Amazing Places to Visit and Best Things to Do in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the national capital of Netherlands situated in North Holland Province. Though the city is famous for red light districts and legal cannabis, there are other top things to do in Amsterdam as well. You will discover some of the best places to visit in Amsterdam as you go through this article. Amsterdam tourist attractions are also quite unique, you won’t find such museums in every other city. Among unusual things to see in Amsterdam is Tulip Museum, Museum of Torture, Museum of Prostitution, Erotic Museum, Sex Museum and Hash, Marijuana & Hemp Museum. There is also an art gallery dedicated to paintings & sculptures about cats and cats alone among Amsterdam tourist attractions. There are also Amsterdam attractions dedicated to photography, films, cheese, beer and gin.
Among actual best places to visit in Amsterdam are Rijks Museum, the House of Anne Frank, Van Gogh Museum, Rembrandt Museum and so on. Victor Van Gogh and Rembrandt are two of the most famous artists to come from the Dutch capital. You will find their creations at several Amsterdam sightseeing places besides the museums as well. Amsterdam tourist spots dedicated to contemporary art are also a sight to behold. You will also find many up and coming artists presenting their works at Amsterdam tourist places like the Stedelijk Museum. Contemporary art exhibitions at the museum keep changing from time to time. So do check out what is being displayed at the time you visit Amsterdam.
As there are several places to see in Amsterdam, there are also several ways to explore these places. The city has dedicated bicycle paths. The bicycle tours are among best things to do in Amsterdam. You can also make Amsterdam trips cruising on a boat in canals. It is yet another popular Amsterdam activities for couples especially. Another fun thing to do in Amsterdam is touring the city on a beer bike. That’s right, a multi seater cycle loaded with beer to go around best places to visit in Amsterdam.
Besides boat and bike, there are numerous walking tours you can take when you visit Amsterdam. These tours are mostly themed around places to go in Amsterdam located in close proximity. You can take walking tour of the famous red light district, cannabis cafe, historical buildings, canal side attractions and so on. Amsterdam travel on foot is really enjoyable. The city has a groovy fun vibe. As the sun goes down the city becomes even more happening. Partying among the most fun things to do in Amsterdam at night. There are several night clubs, pubs, bars, and lounges to feel the music and dance your heart away in Amsterdam. If your city already has a great nightlife scene, you should check out some of the themed and unusual night clubs.
If you are looking for an even more happening time to visit Amsterdam than weekend nights, you should join the extravaganza of festivals in the city. It is one of the most cool things to do in Amsterdam. Party as almost half the city parties day & night to the soundtrack of some of the most popular music artists. Even local cultural festivals like King’s Day are incredibly fun to attend on Amsterdam travel.
Table of Contents
The Best Tourist Places to Visit in Amsterdam in 6 days
Only got 6 days to explore the beautiful and fun city of Amsterdam, don’t you worry. This itinerary will guide you to all the best places to visit in Amsterdam you can enjoy within 6 days.
Day 1
1. Van Gogh Museum
This museum, dedicated to the iconic artist Vincent Van Gogh, has the largest collection of his works in the entire world. You will need 2 to 3 hours to explore the entire museum.
2. Rijksmuseum
This is the National Dutch Museum and it is quite large. The museum tells the story of the nation from a national as well as international perspective. You would need about 3 hours to explore the exhibits on 4 floors of this museum.
3. Leidseplein
This public square is the hustling bustling heart of the city. It is one of the best places to visit in Amsterdam for shopping and dining as well. The square is also one of the most popular Amsterdam spots for nightlife. You would need about an hour for sightseeing though at Leidseplein.
4. Huis Marseille
This museum is dedicated to the art, craft and technology of photography. The museum has an exhibit of over 5000 photographs and is one of the most interesting places to visit during Amsterdam sightseeing. You would need about an hour to explore this museum.
Day 2
1. Anne Frank House
This house is perhaps one of the most visited among Amsterdam tourist attractions.This is the house where Anne Frank hid for 2 years during the German occupation. This house holds special significance for anyone who has read Anne Frank’s Diary. You would need about 2 hours at this place.
2. Amsterdam Museum
This museum talks about the history of the city, its culture and its people. It is one of the most important places to visit in Amsterdam if you want to understand the place. You will need about 2 hours to explore the various exhibits in this museum.
