Are you visiting Amsterdam? There won’t be a moment for you to get bored! In this blog, you’ll uncover the top must-do things in Amsterdam.
Everywhere you turn in this place, there’s likely to be something intriguing. Narrow streets lined with retro shops, specialised restaurants, hipster art galleries, and craft breweries that tempt late-night revellers to visit line the canal-woven core of the city.
This city has many reasons to celebrate for art lovers, from the revered Rijksmuseum to the legendary Van Gogh Museum. If you enjoy art, get an Amsterdam City Card, which gives you entrance to many institutions with just one convenient tourist card.
In Amsterdam, visitors are free to go to coffee shops and purchase marijuana. Amsterdam now has 164 cannabis coffee shops. These coffee shops are a tribute to the laid-back atmosphere that cannabis creates. They are ideal places for killing time because they include cosy chairs, helpful staff, and enjoyable music.
There are a hundred additional reasons to stay if the art isn’t what you’re after. We’ve narrowed down the options for the finest things to do in Amsterdam to give you ideas about how to spend a trip there.
Get Lost in The Energetic Jordaan
The Jordaan is the most distinctive neighbourhood in all of Amsterdam. This fascinating location, which was formerly a worker’s district, is composed of attractive vintage shops, quirky galleries, historic residences, courtyard gardens, and beery pubs that are dispersed around a maze of narrow roads.
This place should be at the top of your list if you had to pick just one neighbourhood in Amsterdam to stay in since the food is outstanding and the shopping is unrivalled. If you don’t enjoy shopping, these tiny nine streets also have fantastic cafes and dining options.
Exploring the Jordaan is undoubtedly one of the best must-do free things in Amsterdam because there are so many sights to visit there.
(PS: You could come here for a week and yet not see everything.)
Location: Jordaan
Plan Your Own Picnic in Vondelpark
The Vondelpark is a fantastic location for a picnic and is a very well-known tourist destination. Southwest of Amsterdam is where Vondelpark is located. You might find it right before the Amstel River, near the end of Buiten Singel. Prior to being utilised for farming, the park was a tidal inlet. It bears the name Joost van den Vondel after the Dutch poet.
You can take a stroll, hire a bike, or play with your children at the playgrounds if the weather is fine. You can get a beer at Proeflokaal ‘t Blauwe Theehuis, also known as “The Blue Treehouse,” which is run by Brouwerij ‘t IJ.
Location: Vondelpark
Go On a Traditional Dutch Canal Cruise
Why do we refer to Amsterdam as the “Venice of the North” when Amsterdam has more canals—15 more, to be exact—is a perplexing topic.
It has over 165 canals that extend 50 kilometres in total and wind under 1,281 bridges. A standalone UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Amsterdam canal ring. Include a boat trip along with your preferred beverages? What more could a person want in life?
Rent a captain for €140–250 for two hours to take you on a tour of the city by canal.
It’s customary to receive a complimentary bottle of prosecco or champagne.
Discover De Pijp and Albert Cuyp Market
De Pijp, one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, initially lay beyond the city’s Dutch Golden Age walls from the 17th century.
De Pijp is ideal for individuals who want a nice gastronomic crawl but don’t want to travel too far from the city centre.
Although it has seen significant changes in the past, streets like Albert Cuypstraat and Ferdinand Bolstraat are close by and are full of stores and boutiques that reflect the traditional Dutch taste.
The Albert Cuyp is a sizable street market located in Amsterdam. It is next to the Albert Cuypstraat, which bears the name of a cattle merchant who had a stand here, in the eighteenth century.
The market is open six days a week till 8 PM.
Location: Albert Cuyp Market
Visit Amsterdam-Noord For a Day
Amsterdam-Noord is where you should go if you want a more authentic feel of the city. Cool cafes, unique stores, and city views abound in this emerging area.
In Amsterdam-Noord, a brand-new museum called the STRAAT Museum honours graffiti and street art. On the NDSM Werf, a former shipyard that now houses dining establishments, bars, and art galleries, it is housed in a former warehouse.
Some of the most well-known street artists, including Banksy, Shepard Fairey, and ROA, have pieces on display in the museum. Tickets to the museum cost €10 and it is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.
Location: Amsterdam-Noord
Live a Royal Lifestyle
Not lucky to have a royal birth? You can live your fairytale in Amsterdam by partaking in a number of regal activities. Visit the Royal Palace Amsterdam, which is frequently available to tourists, and you’ll feel like a genuine diplomat.
