18 Best things to do in Amsterdam (2026): By a frequent traveler

If you ask us why we keep going back to Amsterdam, we’d probably say it’s for the stamppot, the photography, and the tulips. In our guide “18 Best Things to Do in Amsterdam,” we’ll take you through the city’s rich culture, must-see attractions, top hotels, restaurants, and much more.

This guide is packed with the best experiences we’ve had during our many trips to Amsterdam. And yes, it’s true—Amsterdam is known as a great party city, but there’s so much more waiting to be discovered.

Note: this is a long ultimate guide to answer all your questions, so feel free to scroll down to the section of your interest, using the table of content below. Let’s dive in!

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Amsterdam Cheat Sheet

Why we love Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is a peaceful city, and I believe one of the main reasons is the lack of cars in the Amsterdam Centrum. Yes — no cars means no air or noise pollution. And when you do spot a car, it’s usually as small as a bike.

But why is that? The streets of Amsterdam are narrow, and parking is limited, making it much easier to get around by bike than by car. So, it’s no surprise that you’ll see more bikes than cars — maybe even more bikes than people!

Pro Tip: Be Careful of the bikes, they have no mercy on pedestrians. Don’t even think that they will wait for you to cross the street.

I Amsterdam City Card

Specially for the first-timers, I recommend to get your “I Amsterdam City Card” so that you have free entry to many Amsterdam museums including Rijksmuseum. plus all the public transportation within Amsterdam. You’ll save a lot.

You’ll also get one Free Canal Cruise and 24 hour free bike rental, so it’s definitely worth it. Get your Card here.

How to Get around in Amsterdam

Let’s start with airport. We always take the sprinter train to go from Airport to Amsterdam Centraal or Amsterdam Rai (depends where we stay). This city has a great public transportation system and you basically don’t need any taxi or uber.

You’ll need around 20 minutes to Amsterdam Centraal and 10 minutes to Amsterdam Rai.

If you want a hotel with nice panoramic view over Amsterdam and away from the Amsterdam City noise, stay in Amsterdam Rai. You’ll reach Amsterdam Centraal in 10 minutes with metro. We stayed this time at Hotel Nhow Rai and we quite enjoyed it.

The best way to explore Amsterdam is by walk or by bike. You can rent bike all over the place in Amsterdam or you can rent it online here, and just pick it up. We mostly love to walk around and explore the city, do some photography, but in Amsterdam getting a bike tour is a must.

Taxi & Uber in Amsterdam

Honestly we never used it. But the answer to your question is yes Uber is available and taxis as well. But as said, the public transportation in Amsterdam is cheap and very good, so that we never needed to use a taxi.

18 Best Things to do in Amsterdam:

So let’s dive into the best things to do in Amsterdam. At the end of this section, I’ll also add a F&Q section, for the questions you might have. So you just need to sit back and enjoy your trip.

1- Take a dreamy Canal Cruise

When we first visit a city, we normally prefer to do an activity to find our orientation. Taking a Canal Cruise is one of those recommendations, when visiting Amsterdam for the first time . It’s also very dreamy and so much fun.

Which Canal Cruise to take in Amsterdam

We tried different types of Canal Cruises in Amsterdam, during our last visits. From Evening Cruise to Dinner Cruise and Private Cruises. Our favorite is the Semi/Private Boat Tours. Below you can also see the details for each tour and where to get the tickets:

Semi Private Boat Tours with Drinks & Snacks

As photographers, we normally prefer to pick a smaller boat tour with less people on board. Imagine sitting on those fully bloomy boats with a bar in the middle and be served with your favorite cocktail, while watching those tiny cute houses along the Amsterdam canal.

Note: We also prefer an open-air boat like everyone else, but Amsterdam is quite rainy and if the rain doesn’t stop during your visit, don’t worry. The boats have covers and it’s also very dreamy under the rain.

We just came back from Amsterdam and this time we tried the Flagship tour from Anne Frank House and it was fantastic. They have 5 different stations, so you can pick up the one closer to your hotel.

The Tour is around1,5 hour. You can also ask for a private group tour. We loved the unlimited drink option and the cheese & snacks. We only paid 29$ for the whole fun, but it can be more expensive in summer.

