Amsterdam packs Rembrandt and Van Gogh, the Anne Frank House, a UNESCO-listed ring of 17th-century canals and some of Europe's cosiest bars into a centre you can cross on foot in half an hour, with free ferries across the IJ to the new city in the north. This guide has four self-guided walking routes, the things to do with the current ticket rules and links to book, the best free things to do, and where to eat, drink and stay at every budget, with each venue's website and Instagram so you can see it first.
Amsterdam map: sights, restaurants, bars and walks
Turn the layers on and off, or pick a walk to draw its route with numbered stops. Tap any pin for links.
Four Amsterdam walking routes
Amsterdam is flat and compact, so walking is the best way to see it, but watch for bikes: keep off the red cycle lanes and look both ways at every crossing. Trams link the routes if your legs tire, and Walk 4 ends with a free ferry across the IJ. Distances are approximate and the times include short stops; add more if you go inside the sights.
Walk 1Old Centre: Dam Square, the oldest church and the Begijnhof
About 3 km · 1 hour walking, a full day with the palace and churches
From Centraal Station into the oldest streets: the hidden attic church and the Oude Kerk, the medieval Waag on Nieuwmarkt, the Royal Palace and Nieuwe Kerk on Dam Square, then the quiet Begijnhof courtyard and the flower market on the Singel.
- Amsterdam Centraal Station
- Our Lord in the Attic
- Oude Kerk
- De Waag on Nieuwmarkt
- Royal Palace and Dam Square
- De Nieuwe Kerk
- Begijnhof (enter from the Spui)
- Bloemenmarkt (flower market)
Walk 2The Canal Ring and the Jordaan
About 2.6 km · 1 to 1.5 hours walking, half a day with the Anne Frank House
Along the UNESCO canals from the Golden Bend of the Herengracht, through the Nine Streets to the Westerkerk and the Anne Frank House, then into the Jordaan's small canals, ending at the Noordermarkt and the Brouwersgracht.
- Golden Bend, Herengracht
- The Nine Streets (Wolvenstraat)
- Homomonument
- Westerkerk
- Anne Frank House
- Egelantiersgracht
- Noordermarkt
- Brouwersgracht
Walk 3Museumplein, the Vondelpark and De Pijp
About 2.9 km · 1 to 1.5 hours walking, a full day with the museums
Start in the Vondelpark, cross Museumplein past the Stedelijk, the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum and its free gardens, then go over the canal into De Pijp for the Heineken Experience, the Albert Cuyp Market and the Sarphatipark.
- Vondelpark (Vondelpark Pavilion)
- Stedelijk Museum
- Van Gogh Museum
- Museumplein
- Rijksmuseum and gardens
- Heineken Experience
- Albert Cuyp Market
- Sarphatipark
Walk 4Rembrandt, the Plantage, the docks and the free ferry to Noord
About 4.7 km · 1.5 hours walking plus a 5-minute ferry, a full day with visits
From the Rembrandt House through the green Plantage past the Hortus Botanicus and ARTIS, out to the maritime museum and NEMO's free rooftop, back to Centraal Station and across the IJ on the free F3 ferry to the A'DAM Lookout and Eye.
- Rembrandt House Museum
- Waterlooplein
- Hortus Botanicus
- ARTIS
- Het Scheepvaartmuseum
- NEMO rooftop square
- Amsterdam Centraal (ferry F3)
- A'DAM Lookout and Eye Filmmuseum
Places to visit in Amsterdam
The 21 sights we would plan a first trip around, with the official site for opening times and tickets.
Rijksmuseum
The national museum of the Netherlands, home to Rembrandt's The Night Watch, Vermeer's The Milkmaid and eight centuries of Dutch art and history, in Pierre Cuypers's grand 1885 building.
Tip: Every visit needs a timed start slot, booked online; the museum sometimes sells at the door but cannot guarantee it. Open daily 09:00-17:00, including public holidays. Go to the Gallery of Honour for The Night Watch first, then explore. The gardens around the building are free.
Time needed: 3 hours
Van Gogh Museum
The world's largest collection of Vincent van Gogh's work, from The Potato Eaters to Sunflowers, with drawings and letters arranged to follow his life.
