Romantic guide to Amsterdam

Discover 10 romantic things to do in Amsterdam

Amsterdam may not leap to the front of your mind when you are thinking about planning a romantic getaway. But you would be missing a trick to discount this wonderful city as a place to make amazing memories.

It is known as ‘The Venice of the North’ for good reason. Here you will find a city with canals as veins reaching out from its heart, the UNESCO World Heritage Canal Rings in the historic city centre. You can travel around on foot easily and what is more romantic than discovering new things together whilst holding hands? You can jump on trams that criss cross the city, ride bikes together and cruise down beautiful canals.

And everything is close together so there are no epic trips that take all your time up in the journey and not at the destination.

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Romantic hotels for couples in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has everything you need for a perfect romantic getaway. If you have not booked your hotel yet, then there are a whole host of hotels to choose from for all budgets. We have a whole section on luxury hotels in Amsterdam and chain hotels in Amsterdam, as well as a guide to the areas of Amsterdam which will help you choose where to stay.

However, to save you time, we’ll look at three stunning hotels that will set the scene for a truly romantic break.

10 Best things to do in Amsterdam for couples

There are so many things to do in this vibrant capital that just about anyone will enjoy, but when love is in the air, it’s important to make sure your break hits all the right spots. Here are our favourite things to do in Amsterdam for couples.

Walking in Amsterdam

It’s free, it’s romantic and it lets you discover things for yourself. So yes, walking around the city really is our number one thing to do in Amsterdam for couples.

Amsterdam is a compact city, it is easy to walk from attraction to attraction and whilst you are walking, you’ll find beautiful canals and architecture at every turn, you’ll discover coffee shops, markets, boutique shops, restaurants and bridges and you’ll feel closer to the city and dare we say it closer to each other too.

If you’re unsure of where in Amsterdam to walk, then you cannot go wrong exploring the Jordaan neighbourhoood. It a pure slice of the Netherlands, full of galleries, restaurants, boutiques, specialty shops and has beautifully scenic streets full of atmosphere. And if you get tired you can easily hop on an Amsterdam tram or canal boat back to your hotel.

Don’t fancy trying to find your way around Amsterdam on your own? There are hundreds of walking tours that cater for every interest, here are some of our favourites.

Take a romantic ride on Amsterdam Canals

Amsterdam Canals are very beautiful, they are also very practical. You can use them to get from one attraction to the next and enjoy the scenery as you float by. Canal cruising at night is breathtaking, lights flicker on the surface of the water, reflecting the grandeur of the buildings and you cannot help but be swept up by the beautiful ambiance.

There are so many ways you can enjoy Amsterdam canals. There are hop-on hop-off boats which take you through the city from attraction to attraction, there are dinner cruises for an evening out on the water or you can hire your own boat, either motorised or powered by your own two arms. Not many things are more romantic than a few hours spent together on the water. Time it for sunset and it wont just be the light that is golden.

Here are some of our favourite tours on the canals of Amsterdam.

Cycling in Amsterdam for couples

Bike hire in Amsterdam is huge. The city is a mecca for riders and it really is such a fun way to explore the city. Whilst walking gives you time to stop and smell the roses, cycling will get you there quicker. It is exhilarating to criss-cross a city and stop at points of interest or maybe picnic in the park or find an out of the way coffee shop to sit and watch the world pass by.

With very little car traffic, you only have to watch out for trams and buses and other cyclists, which makes it much safer to enjoy. We have a whole page on cycling in Amsterdam which will detail all you need to know about hiring bikes and riding around Amsterdam.

There are though lots of tours around Amsterdam that take the worry out of navigating and just let you enjoy exploring on two wheels.

Are the museums of Amsterdam romantic?

As destinations go, museums might not be at the top of eveyones list of the most romantic places in the world, let alone Amsterdam. But it is what is inside that allows your imagination to explore the very concept of love itself. Artists have for years portrayed love, or their version of love and it can be fascinating to discover works of art that really speak to you and connect.