Sightseeing Canal Cruise

Also sightseeing cruises are a great alternative for you and a more budget option. If it happens to rain – you can sit comfortably inside a covered boat. If you’d rather book in person, tickets are available directly at Demrak Pier. Also you can Book them online.

For a more romantic honeymoon feeling, we suggest to book a dinner cruise or an evening cruise with snacks and drinks. The lights along the Amsterdam Canals are dreamy at night. Check out the best Evening Cruise in Amsterdam here.

Although the Amsterdam canals are very romantic at night, if you’re a photographer, it’s better to take a day tour for a better view, and leave the night cruise for romantic getaways.

Where to take Canal Cruise in Amsterdam

Most of the cruises and boats can pick you up in different locations. The main locations are Demrak Pier and at Anne Frank House. You can easily chose the pick-up place, if you’re getting a tour.

For the normal Sightseeing tours, the best place to get a cruise canal is the Demrak Pier at Centraal Station Amsterdam.

2- Visit the Van Gogh Museum

The first thing you need to do before visiting Van Gogh Museum, is to book your ticket long before flying to Amsterdam.

I’ve been to different Museums in my life, but the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam stands out for a different reason. I love this museum, because it really gives you the feeling as if you’re slowly stepping into the life of this brilliant artist.

The museum is well laid out, so as you move from floor to floor, you actually follow Van Gogh’s journey- from his early works to the famous pieces like Sunflowers. So it’s easy to spend an hour here.

How to book the tickets for Van Gogh Museum:

Note: You need to book your tickets in advance and online, as it sells out fast. It’s better to book it at least 2 weeks before your departure. Tickets cost €26 and you can book the tickets online here.

3. Explore the Rijksmuseum (A Must-Visit)

If you only want to visit one museum in Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum should be the one. Although you should know that this museum is huge and you can call it the Louvre of Amsterdam. It’s my favorite Amsterdam Museum.

Rijksmuseum houses more than 8000 works of art including the works of great artists like Rembrandt and Johannes Vermeer. The building contains 80 rooms and the architecture is stunning as you can see on the photo.

Located on the Museumplein, it’s one of the most beautiful places to take the best instagrammable pictures. This Museum is also the home to more than 800 years of Dutch art and history.

Pro Tip: Admittedly It’s difficult to see all of it within a short time, so I’ll give you a list of my favorite paintings & rooms, you shouldn’t miss below. And wear Comfy shoes!

What to visit in the Museum

The Night Watch, The Jewish Bride and The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes by Rambrandt van Rijn. The Milkmaid & The Kitchen Maid by Johannes Vermeer. The Merry Drinker by Frans Hals, The Bull by Paulus Potter and the Winter Landscape with Ice Skater by Hendrick Avercamp.

The Gallery of Honour which is the heart of the museum and it’s breathtaking. Asian Pavilion with Japanese prints and sculptures is another favorite of mine. Also The library (Cuypers) is the largest and oldest art history library in Netherlands.

Best Stay: If you’re a first-timer, we recommend staying near Museumplein to be close to the city’s top attractions. We often stay at The Hoxton Hotellocated at Dam Square – just a 15-minutes walk to the Museums. It’s a stylish mid-range hotel. Check the availability here.

Pro Tips for Visiting the Museum

The museum is very crowded around “The Night Watch”. If you go early morning, start with this masterpiece to escape the crowd.

There is a Rijksmuseum app for a free download and you can easily use the interactive map to route through the different rooms and collections.

You can easily spend an entire day at the museum – your ticket gives you unlimited access with no time restrictions. We usually spend about 5 hours. And if you’d like to take a break and stay longer, there’s a cozy café inside the museum to relax and recharge.

For my photographer friends: Photography is allowed but without the flash and tripods. That’s why our pics are also a bit dark.

How to get the tickets

If you have your I Amsterdam city Card, you can get free entry. Unless, you can only buy the tickets online. Either on the museums website (link here), or on GetYourGuide. The reason we book it on GetYourGuide is that you can cancel it up to 24 hours before visiting.

In September, Air Canada was on strike and we were not sure if we can fly to Amsterdam. So to be on the safe side, we booked it on GetYourGuide, to be able to cancel it.