Tip: All visitors must pre-book a timed entry ticket online; tickets are not sold at the door. In November 2026 it opens 09:00-17:00, with Fridays until 21:00 (except 27 November); hours change through the year, so check the calendar on the official site.
Time needed: 2 hours
Anne Frank House
The canal house where Anne Frank, her family and four others hid from the Nazis for two years, with the secret annexe behind the moving bookcase and her diary.
Tip: Tickets are sold only online, for a set date and time slot, never at the door. They are released every Tuesday at 10:00 (Amsterdam time) for visits six weeks later and go fast. Open daily 09:00-22:00. Children need their own timed ticket, and you can add a 30-minute introductory programme in English when booking.
Time needed: 1-1.5 hours
The Canal Ring (Grachtengordel)
Amsterdam's 17th-century ring of the Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht, lined with gabled merchants' houses and bridges, and listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2010.
Tip: See it from the water on a canal cruise (boats leave from Centraal Station, the Damrak and near the Rijksmuseum), then walk the Golden Bend of the Herengracht between Leidsestraat and Vijzelstraat for the grandest houses. It is free to wander at any time.
Time needed: 1-2 hours
Royal Palace Amsterdam
Built as the city hall in the Dutch Golden Age and now the King's reception palace, with a vast marble Citizens' Hall and furniture from the time of Louis Napoleon.
Tip: The palace is used for state occasions and opens to visitors on set days (more than 230 days in 2026), from 10:00. Check the opening calendar on the official site, which runs six months ahead; it is open from 2 December to 3 January. Tickets are sold on the official site.
Time needed: 1-1.5 hours
De Nieuwe Kerk
The 15th-century church on Dam Square where Dutch monarchs are inaugurated, now a venue for major exhibitions; until 4 April 2027 it shows Queer Amsterdam, the Pink City.
Tip: Open daily 10:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30); closed on 25 December and 1 January. It is cashless, and tickets are sold on its website.
Time needed: 1 hour
Oude Kerk
Amsterdam's oldest building, a Gothic church begun around 1300 in the middle of the Red Light District, with a wooden vaulted roof and changing contemporary art installations.
Tip: Open Monday to Saturday 10:00-18:00 and Sunday 13:00-17:30. Pair it with Our Lord in the Attic, two minutes away along the canal.
Time needed: 45 minutes
Our Lord in the Attic
A 17th-century canal house with a complete Catholic church hidden in its attic, built when Catholics could not worship in public.
Tip: Open daily 10:00-18:00; on the first Sunday of the month from September to June it opens at 11:00 because of church services. Buy tickets on the museum's ticket site.
Time needed: 1 hour
Begijnhof
A hidden 14th-century courtyard of houses around a lawn, with a small chapel and the English Reformed Church; the houses are still lived in.
Tip: The garden door off the Spui is open only during the day. Entry is free; keep your voice down, as residents live here.
Time needed: 20 minutes
Westerkerk
A 17th-century Protestant church whose tower, the Westertoren, is the tallest in the old city. Rembrandt is buried here in an unmarked grave, and Anne Frank wrote about its bells.
Tip: The church holds lunchtime concerts and Sunday services; check its website for visiting times. The Homomonument is on the square outside, and the Anne Frank House is next door.
Time needed: 30 minutes
Stedelijk Museum
The city museum of modern and contemporary art and design, with Mondrian, Malevich, Karel Appel and Warhol, in a 19th-century building with a white "bathtub" extension.
Tip: It stands next to the Van Gogh Museum, so the two make an easy day on Museumplein. Book online and check opening times on the official site.
Time needed: 2 hours
Rembrandt House Museum
The house where Rembrandt lived and worked from 1639 to 1658, with his studio, his cabinet of curiosities and a large collection of his etchings.
Tip: Open every day from 10:00; book on the museum's website. The Waterlooplein and the Jewish Cultural Quarter are a few steps away.
Time needed: 1-1.5 hours
Het Scheepvaartmuseum
The National Maritime Museum, in the 17th-century naval storehouse on the Oosterdok, with a full-size replica of the East India Company ship Amsterdam moored outside.
