8 Things I’m Glad I Didn’t Skip On My First Visit to Amsterdam

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Amsterdam has a reputation for being a party city with a young demographic, but not everything in the city revolves around clubbing, beer, and the Red Light District. The city is full of activities for a variety of audiences, from art lovers to couples to families.

This list is for those looking beyond the risqué and who just want to embrace the unique culture and architecture of Amsterdam. That’s what I grew to love about the city, so here are my top eight things I’m glad I saw when I visited for my first time!

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Quick Tips for Visiting Amsterdam

• International transportation: Check Expedia for the best deals on international flights, including multi-city trips. If you’re coming from Europe, including the UK, train travel is another great way to access Amsterdam—the international train station is located right in the city center.

• Getting around the city: Amsterdam’s city center is very walkable. To get to the outer regions of the city, the metro and the bus are well-connected and efficient. There are also Ubers and, of course, biking!

• When to visit: This itinerary can be done at any time, but is probably best from April to June or September to October when the weather isn’t too cold or too hot. We went in the spring during tulip season which was stunning, but also much more expensive than the rest of the year.

• Currency: Euro (€). Card is accepted in many places, but cash can be handy to have as it is occasionally the only form of payment accepted. Examples may include street vendors, taxis, and bathrooms.

• Language: Dutch, but English is also widely understood.

• Attractions that must be booked in advance: Anne Frank House; Tulips at Keukenhof

• Where to stay: For convenience to many of the attractions listed below, stay at The Highland House in the city center, which has modern, clean, and spacious rooms. Hotels in the city center can get extremely pricy (especially during spring), so staying just outside of it may be better for your wallet. I loved staying at The Leonardo at Rembrandtpark, which was in a quiet area and just around the corner from several metro or bus stations that provided easy access to many top attractions.

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8 Things to Do in Amsterdam

1. Visit the Anne Frank House

What to expect: Anne Frank House is the location where the real-life Anne Frank and her Jewish family hid during WWII in German-occupied Amsterdam. There are exhibits on what life for Jews was like at the time and an incredibly moving walkthrough of the annex where they and a few family friends hid for two years until they were caught and sent to concentration camps.

Tip for visiting: Taking pictures is not allowed in the annex, so if you want to capture your time visiting, take a picture of the facade of the building facing the canal, which was the original entrance to the place in the 1940s.

Tickets: You can book a visit to the museum six weeks in advance and you will definitely want to check their website for tickets the day they are released for when you are hoping to visit—they sell out very quickly! If you are unable to get tickets during your stay, an alternative to visiting the inside of the annex is taking a Holocaust walking tour that leads to several WWII monuments around Amsterdam.

2. Take a canal tour

What to expect: There are a variety of canal tour options throughout Amsterdam, from private group boat tours to larger commercial cruises. Each will give you a look at the city from the water. Some may also offer special tours, such as dinner, sunset cruising, and a closer look at Amsterdam’s hidden gems.

Tip for visiting: Check the weather before your canal tour and dress appropriately. Also consider covered cruises or bringing an umbrella if there is rain or intense sun in the forecast.

Tickets: Since there are so many cruise options available, you can find many of them day-of. However, if you are a planner like me, here are several great options that you can book in advance: small-group historical boat tour; luxury cruise that hits Amsterdam’s major sites; sunset and evening cruise.

3. Try a stroopwafel

What to expect: Stroopwafels are a delightful treat composed of two thin waffles glued together with a cinnamon caramel filling. Some Stroopwafels have toppings, such as melted chocolate, nuts, sprinkles, or coconut. They can be found all over Amsterdam, but some stores are much more popular than others with lines out the door. My favorite place to get a warm, fresh-made stroopwafel is Hans Egstorf. For a variety of toppings, head to Melly’s Stroopwafel.

Tip for visiting: Stroopwafels can be very sticky and crumbly, so find a place to sit along a canal or quiet street while you enjoy yours.

