Gabled canal houses and a bridge over an Amsterdam canal

Updated 2026

12 best things to do in Amsterdam

Canal-side clues, world-class museums and free ferries across the IJ.

Photo: Michielverbeek / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

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These picks mix the essentials (Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, Van Gogh), the canals from the water, and the free things locals actually do: ferries to Noord, a market morning, an hour in the park. For each stop: honest cost, time needed, best time to go and when to skip it.

Things to do in Amsterdam: tap a number to open it in Google Maps.

Tickets & tours in Amsterdam: compare before you buy

Official sites are often cheapest for single museums; resellers are handy for skip-the-line combos, tours and free cancellation.

Tickets on Tiqets Tours on GetYourGuide Tours on Viator

Rijksmuseum

Museumplein

The Dutch national museum: Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, Vermeer’s The Milkmaid, and the gallery of honour that ties the Golden Age together.

Cost: Paid timed ticket (under-19s free). Check the current price.
Time needed: 2–3 hours
Best time: Opening time, or the last two hours of the day

Insider tip: Head straight to the Gallery of Honour on the second floor before the tour groups get there. The gardens around the building are free to walk through.

Skip it if: You only have one day and prefer modern art. Choose the Van Gogh Museum, a few minutes’ walk away.

Official tickets Tickets & tours Compare on Viator

Anne Frank House

Prinsengracht (Jordaan edge)

Walk through the secret annex where Anne Frank wrote her diary while hiding with her family. A quiet, powerful visit that stays with you.

Cost: Paid, online only via annefrank.org (no tickets at the door). Check the current price.
Time needed: 1–1.5 hours
Best time: Whichever slot you can get – they sell out

Insider tip: Tickets are released on the official site every Tuesday at 10:00 (Amsterdam time) for visits about six weeks later. Tours from third parties do not include entry. Watch out for lookalike resale sites.

Skip it if: You can’t get a ticket. Walk past the building on Prinsengracht and visit the Dutch Resistance Museum or the National Holocaust Museum area instead.

Official tickets (annefrank.org) Read our full guide →

Van Gogh Museum

Museumplein

The largest collection of Van Gogh’s work in the world, including Sunflowers and a self-portrait room, arranged so you follow his life step by step.

Cost: Paid timed ticket bought online in advance (under-18s free). Check the current price.
Time needed: 1.5–2 hours
Best time: Early morning or a late-opening evening, if one is offered

Insider tip: Book your slot as soon as your dates are fixed. Weekend slots in summer go quickly. Combine it with the Rijksmuseum on the same morning, since they’re neighbours.

Skip it if: Two museums in one day is too much for you. Choose one and spend the afternoon in Vondelpark.

Official tickets Tickets & tours Compare on Viator

A canal cruise

Canal Ring (UNESCO World Heritage)

The 17th-century canal ring has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2010, and it looks its best from water level. An hour on a boat explains how the city works.

Cost: Paid (check live prices). Small open boats cost more than the big glass-roofed ones but are much nicer.
Time needed: 1–1.5 hours
Best time: Late afternoon or an evening cruise

Insider tip: Pick a small open boat with a live guide rather than a big audio-guide cruiser right by Centraal. In cold weather the covered boats are fine.

Skip it if: You’ll be cycling around the canals anyway and are on a tight budget. Walk the Herengracht and Prinsengracht at dusk instead.

Compare canal cruises More options

Wander the Jordaan & Nine Streets

Jordaan / Grachtengordel

Narrow streets, hidden courtyards, brown cafés and the boutique-lined Nine Streets (De 9 Straatjes) – the Amsterdam of postcards, without a ticket.

Cost: Free
Time needed: 2–3 hours
Best time: Saturday morning, when the farmers’ market is on at the Noordermarkt

Insider tip: Have apple pie at a café by the Noordermarkt, then cross into the Nine Streets for shops. Keep your voice down near the residential hofjes (almshouse courtyards).

Skip it if: Honestly – don’t. It’s the easiest way to fall for the city.

Jordaan food tours Compare on Viator

Vondelpark

Oud-Zuid

Amsterdam’s favourite park: picnics, ponds, cafés and an open-air theatre with free summer performances.

Cost: Free
Time needed: 1–2 hours
Best time: A sunny afternoon after the museums

Insider tip: Walk in from the Museumplein side and grab a coffee at one of the park cafés. Mind the cycle lanes – the paths are shared and the bikes are fast.

Skip it if: It’s cold and wet; head to a museum or a cosy brown café instead.

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Free ferry to Noord & A’DAM Lookout

Behind Centraal Station → Amsterdam-Noord

Free GVB ferries cross the IJ river every few minutes from behind Centraal Station. In a few minutes you reach the A’DAM Tower (with its rooftop swing) and the Eye Film Museum, and a longer crossing takes you to the creative NDSM Wharf.

Cost: Ferry free; A’DAM Lookout is paid (check the current price)
Time needed: 2–3 hours
Best time: Sunset for the Lookout; daytime for NDSM

Insider tip: Take the ferry marked Buiksloterweg for the A’DAM Tower and Eye (short crossing). The NDSM ferry is a longer, lovely ride with skyline views.