Tip: Open daily 10:00-17:00, with a free audio tour. NEMO is a short walk along the water.
Time needed: 2 hours
NEMO Science Museum
A hands-on science museum in Renzo Piano's green, ship-shaped building over the IJ tunnel, with floors of experiments for all ages and a sloping public rooftop square.
Tip: Tickets have a start time, and NEMO says weekdays after 14:00 are quieter. It is closed on most Mondays outside school holidays (the website lists the Mondays it opens). The rooftop square is free.
Time needed: 2-3 hours
A'DAM Lookout
An observation deck on the roof of the A'DAM Tower, 100 metres above the IJ, with a 360-degree view and Over the Edge, a swing that hangs out over the side.
Tip: Take the free F3 ferry from behind Centraal Station to Buiksloterweg; the tower is beside the pier. Open Monday to Thursday 11:00-19:00 and Friday to Sunday 11:00-21:00. Go for sunset.
Time needed: 1-1.5 hours
Eye Filmmuseum
The Netherlands' film museum, in a striking white building on the north bank of the IJ, with exhibitions, cinemas and a bar-restaurant terrace facing the old city.
Tip: Exhibitions open Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-19:00. Until the end of 2026 Eye opens on Mondays only from 18:00 (box office and restaurant), apart from 16 November. The terrace is a good stop after the A'DAM Lookout next door.
Time needed: 1-2 hours
Albert Cuyp Market
Amsterdam's best-known street market, running the length of the Albert Cuypstraat in De Pijp, with food, flowers, fabrics and fresh stroopwafels.
Tip: Open Monday to Saturday 09:30-17:00; closed on Sundays and public holidays. Mornings are quieter.
Time needed: 1 hour
Heineken Experience
Heineken's former brewery of 1867, turned into an interactive tour of brewing and the brand's history that ends with a drink.
Tip: Book on the official site. It is a short walk from both the Rijksmuseum and the Albert Cuyp Market, so it fits easily into Walk 3.
Time needed: 1.5 hours
ARTIS
One of Europe's oldest zoos, founded in 1838, with historic buildings and gardens, a planetarium, Micropia (a museum of microbes) and the Groote Museum.
Tip: Micropia and the Groote Museum can be visited on their own or combined with the zoo; check times on the ARTIS website. The Artisplein in front of the Groote Museum is free to enter.
Time needed: 3 hours
Vondelpark
The city's best-known park, a 19th-century landscape of ponds, lawns and cycle paths between the Museum Quarter and Oud-West.
Tip: Free and open all year. Enter from the Stadhouderskade gate near Leidseplein and walk west; in summer there are free open-air performances.
Time needed: 1 hour
Zaanse Schans
A village of working windmills, green wooden houses and craft workshops on the river Zaan, a short train ride north-west of Amsterdam (station Zaandijk Zaanse Schans).
Tip: Walking around the village is free; the Zaans Museum, the mills and the workshops charge, and a Zaanse Schans card covers several of them. Go early or late in the day to avoid the coach tours.
Time needed: Half a day
Free things to do in Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s canals, parks and markets cost nothing, the ferries across the IJ are free, and there are free views from the NEMO rooftop and the public library, free lunchtime concerts at the Concertgebouw and, in winter, the Light Festival along the canals. Check each entry before you go, as times change.
Free ferries across the IJ
Centraal Station (IJ side)Free: Always: the F1 to F7 ferries across the IJ are free for pedestrians and cyclists; the F3 to Buiksloterweg runs day and night.
GVB's ferries leave from behind Centraal Station for Amsterdam Noord: the F3 to Buiksloterweg for Eye and the A'DAM Lookout, and the F4 to NDSM, the former shipyard full of street art.
Tip: Stand at the front on the way back for the view of the station and the old city.
Vondelpark
Museum QuarterFree: Always: open and free all year.
The city's best-loved park, with ponds, lawns and cafes, and free open-air performances in summer.
Tip: Combine it with Museumplein on Walk 3.
Begijnhof
Old CentreFree: Free; the garden door off the Spui is open during the day only.
A hidden 14th-century courtyard with a small chapel and the English Reformed Church, still home to residents.
Tip: Keep quiet and keep to the paths.
