Exploring the pretty streets and canals of Amsterdam was just as fabulous the second time as it was the first.
Although there were nearly six years between my two visits, they both happened to be during the colder months — the first trip was mid-February when there were hints that spring was just around the corner, and the second trip was mid-November when the last amber leaves were falling off the trees to settle on the cobblestone streets.
To be honest, I really enjoyed exploring the city in the chilly months. I may not have had the quintessential summer city break that most visitors to Amsterdam have, but the reduced number of tourists made it way more relaxed than in peak season.
Seeing as Amsterdam is such a popular destination year-round, my hot tip for travellers is to spend as little time as possible in the busiest tourist hotspots. Centraal, the Red Light District, and Nieuwmarkt can get incredibly crowded — and while they’re worth seeing, they’re not always where you’ll get the best feel for the city.
Instead, I’d recommend focusing your time on places like the Canal District, Jordaan, Museumplein and De Pijp, while also mixing in a few different experiences — whether that’s trying local food, seeking out street art or even taking a day trip beyond the city.
If you’re wondering about the best things to do in Amsterdam, these are the experiences I’d recommend based on my visits — from the classic highlights to a few slightly less obvious spots.
Quick summary:
Planning a trip to Amsterdam? This guide covers 10 of the best things to do in Amsterdam, from cycling and canal cruises to food experiences, street art and day trips. Based on two visits, it blends classic highlights with more local and unique experiences.
Recommended tours:
🚲 Small Group Bike Tour of Amsterdam’s Hidden Gems – Cycle past landmarks and hidden spots with expert local guide
🚤 Saloon Boat Cruise with optional Cheese & Wine – Relax on a historic canal boat with optional drinks and local snacks
🍽️ Amsterdam Food and Cultural Tour with Tastings – Sample Dutch favourites at local spots with a knowledgeable guide
🌷 Keukenhof Entry & Shuttlebus with Flexible Return – Easy return transport and entry to Keukenhof during tulip season
Best things to do in Amsterdam:
1. Rent a bicycle in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is known for being packed with bicycles — there are actually more bikes here than there are residents! Cycling is the preferred mode of transport for locals, and with the city being mostly flat and equipped with dedicated bike paths, it’s also one of the easiest ways for visitors to get around.
Renting a bicycle in Amsterdam is both easy and fun. There are bike rental services all over the city, and some hotels even offer bikes for guests. My husband and I rented ours from MacBike in the Museum District for around €10, then spent the day riding through Vondelpark and around the Canal District, which was a really nice way to explore at our own pace.
🚲 If you’d prefer a bit more structure — or want to get your bearings early on — joining a Small Group Guided Bike Tour of Amsterdam’s Hidden Gems takes you past both major landmarks and lesser-known spots, with a local guide sharing insights into the city’s history and culture along the way.
2. Explore Amsterdam’s Canal District
Amsterdam’s Canal District has some unbelievably picturesque spots. The UNESCO-listed canals, with their countless arched bridges and historic houses, are so photogenic that you’ll probably find yourself stopping every few minutes to take photos.
Walking along the canals to find the best viewpoints is one of the easiest (and nicest) ways to explore the city. You can also do this by bike — which I did — and it’s a great way to cover more ground while still soaking up the atmosphere.
Another popular way to experience the canals is by taking a cruise. There are plenty of options available, but if you’re looking for something a bit more special, a traditional saloon boat cruise is a really nice alternative to the larger tour boats.
🚤 The Amsterdam: Saloon Boat Cruise with optional Cheese & Wine takes place on a restored historic boat, offering a more intimate way to glide through the canals while learning about the city from a local skipper.
3. Visit local markets in Amsterdam
Amsterdam some amazing markets – it’s very likely that you’ll stumble across one while you’re exploring the city.
Albert Cuyp Market in the De Pijp neighbourhood is the most popular market in the Netherlands and is also the largest daytime market in Europe. The stalls offer a variety of different products catering for both tourists and locals and are open 6 days a week (closed on Sundays). Even though Saturday is the busiest day, I’d actually suggest going then as the market has a bustling atmosphere and is packed with the most stalls.
Lindenmarkt is another popular market held on Lindengracht in Jordaan every Saturday. This street is built on a former canal, which is kind of cool to think about as you wander the stalls. It has a wide range of vendors selling street food, cheeses, produce, flowers and souvenirs.
4. Try traditional Dutch food (stroopwafels & cheese)
Trying local food is one of the easiest ways to experience Amsterdam beyond the canals, and there are a few Dutch specialties that are definitely worth seeking out.
One of my favourites was the classic stroopwafel — two thin waffles sandwiched together with gooey caramel syrup. You’ll see pre-packaged versions in shops all over the city, but nothing beats getting one freshly made at a market. I picked one up at Albert Cuyp Market and was immediately sold — still warm, slightly crispy on the outside, and just messy enough to feel like a proper treat.
Another must-try is Dutch cheese. The Netherlands is one of the world’s biggest cheese exporters, with varieties like Gouda and Edam being the most well-known. You’ll spot giant wheels of cheese in shop windows (check out the Henri Willig store in the Canal District) and market stalls across the city, and many places offer tastings so you can try a few different flavours before choosing a favourite.
If you’d prefer to experience all of this with a bit more context, joining a food tour can be a great option. It’s a really easy way to discover places you might not find on your own — especially if you’re short on time.
🍽️ The Amsterdam Food and Cultural Tour with Tastings takes you to a range of local spots to sample Dutch favourites like cheese, stroopwafels, fries and apple pie, while also learning more about the city from a local guide.