Museums connect people

It is this connection that makes a museum such a special place for couples to go. Finding art you both love or that speaks to you, is one of those things in life that stays with you. Exploring museums together can be very romantic as you discover new artists in beautiful buildings, they are also quiet places where you can focus on just being together. And that’s pretty romantic in our books.

Then of course you can find out about the famous artists love lives too. Sometimes happy, sometimes tragic.

“Then I thought to myself, I’d like to be with a woman, I can’t live without love, without a woman. I couldn’t care a fig for life if there wasn’t something infinite, something deep, something real.” Vincent Van Gogh to Theo from Etten, December 1881.

Which Amsterdam Museums to visit

Amsterdam has museums for every couple. It has photography museums like FOAM, blockbuster museums like Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum and smaller more intimate museums like Willet-Holthuysen Museum (a beautiful house on the canal, full of valuable artefacts and art from the Golden Age).

So Amsterdam Museums can definitely be romantic, just pick the ones that resonate with you most.

Final tip, most museums are online booking only (although you can find walk up tickets at some). There is nothing less romantic than turning up and not being able to get in because you didn’t book in advance. You can use the links below or visit our detailed Amsterdam Museums page to make sure you don’t miss out.

Keukenhof Gardens in Spring

Nothing says romance like fresh flowers. If you are looking for a half-day or day out whilst in Amsterdam and you are there between mid March and early May then Keukenhof Gardens is a wonderful place to go and experience. Here you can see fields and fields of flowers and enter the incredible gardens which are beautiful to explore and will assail all your senses. Immersing yourself in flowers for half-a-day will be sure to make you both feel good.

We have a dedicated page all about Tulips in Amsterdam which will help you find some other flower related activities to do together.

If your not in Amsterdam in the Spring, then just visit the Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt) instead. Here you will find flowers all year round, many of which sit on houseboats, echoing the years past when flowers arrived by boat into Amsterdam. The market is open Mon-Sat 9am – 5.30pm and Sunday 11am – 5.30pm.  It is located on the Singel Canal 630-600.

The Magere Brug or Skinny Bridge

There are many beautiful bridges in Amsterdam, but there is only one with the romantic back story and legends attached. This famous bridge has seen a few incarnations now, from its first in 1691. This first bridge was very narrow so locals referred to it as the Magere Brug or skinny bridge. There is a story that the bridge was built by two sisters who lived on opposite sides of the river who couldn’t afford a larger bridge, so ended up with this skinny one. But, it appears likely to just be a story.

The most romantic bridge in Amsterdam

Locals view this bridge as the most romantic in Amsterdam. It is beautifully lit at night by thousands of bulbs and is an iconic sight in Amsterdam. Many proposals take place on this bridge every year. Legend also tells that a kiss on the bridge or whilst passing underneath in a boat, ensures the couple will be in love forever.

The Magere Brug was also what is known as a love-lock bridge, where couples etch their name or initials onto a padlock, lock it onto the bridge and throw the key into the water. This is a world wide phenomenon, but in recent years these padlocks were removed and if any appear, are cleaned up regularly. You will not be popular with locals if you try to put a padlock on the bridge, so if you want to declare your love on this bridge, we feel a legendary kiss is the best option. (environmentally friendly too!).

You can find this bridge on the Amstel, between Prinsengracht and Keizergracht nearby to the Hart Museum.

Diamonds are forever

Moving on from the Magere Brug which actually featured in the James Bond ‘Diamonds are Forever’ movie, we can nicely segue into the world of precious jewellery. Amsterdam is known as the city of diamonds for good reason. It is steeped in over 400 years of history and has some very famous diamond jewellery creators based here. Gassan Diamonds, Royal Coster, Van Amstel Diamond to name a few. Visit our Diamonds in Amsterdam page for full details.

So, if the moment hits you on Magere Brug, you can extend that moment and find the perfect ring here too. There are many other diamond gifts you can buy though, so taking a sparkling memory home from a romantic weekend in Amsterdam is just as easy.

Why not visit the Diamond Museums, have a tour and discover how the jewellery is made. You can then treat your loved one to something special at the end, what could be more romantic than that?