Rijksmuseum gardens
Museum QuarterFree: Free daily 09:00-17:00, no museum ticket needed.
The museum's formal gardens around the building, with sculptures and fountains.
Tip: Walk through the passage under the museum to reach Museumplein.
NEMO rooftop square
Eastern DocksFree: Free, no ticket needed, 10:00-17:30; the museum is closed on most Mondays outside school holidays.
NEMO's sloping rooftop is a public square with one of the best views over the old city and the docks; climb the outside steps.
Tip: Go late in the afternoon for the light over the old city.
OBA Oosterdok (public library)
Eastern Docks (Oosterdokskade)Free: Free during library opening hours.
Amsterdam's central public library, a few minutes' walk east of Centraal Station, with free exhibitions and views over the city from the top floor.
Tip: A good place to warm up on a wet day.
Concertgebouw free lunchtime concerts
Museum Quarter (Concertgebouwplein)Free: Free lunchtime concerts every week, mostly on Wednesdays at 12:30.
Short concerts in one of the world's great concert halls, from chamber music in the Recital Hall to open rehearsals by the Concertgebouw Orchestra in the Main Hall.
Tip: Free tickets go quickly, so book as soon as each week's programme appears.
Amsterdam City Archives (Stadsarchief)
Canal Ring (Vijzelstraat)Free: Free: the Amsterdam Treasures display in the basement treasury.
The city archives fill De Bazel, a monumental 1920s bank building, and show highlights of the collection in the old vault.
Tip: The building itself is worth a look; it is a short walk from the Bloemenmarkt.
Albert Cuyp Market
De PijpFree: Free to browse Monday to Saturday 09:30-17:00; closed Sundays and public holidays.
Amsterdam's best-known street market, with food, flowers, fabrics and stroopwafels made to order.
Noordermarkt
JordaanFree: Free to browse: Saturday 09:00-16:00 and Monday 09:00-14:00.
A market square around the Noorderkerk held since 1623, with farmers' stalls on Saturdays and second-hand clothes and fabrics on Mondays.
Tip: Finish with apple pie at Winkel 43 on the corner.
Homomonument
Canal Ring (Westermarkt)Free: Always.
Three pink granite triangles beside the Westerkerk, unveiled in 1987 as a memorial to gay men and lesbians persecuted for their sexuality.
Tip: One triangle steps down into the Keizersgracht; people leave flowers there.
Amsterdam Light Festival
Old Centre and the canalsFree: 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027, every evening: the light artworks can be seen free from the streets and bridges; boat tours are optional and paid.
The 15th edition puts light artworks along the canals of the centre. It opens on Thursday 26 November with a free evening at Amstel 1 from 19:00.
Tip: Check the route map on the festival website before you set out.
Free times checked on the official sites on 13 November 2026. They change, so check the link before you go.
Where to stay in Amsterdam
For a first visit, stay in the Canal Ring or the Old Centre: every walk above starts within a few minutes. The Jordaan is quieter and more local, the Museum Quarter suits art lovers, De Pijp is best for food, and the IJ waterfront has modern hotels by Centraal Station.
Old Centre (Centrum)
The medieval heart around Dam Square: the Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk and Oude Kerk, the Red Light District's canals and the lanes down to the Spui and the Begijnhof. Busy by day and lively at night.
Best for: First-timers who want the sights on the doorstep and don't mind crowds
Canal Ring and the Nine Streets
The UNESCO-listed ring of the Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht, with grand merchants' houses, the Anne Frank House and the Nine Streets' independent shops and cafes cutting across.
Best for: Couples and canal views, with everything walkable
Jordaan
West of the Prinsengracht, a former working-class quarter of narrow canals, brown cafes, galleries and the Noordermarkt; quieter than the centre but only minutes from it.
Best for: A local feel, cafes and weekend markets
Museum Quarter (Museumplein)
Wide, leafy streets around Museumplein with the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk and Concertgebouw, the Vondelpark next door and the smart shops of the P.C. Hooftstraat.
Best for: Art lovers and a calmer stay, a tram ride from the centre
De Pijp
A lively 19th-century district south of the Canal Ring, built around the Albert Cuyp Market, with the Sarphatipark, Heineken Experience and a dense mix of bars and restaurants.