Pro Tip: The tickets on Museum’s official website are non-refundable and you can’t cancel them. But you can change the date up to 48 hours before the visit. So if you think, you might need to cancel the tickets, we suggest to book with GetYourGuide.

4- Visit the Anne Frank House

There are places you visit on a trip.. and then there are places that stay with you long after you’ve left. For us, the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam is one of those places.

As someone who loves museums and historical sights, I can say that I’ve hardly visited a historical building like this. It’s definitely one the best things to do in Amsterdam, as you can get so close to the history and what she went through with her family during the world war II.

Why Anne Frank played a role in Amsterdam’s history?

She was a Jewish girl who escaped to Amsterdam during World War II with her family. For over two years, she wrote in her diary about life in the secret annex. I do recommend to read her diary before visiting the house, it feels different and you can truly deep down in the history from her personal view.

Note: As we were in Amsterdam in September 2025, the house was under renovation and was closed to visitors. So if you’re planning to visit this year, check before visiting.

How to get to Anne Frank House

Anne Frank House is located at Prinsengracht 263 in the Jordaan neighborhood, one of the most beautiful areas in Amsterdam. If you stay in the city, you can easily walk there, as it’s right in the center of Amsterdam.

If you prefer a ride, just take the Tram 13 or 17 and get off at “Westermarkt” stop. From there it’s just 2 minutes on foot around the corner.

Pro Tip: We normally go early morning and stay for lunch in Jordaan. It’s one of the best areas with cute cafés and shops nearby.

Best Cafes in Jordaan Amsterdam:

1. Café Winkel 43: it has the most famous Apple Pie in Amsterdam and is so cozy. We love to do brunch there after visiting the museum. it’s just 5 minutes away.
2. Toki: I love this stylish, clean and modern atmosphere. it’s one of the most instagrammable cafés.
3. Pluk Amsterdam: If you’re an instagrammer, this is the place to go. This cute bloomy Cafe is full of colors and even the brunch dishes are colorful. Even if you’re not an instagrammer, it’s a must-visit. Our favorite dishes there are smoothie bowls and their pancakes.

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Tickets:

They are only available online on their official website and they will release the tickets 6 weeks in advance. Also theywill sell out fast, so we set a calendar reminder for booking.

The ticket costs €16 and can only be purchase at annefrank.org online every Tuesday at 10am Cest. Avoid being scammed out of your money by other websites calling to sell you tickets for Anne Frank House.

If you can’t find a ticket, I would still recommend to check the website each day even close to your trip. Sometimes they have cancelations and they will release some tickets. Last summer we could find 2 tickets, 3 days prior to our trip, so don’t give up. It’s definitely worth it.

Important: We normally need an hour to visit and unfortunately no photography is allowed inside. That’s why we don’t have any photos for you.

5- A’DAM Lookout Tower

As photographers, we love to find out the best view of the towns to take that best shot. So our favorite look-out in Amsterdam is the one and only A’DAM lookout Tower. We also have a full post about How to get the tickets for A’DAM Tower & Swing, the best restaurants there and all you need to know. Check our post here.

The Tower has 22 stories and has 2 restaurants and a panoramic bar. The main viewing deck is at the top, with floor-to-ceiling windows and an open-air rooftop and bar.

Pro Tip: Although the tower is open daily from 10 am -10pm, but we love to go there at sunset. You can also book the “Over the Edge” swing, which is one of the highest swing in Europe.

How to get to A’DAM Tower

Get the free ferry (F3) from Amsterdam Centraal Station across the River to Buiksloterweg. The ferry runs every few minutes and takes only 2 minutes to reach there. You will be surrounded by bicycles (just a heads-up).

How to Get the Tickets for A’DAM Lookout:

The Ticket for the Observation desk is €18.50 and with swing €27.50. You can also buy them online and we realized they have sometimes online sales. Last time we could get the ticket for €16.50 online, instead of €18.50 at the kiosk. Check our guide for more details about the tickets.

They also offer Lookout tickets with Burger Menu at the revolving restaurant. The view of the restaurant is also amazing, if you want to enjoy the view a bit longer without the windy weather of Amsterdam.

