31 Best Things To Do in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a rich cultural heritage of churches, monuments and museums, with works by great Dutch artists such as Van Gogh, Vermeer and Rembrandt. Its unique geographical location also makes it a good base for excursions to the surrounding area. There are many original things to do in Amsterdam and here is a list of some of the things not to be missed.

An unmissable activity in Amsterdam is to visit the house that sheltered the Frank family and where the young Anne wrote her famous diary, a memoir of the tragic days of the Jewish community during the Nazi occupation in World War II.

It is a moving and harrowing experience, and I recommend a visit to the Anne Frank House with a professional guide explaining the history of the Anne Frank House and the history of the large Jewish community that has lived in Amsterdam since the 11th century.

If you're going to the Anne Frank House, you've probably already passed through its narrow, winding streets. If not, it's still worth a visit to discover this neighbourhood in the heart of Amsterdam. With its charming canals, classic architecture and flea markets, the Jordaan is an ideal place to stroll around and immerse yourself in Amsterdam's urban life.

But this neighbourhood has a history, as it used to be one of the poorest in the city. In the 1990s, artists and students began to inhabit it, giving it a bohemian and relaxed feel. If you sign up for one of the guided tours of the city, you'll learn more about this must-see spot in the Dutch capital.

The world's best museum about the great post-impressionist artist and the second most visited museum in the Dutch capital, with over 2 million visitors a year. Admire up close more than 200 paintings, such as 'The Room in Arles' and a version of 'Sunflowers', 500 drawings and hundreds of Van Gogh's letters.

You can visit the Van Gogh Museum by purchasing an individual ticket, but it is also one of the attractions included in the Amsterdam Pass.

The Rijksmuseum is the National Museum of the Netherlands and the best in the country as it traces the history of Dutch Golden Age art with over 8,000 works, including notable paintings such as Rembrandt's 'Round by Night', Johannes Vermeer's 'The Milkmaid' and Frans Hals' 'The Merry Drinker'.

I recommend buying your tickets for the Rijksmuseum online in advance, as its 2 million visitors a year means long queues at the entrance. Another option is to take a guided tour included in the Amsterdam city sightseeing bus tour.

Cruising Amsterdam's canals is the essence of the city, so don't hesitate to book a boat tour on the canals. With Amsterdam boat tours you will see the city from a different perspective and with the comfort of a boat seat, a very relaxing experience. Read more about it in my article about canal cruises in Amsterdam.

A corner of Amsterdam that many people overlook is the charming Begijnhof Courtyard. Although it is very close to Dam Square, it is a hidden spot that is not to be missed as it is a magical, light-filled inner courtyard garden surrounded by the houses of the ancient Beguines. These were religious women who in the 12th century dedicated their lives to caring for the sick and disadvantaged, and some of their houses still conserve the Gothic structure of the period.

This is a curious and very quiet place to visit in Amsterdam, which is why you should respect the silence of this private neighbourhood and preserve the essence of this little oasis in the centre of the city.

Nieuwe kerk is the 15th century New Church, with its pointed arches and impressive stained glass windows, which has hosted royal weddings and the coronation of Dutch monarchs since 1814.

Oudekerk is the Old Church and the most important church in Amsterdam, being its oldest historic building. Paradoxically, it is located in the heart of the most controversial and 'debauched' district of the city, the Red Light District. You can visit it as part of the Amsterdam Red Light District walking tour.

Museum Amstelkring is the site of one of Amsterdam's most surprising churches, located in the attic of a former commercial building. Curious, isn't it? After the Protestant Reformation, Catholic worship was banned, and soon underground churches of this kind sprang up for the city's Catholics. There is nothing on the outside of the building to suggest that a church is located there. To visit Our Lady of the Attic you have to climb a steep, narrow flight of stairs, but the beautiful late Baroque altar is well worth a visit.

Another great place to cycle through is Amsterdam's green lung, the Vondelpark. It is an urban park of more than 47 hectares, where tourists and locals go to relax and unwind from the hustle and bustle of the city. Close to the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, it is open 24 hours a day and is a highly recommended place if you are travelling with your family or if you want to enjoy outdoor activities such as watching a play or having a coffee.

One of the most fun things to do in Amsterdam is to tour the two-century-old Heineken brewery, where the country's most famous drink originated.

You can learn the secrets of its history and brewing on an interactive tour of the original facilities, try your hand at brewing your own beer and sample two glasses of Heineken. If you are still not convinced, you can read my chronicle of this experience in my article about the Heineken Experience.