3. Dam Square
This square has been a part of Amsterdam’s history since the 13th century. It is surrounded by Amsterdam attractions, being one itself. You should keep one hour aside for Dam Square.
4. Oude Kerk
This church was built as a Roman Catholic Church honoring St. Patrik during the 1200s. It somehow ended up in the middle of the Red Light District. You would need 1 hour for this church.
5. Sightseeing Cruise
This cruise is one of the most fun things to do in Amsterdam. This hour long cruise takes you around the canals of the city while enjoying the sights of several popular things to see in Amsterdam.
Day 3
1. Basilica of Saint Nicholas
Located in the old center district of the city, this basilica is has one of the most beautifully designed interiors among all Amsterdam tourist attractions. The central bas-relief sculpture is one of the most admired feature of the this church. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this church.
2. Royal Palace
This Palace is the resident of the monarch. Every aspect of the palace from the exterior to interiors and its exhibits exude royalty and luxury. The palace is quite huge, though not all parts are accessible to people. You would still need 2 to 3 hours to explore it.
3. Madame Tussauds Museum
This museum is quite well known for exhibiting wax statues of famous personalities of past and present. You will need about 2 hours to see all the exhibits of this museum.
4. Red Light District
Perhaps the most well known places to visit in Amsterdam, the red light district has fascinated several tourists for different reasons. Even if you are not there to satisfy your carnal desires, nothing wrong with that by the way, you can still explore this area. It is unlike anything you would have ever seen before. You would need an hour at least to explore it and more if you plan on engaging in the district’s services.
Day 4
1. Heineken Experience
Tour the brewery of the iconic beer brand. For many people, this the top pick among things to do in Amsterdam. The tour is about two and a half hours long and is really enjoyable.
2. Museum Van Loon
This is the home of the co-founder of the famous Dutch East India Company. The museum gives an insight into the life and work of Willem Van Loon. You will need about 2 hours to explore this house museum.
3. Stedelijk Museum
This is a museum of modern and contemporary art showcasing works of international artists. The museum is considered to be an experience within itself for those who know how to admire art. You would need about 3 hours to explore the entire museum.
4. Vondelpark
This is perhaps the most famous park in the entire country and the largest one among Amsterdam attractions. You should keep aside about 2 hours to explore this park.
Day 5
1. Allard Pierson Museum
This museum of antiques from various periods of time going all the way back to 4000 BCE. You can see exhibits from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and more. You would need about 2 hours to explore this museum.
2. Rembrandt House Museum
This museum is dedicated to the life and work of legendary dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. The museum is set up in the house where he lived. You would need about 2 hours to explore this museum.
3. Joods Historisch Museum
The museum actually comprises of 4 synagogues and showcase various works of arts and historical exhibits. It tells the story of Dutch Jewish people during the Nazi occupation of the nation. It is one of the most important historical places to visit in Amsterdam. You would need about 2 hours for this museum.
4. Museum Willet Holthuysen
This museum is most well known for period furnishing. It used to be a canal house and has been converted to a museum. You would need about an hour to explore this house museum.
Day 6
1. Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder
The museum’s name translates to Our Lord in the Attic and it is the second oldest museum in the city. You would need an hour and half to explore this house museum.
2. Science Center NEMO
This is one of the best place to visit among Amsterdam tourist attractions. It is the largest of its kind in the city. You would need about 3 hours to explore the entire museum.
3. The National Maritime Museum (Scheepvaartmuseum)
Also known as the National Maritime Museum, this museum is dedicated to the naval history and artifacts of Netherland. There are also life size replicas of some of the famous ships among things to see in Amsterdam exhibited in this museum. You would need a couple of hours to explore it.
If you visit Amsterdam for more than 6 days or you want to include more attractions in the itinerary above, you can check out the section below. We have compiled a list of almost all the places to visit and things to do in Amsterdam here. Have fun exploring!
