Travel 101
Your Guide to Amsterdam
Where do you begin exploring Amsterdam, a picturesque city known for its 17th-century network of canals, gabled townhouses and vibrant cycling culture? The Dutch capital has been trying to rebrand itself — to shed a reputation synonymous with drugs and sex and put itself on the map as a cultural capital instead. And with good reason. If you’re visiting for the first time, you will find Dutch masters at the world-class Rijksmuseum and the “Sunflowers” at the Van Gogh Museum, the moving history of the Anne Frank House and the bliss of Dutch street food. There’s also tulip season! And that’s only the beginning.
This guide offers what you need to know for your inaugural trip — and future visits — to the historic city. At the end of the day, Amsterdam is but a compact place; everything is within reach, so there is no need to rush. Embrace that spirit by slowing down. This timeless city comes to life as the morning mist recedes, revealing its gems. Watch the bicycles whiz by, and let the city enchant you, its beauty reflected in the shimmering canals lit up at night by the many arching bridges.
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What to Do
The Essentials
No first trip to Amsterdam is complete without these landmarks, museums and quintessential experiences.
A canal tour
Exploring Amsterdam’s UNESCO-listed canals from the water is a must in a city with 165 of them, and more than 1,500 bridges. The 17th-century Canal Belt (Grachtengordel) features the four main canals: Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht. Standard one-hour tours are offered by companies such as Lovers and Rederij Kooij. You can rent your own boat (no license needed if you’re over 18) from companies like Sloepdelen and Mokumboot.
The Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum on Museumplein, the city’s largest public square, is Amsterdam’s must-see museum, housing the world’s largest collection of Rembrandts. View the Dutch masters in the Gallery of Honor. The showpiece, Rembrandt’s “The Night Watch,” is in the midst of a yearslong restoration process, which you can watch in real time behind a glass wall. The museum’s free garden is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tulip season
In spring, stretches of the Netherlands turn into fields of brightly colored tulips. De Keukenhof botanical park, 40 minutes from Amsterdam, is the most popular viewing spot. It’s open from late March to May during peak bloom. Take the KeukenhofBuzz public bus from Amsterdam (€38.50 round trip, including park admission). Advance tickets are recommended (€21 for entrance), available on the park’s website.
The Anne Frank House
Some visit Amsterdam solely for this. On the Prinsengracht canal, the house is where Anne Frank penned her diary, now published in more than 75 languages. Step through the hinged bookcase, go up a steep staircase and enter the cramped annex that housed eight people, including the Frank family, during World War II. View her original diary and her bedroom with original wall photos.
Tip: Tickets are sold only on the official website, and they sell out fast.
Get lost
Amsterdam’s 750-year-old city center is best explored on foot, revealing hidden alleyways, postcard-pretty bridges spanning canals and unexpected treasures. One minute, you’re walking along the Amstel river; the next, you stumble upon a little white bridge named Staalmeestersbrug, overlooking the striking church Zuiderkerk, a view so beautiful that Claude Monet captured it in 1874.
Market-fresh stroopwafel
Don’t miss the stroopwafel, a traditional Dutch treat of two thin waffle-like cookies filled with warm caramel syrup. Originating from a bakery in Gouda, a town known for its cheese, the stroopwafel is best found at a street market. Avoid overpriced spots with excessive toppings. At the Albert Cuyp market in the De Pijp neighborhood, head to Rudi’s Original Stroopwafels, a stand where three generations work side by side.
The 9 Straatjes
The three streets running parallel in this shopping district are broken up by the canals, creating nine little streets: the 9 Straatjes. The district has boutiques and vintage shops, like Laura Dols and Anna + Nina, and now contains several TikTok-viral food spots, such as Chun and Fabel Friet, with lines so long that crowd managers are hired.
Tip: The Hazenstraat in the Jordaan neighborhood is locally known as the 10th street, with its small galleries and cafes.
Top Attractions
These landmarks and local customs are among the greatest hits of any Amsterdam visit.