5. Admire tulips in Amsterdam
It’s common to see locals cycling through Amsterdam with a bunch of fresh flowers in their bike basket — and more often than not, those flowers are tulips.
If you’re visiting during tulip season (roughly March to May), there are a few great ways to see them. In the city, you can stop by the Bloemenmarkt — the world’s only floating flower market — where you’ll find colourful displays lining the Singel Canal. On National Tulip Day (held on the third weekend in January), you can see Amsterdam’s Dam Square transformed into a giant tulip garden.
If you’re travelling outside of these dates (as I was), you may still spot a few tulips throughout the city though it’s more likely that you’ll see bunches of fake tulips or painted wooden tulips.
For a more immersive experience, it’s well worth heading out to Keukenhof Gardens, one of the most famous flower gardens in the world.
🌷 If you don’t want to deal with public transport or logistics, the Amsterdam: Keukenhof Entry & Shuttlebus with Flexible Return makes things really easy, with transport and entry included.
6. Visit Amsterdam’s museums
Amsterdam’s museums are some of the most interesting museums I’ve ever visited. Most first-time visitors to Amsterdam will stop in at the Anne Frank House, which I would highly recommend to learn what it was like to be a Jewish family in hiding during WWII.
I also visited the Van Gogh Museum, which tells the story of the famous artist and displays some of his best works.
The Rijksmuseum is another most popular art museum with historic masterpieces (it’s actually the most visited museum in the Netherlands), although I didn’t have time for it this time around. If you decide to visit Rijkmuseum, be sure to order your tickets online a few days in advance as lines at the entrance can get massively long.
There’s also Moco, which has modern and contemporary artworks (including some incredible pieces from one of my faves – Banksy!).
7. Find a windmill in Amsterdam
Windmills are a symbol closely associated with the Netherlands – these iconic mills are often featured in images depicting the country. There are over 1000 windmills scattered around the Netherlands and a handful are situated in Amsterdam.
I sought out the De Gooyer windmill, mostly because it has a brewery underneath! Drinking craft beer under the blades of this 16th century national monument was a unique way to spend an afternoon. Another windmill near to Amsterdam’s city centre is Molen de Otter, which is one of the few windmills still in use.
Most of the mills in the Netherlands are closed to the public so you’ll likely have to admire them only from the outside, but if you happen to be in Amsterdam on National Mill Day (the second weekend in May), many open their doors for visitors to explore.
8. Seek Out Amsterdam’s Prettiest Streets and Buildings
Amsterdam has some unbelievably pretty streets with totally gorgeous architecture, especially around the Canal District. The narrow canal houses with their historic brick facades are so lovely that you’re nearly guaranteed to swoon.
Aside from the buildings that line the canals, the 9 Little Streets area is a perfect spot to get some ‘grams of adorable houses and shopfronts with festoon lights hanging overhead, and the Zevenlandenhuizen (Houses of Seven Countries) near Vondelpark is another great place to see some unique European architecture.
9. Visit NDSM for street art
On my first trip to Amsterdam, I convinced my husband that we needed to carve out some time to go looking for street art — something we both love doing whenever we travel. That’s how we ended up hopping on the ferry across to NDSM Wharf.
Back then, the area had a really raw, creative feel, with large industrial buildings covered in colourful murals and bold graffiti. The scale of the artwork was what stood out most — these weren’t just small pieces tucked away in side streets, but huge, eye-catching works splashed across entire warehouse walls. It felt a bit like an open-air gallery, and we spent ages just wandering around and taking it all in.
From what I’ve seen, NDSM has continued to evolve in recent years, with more development happening around the area. Even so, it’s still known as one of Amsterdam’s more creative districts, and street art remains a big part of its identity.
If you’re visiting now, you’ll also find places like the STRAAT Museum, which has turned part of the old industrial space into a dedicated indoor gallery for large-scale works.
10. Take a day trip from Amsterdam
On our most recent trip to Amsterdam in 2019, Rob and I decided to mix things up and get out of the city for a day. We ended up heading to Utrecht to catch up with a friend who was living there at the time — and it turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip.
Utrecht is smaller and a bit quieter than Amsterdam, but it has that same charming canal-city feel — if anything, I’d say the canals there are even prettier. The historic centre is incredibly walkable, with tree-lined waterways, cosy cafés and far fewer crowds than you’ll find in Amsterdam. It felt like a more relaxed version of the Dutch city experience, and I’m really glad we made the effort to go.
One of the best things about visiting Amsterdam is how easy it is to explore beyond the city. The Netherlands has an excellent train network, which means you can reach places like Utrecht, Haarlem, Zaanse Schans or even Rotterdam in under an hour. It’s the kind of place where a spontaneous day trip is actually very doable.
If you’ve got a bit of extra time in your itinerary, I’d highly recommend adding a day trip into your plans. It’s a great way to see a different side of the Netherlands — and for us, Utrecht ended up being just as memorable as Amsterdam itself.
Amsterdam travel FAQ
Is Amsterdam worth visiting?
Yes, Amsterdam is absolutely worth visiting! It’s one of my favourite cities. It offers a great mix of culture, history and relaxed city experiences.
How many days do you need in Amsterdam?
Most travellers spend 2–3 days in Amsterdam, which is just enough to see the main highlights and explore a few neighbourhoods, but I would recommend extending your visit to 4-5 days to get a better feel for the city.
What is the best way to get around Amsterdam?
Cycling is one of the best ways to get around, but walking and public transport are also very easy.
When is the best time to visit Amsterdam?
I visited Amsterdam in November and February, when the weather was cool but there were pleasantly few crowds. Spring and autumn are great times to visit. Summer is the busiest season.
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