Things to do in Amsterdam
Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Amsterdam
- Rijks Museum
- Anne Frank House
- Van Gogh Museum
- Stedelijk Museum
- Rembrandt House Museum
- NEMO Science Museum
- Royal Palace
- Oude Church
- Amsterdam Museum
- Eye Film Museum
- National Maritime Museum
- The New Church
- Westerkerk
- Our Lord in the Attic Museum
- Troppen Museum
- Diamant Museum
- National Museum
- Muiderslot Castle
- Museum Van Loon
- Waag City Gate
- Munttoren Tower
- Jewish Historical Museum
- De Gooyer Windmill
- Hash Marijuana & Hemp Museum
- Foam Photography Museum
- Moco Museum
- Sex Museum / Temple of Venus
- Zaans Museum
- Willet Holthuysen Museum
- Frans Hals Museum
- The Resistance Museum
- Teylers Museum
- Cat Cabinet Art Museum
- Portugese Synagogue
- Basilica of St. Nicholas
- Museum of the Canals
- Red Lights Secrets – Museum of Prostitution
- Torture Museum
- St. Bavo Church in Harlem
- Tulip Museum
- Micropia Museum of Microorganisms
- Pampus Island Fort
- Stelling Van Amsterdam
- Montelbaanstoren Tower
- Amsterdam Cheese Museum
- Westertoren Tower
- Vrolik Museum
- Erotic Museum
Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Amsterdam
- Amsterdam Forest
- Zaan River
Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Amsterdam
- Heineken Experience
- Artis Zoo & Aquarium
- Bloemen Market
- Madame Tussauds Amsterdam
- Hermitage Amsterdam
- Amsterdam Botanical Gardens
- Amsterdam Dungeon
- NDSM Cultural Center
- Body Worlds Anatomy Exhibits
- House of Bols, the Cocktail & Genever Experience
- Ripley’s Believe it or Not
- This is Holland Flight Simulation
- Windmill de Adriaan
- Electric Ladyland – Museum of Fluorescent Artwork
- Aslsmeer Flower Auction
- Efteling Amusement Park
- Micro Brewery
- Three Little Bottles Dutch Gin Tasting
- 5D Porn Cinema
- Red Light District guided Tour
- Amsterdam Cannabis Tour
- XtraCold Ice Bar
- Banned Book Tours
- Coster Royal Diamonds Factory Tour
Shopping in Amsterdam
- Albert Cuyp Market
- Nieuwmarkt Market
- 9 Streets Shopping
- PC Hoofstraat
- Waterlooplein Market
- Grote Market
- Noordermarkt Market
- Ten Kate Market
- Maison de Bonneterie
- Dapper Market
- Bloemen Market
- IJ Hallen Flea Market
- Breedstraat Lapjesmarkt
- Sunday Market
- Lindengracht Market
- Kalverstraat Street
- Magna Plaza
- Leidsestraat Street
- Spiegelkwartier
- Haarlemmerdijk Street
- De Bijenkorf
- Beethovanstraat
- Batavia Stad
Beaches in Amsterdam
- Strand Blijburg
- Zandvoort Beach
Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure Things to Do in Amsterdam
- Amsterdam Canal Cruise
- Ice Skating
- IJ Ferry
- Amsterdam Bike Tour
- Beerbike Tour
- A’Dam Toren Swing
Sightseeing in Amsterdam
- Dam Square
- Vondel Park
- Leidseplein Street
- Begijnhof Historical Buildings
- Museumplein Park
- Rembrandtplein Square
- Skinny Bridge
- Singel Canal
- Keizersgracht Canal
- Museumplein Square
- A’Dam Lookout Observation Deck
- Prinsengracht Canal
- Volendam Marken Route
- Het Schip Building
- Amstel Park
- Ooster Park
- Brouwersgracht Canal
- Spui Town Square
- Sarphati Park
- IJ Burg Floating Houses
- P.C. Hooftstraat Street
- Zeedijk Street
- Blauwburg Bridge
- Vondel Park
Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Amsterdam
- Foodhallen
- Cannibale Royale
- Het Papeneiland
- Pesca
- Ciel Bleu
- Eddy Spaghetti
- Cafe Chris
- Tempo Doeloe
- De Belhamel
- Hoppe Pub
- Restaurant Moon
- Cafe de Dokter
- Incanto
- Cafe de Wetering
- Waterkant
- Proeflokaal Arendsnest Bar
- Pastini Restaurant
- Jansz
- La Rive
- De Kas
- Blue Amsterdam
- Wilde Zwijnen
- Mr. Porter
- Sotto Pizza
- Sham Restaurant
- Stork
- Loetje Centraal
- Moeders
How to Reach Amsterdam?
