12 Things to do in Amsterdam

Visiting Amsterdam? There are plenty of things to do no matter your interest. Whether you are looking for historic activities, nightlife, or something in between, Amsterdam will have it for you. Here are 12 things to do in Amsterdam on your next trip.

1. Heineken Tour

The Heineken Experience Tour is one of the top things to do if you’re visiting Amsterdam. Even though neither my husband or I drink Heineken, it was very interesting to hear the history behind it and see how it is made. The tour is very informative and we actually enjoyed it more than our visit to the Guinness Factory! If you’re in the area, make sure you visit.

Travel tip: You can book in advance, or walk up but be prepared to wait in lines! This tour was quite generous with the beer. With each general admission you received a small beer on the tour, and two tokens for pints at the end of the tour.

2. Canal Tour/Cruise/Taxi

The city of Amsterdam is connected through a complex canal system and boats are a common form of transportation in the city. Water taxis and water cruises are a great way to explore the city or get from point A to point B. We took a water taxi on our visit, but there are also cruises that serve food and alcohol as you explore the city.

3. Anne Frank House

One of the main attractions in Amsterdam is the Anne Frank House. I remember reading the Diary of Anne Frank in grade nine, and it’s one of those books that leaves an impression on you. It was an incredibly sobering walk through history. The bookcase that hid the entrance to the secret annex was still there and as you climbed the stairs it felt like you were transported back in time.

Travel tip: Tickets go on sale exactly two-months in advance online. I set a reminder on my phone and purchased them exactly two-months before the day we planned to visit. Make sure you buy your tickets in advance to avoid long lines or disappointment, as this attraction often sells out.

4. Visit a Museum (or a few!)

There are numerous museums in the area for tourists and locals alike to visit. The Van Gogh Museum and the Rijkmuseum are two of the most famous muesums for tourists. Sadly we didn’t prepare well enough in advance so we couldn’t visit either of the museums on our trip.

Travel tip: make sure you book your tickets in advance of your trip, or prepare to wait in a long line. In our case, we were prepared to wait in the long line, but they actually sold out for the entire day.

5. Take a Day Trip

Get out of the hustle and bustle of the city and head to the countryside! You can explore the historic windmill town of Zannse Schans, just a short drive away from the heart of Amsterdam. We actually did a half day organized tour with a small group that departed from a hotel nearby. Our tour was 4 hours and included a clog-making demonstration, cheese-making demonstration and an up-close look inside a working windmill. This visit was a very unique look into a piece of Dutch history from the 18th and 19th century. This is a historic residential area filled with wooden houses, windmills, small shops, barns and wildlife. Our tour took us back to Amsterdam by boat on a scenic river cruise. 

Travel tip: If you stop by, you could easily spend more than 4 hours here especially if you stop for lunch and take a leisurely walk through the neighbourhood. If we ever go back we would go on our own as it was really easy to get there and back.

6. Explore the Neighbourhoods

The Jordaan neighbourhood specifcially is known for the narrow canals, beautiful tall houses, hip boutiques, pubs and eateries. This is one of the most beautiful areas of the city (in my opinion!) and every photographers’ dream. There are other neighbourhoods as well that offer similar picturesque settings, so hope on a bike and pedal yourself around.

7. Sample Local Food

On our trip we were told to sample some key local foods including the pancakes and herring. I’m not a big fan of fish, but I do love carbs. For dinner one evening we went to Pancakes Amsterdam. I had the apple and cheddar and my husband had the ham and cheddar – both were fantastic. They were the size of dinner plates and we underestimated how filling these would be. A must-try if you’re in the city. If you’re willing to try the herring, let me know how it is!

8. Amsterdam Coffee Shops

A big tourist attraction in Amsterdam are the coffee shops. However, coffee shops in Amsterdam are not your typical cafe that you’d find back in Canada or the USA. In Amsterdam, these coffee shops are legal dispensaries for marijuana. So, if you’re looking for baked goods or coffee when you walk in, you might be in for a surprise! While we didn’t partake in this experience, we did take some photos of famous shops from the outside.

9. I Amsterdam Sign

We decided our first stop would be the I Amsterdam sign. Along the way we stopped for photos, because that’s what we like to do! Once we arrived at the sign we were a little deflated because it was insanely busy. I mean it was complete chaos! Even if we waited for hours we would not have gotten a good shot of the sign. It’s possible the time of day or even day of the week had something to do with this. Either way, we snapped a few quick photos and carried on.

10. Secret Courtyard

If you’re looking to escape the commotion of the city, you can visit the Beginhof – a secret courtyard open to the public. It’s actually not so secret these days, but still offers an escape from the busy streets of Amsterdam. This is a medieval group of historical homes/buildings in an enclosed courtyard. One of the oldest wooden houses in Amsterdam can be found here so make sure you add it to your itinerary.

11. Red Light District

Something else you can do in Amsterdam is visit the Red Light District. This area of the city was quite an interesting experience! Crowds of people in narrow alleys, women in windows to do some “business”, and pick-pockets on the prowl.

Travel tip: I think it goes without say that this area is not child-friendly in the evening. Also, we saw a pick-pocket group do a triple hand-off of whatever they stole from some unfortunate tourist. Make sure you are cautious, especially if you visit this area in the evening!

12. Ride a Bike

There are more bikes in Amsterdam than people – according to our tour guide and numerous locals we spoke with. So, one of the most popular things to do in the city is to hop on a bike and explore. Whether you are a cyclist or a pedestrian, make sure you pay attention to the bike traffic around you! You could easily be run over if you don’t.

Summary 12 Things to do in Amsterdam

So if you’re looking for things to do in Amsterdam, I hope this list of suggestions can be helpful. There are more things to do in Amsterdam than this, but from my experience these seemed to be the most talked about and popular attractions for travelers. Have other suggestions? Leave them in the comment section below. You can also refer to my 3-Day Amsterdam Itinerary to see how you can plan your trip.