6. Bike, walk or relax at Vondelpark

For us this is the moment when the buzz of Amsterdam melts away. The trams, the bikes, the chatter – it all softens and suddenly, you find yourself under tall green trees, and lots of flowers in the Vondelpark.

Why we love this park? well, it’s not just a park. Locals come here to picnic, run, ride their bikes, read, flirt and more, so honestly it’s so lively, that you don’t need to have a plan here. You just show up and let the park leads you.

Everyone experiences Vondelpark differently, but we love to rent a bike for a few hours and explore this beauty.

Renting a Bike: This time we rented our bike online through Viator. It’s quite easy, you just check the closest station and pick it up there. Check the one we booked with free cancelation up to 24 hours before. It cost €18.

How to reach Vondelpark?

Vondelpark is the largest and most famous park in Amsterdam, located right next to Museumplein. That’s why we normally take a rest in the park after visiting one of the museums (Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum and Stedelijk Museum).

So basically it’s just 5-10 minutes walk from Museumplein and if you’re getting the Tram, Line 2 or 12 will bring you directly to the Leidseplein or Museumplein station.

Insider Tips:

• There are cute cafés inside Vondelpark where you can grab a coffee or even a full meal. Our favorite is De Vondeltuin which is great to grab a lunch.
• If you’re visiting Amsterdam from June to September, there are lots of free concerts and performances at the open-air theatre (Openluchttheater). Check the schedule here.

Accommodation Tip: One of our favorite areas to stay in Amsterdam is the area close to Vondelpark. It’s more relaxed, but still close to major attractions and Museum. If you’re looking for a Hotel in Amsterdam, our favorite one in this area is Hotel JL No 76.

This cozy, beautiful boutique hotel is stylish, comfortable and affordable. IT has a lounge, a restaurant and a bar with a private inner garden. It’s a kind of hotel that you feel like you’re living in an authentic Amsterdam house. You can check the prices here.

7. Bike Tour Amsterdam, best for first-timers:

it’s an easy pizzy 3 hours unforgettable tour including the bikes. We started at AmsterBike (that’s the meeting point) and first cycle along the canals which are BTW UNESCO world Heritage waterways, if you didn’t know that. On your way, you’ll pass the Jewish Quarter, Anne Frank House.

We had also 2 breaks and I loved the one at Leidseplein Square with all those street performers and musicians. You’ll also pass the Museum Quarter, Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum and the impressive Maritime Quarter.

It’s one of the best activities to do in Amsterdam as a first-timer. We were a group of 14 people, so not a big group and our guide Daniel was amazing. Also the bikes were really good and you’ll also get a Helmet if you want. You’ll be welcomed with a bottle of water and a Stroopwafel. The tour is around 3 hours and costs C$ 60.

8. Try a Stroopwafel

Ok I must admit that I never liked a stroopwafel until I visited Amsterdam. Then I was eating stroopwafel for breakfast, dessert after lunch and late-night snack. So I basically fell in love with it in Amsterdam.

There are some travel moments that stick with you – not because they’re grand, but because they’re simply delicious. This is one of them.

Pro Tip: Make sure you eat a fresh- made one, as the taste is so different. Some shops are offering only pre-made waffles and just layer fresh. I wouldn’t go for that.

Where to get the best Stroopwafel in Amsterdam

We love the ones at Albert Cuyp Market, as it’s so fresh and less touristy. The prices are much cheaper. The well-know stroopwafel stand in there is Rudi’s Original Stroopwafels and you just pay €3.00. Our favorite is also the Superstrooper which is the oversized version for €3.50.

If you’re looking for the one in the city, Van Wonderen Stroopwafels on Kalverstraat is fantastic. But a bit more pricey, as you’ll pay for a small Stroopwafel around €11.50, but totally worth it.

Pro Tip: Make sure they are making the waffel fresh and not just warming it up, as there is a big difference. You can also chose the size, the dips and the layers. I love the dark chocolate, hazelnut with caramel layer. Simply delicious!

Amsterdam Ritual for Stroopwafels

Try this little Amsterdam ritual: place a fresh stroopwafel on top of your hot coffee or tea and let it sit for a minute. As the steam warms the waffle, the caramel inside turns soft and gooey- the perfect mix of chewy and sweet. Believe me you’re going to miss this, when you’re back.