By Air
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is your best option for Amsterdam travel. It is among the top 15 busiest airports in the world. You can get a direct flight to visit Amsterdam from almost every major city in Europe. There are direct flights for Amsterdam travel from countries outside Europe as well. WOWAir serves flights from cities in USA and Reykjavik in Iceland. Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. So it isn’t surprising that there are so many direct flights from so many countries to visit Amsterdam. Even the connecting flights for Amsterdam trips can be easily available.
Once you get to the airport you can travel by train, bus, cab, shuttle bus, and even bicycle to reach the best places to visit in Amsterdam. Trains under NS Dutch Railways run every 10 minutes to visit Amsterdam city center from the airport. As there are a few things to see in Amsterdam near the city center, you can begin sightseeing right away. Another option for Amsterdam trips is by bus. You can either take a regular public bus, private tour bus or shuttle bus for Amsterdam travel. Shuttle buses also have the option of hotel drop-off besides Amsterdam tourist attractions. You can also rent a car from the airport for Amsterdam sightseeing. This requires a driving license valid in The Netherlands. As for cabs, you can get one from the airport or book one through cab-hailing apps like Uber. These can take you anywhere on Amsterdam trips. But are expensive as compared to other options to visit Amsterdam. You can even get a bicycle for the best things to do in Amsterdam. There is a dedicated bicycle path from the airport to the city. You can then continue paddling to places to see in Amsterdam. This environment-friendly way of sightseeing is among the cool things to do in Amsterdam, which young travelers enjoy.
By Road
The train is another great option for Amsterdam travel. You can get direct trains to visit Amsterdam from several European cities. You can get direct trains for Amsterdam trips from Paris, Brussels, Antwerp, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Frankfurt, Basel, Berlin, London and more. Train connectivity in Europe is anyway excellent. You will be reaching the Centraal Station of the city from where you can continue for Amsterdam activities.
There are several international buses running between Amsterdam and other European cities. Three of the most common bus lines used for Amsterdam travel are FlixBus, Eurolines, and OuiBus. There are also private buses with fixed day or weekend tours to visit Amsterdam available from many major cities in Europe. These tours cover the majority of popular places to go in Amsterdam.
Finally, you have the road route for Amsterdam trips. Some of the major roads leading to Amsterdam include A7, A9, A10, A4, A5, A1, A2 and A6. These roads can also be explored for making road trips around the Netherlands after you’ve enjoyed all the top things to do in Amsterdam.
By Water
You can get ferry services for Amsterdam travel from Newcastle. There is also a dock for cruise ships taking a stop in the city for Amsterdam tourist places. The nightlife of the city is so popular that some cruise ships exclusively include the best things to do in Amsterdam at night in their travel package. Even the regular cruise ships having a stop at the city gives you a day’s time at least to explore the best places to visit in Amsterdam.
Image Reference
- Van Gogh Museum – Richard Mortel / Flickr
- Rijksmuseum – kirkandmimi / PixaBay
- Leidseplein – Françoise Rondaij-Koch / PixaBay
- Huis Marseille – dvdbramhall / Flickr
- Anne Frank House – Garrett Ziegler / Flickr
- Amsterdam Museum – Amsterdam Museum / Flickr
- Dam Square – Ksenia Novikova / Flickr
- Oude Kerk – Christophe PINARD / Flickr
- Sightseeing Cruise – Holger Foerstemann / PixaBay
- Basilica of Saint Nicholas – calflier001 / Flickr
- Royal Palace – Yong Wang / PixaBay
- Madame Tussauds Museum – Eugenia Tukbaeva / PixaBay
- Red Light District – Erik Tanghe / PixaBay
- Heineken Experience – Elroy Serrao / Flickr
- Museum Van Loon – Kotomi_ / Flickr
- Stedelijk Museum – Fred Romero / Flickr
- Vondelpark – arcibald / Flickr
- Allard Pierson Museum – Warren LeMay / Flickr
- Rembrandt House Museum – Richard Mortel / Flickr
- Joods Historisch Museum – n8 / Flickr
- Museum Willet Holthuysen – Kotomi_ / Flickr
- Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder – Tine van Voorst / Flickr
- Science Center NEMO – Martin Eckert / Flickr
- The National Maritime Museum (Scheepvaartmuseum) – C messier / Wikimedia Commons
