17 of the best things to do in Amsterdam

With its iconic canals lined by slender gabled buildings and spanned by arched bridges, Amsterdamis one of the most charming cities in the world. Whether you’re after exceptional art and architecture, innovative design, fabulous food or thumping nightlife, you'll find it here. The city'scondensed layout means you can fit a lot in even on a short trip.

And while this city is a year-round destination, the best time to visit Amsterdam for great weather is from June to September. Here's our guide to the very best things to do in the Dutch capital.

1. Soak up rich history with a canal cruise

Amsterdam is a city shaped by water. Cruising itsCanal Ring(a UNESCO World Heritage Site) by boat is among thetop things to do in the Netherlands. This is a delight at any time, but it's particularly beautiful at night when the waters’ ripples reflect the city’s twinkling lights.

You can navigate the waterways yourself (companies such asBoatyrent zero-emission electric canal boats), or hop on a sightseeing cruise, as just about every visitor does. Non-touristy alternatives include learning first-hand about the city’s history of migration aboardRederij Lampedusa’s former refugee boats, or helping keep the waters clean by “plastic fishing” fromPlastic Whale’s vessels, which are made from retrieved and recycled plastic waste.

Planning tip:If you prefer to enjoy the canals from land, grab a table atDe Belhamel. Situated at the head of the Herengracht, this superb restaurant’s canal-side tables are perfect for canal-watching (summer only).

2. Explore by bike

Cling-clanging bells and whirring spokes are part of the soundtrack of a city where bicycles outnumber cars – making for perhaps the essential means forgetting around town. Bike lanes crisscross every part of Amsterdam where the terrain (as in most ofthe Netherlands) is forgivingly flat. There are plenty of bike-rental outlets to choose from.

Beyond the built-up streets, fascinating places to explore range from the former ship-building yards ofAmsterdam Noordthrough theRoyal Palaceto the rambling woodlands ofAmsterdamse Bosand the pretty port of Muiden, with its storybook medieval castle.

To avoid beingthe kind of tourist Amsterdam doesn’t enjoy welcoming, it’s important to follow cycling etiquette. Always use the designated bike lane rather than lanes for cars, or sidewalks; adhere to the rules of the road; signal with your arm when turning; and make sure you’ve turned on your front and back lights at night.

3.Sip local brews at Brouwerij ’t IJ

You’ll know you’re truly in Amsterdam when you’re sipping a tall, frothy beer under the sails of a windmill. Much-loved craft breweryBrouwerij ’t IJhas a leafy terrace, idyllic for a pint (try its signatureZatte Tripel).

Planning tip: Learn about the brewing process on an English-language tour, which runs each Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 3pm.

4. Immerse yourself in art at Museumplein

Amsterdam’s top three museums are handily located around the green lawns ofMuseumplein. The grande dame of the trio is the famousRijksmuseum, which occupies a palatial building that opened to the public in 1885. It contains perhaps the best collection of works by Dutch masters like Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hals, as well as sumptuous decorative arts, including blue-and-white Delftware porcelain and intricate dollhouses.

The world’s largest collection of Vincent Van Gogh’s dazzling paintings (The Yellow HouseandSunflowers, among them) hangs at the must-seeVan Gogh Museum. Modern and contemporary creations by the likes of Mondrian and De Kooning are the focus of the bright, light-filledStedelijk Museum.

Planning tip:Invest in anI Amsterdam City Card, a discount pass that provides access to dozens of city attractions, to gain entrance to two of the museums (the Van Gogh Museum no longer participates). TheNetherlands Museum Passincludes all three (as well as hundreds of other museums across the country); buy one in person at the Rijksmuseum or the Stedelijk. Book your tickets and timed-entry slots in advance.

5. Shop in a Dutch design store

Bike carrier straps that function as shelving. Glow-in-the-dark door stoppers. Self-adhesive lamps to stick on the wall. These are just some of the witty, inventive and above all practical Dutch designs you’ll find in Amsterdam, along with furniture, fashion and gadgets galore.

A great place to start browsing isDroog, with a garden, gallery space and restaurant where most of the tableware is also for sale. Other emporiums to check out includeX Bank, set up as a showcase for local creators, and theGathershop, which stocks its shelves with handmade and fair-trade gift items.

6. Hang in local favorite Vondelpark

Amsterdammers’ favorite green escape is the sprawlingVondelpark, a lush, 116-acre (37-hectare) oasis of English-style gardens with fragrant roses, winding paths, ponds and sculptures. One of the bestfree things to do in the city, this egalitarian space is where everyone – kids, adults, couples, joggers, picnickers, locals and tourists – hangs out in the sunshine. Within the park, there are cafes and an open-air theater. It can also be your quiet place if you want to escape the big city buzz.

Planning tip:A short walk from the Museumplein’s institutions, Vondelpark is the perfect spot to reflect after soaking in superb art.

7. Visit the Anne Frank House, and never forget

When Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940, war came to the city for the first time in almost four centuries – and devastated its thriving Jewish community.The war’s impact on real people’s lives might be more palpable at theAnne Frank Huisthan at any other site in the world. Behind a warehouse on Prinsengracht, the young girl hid for over two years with her family and their friends in a dark, airless “Secret Annexe” – until they were betrayed and sent to concentration camps. Only her father survived.

Anne recorded the entire experience in her diary, now a classic of Western literature. Walking through the tiny, dark rooms in which she recorded her story is a humbling experience indeed.