9. Visit the Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt)

Yessss! you really have to visit this world’s only floating flower market with it’s houseboats along the Singel Canal. I just say that those colors, the smell of fresh flowers and the atmosphere, all make you don’t want to leave.

It’s easy to access, as it’s directly in the city center and I’ve never seen better tulips anywhere else in my whole life. The Tulips are definitely the starts here. I found it so interesting that you can even find blue tulips there.

Even in winter, as we visited Amsterdam 2 years ago, you can still find Tulips and you can also buy bulbs.

Note: If you want to buy bulbs and take home, make sure they are certified for travel if you’re flying internationally. I know that Canada doesn’t allow us to bring them here.

Tips for Vising the Bloemenmarkt

We recommend to visit in early morning as it’s less crowded and the flowers are so fresh. The Markt is open 9am-5:30pm, except Sundays from 11am-5:30pm.

How to travel from Amsterdam to Keukenhof

This beautiful farm is located in Lisse, which is about 40 km ride from Amsterdam and is close to Schiphol Airport. You can easily get there in under an hour.

There are several ways to get to Keukenhof. Although we normally rent a car, as we are carrying our photography equipment, but you can easily reach there by train or by a shuttle and here is how.

By Train

I found it the easiest and the cheapest way to travel to Keukenhof. If you’re in Amsterdam city center, just get the train to go to Schiphol Airport (it’s around 20 minutes ride)

Then at the airport, just get the Bus 858 – Keukenhof Express, which departs every 10 minutes and in 50 minutes, you’re at Keukenhof.

By Shuttle

If you want to save time and do zero planning, I would book a shuttlebus, which includes the entry ticket and different meeting points in the city, so you don’t need to travel to the Airport.

Pro Tip: We booked the tour with flexible entry and return, as we wanted to spend more time there. We were picked up at Adam’s lookout and the transport was very comfortable and I would say luxury for $45.

It was an amazing experience and we really enjoyed our journey, and if you don’t want to rent a car, we recommend to get the shuttle, as it’s hassle free and the cost is not that different. Book your shuttle + Ticket here.

By Car

If you want to go to Keukenhof by car, you can park your car for around €8 for the day. It has a large parking lot and the driving time from Amsterdam is around 45 minutes, if there’s no traffic.

We could easily find it, as roads were well-marked, but can get a little busy, so we suggest to drive as early as you can.

How to book the tickets

As you can imagine, you need to book your tickets in advance and plan months ahead, as it sells out fast. Keukenhof sells the tickets from October 15th of the previous year, so may be you can mark that in your calendar.

If you’re desired date is sold out, you can also check the tours that are offering shuttles and entry tickets to Keukenhof. Check the one we booked here.

Best time to Visit Keukenhof

Although the park is open daily from 8am to 7:30 pm, but if you want to enjoy it without huge crowds and get the best shots, you need to go early in the morning. Also we found that mid-April is the normally the Peak bloom, if you want to have the full colors.

What to Expect

Prepare yourself for a dreamy day with 7 million flowers, not only endless rows of tulips, but also indoor pavilions with orchids, lilies and floral art. For me it’s an endless beauty and very difficult to leave.

The highlight of the photography scenery here (at least for us) is the Windmill that you can climb up and look over the tulip fields from it.

Also there are Cafés and picnic spots, so you can take a break and drink a coffee with a fresh stroopwafel.

Pro Tip: Although Keukenhof is a must-visit, but our favorite activity there is to rent a bike (outside of the garden) and explore the countryside. You can find many tulip fields with beautiful colors all around the garden and within minutes.

Some Insider Tips:

Since we traveled once directly from the airport for a day-trip to Amsterdam, it’s good to know that there is also a luggage storage there.

Also wear layers, as it can be windy and cold in the morning, while shiny and warm in the afternoon.

11. Visit the Royal Palace

Unlike most of the other European palaces, which are located outside the city center, Royal Palace is located in the middle of Dam Square, so you just need to walk there.

Here’s the fun part: even though it’s called a palace, it wasn’t originally built for royals. Nope, it was actually built in the 1500s as Amsterdam’s City hall during the Golden Age. Thanks to Napoleon’s brother, it turned into a royal residence and that’s when things got fancy.