Best for: Food lovers and a young, local atmosphere
Plantage and the Eastern Docks
Green, quiet streets around ARTIS and the Hortus Botanicus, close to the Jewish Cultural Quarter, the Rembrandt House and the maritime museum and NEMO on the water.
Best for: Families and a quieter base near the centre
IJ waterfront and Noord
Modern hotels along the IJ by Centraal Station, and across the water Amsterdam Noord, reached by free ferries, with the Eye Filmmuseum, the A'DAM Lookout and the NDSM shipyard.
Best for: Views, good transport links and modern hotels
Hotels for every budget. Each button opens our live search with that hotel at the top, so you can change the dates and nights.
Luxury hotels
Grand hotels on the Amstel, Dam Square and the Herengracht, several with spas and Michelin-starred restaurants.
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam
Six 17th-century canal palaces on the Herengracht joined into one hotel, with a spa and a large garden behind.
De L'Europe Amsterdam
A grand 19th-century hotel on the Amstel beside the Munttoren, a few minutes from the Flower Market and Rembrandtplein.
InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam
Amsterdam's grande dame, opened in 1867 on the Amstel, with a riverside terrace and a spa.
Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam
The former city hall, set around courtyards on a quiet canal between Dam Square and Nieuwmarkt.
Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam
A landmark 19th-century hotel facing the Royal Palace on Dam Square, with a glass-roofed Winter Garden.
Hotel Okura Amsterdam
A tall Japanese hotel on the edge of De Pijp, home to the two-Michelin-star Ciel Bleu and the Twenty Third Bar, with views over the city.
Pulitzer Amsterdam
Twenty-five restored 17th- and 18th-century canal houses between the Prinsengracht and the Keizersgracht, joined into one hotel around tranquil inner gardens.
Boutique and mid-range hotels
Boutique hotels in 17th-century canal houses, walkable to the Nine Streets and the Anne Frank House.
INK Hotel Amsterdam – MGallery
A design hotel in the former offices of the De Tijd newspaper, a few minutes from Dam Square.
The Dylan Amsterdam
A five-star boutique hotel on the Keizersgracht with a secluded garden and Restaurant Vinkeles, two Michelin stars, in an 18th-century bakery.
Ambassade Hotel
Canal houses on the Herengracht with its own art gallery and a library bar, a short walk from the Nine Streets.
Hotel Estheréa
A boutique hotel in a 17th-century building on the Singel, run by the same family for more than 80 years, a short walk from Dam Square.
Good-value hotels
Comfortable, well-placed four-star hotels by Centraal Station, the IJ and the Old Centre, for when the room is just a base.
Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre
A modern high-rise on the IJ with river views, about a ten-minute walk east of Centraal Station.
Hotel V Nesplein
A hotel from a family-run Amsterdam group, with The Lobby cafe-restaurant, on the Nes a few minutes from Dam Square.
DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station
A large modern hotel beside Centraal Station and the public library, with the LuminAir rooftop bar on the 11th floor.
Hotel Jakarta Amsterdam
A sustainably built hotel on Java Island with an indoor garden, in the Eastern Docklands east of Centraal Station.
Search every hotel in Amsterdam
Live prices for hundreds of Amsterdam hotels. Pick your dates and nights, or switch to Holidays to add flights from the UK.
Best restaurants in Amsterdam
From two Michelin stars on the 23rd floor of Hotel Okura to traditional Dutch cooking, Indonesian food and apple pie on the Noordermarkt. Amsterdam eats early by European standards, from about 18:00, and the popular places fill up, so book ahead.
RIJKS
Modern DutchMuseum Quarter (Museumstraat)
The Rijksmuseum's own restaurant, opened in 2014 under executive chef Joris Bijdendijk and cooking the 'cuisine of the Low Countries' from Dutch produce; it won a Michelin star in 2016.
Ciel Bleu
Fine diningDe Pijp (Hotel Okura, 23rd floor)
Two Michelin stars, held since 2007, on the 23rd floor of Hotel Okura, with executive chef Arjan Speelman and panoramic views over the city.
