Amsterdam is small, flat and dense, which means the mistake most visitors make is over-scheduling. The city rewards wandering more than it rewards ticking things off, and the good parts are mostly outside the centre.
Book these in advance
Three attractions sell out weeks ahead and cannot be visited on impulse:
- Anne Frank House. Timed tickets released online only, typically six weeks ahead. No queue option.
- Van Gogh Museum. Timed entry, book at least a week out.
- Rijksmuseum. Less constrained, but pre-booking saves a long queue.
Neighbourhoods worth your time
- Jordaan. Narrow streets, courtyards and small shops. The best area for aimless walking.
- De Pijp. Albert Cuyp market, cafes, younger and less touristed.
- Oost. Oosterpark, the Tropenmuseum, and Dappermarkt. Where locals actually live.
- Noord. A free ferry behind Centraal Station. NDSM wharf, street art, and a completely different feel.
- Nine Streets. Compact shopping between the canals.
Beyond the obvious museums
- Museum Van Loon and Museum Willet-Holthuysen, canal houses preserved as homes.
- Begijnhof, a hidden medieval courtyard steps from the busiest street in the city.
- Hortus Botanicus, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world.
- Micropia, a museum of microbes, which is far better than it sounds.
Cycling
Renting a bike is the authentic way to see Amsterdam and also the way most visitors have a near miss. Dutch cycling is fast and assertive. If you are not a confident city cyclist, walk and use trams instead. If you do ride: signal, do not stop in bike lanes, and use lights after dark, which is legally required.
Day trips
- Zaanse Schans. Windmills, 20 minutes by train.
- Haarlem. A smaller, quieter Amsterdam, 15 minutes away.
- Keukenhof. Tulips, late March to mid May only.
- Utrecht. Two-level canal wharves, 25 minutes by train.
Practical notes
- Trains from Schiphol reach Centraal in about 15 minutes.
- Many places are card-only, and some do not accept credit cards, only Dutch debit. Carry a backup.
- The Red Light District has restrictions on tours and photography, both of which are enforced.
- April to May and September are the best months. Summer is crowded, winter is dark but atmospheric.
See also the Copenhagen travel guide.