The interesting thing for me, is the fact that it’s still used by the Dutch royal family today for official events, but when they’re not hosting dinners or ceremonies, we (visitors) can walk right in and explore the palace. I found it impressive!

Some Tips to visit the Palace

• Grab your free audio guide at the entrance. It’s surprisingly good and make the visit interesting.
• You’ll need around 1 hour to explore without rushing (well I did it in 45 minutes too), but you can’t take videos.
• The price is €12.50 (free with the I Amsterdam City Card), and honestly you don’t need to book a tour for that. But if you want to save time during the high-season, as it can be very crowded, we suggest to book the tickets online. Here is the link.

Pro Tip: Yesss! It’s definitely worth a visit and although it might not look huge from outside, it’s truly jaw dropping. specially the Citizens’ Hall (Burgerzaal).

12. Eating Stamppot

If you’re so foodie like me and my hubby, then you need to hear this. Stamppot is a traditional Dutch dish, which looks very simple, but tastes so delicious that you want to eat the plate as well.

Stamppot is simply just mashed potatoes mixed with veggies like kale, sauerkraut or carrot and onion, usually served with a juicy sausage or beef. The gravy on the top is a must-have too.

We tried so many local restaurants, but these 2 restaurants are our favorites for eating stamppots:

De Blauwe Hollander: My favorite cozy restaurant with amazing service, directly in downtown Amsterdam and is making delicious Stamppots since 1979. My favorite dish there is the Beef Stamppot with Carrot & Onion. The meat melts in your mouth.

The Pantry: Another famous restaurant for Stamppot is the Pantry, located also directly in the city (actually in front of De Blauwe Hollander). Their stamppot menu lets you choose your mash (like kale or sauerkraut), and the dishes are huge.

Pro Tip: we recommend to book your table in advance (specially for Pantry), as it’s always quite busy.

13. Fabrique des Lumières Monet

If you’ve ever wished you could walk inside a painting, this is your place to go. For us, it was the most beautiful part of our trip this time. I’ve never been to Fabrique des Lumieres, as I am not a big fan of digital art, but this time Behrad convinced me to go and check it out.

So I must say, it is very impressive and truly an art work, which worth definitely a visit, while you’re in Amsterdam.

My favorite part is the Monet show which is breathtaking and it really felt like surrounded with water lilies and gardens. The classical music playing softly in the background, makes it all dreamier and that’s hard not to love it.

How to get There

You can easily take the tram 3 or 5 to “Van Hallstraat” or just walk 25 minutes from the city center. We actually walked there, as it was beautiful weather in September.

Note: The tickets are around €17.50 and you can get them online here. You’ll also get discount with your I Amsterdam City Card.

15. Stroll through Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp

First time we visited Amsterdam, we stayed close to the Albert Cuyp Market and I loved that. This area is one of my favorites to stay, as it’s close to the Canals and the view from your room at sunset is just fascinating.

Although we’re often in Amsterdam, Albert Cuyp Market is always on my list to visit. It’s the place, where I feel the real everyday energy of Amsterdam – not the polished postcard version. Basically It’s where locals live and shop.

This market has been around since 1905 and Yep, over a century of people buying, selling, and snacking their way down this lively street.

Explore Amsterdam with a bike. The best way to see Amsterdam? On two Wheels.

Here you can see the options!

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How to get there

You can either take the Metro line 52 (North-South line) and get off at De Pijp Station or take the tram 4 from Amsterdam Centraal Station and get off at Stadhouderskade. From Museum plein it’s just a 10 minute walk too.

We recommend to go in the morning and wander up and down. I love to have my breakfast there and I always can’t decide, if I shall have a cheese bread, Herring sandwich or a stroopwafel.

Must-Eats

If you’re traveling on a budget, the best place to eat is the Albert Cuyp Market. It’s fresh and high-quality for a fair price. No matter how often we go there, these always stay on our shopping list:

• Fresh Stroopwafels at Rudi’s Original Stroopwafels
• Dutch Cheese: I love Gouda and truffle cheese and we always take several packs with us. You can actually keep some of them out of fridge for even 24 hours. Ask the stalls, which one is appropriate for travelers.
• And although I am not a big fan of raw fish sandwiches, but the raw herring with pickles and onions is a must-eat and it’s surprisingly so delicious.