Restaurant De Kas
Seasonal set menuWatergraafsmeer (Park Frankendael)
A restaurant inside a tall glass greenhouse in Park Frankendael, cooking produce harvested in the morning and served the same day.
Daalder
Tasting menuJordaan (Lindengracht)
Chef Dennis Huwaë's creative tasting menus, back at Lindengracht 90 where Daalder began; dinner Thursday to Monday, with an à la carte option.
BAK
Seasonal tasting menuHouthavens (Van Diemenstraat)
A fine-dining restaurant on the IJ in a former warehouse in the Houthavens, built around vegetables and produce from farmers, hunters and fishermen since 2012; dinner Wednesday to Sunday, lunch at weekends.
Moeders
Traditional DutchJordaan (Rozengracht)
'Mothers' has served traditional Dutch food for 35 years, including its Dutch rice dish, a sampler of national specialities. Reservations only through its website.
The Pantry
Traditional DutchCanal Ring (Leidsekruisstraat)
A small, cosy restaurant just off Leidseplein serving traditional, home-made dishes from the Dutch kitchen.
Indrapura
IndonesianCanal Ring (Rembrandtplein)
Indonesian cooking on Rembrandtplein, from finger food to lobster, and a good place to try the flavours of the former Dutch colony.
Foodhallen
Food hallOud-West (De Hallen)
An indoor food hall in a converted tram depot, De Hallen, with stalls from Amsterdam favourites; easy for groups who can't agree.
Winkel 43
CafeJordaan (Noordermarkt)
A corner cafe on the Noordermarkt famous for its apple pie, open from early morning until late evening.
Café-Restaurant Amsterdam
BrasserieWesterpark (Watertorenplein)
A big, lively brasserie in a 19th-century water pumping station (the Machinepompgebouw) on the west side of the city.
Sea Palace
ChineseEastern Docks (Oosterdokskade)
Since 1984, a floating Chinese restaurant on the Oosterdok, three floors and 600 seats, styled after the Forbidden City.
Best bars in Amsterdam
Centuries-old brown cafes on the canals, jenever tasting rooms, specialist beer cafes, a brewery under a windmill and cocktails with a view.
Café Hoppe
Brown cafeOld Centre (Spui)
A brown cafe on the Spui since 1670; the older half at No. 18 is a listed national monument, with liqueur barrels behind the bar and drinkers spilling onto the square.
Café 't Smalle
Brown cafeJordaan (Egelantiersgracht)
A tiny cafe in the former tasting house of a jenever distillery founded around 1780, with a canalside terrace on the Egelantiersgracht.
Café 't Papeneiland
Brown cafeJordaan (Prinsengracht 2)
On its corner since 1642, a classic brown cafe where the Prinsengracht meets the Brouwersgracht.
Wynand Fockink
Jenever tasting roomOld Centre (Pijlsteeg)
A distiller since 1679, with a tasting room in a lane behind Dam Square pouring its own jenevers and liqueurs.
Café Belgique
Belgian beer barOld Centre (Gravenstraat)
One of Amsterdam's smallest bars, on a quiet street behind the Nieuwe Kerk, pouring a careful choice of Belgian beers.
Gollem
Specialist beer cafeOld Centre (Raamsteeg)
The original Gollem, a specialist beer cafe since 1974 in a narrow lane between the Spui and the Singel.
Brouwerij 't IJ
Brewery tapEastern Docks (Funenkade)
A brewery beside the De Gooyer windmill, with its tasting room, Proeflokaal de Molen, and Café Struis under the windmill.
LuminAir
Rooftop barOosterdok (DoubleTree by Hilton, 11th floor)
A rooftop cocktail bar on the 11th floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton beside Centraal Station, named Best Hotel Bar of 2025 at the HBMEO awards, with views over the IJ.
Bols Cocktail Experience
Cocktail experienceMuseum Quarter (Paulus Potterstraat)
Bols's interactive tour of Dutch genever and cocktails, with tastings and cocktail workshops, close to the Van Gogh Museum.
Twenty Third Bar
Cocktail barDe Pijp (Hotel Okura, 23rd floor)
Hotel Okura's 23rd-floor bar, next to Ciel Bleu, with cocktails and one of the highest views in the city.