Bicycles are the number one method of transport for getting around Amsterdam, so if you want to explore the city like a local, taking a bike tour of Amsterdam is one of the most genuine experiences you can choose for your trip. What's more, the city is so geared up for it that there are all kinds of bike tours and bike rentals available.

Equal parts controversial and fascinating, Amsterdam's Red Light District is a must-see, surprising and totally safe place to visit for its famous coffee shops, where a variety of legal drugs can be consumed, and its amazing red-lit storefronts, where prostitution is completely legal.

You can experience the Red Light District on a guided tour or visit it as part of an Amsterdam sightseeing bus tour.

This is the name given to the mix of cafés and taverns in Amsterdam where you can go for an aperitif or try the delicious Dutch beer. Brown coffees are so called because of their dim lighting and wooden décor. They tend to be very small and some still retain their authentic 17th century feel. The most popular among amsterdaneses are:

• Cafe Hoppe
• Café Karpershoek
• Het Molenpad

Leiden Square (Leidseplein) is one of Amsterdam's most visited areas with a lively atmosphere of street musicians, terraces, Art Deco architecture and intense nightlife.

Dam Square is Amsterdam's nerve centre and most important square, with monuments such as the 1956 National Monument, which commemorates the dead of World War II and subsequent armed conflicts, and the classicist Royal Palace Amsterdam.

Spui Square is known for being just a few metres from the Begijnhof, a group of majestic houses built in 1346 to house a sorority of women.

You can visit these squares as part of walking tours of the city or as part of the stops on Amsterdam's sightseeing buses and cruises. I've linked my article on the best Amsterdam sightseeing buses so you can explore this option in depth.

The city's iconic I Amsterdam sign has changed location several times, so I recommend you find out where it is before you visit the Dutch capital if you're looking to take a selfie on it. Here's a hint: when you get off the plane at the airport, you'll be able to find one of them. And there are several of them. Find out more about Amsterdam' s now historic landmark at .

A'dam Lookout is Amsterdam's most impressive viewpoint and there is a fee, but you can access it with the Amsterdam Pass. Another place to watch a beautiful sunset is at the West Kerk: it has an 85-metre high tower. It costs €7.50 to enter, but the views will not leave you indifferent.

Albert Cuyp Market is the largest and most popular market in the city and the Netherlands, founded in 1904, with over 300 varied stalls and located in Amsterdam's Latin Quarter.

Waterlooplein Market is a daily flea market held on the touristy Waterlooplein Square, where notable buildings such as the Stopera, the seat of the city council, and the opera house stand.

Bloemenmarkt, the flower market, is a 140-year-old floating market and a favourite place for Amsterdammers to buy their plants. It's a must-see place to see the Dutch flower par excellence, the tulip, and buy some seeds as a souvenir.

Yes, Amsterdam never ceases to surprise and another of the curious places you can visit is the Fo Guang Shan He Buddhist Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Europe. Located in the red light district, specifically at number 106 Zeedijk Street, it is a representation of Chinese architecture in the heart of the Dutch capital. Its wooden staircases and statues of Buddha and others dedicated to traditional gods will transport you to Asian culture.

Although the Dutch royal family does not reside here and it is currently used for solemn events and state visits, this majestic Royal Palace can be visited and is, in fact, one of the most popular monumental buildings among tourists as it is located in the central Dam Square.

It features exhibits of Golden Age artwork and its imposing halls and lavishly decorated interior make it a must-see on your visit to Amsterdam. Book a skip-the-line ticket to the Royal Palace and discover its history with the audio guide included.

The typical image of Amsterdam's canal bridges has a flagship in the form of the Magere Brug Bridge, probably the most photographed bridge in the city. It's a drawbridge over the Amstel River that opens and closes every 20 minutes to let boats pass, so it's not possible to cross it on foot or by bike.

However, with one of Amsterdam' s canal cruises, you'll get the best possible view of this and other bridges in the city. The Magere Brug, in particular, I recommend you to see it at night, as its illumination will make you understand why it is called the "Bridge of Lovers".

Known in the local language as the Negen Straatjes, this is a neighbourhood of art galleries, vintage shops and charming cafés. Just a short walk from Dam Square, between the Leidsestraat and Raadhuisstraat, it's the ideal place to spend the morning strolling between shopping and snacking.

Rembrandt is probably the most important artist in the history of the Netherlands. In his original 17th century house, which has been converted into a museum and restored, you can immerse yourself in the personal and professional history of this master of engraving, painting and drawing.

And if you are an art lover you can also take part in the Rembrandts Amsterdam Experience, an immersive activity of about 25 minutes, together with a small group of 8 people, that will immerse you in 17th century Amsterdam where you will learn about Rembrandt's life and work.