Pro Tip: It’s open Monday to Saturday from 9am -5 pm and closed on Sundays. There are around 260 stalls and most of them also accept cards, but cash is always more handy in Europe for smaller stalls.

16. Take a Day Trip to Zaanse Schans

This is the cutest, most colorful and authentic village, I’ve ever seen in Europe. If you have even half a day, this is a must-visit. We went there this September for the first time.

Although the weather was a bit windy and cold, we couldn’t leave. It really feels like stepping into a postcard, so we did almost 200 photos and I can’t count the videos. Just imagine countless windmills along the river, green wooden houses, cheese farms and lambs just about 30 minutes ride from Amsterdam.

How to get there

You can easily get there by train from Amsterdam Centraal station in about 30 minutes. It’s free from Amsterdam with your Amsterdam City Card.

If you go by train, you’ll need to catch the bus from train station to the windmills. Although we actually walked all the way down there and it took around 35 minutes. On the way back we’ve got an uber.

You can also take the bus 391 from Amsterdam Centraal Bus Terminal and it will drop you off right at Zaanse Schans, so you don’t need to walk. The cost is around €6 and it takes 40 to 45 minutes.

Best Tour Options

You can also visit Zaanse Schans, Edam and Marken with a Full-Day Trip, so you don’t have to think about anything. As we visited Zaanse Schans for the first time last year, we booked a tour from Amsterdam with transfer and guide.

It’s a great option, if you want to sit back and relax with less walking. They will also make a stop at Edam to see the cheese farm at Volendam and believe me the cheese is soooooo delicious.

The tour takes around 7 hours and it’s around $40 per person. It’s totally worth it. Actually we would book it again this year, but we only had 4 hours and we could only make it to Zaanse Schans this time. You can book your Tour here.

17. Explore the Jordaan Neighborhood

Jordaan is actually the heartbeat of local Amsterdam, so it’s a must-visit. It was once a working-class area, while now it’s one of the city’s most beautiful and beloved neighborhoods.

Why you should visit this area? Just imagine small bridges with bikes leaning on the railings, quiet cobblestones, colorful tiny houses along the canals and people sipping coffee by the water. Who doesn’t want to be in the middle of this.

What I love about Jordaan is its mix of local life and quiet charm with an artisan touch. Although it’s close to everything but still it feels like a small world away from the touristic areas around Dam square.

Where is Jordaan located?

Actually it’s just a short walk from Dam Square and Amsterdam Central Station, located west of the Canal belt. It starts from brouwersgracht in the north to Leidsegracht in the south.

It’s home to some of my favorites attractions in Amsterdam, like Anne Frank House and Dam Square.

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A little History about Jordaan

We took a tour as we first went to this dreamy neighborhood and he told us the story about this area and I fell more in love with it. So here is a short version of it.

Jordaan was bult in the 17th century for the working-class of Amsterdam and over the years, it became the hub of artisans, musicians and markets. So today it’s one of Amsterdam most expensive and desirable neighborhoods.

Jordaan comes from the french word “Jardin” and it means garden, and if you look around at the canal side flower boxes, you’ll see why.

Best Photography Spots: We love this area for the photography and videography. Almost all the bridges have a story to tell. Also the cruises as well as the colorful houses, make a fantastic scenery for photographers, both day and nights. So if you’re a photographer, take your camera with you.

My Favorite Cafés & Brunch Spots

If you’re like me and always in search for new cozy spots, you’ll have difficulties here, as they are all cozy and cute. Over the years, we tried different spots and here is a list of our favorites:

• Winkel 43: We love this cute shop and it’s famous for it’s apple pie. So you have to try that.
• Café Papeneiland: It’s one of the oldest cafés in Amsterdam and has been around since 1642 – yes, almost 400 years! and still standing. A beautiful historic canal café with a charming building.