Gay bars in Amsterdam
Prik
Gay cocktail barOld Centre (Spuistraat)
A friendly gay cocktail bar since 2006, with prosecco on tap, bar food, a terrace and themed nights such as karaoke.
Café 't Mandje
Historic barOld Centre (Zeedijk)
Opened in 1927 by Bet van Beeren and one of the oldest gay bars in Europe, on the Zeedijk; the bar reopened in June 2025.
Eagle Amsterdam
Men-only fetish clubOld Centre (Warmoesstraat)
A fetish club on the Warmoesstraat, men-only in regular hours (trans men welcome), open Thursday to Sunday from 22:00, with more than 150 themed events a year, some open to all genders.
Club NYX
Queer clubCanal Ring (Reguliersdwarsstraat)
A three-floor club on the Reguliersdwarsstraat, the main gay street, with the VOID sound system and queer club nights on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Lellebel
Queer barCanal Ring (Utrechtsestraat)
A small, queer-owned bar just off Rembrandtplein with a pub feel and rock music; karaoke on Sundays, and drag, comedy and other events at the end of each month.
All venues checked as trading on 13 November 2026. Opening hours change, so check Instagram before you go.
Amsterdam FAQ
How many days do you need in Amsterdam?
Three days is ideal for a first visit: one for the Old Centre and the canals, one for the Museum Quarter and the Vondelpark, and one for the Jordaan, the Anne Frank House and a free ferry across the IJ to Noord. Add a fourth day for a trip to the windmills of the Zaanse Schans.
Do I need to book the Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum in advance?
Yes. The Anne Frank House sells tickets only online, for a set time slot, released every Tuesday at 10:00 for visits six weeks later; there are no tickets at the door. The Van Gogh Museum requires a pre-booked timed ticket for every visitor, and the Rijksmuseum asks everyone to book a start time online. Book all three as soon as you know your dates.
How do I get from Schiphol Airport to the centre of Amsterdam?
The quickest way is the train from the station under Schiphol Plaza to Amsterdam Centraal, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Buy a ticket from the NS machines or tap in and out with a contactless bank card. Taxis and hotel transfers take longer in traffic.
Is Amsterdam safe for tourists?
Amsterdam is generally a safe city to visit. The main risks are pickpockets on trams, around Centraal Station and in busy streets, and the city's cyclists: keep off the red cycle lanes and look both ways before crossing. Before you go, check the UK government's foreign travel advice for the Netherlands at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/netherlands.
Is Amsterdam expensive?
Amsterdam is one of the pricier city breaks in Europe, and hotels are the biggest cost, especially at weekends and in tulip season, so book early. Many of the best things are free: the canals, the parks, the markets, the IJ ferries, the Begijnhof, the NEMO rooftop and the Concertgebouw lunchtime concerts.
Where is the best area to stay in Amsterdam?
For a first visit, stay in the Canal Ring or the Old Centre, where every walk in this guide starts within a few minutes. The Jordaan is quieter and more local, the Museum Quarter suits art lovers, De Pijp is best for food and bars, and the IJ waterfront has modern hotels by Centraal Station.
What is there to do in Amsterdam in December?
The Amsterdam Light Festival runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027, with light artworks along the canals that you can see free on foot or from a canal boat. The Royal Palace opens from 2 December to 3 January. Museums stay open most days, but check Christmas and New Year hours: the Nieuwe Kerk, for example, is closed on 25 December and 1 January.
When is the best time to visit Amsterdam?
April and May bring tulip season and King's Day on 27 April, when the whole city parties in orange. June to September has the longest days for canal-side terraces, while November to January is quieter, with the Light Festival in the evenings. Pack a waterproof at any time of year.
What language do they speak in Amsterdam?
Dutch is the official language, but almost everyone in Amsterdam speaks good English, and most museums, menus and transport information are in English too.
Is Amsterdam LGBTQ+ friendly?
Very. In 2001 the Netherlands became the first country in the world to open marriage to same-sex couples, and Amsterdam has one of Europe's best-known gay scenes, around the Reguliersdwarsstraat, the Zeedijk and the Warmoesstraat, as well as the Homomonument beside the Westerkerk.
