Netherlands

Amsterdam

Canal city; stay 3 nights for museums and neighborhoods. This guide pulls together 4 sights, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot from our curated routes.

Plan Amsterdam with friends Browse 10 places

Places: 10
Curated routes: 1
Best season: Apr – Jun, Sep
Warmest month: July
Coolest month: January
Wettest month: August

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Amsterdam

10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in Amsterdam across Museumplein, Jordaan and Zaandam.

See
Rijksmuseum
Dutch national museum with Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer.
Tip Book a timed ticket and go at opening.
- Museumplein
- $$$
- 3 hr
- Morning
Photo: AAKASH SHARMA · Google
See
Van Gogh Museum
Largest Van Gogh collection, tracing his life in paintings and letters.
- Museumplein
- $$$
- 2 hr
- Afternoon
Photo: Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0
See
Anne Frank House
The hidden annex where Anne Frank wrote her diary.
Tip Tickets online only, released weekly.
- Jordaan
- $
- 75 min
- Evening
Photo: Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0
See
Zaanse Schans
Working windmills and wooden houses on the Zaan river, 20 minutes by train.
- Zaandam
- $
- 2.5 hr
- Morning

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in Amsterdam in Jordaan.

Photo: Yahya Zaghrat · Google
Do
Jordaan and the Canal Ring
UNESCO-listed canals and lanes of gabled houses and small shops.
- Jordaan
- Free
- 2 hr
- Morning

Outdoors

Trails, views and open space in and around Amsterdam.

Photo: Dguendel · CC BY 4.0
Outdoors
Vondelpark
City park of ponds and lawns, busy with cyclists and picnickers.
- Oud-West
- Free
- 60 min
- Afternoon

Eat

2 places to eat across Oud-West and Jordaan, picked for groups who care about the food.

Photo: Foodhallen · Google
Eat
Foodhallen
Food hall in an old tram depot with dozens of stalls.
- Oud-West
- $$
- 75 min
- Dinner
Photo: Peter Lin · Google
Eat
Winkel 43
Corner café famous for tall Dutch apple pie with whipped cream.
Tip Monday mornings bring the Noordermarkt to the door.
- Jordaan
- $
- 45 min
- Morning

Drink

2 bars & cafés across Jordaan and Oost for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

Photo: Spirit.Of.Travel · Google
Drink
Café 't Smalle
Brown café on a canal with a waterside terrace.
- Jordaan
- $$
- 60 min
- Evening
Photo: SJSV · CC BY-SA 3.0
Drink
Brouwerij 't IJ
Brewery tap next to the De Gooyer windmill.
- Oost
- $
- 75 min
- Afternoon

How to fit Amsterdam into a trip

Amsterdam is stop 1 of 4 on our Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail route. Follow it as-is or lift Amsterdam into your own plan.

Stop 1 of 4
Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail
Canals, Flemish art and Belgian beer
Trip length
8 days
Best season
Apr – Jun, Sep
Pace
easy
- Next: Brussels
See the full itinerary

Getting here and onward

Amsterdam to BrusselsBrussels is about 173 km / 107 mi away in a straight line

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Amsterdam month by month

Average daily highs run from 5°C / 42°F in January to 21°C / 70°F in July. August is the wettest month, with about 90 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Amsterdam weather and the best time to visit →

Near Amsterdam

8 other destinations from our guides within about 400 km (249 mi), measured in a straight line.

Amsterdam questions, answered

How many days do you need in Amsterdam?

Our route notes suggest 3 nights in Amsterdam. On our Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail route it is stop 1 of 4 in a 8-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 16 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Amsterdam best known for?

Canal city; stay 3 nights for museums and neighborhoods. Standouts on our list: Rijksmuseum (Dutch national museum with Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer); Van Gogh Museum (Largest Van Gogh collection, tracing his life in paintings and letters); Anne Frank House (The hidden annex where Anne Frank wrote her diary).

When is the best time to visit Amsterdam?

Our Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail route is best Apr – Jun, Sep. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (21°C / 70°F), the coolest in January (5°C / 42°F) and the most rain in August (about 90 mm).

What are the best things to do in Amsterdam?

Start with Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, Jordaan and the Canal Ring and Vondelpark. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 4 sights, 1 activity, 1 outdoor spot, 2 places to eat and 2 bars & cafés.

Where should a group eat in Amsterdam?

Our picks: Foodhallen (Oud-West); Winkel 43 (Jordaan). Monday mornings bring the Noordermarkt to the door (Winkel 43).

What is near Amsterdam?

The closest destinations in our guides are Ghent (about 167 km / 104 mi), Brussels (about 173 km / 107 mi) and Bruges (about 173 km / 107 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Amsterdam with your crew

Open the Amsterdam to Bruges by Rail route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

Get TripsCircle

Plan around Amsterdam

Amsterdam weather by month