A’DAM LOOKOUT and Restaurant

Visiting A’DAM Lookout is a lovely experience. You can take the free ferry across the River IJ from the back of Centraal Station to Amsterdam Noord (use the Buiksloterweg route) and then once there, enjoy incredible views across the Amsterdam skyline. There is more though. You can take the Spectacular Elevator from the 1st to the 20th floor and be immersed in a sound and light show as you look up through the glass ceiling. You arrive in only 20 seconds, already feeling part of the experience.

Incredible views and more

Once up in the tower you can enjoy the Sky Deck with its 360º views across Amsterdam and beyond. If that isn’t enough then hold hands, strap in and take on the ‘Over the Edge’ swing which will swing you out over the edge of the building with your feet dangling 100 metres above the ground. You’ll definitely be hugging each other hard after that experience.

Finally you can enjoy a drink in the rooftop bar or perhaps some ice cream. But for us the Moon restaurant on the 19th floor is one for the romantics. This is a revolving restaurant that will spin the whole 360º during an hour so you see the entire view, feast on 3-courses and have a meal together to remember.

With the Eye Film Museum next door, you could take in a romantic movie too, ending the night on a high.

Amsterdam IceBar Xtracold

If you want to enjoy a drink together like no other, then Amsterdam Icebar is the place for you. Everything is made from ice, including the glasses! It’s cold in there, so wrap up warm and keep each other warm too. You’ll be plunged into -10ºC and marvel at the incredible ice surrounds as you sip your favourite cocktail drink. This is James Bond ‘Die Another Day’ territory and certainly an experience to remember. Booking is advised.

Amsterdam’s red light district

Now, it’s probably fair to say that the red light district is not exactly a place you’d think of as romantic. It isn’t. But, what it is is a place where couples can go and feel that little bit wild together. Just walking through the neon streets at night is an experience in itself. You could visit the Amsterdam sex museum or you could be brave and take in a show together. You’ll be surprised by the amount of couples wandering around the red light district, laughing and having fun.

Is it romantic? No, but it makes our list just because it is one of those things to say you’ve seen together. If you’d like more details you can check out our red light district page.

Spa break in Amsterdam

There are few more romantic things than booking a spa break in Amsterdam or even just having a day visit to relax and refresh together. A lot of the Amsterdam hotels have their own spas or swimming pool with a sauna, but if you want a real treat then the place to visit for couples or indeed any group of friends is Hotel and Wellness Zuiver. This is located in the south of Amsterdam in a forest and 2 miles from Museumplein and the Van Gogh Museum. You can get here on public transport using bus lines 347 and 357 and getting off at Nijenrodeweg or VU medical centre. The Metro line 50 stops at Amstelveenseweg and line 16 stops at A.J. Ernststraat. You can walk around the forest, hire a bike and cycle into Amsterdam very easily too.

Hotel and Wellness Zuiver is a large specialist spa and hotel with multiple saunas including music sauna, steam bath, caldarium, colour therapy, salt caldarium, japanese, wood-fired and Finnish sauna. There is also an indoor to outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, foot bath, plunge pool, whirlpool, aroma bath and cold waterfall.

You can of course book from a huge range of treatments and use the hotel as your base to explore Amsterdam and return to luxury and relaxation after a day out. It is worth pointing out that the spa is naturist, but does have swimwear days on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, on these days it is mandatory to wear swimwear, on all other days you will be using the spa as nature intended.

You can also explore our Spa breaks in Amsterdam page for a more in-depth look at the spas in Amsterdam.

Romantic weekend away in Amsterdam

So that’s our round up of ten things you can do in Amsterdam as a couple. But why stop there? There is literally so much to do in this dazzling city that you can have a different experience every day and every night. It is easy to get to, beautiful and compact (so easy to get around), everyone is incredibly friendly and you can walk, ride, tram or boat around at your leisure.

This in our book makes Amsterdam a perfect place for a romantic weekend away or longer.

Not sure on when to visit amsterdam? Check out our Best time to visit Amsterdam page.

Want to find out about other things to do in Amsterdam? Visit our Best things to do in Amsterdam page.