for a picnic in Vondelpark – rent a tandem, kids’ bikes or in-line skates.