One of Europe’s true jewels, with its Golden Age canals bordered by slender gabled buildings and spanned by arched bridges, Amsterdam might be small, like the rest of the Netherlands, but it has an outsized reputation.
From exceptional art, architecture and innovative design to nightlife, you’ll find it here. Amsterdam’s condensed layout means even on a short trip, you can fit a lot in, hitting the city’s top attractions as well as discovering under-the-radar surprises. Here are 15 of the best things to do in Amsterdam.
1. Cycle around Amsterdam
Cling-clanging bells and whirring spokes are part of the soundtrack of this city, where bicycles outnumber cars. Bike lanes criss-cross the city, where the terrain is forgivingly flat and rental outlets abound.
Beyond the built-up streets, fascinating places to explore range from the former ship-building yards of Amsterdam Noord to the rambling woodlands of Amsterdamse Bos and the pretty port of Muiden with its storybook medieval castle.
Keep in mind that there is an etiquette to follow when cycling around the city; in short, use the bike lane (not car lanes or footpaths), adhere to the rules of the road, signal when turning, and turn on your front and back lights at night.
2. Cruise the canals
Amsterdam is a city shaped by water. Its beautiful Unesco World Heritage-listed Canal Ring is best appreciated by boat any time, but at night its particularly beautiful when the canals’ ripples reflect the city’s twinkling lights.
You can navigate the waterways yourself (companies such as Boaty rent zero-emission electric canal boats) or hop on a sightseeing cruise. Non-touristy alternatives include learning first-hand about the city’s history of migration aboard Rederij Lampedusa‘s former refugee boats, or helping keep the waters clean by “plastic fishing” from Plastic Whale‘s boats made from retrieved and recycled plastic waste.
Planning tip: If you prefer to enjoy the canals from land, grab a table at De Belhamel. Situated at the head of the Herengracht, this superb restaurant’s canal-side tables are perfect for canal-watching (summer only).
3. Visit the Anne Frank Huis
When Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940, it…
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