Is Amsterdam worth visiting?
A simple guide to some of the best things to do in Amsterdam
Lets look at the question is Amsterdam worth visiting?
There are so many things to do in Amsterdam. It has stunning scenery for walking, historic canals for boat trips, iconic museums for art lovers, amazing food and nightlife plus so much more.
Have a look at our list of the best things to do in Amsterdam and find out why the answer to ‘Is Amsterdam worth visiting?’ is a resounding YES!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to companies and services we trust. If you purchase something after clicking any link, then we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you (policy page).
Canal trips in Amsterdam
No visit to Amsterdam would be complete without spending some time on its waterways. The canals link the city and work their way out from Centraal Station in a ring (the canal ring). You can pick up a canal boat to make your way around the city from attraction to attraction, or enjoy a day time tour, a small boat tour or a romantic evening cruise with dinner and dancing. The canals are the lifeblood of the city and a lovely thing to do in Amsterdam.
Museums in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a culture lovers paradise. There are just so many museums here. Not only does Amsterdam boast some of the most iconic museums in the world, such as the Van Gogh Museum, the incredibly moving Anne Frank House and the hugely popular Rijksmuseum, but it also has modern, quirky and contemporary museums like Foam Museum, Moco Museum and the new Straat Museum which features street art and graffiti. Amsterdam really does have a huge range of museums to suit everyone’s tastes and interests. Check out our full page on Amsterdam Museums.
Attractions in Amsterdam
Outside of the museums there are hundreds of attractions in Amsterdam to suit every interest. Amsterdam has the big city attractions like Amsterdam Dungeon, the ever popular Madame Tussauds, the wild Artis Royal Amsterdam Zoo and well-known Heineken Experience.
There are also a lot of other attractions in and around Amsterdam such as the miniature village of Madurodam, the diamonds of Amsterdam and the House of Bols cocktail experience. On top of that Amsterdam has wonderful parks, is close by to beaches (yes beaches) and Amsterdam Noord, just across the River IJ offers places like Eye Film Museum for the history of film and a cinema and right next door is the A’Dam Lookout Tower which offer amazing food, drink and views across the historic city of Amsterdam.
What to do in Amsterdam – see the flowers
Everyone associates Amsterdam with flowers and diamonds. The flowers in Amsterdam focus mainly on Tulips. In Springtime the fields outside Amsterdam come alive with colours, as thousands of tulips bloom, with masses of visitors flocking to see the extraordinary site. Keukenhof Gardens is one of the main Spring attractions in the whole of the Netherlands. Amsterdam also hosts flower markets where you can buy bulbs and flowers and smell the beautiful scents. There are many Amsterdam walking tours that feature the flowers of Amsterdam and in Spring there are tours to Keukenhof Gardens and the surrounding area to see the tulips.
Nightlife in Amsterdam
Is Amsterdam worth visiting for nightlife? Amsterdam has lovely brown cafes that have dark interiors and feel like a comforting blanket as you relax over a drink with friends. There are plenty of nightclubs and bars. There is even the Xtracold Ice Bar Amsterdam where you can experience a bar made entirely from ice, even your drink will come in a glass of ice. Then of course there is the well-known red light district for those looking for entertainment on the wilder side. Restuarants line every cobbled street and open late and the canal boats also run late into the evening, so you will never be short of things to do in Amsterdam at night.
What to do outside of Amsterdam
Once you arrive in Amsterdam, you’ll realise how compact it is and easy to get around. You may then find yourself looking to go further afield too. It is easy to reach other major cities like Rotterdam and The Hague from Amsterdam. A simple train ride will get you there in less than an hour, which makes Amsterdam a great base to explore all three cities. You can also go and see the Windmills at Zaanse Schans just outside the city, visit Keukenhof Gardens or go to the smaller towns like beautiful Delft and fascinating Utrecht.
Discover the I Amsterdam City Card
When visiting and looking for things to do in Amsterdam, it can be hard to pre-plan and buy all your tickets in advance, although hopefully we are helping you to do that nice and easily. Buying in advance is also pretty crucial at the moment due to the pandemics effects.
There are though also tourist cards that you can purchase. You pay a set-fee per 24hrs and they include entrance into a whole host of attractions as part of the cost. The I Amsterdam City Card is the main one in Amsterdam. We’ve created a page all about whether the I amsterdam Card is worth it which should help you plan ahead for your trip and see if you can save money with this Amsterdam tourist card. You can also use the direct link below to buy your I Amsterdam Card now.
Is Amsterdam worth visiting?
Hopefully by now you’ll know the answer to the question ‘Is Amsterdam worth visiting’ is an uncomprimising yes. Amsterdam is not only worth visiting, it should be very high up on your list of cities you must visit.
It’s compact, freindly, so easy to get around and has so many varied attractions that everyone will find something they love about Amsterdam.