Tickets: For a fun, immersive stroopwafel experience, instead of just trying one, make one at this traditional Dutch syrup waffle-making workshop.

4. See world-famous tulips 

What to expect: The Netherlands is known around the world for their incredible tulip displays that happen each spring. The best tulip fields and attractions in the country are only 30 minutes away from Amsterdam and well worth seeing if you are there at the right season. The top location to see incredible displays of tulips and other curated flowers is Keukenhof. In the surrounding area, there are miles of colorful tulip fields that you can bike to and take pictures in.

Tip for visiting: If you visit during another season, you can still find tulip experiences around Amsterdam, including the Tulip Museum and the flower market that sells all types of flower seeds.

Tickets: Either get a tulip driverguide to take you from Amsterdam to Keukenhof and surrounding tulip fields, or purchase an entry ticket to Keukenhof that includes a shuttle bus to and from Amsterdam, with a flexible return time. Doing this second option will allow you to see the surrounding tulip fields at your own pace, including by bikes, which can be rented from the parking lot.

5. Go to an art museum

What to expect: Many famous artists have ties to Amsterdam and The Netherlands, including Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, and Vincent van Gogh. To celebrate this, there are art museums all over the city, but especially in the region surrounding Museumplein. There, you can find Rijksmuseum, Moco Museum, Van Gogh Museum, and Stedelijk Museum, each with impressive displays of different eras and styles of art.

Tip for visiting: There are a lot of art museums in Amsterdam and iconic paintings and artists in each. Unless you are a diehard art lover, don’t feel guilty for choosing just a few pieces that are meaningful to you and skipping the rest.

Tickets: Van Gogh Museum entry and guided tour; Rijksmuseum entry and guided tour

6. Snack on friets 

What to expect: Friets—aka fries, French fries, frites, or chips, depending on where you are from—are a common and delicious treat in Amsterdam. The best ones are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and come with a variety of sauces to choose from. The most picture-worthy friets are served in cones with the sauces doused on top, like the ones from Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx.

Tip for visiting: Don’t forget to grab a small wooden pick to stab your friets with. It makes eating the bottom ones so much easier and will keep your hand from getting covered in the sauce.

Tickets: Take this food tour and try a variety of Amsterdam treats and snacks, including friets.

7. Sightsee and window shop in the city center 

What to expect: Amsterdam’s neighborhoods are full of personality. Spend a day or a few hours roaming the city without an agenda, just window-shopping and enjoying the atmosphere. Major spots to visit include Jordaan (full of charming streets and buildings), The 9 Streets (with picture-perfect canal shots on every corner), and Dam Square (connected to the main vein of the city with dozens of attractions and shopping options).

Tip for visiting: When buying souvenirs, seek out the places that have unique gifts and are far away from Dam Square. Otherwise, your options may be limited to a bunch of stores selling the same shot glasses and keychains with body parts on them.

Tickets: This bike tour with a guide will take you to many of the highlights I mentioned and is great for people who are nervous about biking in the city, but still want that iconic experience.

8. Stroll through a park 

What to expect: Amsterdam is busy and loud, but luckily there are several big parks throughout Amsterdam where you can find a quiet place to picnic, people-watch, take a walk, or just enjoy an escape from the bustling city. Some of the best green spaces include Rembrandtpark (with trails, lots of trees, and local dog walkers), Vondelpark (the largest park with manicured gardens and events), Museumplein (a large grassy area surrounded by notable buildings), and ARTIS (the Amsterdam Royal Zoo).

Tip for visiting: During warm, sunny days, buy picnic supplies from a nearby market or grocery store (Albert Heijn has great to-go options) and enjoy a meal on the grass. It is one of the most relaxing things to do in a foreign city!

Tickets: Get an ARTIS zoo entrance ticket here; other parks are free to enter and spend time in.

Are you making Amsterdam part of a larger Europe trip? Check out the related posts below to plan it all out!

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