Museumplein
The three most famous arts museums are situated on this green square. See the 17th-century Dutch masters at the Rijksmuseum, head to the Van Gogh Museum to marvel at his masterpieces, and take in the modern and contemporary art at the Stedelijk Museum.
Tip: The nearby royal concert hall Het Concertgebouw offers free Wednesday performances at lunchtime.
Dam Square
Amsterdam began in the 13th century as a dam on the Amstel River. Today, that location is Dam Square in the city center. Visit the National Monument honoring war victims, and the Royal Palace, built as a city hall and then transformed into a palace by King Lodewijk Napoleon (the younger brother of that more famous Napoleon). The current king and queen use the palace for official functions, and married at the neighboring church, Nieuwe Kerk, which has wonderful exhibits, including the annual World Press Photo exhibition.
The red-light district
This district is a city tourist attraction in itself. The most prominent street for erotic tourism is the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. Besides sex workers behind red-lit windows, there’s the Museum of Prostitution, and erotic theaters such as Casa Rosso, where the graphic live performances are not for everyone.
Flower market on Singel
The floating flower market is touristy, but it’s a delightful, colorful stop. Inside barges on the Singel canal, marvel at fresh flowers, year-round bouquets and an array of flower bulbs. Thinking of taking home some bulbs? Ask the florist if they are certified for travel.
Our Lord in the Attic Museum
The museum, inside a 17th-century house in the red-light district, was a clandestine Catholic church in the attic. Public churches at the time were required to be Protestant, although people of other faiths were not persecuted. The preserved attic space reveals an impressive church with a Baroque altar and marble columns.
Street markets
The largest, the Albert Cuyp market in the De Pijp neighborhood, has over 250 stands selling flowers, clothing and Dutch street food. Browse the flea market at Waterlooplein in the city center, or spend your Saturday savoring oysters and champagne amid stands of organic produce and sourdough bread at Noordermarkt in the Jordaan neighborhood.
Go borrelen
“Borrelen” loosely refers to drinks (often a beer, perhaps a glass of wine) with a Dutch bar snack, traditionally bitterballen, a meaty ragout that is breaded and deep-fried. A great choice for this experience is Café Luxembourg, with bitterballen from one of the best bakeries in town, Holtkamp.
Begijnhof
This walled courtyard is in one of the busiest areas of Amsterdam. Since the Middle Ages, it has housed unmarried Christian women who cared for the sick or worked in education but eschewed a monastic dwelling. See the houses where these women, called beguines (“begijnen” in Dutch), lived for more than 600 years, and the two churches, a Presbyterian English Reformed church and a secret Catholic church from the 17th century, when public churches were Protestant. Only single women still inhabit the courtyard houses.
Indonesian rijsttafel
Amsterdam offers top-notch Indonesian cuisine, a remnant of Dutch colonial imperialism. Indulge in a rijsttafel, an Indonesian meal of many small dishes such as rendang and gado gado. Try rijsttafel at eateries like Restaurant Blauw or Restaurant MAX. For more low-key fare, go to the take-out spot, Toko Bersama.
Vondelpark
Unwind in Amsterdam’s most central park. Its meandering creeks, quaint bridges and green oases are frequented by locals, but also by exotic green rose-ringed parakeets. Stop by the rose garden, enjoy a drink at spots such as Café Vertigo or ’t Blauwe Theehuis, or admire the park’s Picasso sculpture.
Zaanse Schans
This stretch of windmills is postcard-perfect and only 20 minutes from Amsterdam by train. Many of the mills are operating and open to visitors. Browse the traditional craft stores, take in the Zaans Museum and be enthralled by this iconic symbol of Dutch cultural heritage.
Red-light district etiquette
A visit to the red-light district, in the heart of the city center, is high on the list of many visitors. At the end of the day, however, sex workers aren’t tourist attractions. Be respectful. There is one principle in the red-light district: no photos of sex workers behind windows. It is disrespectful at best, and can be dangerous at worst. If a photo ends up online, it is a violation of the sex workers’ privacy and could pose a threat to their safety.
