10 Best Things to Do in Amsterdam

The Royal Palace Amsterdam is for many people their first stop, offering a look at a historic 17th-century Dutch Golden Age building, now home to the royal family. Originally, this exuberant palace along Dam Square was built as a city hall to host administrative functions of the town and to symbolise the international influence of the city. The architecture is pure classical in style, paying homage to ancient Greco-Roman buildings of thousands of years ago.

You can walk the elaborate rooms and galleries to view authentic furnishings and décor from hundreds of years past and explore mysterious stories of the city's past. It's in the heart of the city centre.

Dam Square is an open-air space in front of Amsterdam’s Royal Palace (Koninklijk Palace). The public square dates back to the 13th century, and has cobblestoned pathways lined with restaurants, bars, and pubs. It’s close to touristy landmarks such as the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Beurs van Berlage Hall, and New Church (Nieuwe Kerk). The middle of Dam Square often hosts street performances and concerts, especially in the summer. Be aware of your surroundings as pickpockets often target the unsuspecting tourist.

The Anne Frank House was the hiding place of German-born Anne Frank during World War II, where she wrote her famous diary. Today, you can learn about her family's life through exhibitions within this museum. Located 800 metres east of Dam Square, the 17th-century home is a popular museum in Amsterdam, and attracts those who are curious about the life of the Holocaust victim. The Diary Room displays Anne’s original diary, while her room is decorated with various postcards and photos of celebrities. 

Rijksmuseum, founded in 1800, is a national museum of arts and history with over 1 million valuables. The museum occupies a Gothic-Renaissance building with a garden courtyard in Museumplein, about 300 metres east of the Van Gogh Museum. The Masterpieces Collection showcases over 400 important paintings from the Rijksmuseum’s permanent collection as it undergoes refurbishment. Highlights include Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, Johannes Vermeer’s The Milkmaid, and Jan van Goyen’s Landscape with Two Oaks. Guided tours are provided in various languages.

Amsterdam’s Canal Ring is a unique landscape made up of over 165 canals, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. For this reason alone, you should take a tour of the city by boat, whether you’re having a dinner cruise or taking advantage of the Rijksmuseum art tour. Most tours depart from central Amsterdam, and if you choose an evening boat ride, you get to enjoy views of canal homes and bridges which are beautifully lit up with fairy lights.

Vondelpark is Amsterdam’s equivalent to New York’s Central Park, spanning 120 acres of green space filled with flowery lawns, ponds, playgrounds, and pathways. Families get to frolic about at the park’s 6 play areas, rent skateboards or bicycles, and enjoy picnics overlooking a large pond. Vondelpark is particularly special in summer when a never-ending festival vibe takes place at Openluchttheater, an open-air theatre in the middle of the park.

De Negen Straatjes is a trendy neighbourhood consisting of 9 small streets within the Centrum borough. The best way to explore is by cycling or walking, as you get to stop by dozens of independent boutiques, vintage shops, jewellery shops, and artisanal stores along the way. If you’re a fan of photography, head over to Keizersgracht Street to check out Huis Marseille, Amsterdam’s first photography museum.

Foodhallen is an indoor food hall in Amsterdam Oud-West, where you can enjoy authentic cuisines from all over the world. Over 30 stalls occupy the De Hallen cultural complex, a refurbished tram depot dating back to the 17th century. Must-tries include Viet View’s fresh spring rolls, De Ballenbar’s bitterballen (Dutch meatballs), and Parisian treats at Petit Gâteau.

Amsterdam is synonymous with its liberal cannabis culture, where there are hundreds of licensed coffeeshops selling cannabis rolled in joints and baked into brownies. There's no denying that many come here to indulge in the local wares. Famous outlets in central Amsterdam include Dampkring, Coffeeshop Smokey, and The Bulldog The First, one of the longest-running cannabis dispensaries in the city.

De Wallen is Amsterdam’s notorious red-light district, and one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the city. It holds a great deal of history in its walls, which now separate the erotic, religious, residential and the commercial. It’s a fascinating and quite fun place to explore, so long as you’re not easily shocked. You’ll be able to discover the Erotic Museum and various sex shops with their merchandise on display – and they’re the least risqué offerings! While in the area, be aware that cameras are not usually welcome, particularly near the red-hued windows. Oudekerksplein Square features unique sculptures dedicated to sex workers, including a bronze relief of a hand holding a female breast on the cobblestoned pavement.