Detour:Amsterdam’s occupation – which didn’t end until 1945 – is also brought to life at the museum of the Dutch Resistance, theVerzetsmuseum.

8. Raise a glass at a traditional Dutch pub

No matter the weather, the ideal place to experience Dutchgezelligheid(conviviality and coziness) is in one of itsbruin cafés(brown cafes – traditional Dutch pubs). Dark timber and tobacco-stained walls give these pubs their name.

Planning tip:With around a thousand across the city, you’ll never be far from abruin café. They’re especially concentrated in charming neighborhoods like the former blue-collar quarter ofthe Jordaan, where canalside gems with candle-topped tables includeCafé Papeneiland,Café Pieperand’t Smalle.

9. Have a night out in Amsterdam's bars and clubs

Awash with bars, concert venues and music-thumping clubs, Amsterdam’s renowned nightlife extends far beyond De Wallen, better known as the Red Light District (and an area whose reputation authorities are looking to change).Leidseplein, home to the famedMelkweg, is a major hub, as is nearbyRembrandtplein. Amsterdam’s LGBTIQ+ scene is found throughout the city, with popular venues likeCafe Prikplaying banging dance tunes late into the night.

Detour:Hop on a free ferry to Noord, one of the city’s coolest, most up-and-coming neighborhoods, and a haven of ultra-hip watering holes. Be sure to check outPllekandCafé de Ceuvel.

10.Snack on local specialties from street markets

Lively street markets like theAlbert Cuypmarktin the De Pijp neighborhood are lined with stalls selling delicious cheap eats likeharing(herring; served chopped with diced onion on a bread roll),Vlaamse frites(“Flemish fries”: crispy, fluffy and typically smothered with mayonnaise),stroopwafels(cookie-like wafers sandwiched with caramel syrup) andpoffertjes(mini pancakes), as well as Dutch cheeses such as Gouda and Edam. At bars, classic snacks include deep-friedkroketten(croquettes), including ball-shaped, meat-filledbitterballen.

11. Head to the top of A’DAM Tower

The craziest activity in Amsterdam is nowhere near the Red Light District – in fact, it’s far above it. At the top ofA’DAM Tower, a 1970s-era high-rise, a six-seater swing sends you out over the building’s edge and 100m (328ft) in the air, as your feet dangle below. You can also ride a virtual-reality roller coaster or take in the view from the tower's 360-degree observation deck, restaurants (one revolving) or rooftop bar.

12.Learn about the newest architecture trends at ARCAM

At first glance, Amsterdam’s cityscape seems scarcely changed from the era of Golden Age paintings – yet the contemporary city abounds with such tech-savvy, forward-thinking innovations as solar-paneled bike lanes, a sustainable “floating neighborhood” and the world’s first 3D-printed stainless-steel bridge. Learn about these innovations and other cutting-edge trends in design and urban studies, as well as the best in 21st-century architecture, at the Amsterdam Architecture Foundation (ARCAM).

Planning tip:Get out of the galleries and see Amsterdam’s newer side with a guided tour led by an ARCAM expert.Visit the websitefor the latest schedule (an additional fee applies).

13. Celebrate at one of Amsterdam’s festivals

Your visit to this outgoing city is likely to coincide with one of its many festivals; the occasion might involve food, drink, electronic dance music or classical concerts on barges moored on the canals. The most important date on Amsterdam's calendar is King’s Day (Koningsdag; April 27), when people don outlandish orange-colored outfits and party in the streets. And the “parade” of barges that takes to the canals duringPride Amsterdamat the end of July is a flotilla you’ll never forget.

14.Get a culture fix at Westergasfabriek

Amsterdam does urban revitalization really well and the sprawlingWestergasfabriekcomplex is a perfect example. Once the Netherlands' biggest gas extraction plant, it was turned into a vibrant cultural space. Come here for art house cinema screenings, theater performances, hip coffee shops and industrial-chic restaurants.

Westerparknearby is one of thecity’s best parksand an excellent place for relaxed canalside picnics, fun outdoor activities and sunbathing when the weather is good. For more industrial landscapes check out De Hallen.

15. Try jenever, Dutch gin

The local firewater,jenever(Dutch gin) is made from juniper berries and served chilled. Amsterdam has some wonderfully atmospheric tasting houses to try smoothjonge(young) and pungentoude(old) varieties, such as 17th-centuryWynand Fockink.

Local tip:Jenevertypically arrives in a tulip-shaped shot glass filled to the brim – thekopstootjetradition dictates that you bend over the bar, with your hands behind your back, and take a deep sip.

16. Go on a shopping spree in De 9 Straatjes

Located between Leidsegracht and Raadhuisstraat in the heart of Amsterdam, De 9 Straatjes (or "Nine Little Streets") is the city's most famous shopping area. More than 200 independent local shops are concentrated here – come to browse and buy vintage clothes, handmade beauty products, ceramics, books, coffee and antiques.It's also a very romantic part of the city, with canalside coffee shops and bistros, photogenic little bridges and many fashionable boutique hotels.

17. Tour Amsterdam's quirky museums

Explore some of Amsterdam's eccentricity at its unusual museums, including the canal house-setAmsterdam Tulip Museumwith exhibitions entirely devoted to the flower, theKattenKabinetthat celebrates art that features cats, andRed Light Secrets, housed in a former brothel in the De Wallen neighborhood, that explores the city's history of sex work. Don't miss the excellentHet Grachtenhuisoccupying the 17th-century canal house and providing an interactive look at the Amsterdam canals and their role in urban development.