Saturday & Monday Markets

What we love about Jordaan is the lively local markets on Saturdays and Mondays. So if you can visit this area on one of these days, don’t forget to visit these:

• Noordermarkt (Saturday) with organic products and farmers offer their products. You can also find a little bit of vintage stuff. I love this market.
• Lindengracht Market (Saturday) – This is another fantastic local Dutch market with food, flowers, cloths and much more.
• Monday Flea Market – If you like vintage like me, you’ll find fantastic pieces here.

18. Visit the fairytale city of Zaandam

Another must-visit in Amsterdam is the fairytale city of Zaandam, which is only 15 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal by train. Specially we love that at sunset, as this cute small city becomes a picturesque postcard.

I could stand there for hours and take pictures or do videos. But let’s stop dreaming and stick to our guide. It’s actually on your way to Zaanse Schans. So we normally visit it on our way back to Amsterdam for the sunset and having a quick dinner.

While Zaanse Schans gets all the attention by the tourists, Zaandam is a true hidden gem. The Inntel Hotel Zaandam has a crazy, stacked green architecture that looks like someone built it out of 70 traditional Dutch homes.

The Zaan River below your foot, makes it really unique and you just don’t want to stop walking. This beautiful town has lots of small shops and a shopping promenade. We love to stop there for a coffee or for a quick Doner (you can find many of them).

How to get there

You can easily get the train from Amsterdam Centrraal to Zaandam Station which is exactly in front of the Inntel Hotel Zaandam.

Pro Tip: Zaandam is one of the most beautiful places for photography, there’s a little bridge just in front of the hotel that gives you the best instagrammable view.

Best time to visit Amsterdam?

Honestly it’s a bit difficult to pick the best season for Amsterdam – I love Amsterdam year-round! In general, you should know that it can be cold, windy and rainy during spring, fall and winter. So you can expect temperatures around 17°C with a cool breeze.

But if you’re someone who really enjoys warmer weather, then I would recommend to visit Amsterdam during summer months. You can enjoy the longer day light and enjoy the canal tours.

Although we just came back from Amsterdam in September, but you could still sit outside, drive open boats and walk the whole day around. So it really depends on the weather.

Amsterdam in November and December might be a bit chilly and windy, but still we really enjoyed our stay during Christmas time 3 years ago. You just need an umbrella with a jacket that keeps you warm.

When is the Tulip Season in Amsterdam

The best time to visit the tulip gardens is from late March to early May. Since tulips bloom depending on the weather each year, it’s best to always check the official Keukenhof website for the exact dates before you plan your trip to Keukenhof or you can just book your tickets here!

What to Pack for Amsterdam

For me, Amsterdam is less about the museums or churches, and more about its canals, nature and unique architecture. That being said, this city has a special vibe and even though it rains quite often, you still enjoy every second of it.

That said, my first piece of advice is to always pack wisely. No matter when you travel to Amsterdam – even in summer – you should bring a light coat, a scarf, and definitely an umbrella. Believe me that beautiful sunny golden weather can quickly change to a windy cloudy rainy one. so be prepared!

I also pack waterproof comfy shoes or boots for Amsterdam, as it can always be rainy no matter the season. I love the ones from

How are the Dutch people?

In 2 words I would say happy and friendly people. We never felt like a stranger in Netherlands.

Best Hotels in Amsterdam

Here are the hotels we stayed at for all kinds of budgets:

The Hoxton Hotel – (Mid-Range)

This beautiful hotel is housed in five historic canal houses along the Herengracht. I love it’s boutique charm with modern comforts. It’s only 10 minutes to Dam Square, close to the museum area.

The Nhow Amsterdam Rai – (Mid-Range)

This is our second favorite in Amsterdam and is eco-inspired with a very creative look. Prepare yourself for epic rooms and surprises. We loved this hotel, because of its modern rooms, comfort and easy accessibility to the city. It also has a fantastic panoramic view in the room and at it’s rooftop bar.

Nhow hotel is located at Amsterdam Rai, and it’s just 2 stations away from the city center. The metro is only 2 minutes walk from the hotel.

Hotel Jakarta Amsterdam

Our third favorite indeed with a beautiful garden and it’s river views. Rooms are generous in the size and it has a good Amenity with indoor poo and spa. It’s a bit off the historic canal belt but only 2 stops from central station on Tram 26. (Get off at Kattenburgerstraat)