Top 10 Things to Do in Amsterdam

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For a more detailed guide on visiting Amsterdam, head over to my post A Weekend in Amsterdam.

1. Museumplein

Museumplein is Amsterdam’s museum quarter and it features a number of excellent museums. The ginormous Rijksmuseum is dedicated to the arts and history; the Van Gogh Museum gives visitors the chance to see his transition into talented artist; the Stedelijk Museum of modern art; and the Moco Museum which features the works of Dali and Banksy. This area also consists of a park, pond and the popular ‘I Am Amsterdam’ sign, which is usually covered in posing tourists.

2. Vondelpark

Vodelpark is the perfect place to rest your weary feet after a day’s sightseeing at museumplein, or if you just need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. Amsterdam’s large city park is a popular place where the locals spend time with friends and families.

3. Anne Frank Huis

Anne Frank was a young German Jewish girl who diarised her time spent hiding in this house from 1942 to 1944 during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. Anne and her family hid in some concealed rooms behind a bookcase in the building where Anne’s father had worked.

Anne Frank Huis is an extremely popular attraction and since it is a small space, they can only accommodate a limited number of people at a time. To get tickets, you need to book online, however in the evenings, you can line up to purchase a door ticket. But, expect a very long wait, the line literally winds around the streets for some distance.

4. Dutch Food

Amsterdam is full of delicious Dutch food. Indulge in some ‘frites’ aka fries, served in paper cones with mayonnaise (they usually offer a long list of other sauces to choose from too). Expect a crisp crunchy exterior and a lovely fluffy interior. We tried the very popular Manneken Pis and were not disappointed, but be warned, the servings are huge!

The Dutch are renowned for their delicious cheeses, so if you are passionate about cheese then visit the Amsterdam Cheese Museum. Be prepared to consume lots of free samples and buying waaay too much cheese.

With all that savoury, top it off with something sweet. Visit Café Winkel and try their delicious appeltaart, the Dutch version of an apple cake, or visit one of the many Dutch pancake houses.

5. Royal Palace

Located in Dam Square, the Royal Palace is a great place to visit and discover the history of the Dutch royal family. As you might expect, the rooms are richly adorned and provide a glimpse into the life of the Dutch royals.

6. Churches

There are lots of beautiful churches in Amsterdam. Some of the highlights include Westerkirk, built in the Renaissance-era, Church of Our Lady, De Nieuwe Kerk, a medieval church, and the picturesque Basilica of Saint Nicholas. The Oude Church (The Old Church) is Amsterdams oldest building that also hosts art exhibitions.

7. Red Light District and Koffieshops

Take a stroll around De Wallen, Amsterdam’s infamous Red Light district. Here you will find lots of coffeeshops (or koffieshops) where you can legally buy soft drugs. There are also sex shops and sex workers advertising themselves in the windows. If you are visiting, then please respect the rules and don’t take photos or film. There are plenty of signs reminding you, and if you don’t follow them, expect to be firmly confronted by the security.

8. Explore the Canals

Amsterdam is a particularly attractive city and everywhere you stroll you see lots interesting buildings, houseboats and picturesque canal scenes. You can enjoy these wonderful and unique sights by simply wandering around to your hearts content, otherwise, jump on a canal cruise to get a view from a different perspective. We couldn’t get over how wonky the buildings were and how far some of them leaned to the left or right, or even forward. Some of them looked like they would fall over if you gave them a bit of a shove.

9. Jordaan District

The Jordaan District was once a working class neighbourhood, but is now a very expensive, upscale area with nice shops, hip cafés and art galleries. The Noordermarkt ‘Northern Market’ is held in the square here too. Spend a morning or afternoon strolling around the cobblestone streets and enjoy the wonderful architecture.

10. Go Bike Riding

Join the Dutch bike culture by hiring a bike and cycling around Amsterdam like a local. Amsterdam has dedicated cycle lanes and flat roads making cycling a dream. Rent a bike and go it alone or join a cycling tour. Cycling allows you to see more in a day, so is a great option if you are short on time.

Practical Tips for Visiting Amsterdam

Language: Dutch, however, apparently over 90% of Dutch people speak English. Even so, do try your hand at a few Dutch words:
- Yes = Ja (yah)
- No = Nee (nay)
- Please = Alstublieft / Alsjeblieft (ahlst-ew-bleeft / ahl-shuh-bleeft)
- Thank you = Dank u wel / Dank je wel (dahnk-ew-vehl / dahnk-yuh-vehl)
- Hello = Hoi / Hallo / Daag / Doei (hoy / hah-loh / dahk / doo-ee)
Currency: Euro
Tipping: Not required, but people usually round up.
Electricity: The electrical current is 220 volts, 50 Hz. Wall outlets generally take the European two round prong plugs. However, you are better off purchasing a worldwide adaptor that can be used in Amsterdam as well other countries. At least then you can potentially get some further use out of it on future vacations. If you’re taking a number of electronics with you, then I would recommend purchasing a couple of these adaptors.
Public transport: Amsterdam has excellent public transport including bus, metro, and tram. The city is quite flat and is a great place to explore of foot if you are able to, or, better yet, hire a bike and cycle round like a local. Unfortunately, we didn’t get time to do this, but it looked like a great way to get around.
Navigating: Use Google’s free Offline Maps. Google Offline Maps allows you to access free maps for navigating that can be used offline i.e. you don’t need WIFI, data, or roaming to be able to use them. Follow this detailed guide on how to use Googles Offline Maps. Using your phone as a GPS will drain your battery quickly, so use a portable battery charger which you can use to charge your phone and any other USB chargeable devices. If you prefer a paper map, then Lonely Planets Amsterdam Pocket Travel Guide comes with a helpful pull out map. At least it’s reliable and won’t run out of battery or malfunction like the electronic options!
A coffeeshop or koffieshop is a place where you can legally buy soft drugs (marijuana or hashish), space cakes, coffee, tea, and sometimes freshly-squeezed juices and sandwiches. All coffeeshops display a green-and-white sign at the entrance, usually along with their license plus notices declaring that no one under the age of 18 is allowed to enter. You can legally buy and use soft drugs at coffeeshops. You can have so-called ‘personal amounts’ of up to 5 gram on you without getting in trouble with the law.
A coffee house or Koffie Huis/ Koffiebar/ Koffiesalon, anything with the word ‘koffie’ or ‘coffee’ or ‘espresso’ — but without the green-and-white sign is a normal café and don’t sell soft drugs.