Yes, Amsterdam also has its own zoo and it's the oldest zoo in the Netherlands, so it's well worth a visit. It's a historic zoo with everything from lions, wolves and elephants to a botanical garden with hundreds of varieties of plants, a planetarium and even two museums that you'll love. It is open every day and is an ideal place to go with the whole family.

More than 7 million flowers are planted in the Keukenhof Gardens every year, which is a spectacular field of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, orchids, roses, carnations, irises, lilies, lilies and many other flowers. A spectacle to behold and to smell, I recommend you book an organised tour to Keukenhof Gardens.

This interesting and historic district preserves the areas where the Jewish refugee communities settled from the 11th century onwards due to the freedom of worship that prevailed in Amsterdam, then known as 'the European Jerusalem'.

It is home to numerous monuments, museums and sites of great interest such as the Anne Frank House and the Resistance Museum, Verzetsmuseum, where you can learn about the turbulent times this community lived through during the German occupation in World War II.

My recommendation is to get to know the Jewish Quarter with a guided walking tour of Amsterdam's old Jewish Quarter.

This dynamic and alternative Amsterdam neighbourhood is full of green spaces, trendy restaurants, iconic architecture and art galleries and can be reached via a sightseeing bus or cruise.

In addition to visiting the fascinating city of Amsterdam, there are many other places of interest in the surrounding area that you can discover with convenient and practical organised tours. Immerse yourself in the Dutch countryside and take a trip to Marken, Zaanse Schans and Volendam from Amsterdam with their iconic windmills, stunning tulip gardens and artisan cheese and clog factories.

You can do these excursions on your own, but if I may give you a tip, the experience is easier and more comfortable with an organised tour from Amsterdam If you are interested in a contrast to the big city, I recommend choosing the guided tour to Zaanse Schans to see the windmills

Located in a former tram depot, Foodhallen is a food market where you can find literally anything you want to eat. Gourmet doughnuts, barbecued meat, dim sum, premium tacos... are your mouth watering yet? Remember to bring a good Ikea bag and decorations for the house, they always sell very trendy things.

This little place in the Jordaan district is one of the only museums dedicated to fluorescent light, and ultraviolet light art. It's an experience for the eyes, and a curiosity you'll no doubt remember for a long time to come. You can only get in if you book your visit in advance, but it's definitely worth it.

Thanks to Amsterdam's geographical location, it is possible to get to Bruges and back in one day. I did it with an organised tour that allowed me to make the most of my visit and I recommend it 100%. Here is my summary of the experience in case you are considering visiting the neighbouring country: visit Bruges from Amsterdam with an organised tour You can also do one of the most popular tours in the area: Amsterdam, Bruges and Brussels

A former wharf turned creative space, with benches, food trucks, street art and industrial aesthetics. Find vintage clothing markets, occasional music festivals, open-air film screenings, and relax in the beach atmosphere of this favourite haunt of Amsterdam locals.

The Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House or the Rijksmuseum are probably the most famous museums in Amsterdam, but there are many more not so well known museums where you can spend a pleasant time soaking up Dutch culture.

For example, if you're travelling to Amsterdam as a family, I recommend a visit to Madame Tussauds or the NEMO Science Museum, where the kids will have a blast with all the surprises in store for them! At Madame Tussauds they can have their photo taken with many of their favourite characters such as Marvel superheroes, while at NEMO they will learn about science and technology by touching and playing with the museum's interactive exhibits.

However, there are many other museums in Amsterdam where you can have a fun day out! Check out the top 10 museums in Amsterdam post to put them on your list.

Every time of year has its advantages, and while travelling to Amsterdam in winter means preparing to be cold, seeing Amsterdam at Christmas may well be worth the sacrifice. If you're looking to escape the heat, a trip to Amsterdam in summer or a trip to Amsterdam in spring is probably a good plan, as Amsterdam never reaches the high temperatures found in other southern European countries.

• Travelling to Amsterdam in January
• Travelling to Amsterdam in February
• Travelling to Amsterdam in April
• Travelling to Amsterdam in August
• Travelling to Amsterdam in September
• Amsterdam in October
• Amsterdam in November
• Amsterdam in December

Amsterdam and its surroundings have a lot to offer the traveller. Here is a list of itineraries around Amsterdam depending on how many days you are going to spend there. However, if you're only going for a few days, try to save time by booking your transfer from Amsterdam airport (whatever it is) in advance.

• Amsterdam in 1 day
• Amsterdam in 2 days
• Amsterdam in 3 days
• Amsterdam in 4 days
• Amsterdam in 5 days