Neighborhoods
Whether you want to immerse yourself in history, street food, art or partying, Amsterdam has you covered
Amsterdam City Center
The historic city center is Amsterdam in microcosm. It has the cinematic Canal Belt, the lively Nine Streets, the red-light district and the Amstel, the river that gave the city its name. Yes, it can get touristy and crowded at times, but no trip to Amsterdam is complete without stepping into its historic heart.
Best for: Sightseers, history buffs, nightlife seekers
Where to stay:Hotel V Nesplein
Things to do:Foam photography museum, Homomonument, H’ART Museum
Where to eat and drink:Café Marcella ($), De Juwelier ($$$), Café Twee Prinsen ($)
De Jordaan
This former working-class neighborhood is beloved by folk singers. Many grew up there. It’s also one of the city’s most coveted enclaves. Largely residential, it’s less noisy and crowded than the city center, with smaller canals, houseboats aplenty, boutiques and cafes. Visit one of its traditional neighborhood bars, known as brown bars, and marvel at the view of the church tower Westertoren.
Best for: Global nomads, couples, cafe dwellers
Where to stay:Hotel Mercier
Things to do:Houseboat Museum, Westerkerk, Noordermarkt
Where to eat and drink:Saint-Jean ($), Fiaschetteria Pistoia ($$), Café ’t Papeneiland ($)
Oud-Zuid
Amsterdam’s most upscale neighborhood stretches from the museum-packed square, Museumplein, and the urban park Vondelpark, then extends into quiet residential areas. Oud-Zuid is also home to the city’s most high-end shopping district. You’ll find designer boutiques, trendy cafes and local shops, and venturing deeper into the neighborhood, you’ll come across lovely tree-lined streets, such as Lomanstraat.
Best for: Bons vivants, museum lovers, fashionistas
Where to stay:The College Hotel
Things to do:Royal Coster Diamond factory tour, Concertgebouw
Where to eat and drink:NENI ($$), L’Entrecôte et les Dames ($$), Cafecito ($)
De Pijp
Once working-class, this neighborhood made way for artists, students and bohemians in the early 20th century, followed by decades of gentrification. But the bohemian vibe lingers. Check out its vintage boutiques and dining spots that attract artsy locals. People-watch from the square, Gerard Douplein, head to the Albert Cuyp street market or catch a movie at the 1920s theater Rialto, which screens international film and documentaries.
Best for: Artsy types, self-styled cool kids, university students
Where to stay:Okura
Things to do:The Heineken Experience, vintage shopping, Sarphatipark
Where to eat and drink:Badcuyp ($$), Wijnbar Paskamer ($$)
Amsterdam-Noord
Amsterdam’s most northern part is separated from the rest of the city by a small body of water, the IJ. A free ferry behind Amsterdam Centraal, the main train station, takes you across in minutes. The former shipyard NDSM has street art and one of Europe’s biggest flea markets, IJhallen. Further north, it’s more rural with forests and villages like Nieuwendam and the fishing town Durgerdam.
Best for: Global nomads, the cool crowd, seekers of a village vibe
Where to stay:Bob W Amsterdam Noord
Things to do:EYE Film Museum, STRAAT Museum, IJhallen
Where to eat and drink:Barracuda ($$), Helling 7 ($$), Pllek ($)
A note on bicycles
Cycling is central to life in Amsterdam, but braving the crowded streets by bike is not advisable for inexperienced cyclists who are sightseeing in wonderment. The bicycle is as much a part of the traffic as a car or a truck, and cyclists tend to be seasoned — and fast. To avoid dangerous traffic situations, inexperienced cyclists who are unfamiliar with the city might want to stick to the trams to get around. When walking, make sure to stay clear of the bike lanes and to look both ways before crossing the street.
Go Deeper
After cruising the canals and hitting the museums, enjoy these cultural landmarks and experiences if you have time.
Zaal 1, the main theater, at the Royal Theater Tuschinski.
