The Best Things to Do in Amsterdam

This is the widest-angle guide on the site, so if you only read one page before your trip, make it this one. Below is a working list of the best things to do in Amsterdam, roughly in the order most first-time visitors tackle them, followed by a few that get overlooked.

Pair this with the 2-day itinerary or 3-day itinerary for a day-by-day plan, or read how many days in Amsterdam is actually enough if you have not decided yet. If the weather turns, jump straight to the rainy-day guide instead.

1. Wander the canal ring on foot or by bike

The seventeenth-century canal ring (the Grachtengordel) is the reason Amsterdam looks the way it does. Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht ring the old centre in concentric arcs, lined with narrow merchant houses that lean at odd angles because of centuries of settling into soft peat soil.

You do not need a guided tour to enjoy it. Pick up a coffee, cross a few humpback bridges, and let yourself get slightly lost between Leidsegracht and Brouwersgracht. If you would rather cycle, see the cycling in Amsterdam guide for rental tips and road rules before you set off.

2. Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum

The Museumplein is home to Amsterdam's two heavyweight museums. The Rijksmuseum covers eight centuries of Dutch art and history, with Rembrandt's Night Watch as its centrepiece. Next door, the Van Gogh Museum holds the largest Van Gogh collection anywhere, arranged more or less chronologically so you can watch his style shift year by year.

Both sell timed tickets online and both sell out, especially in summer and around Easter. Book at least a few days ahead, more in peak season. For smaller alternatives once you have done the big two, see the best museums in Amsterdam.

3. Anne Frank House

The Anne Frank House, on the Prinsengracht, is one of the most visited sites in the city and, for many, the most moving. Tickets are released online roughly six weeks ahead and go quickly, so this is one to plan early rather than hope to walk into.

4. Get lost in the Jordaan

West of the canal ring, the Jordaan is a former working-class district turned one of the city's most liveable neighbourhoods: hidden courtyards (hofjes), independent galleries, brown cafés, and a Saturday organic market on Noordermarkt. It rewards aimless wandering more than any checklist, and comes into its own after dark too; see Amsterdam at night for ideas.

5. Vondelpark and De Pijp

Vondelpark is Amsterdam's best-known green space, popular with joggers, picnickers and the occasional open-air concert in summer. A short walk or tram ride away, De Pijp is the city's most cosmopolitan neighbourhood, home to the sprawling Albert Cuyp Market and a dense cluster of good, affordable restaurants. For an overview of how the city's districts differ, see Amsterdam's neighbourhoods.

6. Cross the IJ to Amsterdam Noord

The free ferry behind Centraal Station takes about four minutes to cross the IJ river to Amsterdam Noord, a former shipyard district now packed with creative reuse projects. The NDSM Wharf has street art, a floating swimming pool in summer, and a genuinely industrial, slightly rough-around-the-edges feel that contrasts nicely with the tidy centre.

While you are over there, the EYE Film Museum is worth a look even if you skip the screenings, for the building alone and the terrace view back across the water.

• NDSM Wharf: street art, container cafés, summer festivals
• EYE Film Museum: striking architecture and a riverside terrace
• A'DAM Lookout: viewing deck and swing, if you like heights
• Pllek and Café de Ceuvel: relaxed waterside food and drink spots

7. Westerpark and Hortus Botanicus

Westerpark, built around a former gasworks, has a more local, less touristy feel than Vondelpark, with a rotating line-up of markets and events at the Westergasfabriek. On the other side of town, the Hortus Botanicus is one of the world's oldest botanical gardens, a quiet, compact spot to duck into between other stops.

8. Save a day for something further out

Once you have covered the centre, consider a half or full day outside the city. Windmills at Zaanse Schans, the cheese town of Edam, or the historic port of Muiden are all under an hour away by train or bus. Full logistics are in day trips from Amsterdam.

Getting between the sights

Most of what is listed here sits within walking or cycling distance of each other, but trams cover the rest efficiently. Load a GVB day ticket or tap in with a contactless card; the public transport guide explains the fare system, and the tram guide breaks down the most useful lines for visitors. If you are arriving straight from the airport, see Schiphol to Amsterdam first.

A realistic first-timer's priority list

1. Book Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum tickets before you land
2. Walk the canal ring on your first afternoon to get oriented
3. Spend a morning at either the Van Gogh Museum or Rijksmuseum, not both back to back
4. Take the free ferry to Noord for lunch or a drink with a view
5. Leave at least one afternoon unplanned for the Jordaan or De Pijp