Three days cover the essentials; with four you can head out to the Zaanse Schans windmills or, in spring, the tulip fields. The Anne Frank House and the big museums are booked online with time slots, so do not leave them to the last minute.
What to see in Amsterdam: top sights
Canal cruise
The best way to understand Amsterdam is from the water: the Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht canals, the bridges lit up at night and the Golden Age merchants’ houses.
Recommended time: 1–1.5 h
Tip: At dusk, with the bridges lit, the cruise is especially beautiful. Small boats reach narrower canals than the big ones.
Rijksmuseum
The great national museum of the Netherlands, with Rembrandt’s Night Watch, Vermeer’s Milkmaid and a vast collection of Dutch Golden Age painting, in a spectacular building.
Recommended time: 3 h
Van Gogh Museum
The world’s largest collection of Vincent van Gogh: paintings, drawings and letters tracing his life, from The Potato Eaters to the Sunflowers and his final landscapes.
Recommended time: 2 h
Tip: Entry is only with an online ticket and a time slot.
Anne Frank House
The house on the Prinsengracht where Anne Frank and her family hid during the Nazi occupation and where she wrote her diary. A moving visit, walked through in silence.
Recommended time: 1–1.5 h
Tip: Tickets are sold online only, released a few weeks ahead and gone almost immediately.
The Jordaan and the Nine Streets
The city’s most charming neighbourhood: quiet canals, houses with gardens, old brown cafés and galleries. Next door, the Nine Streets are packed with design and vintage shops.
Recommended time: 2–3 h
Vondelpark
Amsterdam’s favourite park, with lakes, lawns, terraces and an open-air theatre in summer. The ideal place to rest or cycle after the museums.
Recommended time: 1 h
Dam Square and the Royal Palace
The historic centre of the city, with the Royal Palace, which served as the town hall in the 17th century, the Nieuwe Kerk and the National Monument. From here you can walk the Damrak and the shopping streets.
Recommended time: 1 h
De Pijp and the Albert Cuyp market
A lively, multicultural neighbourhood with the city’s most famous street market, where you can try fresh stroopwafels and herring, and plenty of cafés and restaurants.
Recommended time: 2 h
Heineken Experience
Heineken’s old brewery, now an interactive tour of its history and brewing process, with a tasting at the end.
Recommended time: 1.5 h
Begijnhof
A hidden courtyard in the middle of the city, surrounded by houses once home to the Beguines, lay religious women. It contains Amsterdam’s oldest wooden house. An oasis of silence.
Recommended time: 30 min
A’DAM Lookout
Across the IJ, a tower with a viewing deck over the whole city and a swing hanging over the edge. Get there on the free ferry from behind Central Station.
Recommended time: 1 h
Day trips from Amsterdam
Zaanse Schans
About 20 min by train
Working windmills, green wooden houses, clog and cheese workshops by the river Zaan: the classic image of Holland.
Volendam and Marken
About 30 min by bus
Fishing villages with wooden houses, traditional costumes and fresh herring, linked by boat in summer.
Keukenhof
About 45 min by bus
The world’s most famous flower garden, with millions of tulips, surrounded by bulb fields. It only opens in spring, roughly from mid-March to mid-May.
Haarlem
About 15 min by train
A small, relaxed city with a beautiful market square, the great church of St Bavo and the Frans Hals Museum.
Utrecht
About 30 min by train
Canals with wharf-level terraces, the cathedral tower, the tallest in the country, and a lively student atmosphere.
Amsterdam in 3 days
Day 1
Dam Square and the Royal Palace, the Begijnhof and the Anne Frank House with your booked ticket. An afternoon in the Jordaan and the Nine Streets and a canal cruise at dusk.
Day 2
Museumplein: the Rijksmuseum in the morning and the Van Gogh Museum in the afternoon, with a break in the Vondelpark. Dinner in De Pijp.
Day 3
A morning trip to Zaanse Schans and, back in town, the free ferry to the A’DAM Lookout to see the city from above. In spring, swap Zaanse Schans for Keukenhof.
Amsterdam with kids
- NEMO, the ship-shaped science museum packed with hands-on experiments.
- ARTIS, one of Europe’s oldest zoos, with a planetarium and an aquarium.
- A canal boat trip.
- Renting bikes with a child seat or a cargo bike to ride around the Vondelpark.
Free things to do in Amsterdam
- The Begijnhof in the heart of the city.
- The free ferry to Amsterdam Noord, with views over the IJ.
- The Vondelpark and the Rijksmuseum gardens.
- The Albert Cuyp market and the floating flower market (Bloemenmarkt).
- Walking around the canal ring and the Jordaan.
Where to stay in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is compact and everything is walkable, cyclable or a tram ride away. Staying in or near the canal ring is the most convenient, though also the most expensive.
Centre and canals
A step from everything, with the prettiest views. Lively and pricey.
Jordaan
The most charming neighbourhood, quiet and well located. Ideal for couples.
De Pijp
Young, multicultural and great for food, close to the museums and slightly more affordable.
Museumplein and Oud-Zuid
Elegant and quiet, next to the big museums and the Vondelpark. A good choice for families.
When to go to Amsterdam
April and May are lovely for the tulips; on 27 April, King’s Day, the whole city dresses in orange and turns into a party on the canals. June to September brings the best weather and very long days.
Winter is cold, damp and dark, but the lit canals and the light festival in December and January have plenty of charm. Always pack a raincoat: it rains in every season.
Book activities in Amsterdam
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Frequently asked questions about Amsterdam
How do I get tickets for the Anne Frank House?
They are sold online only, with a time slot, and released a few weeks in advance. They sell out very quickly, so buy them as soon as you have dates.
How many days do you need in Amsterdam?
Three days let you see the canals, the big museums and the neighbourhoods. A fourth day allows a trip to Zaanse Schans, Volendam or, in spring, Keukenhof.
When do the tulips bloom?
Usually between late March and early May, depending on the weather each year. Keukenhof only opens during those weeks.
How do you get around Amsterdam?
On foot, by tram or by bike. If you rent a bike, stick to the lanes and signals: local cyclists ride fast. Trams and the metro accept contactless cards.
What is the best area to stay in Amsterdam?
The centre and canal ring to have everything nearby, the Jordaan for charm, De Pijp for atmosphere and prices, and the museum quarter for somewhere quieter.
Guide written by the buiigo team · Updated October 8, 2026