Shopping
Whether it’s a local shop, a boutique or a major department store, you’re bound to find a quality keepsake in the city.
De Posthumus Winkel, a stationery shop established in 1865, doesn’t sell mass-produced items.
Where to Stay
Hotels
From grand palaces to charming boutique hotels, there’s no shortage of lodging choices. That’s even though the city halted new hotel permits in an effort to curb overtourism.
A classic room with canal view at the Pulitzer Amsterdam Hotel.
Where to Eat and Drink
Breakfast and Lunch
Bakeries and cafes open in the morning, but lunch has never been a lavish affair in Amsterdam. An exciting new brunch scene is changing that.
Lunch at Eetsalon Van Dobben includes a broodje kroket, usually eaten with mustard.
Coffee shops vs. cafes
The main offering at a “coffee shop” in Amsterdam is cannabis. The sale of small quantities of soft drugs in licensed coffee shops is allowed, but is not actually legal — hence the innocuous name. The coffee shops have long attracted tourists from other countries with stricter cannabis laws, visitors who sometimes are considered a nuisance because of rowdy behavior. Some coffee shops do offer a cup of coffee, but if you want to skip the marijuana scene, opt for a cafe.
Dinner
From destination dining to neighborhood favorites, Amsterdam’s booming restaurant scene has fantastic spots to explore.
Restaurant MAX serves rijsttafel, an elaborate Indonesian meal, popular in the Netherlands.
Bars
Whatever mood you’re in for drinks, Amsterdam has you covered. Don’t forget to experience Dutch pub culture by heading to a traditional brown bar.
Mark Bollen, the owner of Café de Eland, a brown bar, pours a Heineken.
The Basics
Do I need a visa?
American passport holders do not need a visa to visit Amsterdam if traveling for fewer than 90 days. But by late 2026, American travelers will need an electronic travel authorization via the European Travel Information and Authorization System.What is the best time of year to visit?
Although April and the summer are the busiest times, Amsterdam is no longer considered to have a low season. Weather-wise, Amsterdam has experienced heat waves during summer in recent years; rain is common, but it rarely snows.What currency is used?
The euro. Beware that some shops may not accept American credit cards, so be sure to carry either a debit card or some cash on you. There are A.T.M.s in abundance.Do I need an adapter?
Yes. You will need an adapter for the Netherlands’ Type C or Type F outlets.Do I need to tip?
It’s common to round up the check at cafes and bars, as well as in taxis, or to tip up to 10 percent at restaurants. In hotels, it’s common to leave a small tip for housekeeping staff, and to tip the concierge at your discretion.Is it safe to drink the tap water?
Yes, it is safe to drink tap water across the Netherlands.What airport do I fly into?
Amsterdam has one major airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. It is one of the best-connected airports in the world, and most long-haul flights arrive at Schiphol.How do I get from the airport to the city center?
For a one-way journey into Amsterdam from the airport, the fastest and cheapest option is to take the train (€5.50), which takes about 15 minutes to Amsterdam Centraal, the city’s main train station. One can also take the Amsterdam Airport Express bus (€6.50), which stops at three landmarks in the city center: Leidseplein, Museumplein and the Rijksmuseum. A taxi from the airport to the city center will cost between €30 and €50, and Uber prices typically range from €25 to €40. It takes about 20 minutes to drive into the city center from Schiphol Airport.How easy is it to take public transportation?
Very. Amsterdam is well-connected by trams, buses and metro trains, run by the GVB, Amsterdam’s public transportation operator. You can pay through tap-and-go technology or purchase a one-day or multi-day pass (starting at €10 for one day).Does Uber exist? Are there other local ride-share apps?
The two most widely used rideshare apps are Uber and Bolt. De Taxicentrale Amsterdam (Taxi Dispatch Amsterdam) also has its own app.Can I get by in English?
Yes, English is widely spoken across the city.Do I need to make reservations for restaurants and cafes?
Most restaurants do require reservations well in advance, which you can do through restaurants’ websites. Restaurants often have wait lists that you can add yourself to in case a table opens up.