Location: Royal Palace Amsterdam
Visit Muiderslot, a 13th-century Disney-style castle with a moat, a drawbridge, and five turrets, for a more mediaeval experience. With this private tour, you may explore the castle at your own speed. It is definitely a must-visit place in Amsterdam.
The Nieuwe Kerk (the New Church), a 15th-century Dutch reformed church, is situated close to The Royal Palace Amsterdam in Dam Square. Although it is no longer a church, it has an amazing architecture that is worth visiting.
Location: The New Church
Put Yourself in Anne Frank’s Shoes
More than a million people visit the Anne Frank House each year, which is undoubtedly the most well-known structure in Amsterdam.
Only online and on specific days and hours are tickets available. Be aware that there are extensive wait times and that about 80% of the tickets are released two months prior to the entrance date.
Even though tickets are difficult to get, there are alternative methods to learn about Anne Frank’s life and times in Amsterdam. For example, this World War II walking tour provides information on Amsterdam’s centuries-old Jewish Quarter, along with anecdotes about Anne Frank’s life.
Location: Anne Frank House
Visit the EYE Film Museum and Indulge in Art
The EYE Film Museum, a museum and film archive with screenings of both Dutch and international films, is in the Overhoeks district. One of the top things to do in Amsterdam if you love movies is to visit this historical site.
The Eye Film Museum has a remarkable collection of 60,000 posters, 37,000 film titles, 20,000 books, and 700,000 pictures, with the earliest items dating back to the start of the Dutch cinema industry in 1895. If you are in Amsterdam, you must surely see this place.
Location: Eye Film Museum
Look Around Amsterdam’s Red-Light District
If you’re looking for a hedonistic, eye-opening experience, one of the best things to do in Amsterdam—and this one is primarily for adults—might be a visit to the Red-Light District.
One of the most popular tourist sites in the world is Amsterdam’s Red-Light District, which is a hive of activity at night and in the early morning hours.
Looking for CBD and THC edibles? You can get it right here. You can also find top-notch Alaskan cannabis is in RED-Light District. Go wild, but with caution.
The people there may find things to be a little too boisterous and raunchy. You have been warned. The oldest neighbourhood in Amsterdam is the Red-Light District, or De Wallen, and it provides much more than simply sensual attractions.
Location: Red Light District Amsterdam Centrum
Go to Museumplein For a Cultural Trip
To appreciate Amsterdam without recognising its art is a serious crime. Examining the city’s art scene is one of Amsterdam’s best features and one of the loveliest things to do there.
Take a leisurely stroll around Museumplein and stop by the Van Gogh Museum, which houses the largest collection of Van Gogh’s paintings, The Royal Concertgebouw, the Rijksmuseum, the MOCO Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum.
After 10 years of meticulous restorations, Amsterdam’s most well-known cultural hub is finally available to culture vultures looking to rub shoulders with fellow art lovers. A large paddling pool that converts into a playground, bustling markets, and outdoor displays can all be found in the public space.
Location: Museumplein
Here are Some Travelling Tips You Should Know Before Visiting Amsterdam:
If you visit Amsterdam, you must rent a bicycle. You can go to places on a bicycle that you couldn’t go on foot or on public transportation.
Be aware as bicyclists pedal relentlessly. If you’re not feeling very confident, remember to carry your ID and put on a helmet.
Most rental bikes have two locks, and you must use both of the locks! In Amsterdam, bike thieves might be highly skilled.
OV-chipkaart is more useful if you decide to take public transportation. This card can save you money on public transportation if you want to travel to Amsterdam. You may easily add new credit, which is another helpful feature.
Apart from transportation in the city, mind your stay. To get a good deal, reserve your hotel as soon as you can. Travelling during the week will save you a lot of money if you don’t need to go somewhere on the weekend because Saturday prices are usually higher. Sundays are surprisingly affordable. Expect quite a bit even if you don’t like staying in hotels because hostels aren’t exactly inexpensive either.
Also, come prepared because the Dutch weather can be fickle. Simply said, this implies that you must bring your raincoat, umbrella, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
It is against the law to consume alcohol and use marijuana in public, and native Amsterdammers view such behaviour as impolite. Similar to that, it is strictly forbidden to take pictures of sex workers in the Red-Light District. If you want to have a smooth travelling experience, behave sensibly on downtown streets.
Most importantly, if you are in Amsterdam from July 27 through August 4, you must check out the Amsterdam Gay Pride.
Hope this blog helped you!
Which one would you definitely try? Mention it in the comments!
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