Amsterdam, a city of canals and gabled houses
52 activities · Netherlands
Amsterdam, a city of canals and gabled houses
Amsterdam is best seen from the water. Canals lined with narrow houses, bridges packed with bikes and houseboats set the tone: the city stays calm in the morning and comes alive at night.
Start your visit with a canal cruise. You see the Golden Age facades from the deck, with a drink in hand on some cruises, before moving on to the museums and the cafes of the Jordaan.
The city suits couples, groups of friends and families alike. With more time, take a day trip from Amsterdam to the windmills and villages of the countryside.
01Activities to book
The best experiences in Amsterdam
Top pick
Free cancellationCharms of Brussels and Bruges Day Trip from Amsterdam
from €199★ 4.7
Top pick
Top pick
-6%Amsterdam Smoke Friendly Coffee Shop Cruise on Luxury Boat
from €21.10★ 4.9
Top pickVan Gogh Museum Amsterdam Small Group Guided Tour
from €80★ 4.9
Top pickCruise Amsterdam like a Local — Small Group 12 pax
from €49★ 4.9
Top pick
Top pick
Top pick
Free cancellationAnne Frank and Amsterdam Jewish History Walking Tour
from €16★ 4.7
Top pickAll activities · Amsterdam · 52
- 10 Tastes of Amsterdam Food Tour: Small Group, Full Meal & Drinks
- Amsterdam 2-Hour Small Group Canal Cruise with Snacks & Optional Drinks
- Amsterdam 90-Minute Canal Cruise with Onboard Bar and Snacks
- Amsterdam 90-Minute Private Canal Cruise with Live Guide and Drinks
- Amsterdam All-Inclusive 90-Minute Canal Cruise with Captain Jack
- Amsterdam Anne Frank Small-Group Guided Walking Tour
- Amsterdam Canal Cruise in Open Boat with Unlimited Drinks Option
- Amsterdam Canal Cruise with Live Guide and Unlimited Drinks
- Amsterdam Canal Cruise with Local Guide and Small Group
- Amsterdam Cheese, Windmill & Countryside Bike Tour / E-bike Option
- Amsterdam City Top Highlights Guided Bike Tour
- Amsterdam Classic Saloon Boat Cruise with Drinks and Cheese
- Amsterdam Evening (Sunset) Canal Cruise with optional drinks
- Amsterdam Evening Canal Cruise with Live Guide and Bar
- Amsterdam Food Tour: Authentic Dutch Tastings, Canals & Culture
- Amsterdam Food and Cultural Tour with 10 Tastings
- Amsterdam Luxury Canal Cruise + Unlimited Drinks and Bites Option
- Amsterdam Red Light District Walking Tour in EN/DE/IT/ES/FR
- Amsterdam Red Light District and Coffee Shop Tour
- Amsterdam Small-Group Canal Cruise with Snacks and Drinks
- Amsterdam Smoke Friendly Coffee Shop Cruise on Luxury Boat
- Amsterdam Traditional Dutch Blue Tile Painting Workshop
- Amsterdam Traditional Dutch Syrup Waffle Making Workshop
- Amsterdam: Canal Booze Cruise with Unlimited Drinks Option
- Amsterdam: Keukenhof Entry & Shuttle Bus with Flexible Return
- Amsterdam: Luxury Canal Cruise with Cocktails & Snacks
- Amsterdam: Red Light District Guided Tour
- Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum Guided Tour & Entry Ticket (Max 6 ppl)
- Anne Frank and Amsterdam Jewish History Walking Tour
- Anne Frank's Last Walk & See Anne Frank House in Virtual Reality
- Body Worlds Amsterdam Entry Ticket
- Charms of Brussels and Bruges Day Trip from Amsterdam
- Countryside Bike Tour from Amsterdam: Cheese, Clogs & a Windmill
- Cruise Amsterdam like a Local — Small Group 12 pax
- Day Trip to Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam and Marken from Amsterdam
- Eating Amsterdam: Food Walking Tour with Private Canal Cruise
- Eating Amsterdam: Jordaan Food Tour with Dutch Tastings
- Escape Amsterdam: E-Bike to Zaanse Schans Windmills & Zaandam
- Giethoorn & Zaanse Schans Windmills Guided Day Trip from Amsterdam
- Giethoorn Guided Day Trip from Amsterdam with Canal Cruise
- Giethoorn Small-Group Tour from Amsterdam (Max. 8 People)
- Giethoorn, Afsluitdijk, Zaanse Schans Day Tour Incl Hotel Pick Up
- Guided Bike Tour of Amsterdam's Highlights & Hidden Gems
- Morning Canal Cruise Amsterdam in Small-Group
- Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Exclusive Guided Tour with Reserved Entry
- Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Small-Group Tour with Private Upgrade
- Rotterdam, Delft and The Hague Small Group Tour from Amsterdam
- Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam Exclusive Tour w/ Reserved Entry
- Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam Small Group Guided Tour
- Zaanse Schans Windmills, Clogs and Dutch Cheese Small-Group Tour from Amsterdam
- Zaanse Schans and Giethoorn Small-Group Tour with Hotel Pick-Up
- Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam and Marken Tour
02Complete your day
More to do in Amsterdam
-20%Amsterdam: Red Light District Guided Tour
from €21.20★ 4.7
-12%Amsterdam Red Light District and Coffee Shop Tour
from €26.10★ 4.8
DealBody Worlds Amsterdam Entry Ticket
from €22.50★ 4.7
Top pick
-15%Anne Frank's Last Walk & See Anne Frank House in Virtual Reality
from €37.40★ 4.9
Free cancellationAmsterdam: Keukenhof Entry & Shuttle Bus with Flexible Return
from €39.49★ 4.6
03On the water
Boats & cruises in Amsterdam
Top pick-6%Amsterdam Smoke Friendly Coffee Shop Cruise on Luxury Boat
from €21.10★ 4.9
Top pickCruise Amsterdam like a Local — Small Group 12 pax
from €49★ 4.9
-15%Amsterdam Canal Cruise in Open Boat with Unlimited Drinks Option
from €18.27★ 4.9
Top pick
Top pickAmsterdam Evening (Sunset) Canal Cruise with optional drinks
from €18.50★ 4.9
04Categories
Guided tours in Amsterdam
Top pickFree cancellationCharms of Brussels and Bruges Day Trip from Amsterdam
from €199★ 4.7
Top pickTop pickVan Gogh Museum Amsterdam Small Group Guided Tour
from €80★ 4.9
Top pickTop pick05Categories
Day trips in Amsterdam
Free cancellationTop pick
-10%Giethoorn, Afsluitdijk, Zaanse Schans Day Tour Incl Hotel Pick Up
from €116.10★ 4.9
06Categories
Bike tours in Amsterdam
Top pick
Top pickAmsterdam City Top Highlights Guided Bike Tour
from €20.30★ 4.9
Top pickGuided Bike Tour of Amsterdam's Highlights & Hidden Gems
from €39.50★ 4.9
07Categories
Food tours in Amsterdam
Top pickEating Amsterdam: Jordaan Food Tour with Dutch Tastings
from €109★ 4.9
Top pick
Top pickAmsterdam Food and Cultural Tour with 10 Tastings
from €79★ 5.0
08Categories
Private tours in Amsterdam
09Categories
Walking tours in Amsterdam
Free cancellationAnne Frank and Amsterdam Jewish History Walking Tour
from €16★ 4.7
Top pick-15%Anne Frank's Last Walk & See Anne Frank House in Virtual Reality
from €37.40★ 4.9
10Categories
For families in Amsterdam
-10%Amsterdam Traditional Dutch Blue Tile Painting Workshop
from €24.75★ 4.9
DealBody Worlds Amsterdam Entry Ticket
from €22.50★ 4.7
-8%Amsterdam Traditional Dutch Syrup Waffle Making Workshop
from €22.54★ 4.9
11Explore nearby
Nearby cities
Trending
Popular activities
Top pickAmsterdam Food and Cultural Tour with 10 Tastings
from €79★ 5.0
Top pickAmsterdam Canal Cruise with Local Guide and Small Group
from €18.43★ 5.0
DealAmsterdam: Canal Booze Cruise with Unlimited Drinks Option
from €19.48★ 4.9
Top pick
Top pick
Top pickAmsterdam: Luxury Canal Cruise with Cocktails & Snacks
from €19.50★ 4.9
Amsterdam: good to know
- Population
- 921,468 (2023)
- Elevation
- -2 m
- Currency
- euro
- Official language
- Dutch
- Driving
- on the right
- Power plugs
- C, F · 230 V
- Emergency number
- 112
- 4°Jan
- 3°Feb
- 6°Mar
- 9°Apr
- 13°May
- 16°Jun
- 18°Jul
- 18°Aug
- 15°Sept
- 12°Oct
- 8°Nov
- 5°Dec
Sources: Wikidata; climate: NASA POWER, 2001-2025 averages.
Plan your trip
Guide · 8 min readAnne Frank, Zaanse Schans and Food Tours in AmsterdamFour Amsterdam activities compared: the Anne Frank guided tour, which does not enter the House, the 6.5-hour excursion to Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam and Marken, and two food tours. Choose by length, language and group size.
Guide · 5 min readAmsterdam canal cruise: the comparisonOne hour or ninety minutes, open boat or glass-roofed saloon, with or without unlimited drinks: five very highly rated cruises, and the details that make the difference once on board.
Frequently asked questions about Amsterdam
What should I see in Amsterdam on a first visit?
The canals and the Jordaan, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House and the flower market. A canal cruise helps you get your bearings on day one.
How many days do you need in Amsterdam?
The center is easy to cover on foot or by bike, so a short stay shows you the highlights. Add more time if you want to visit several museums or head out to the countryside.
When is the best time to visit Amsterdam?
Spring draws visitors to the tulip fields of the region, summer to the waterside terraces. Fall and winter suit museums and cozy cafes, with cooler and changeable weather.
How do you get around Amsterdam?
On foot and by bike in the center, by tram for longer trips. Narrated canal cruises give you another way to see the city.
What can you do in Amsterdam with kids?
A boat ride on the canals pleases all ages. Add Artis Zoo, the NEMO science museum and a bike ride through Vondelpark.