Skip it if: Heights aren’t your thing and you’re short on time – the ferry ride alone is still worth ten minutes.

A’DAM Lookout tickets Compare on Viator

Begijnhof

Spui, city centre

A peaceful medieval courtyard hidden behind a door off the Spui, ringed by historic houses – including one of the city’s two remaining wooden house façades.

Cost: Free
Time needed: 20 min
Best time: Morning on a weekday

Insider tip: People live here: keep quiet, don’t photograph through windows, and respect any visiting rules posted at the gate.

Skip it if: You’re a big group – visiting rules may restrict groups.

Albert Cuyp Market

De Pijp

The city’s best-known street market: cheese, fresh stroopwafels, herring and lots of everyday stalls in the lively De Pijp neighbourhood.

Cost: Free to browse
Time needed: 1 hour
Best time: Weekday late morning (closed on Sundays)

Insider tip: Get a freshly made stroopwafel and eat it warm. Then explore the cafés and restaurants on the side streets of De Pijp and Sarphatipark.

Skip it if: It’s Sunday – the market is closed. Visit the Noordermarkt or a food hall like De Hallen instead.

Food tours Compare on Viator

#10

Rembrandt House Museum

Jodenbreestraat (near Waterlooplein)

The house where Rembrandt lived and worked from 1639 to 1658, restored to the way it looked then, with live etching demonstrations.

Cost: Paid (check the current price)
Time needed: 1–1.5 hours
Best time: Any time – it’s rarely as busy as the big museums

Insider tip: Combine with the Waterlooplein flea market next door and the Jewish Cultural Quarter a few minutes away.

Skip it if: You’ve already done the Rijksmuseum and aren’t a big Rembrandt fan.

Tickets Compare on Viator

#11

Cycle like a local

Citywide

Bikes outnumber people here and the city is flat. Even an hour on two wheels shows you more neighbourhoods than a day on foot.

Cost: Paid bike rental (check live prices)
Time needed: 1 hour to a full day
Best time: Outside rush hour (avoid 8–9 am and 5–6 pm)

Insider tip: Stay in the red bike lanes, signal with your hand, never stop in the middle of a lane, and lock your bike to a rack with two locks. Watch the tram rails.

Skip it if: You’re a nervous rider – the centre is busy. Try a guided bike tour or cycle in Vondelpark and Noord first.

Bike tours & rentals Compare on Viator

#12

Day trip: Zaanse Schans windmills

Zaandam (about 20 minutes by train)

Working historic windmills, wooden houses and craft workshops on the river Zaan, close enough for a half-day trip.

Cost: Walking around is free; windmills and museums charge (check current prices)
Time needed: Half a day
Best time: Early morning, before the tour buses

Insider tip: Take the train to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans station and walk across the bridge – it’s easier than a tour bus.

Skip it if: You’re only in Amsterdam for two days – the city has plenty to fill them.

Zaanse Schans tours Compare on Viator Read our full guide →

Save money: I amsterdam City Card or not?

The I amsterdam City Card bundles public transport with many museums and a canal cruise. It pays off only if you visit several included museums each day. Remember: the Anne Frank House is not included and always needs its own online ticket. The Dutch Museumkaart can be good value for longer stays, but you still need to book timed slots.

I amsterdam City Card

Best for: Busy museum days + public transport

Check the list of included attractions and time options.

Check current price

GVB day/multi-day ticket

Best for: Lots of tram/metro rides, fewer museums

Unlimited GVB trams, buses and metro for the chosen days.

Pay as you go

Best for: 1–2 museums and lots of walking/cycling

Often the cheapest – check in and out with a contactless card.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get Anne Frank House tickets?

Only online at annefrank.org. Tickets are released every Tuesday at 10:00 Amsterdam time for visits about six weeks later. There are no tickets at the door, and tours from third parties don’t include entry.

How many days do you need in Amsterdam?

Three days covers the main museums, the canals and the Jordaan, plus Noord or a short day trip. With 4–5 days you can add Haarlem, Utrecht or Rotterdam.

Is the I amsterdam City Card worth it?

Only if you’ll visit several included museums each day and use public transport. Add up the official prices first. The Anne Frank House is not included.

Do I need cash in Amsterdam?

Rarely. Many places only take cards, and contactless payment is normal. Carry a little cash for small market stalls just in case.

Are the ferries to Amsterdam-Noord free?

Yes. The GVB ferries from behind Amsterdam Centraal across the IJ are free for foot passengers and cyclists.

Plan your next step

Where to stay in Amsterdam →

Neighbourhoods compared, with hotel picks per budget.

3-day itinerary →

All of this turned into a day-by-day route.

Amsterdam City Quest →

Explore the highlights as a treasure hunt.

Amsterdam travel guide →

Quick facts, getting around and every guide.

Packing list →

A printable checklist for city breaks.

Tours & tickets in Amsterdam

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