15 Best Things to Do in Amsterdam (2026 Guide)

There is no shortage of things to do in Amsterdam, whether you just landed with a residence permit or you are here for a long weekend by the canals. This is a resident’s rundown rather than a tourist checklist, mixing the free stuff you will do again and again (Vondelpark, the Jordaan, the canal ring, the markets) with the ticketed attractions worth planning a day around (the big museums, a science centre, a windmill village and a beer tour). Where advance booking is required it is flagged below, since several of Amsterdam’s biggest draws now sell out online-only, and every price and opening time was checked against the venue or an official source in 2026. Things change, so always confirm on the day.

Free and Low-Cost Things to Do in Amsterdam

The best things to do in Amsterdam do not cost a cent. Start with Vondelpark, the city’s 47-hectare green lung near Museumplein, open around the clock with no entrance fee. It is where locals run, picnic, skate and watch open-air summer concerts, and it is the easiest place to feel like a resident rather than a visitor. From there, wander into the Jordaan, the old working-class quarter turned leafy grid of narrow streets, hidden courtyards and independent shops, and follow any of the main canals (Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht) on foot or by bike for the view the city is famous for.

Cycling is one of the most authentic things to do in Amsterdam, and it is how most residents actually get around rather than a novelty. If you have not shipped a bike yet, compare rental options on bikesbooking.com before you commit to a purchase. Round off a free day at Dam Square, the historic centre in front of the Royal Palace, or the Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp, the largest street market in the Netherlands, open Monday to Saturday from 09:30 to 17:00 and closed on Sundays. Browsing costs nothing, though you will want cash or a card for the stroopwafels.

• Vondelpark – free, open 24 hours, near Museumplein
• Jordaan and the canal ring – free to wander, best by bike or on foot
• Dam Square – free, historic centre by the Royal Palace
• Albert Cuyp Market – free to browse, Mon-Sat 09:30-17:00

Museum Things to Do in Amsterdam

For culture, the top things to do in Amsterdam are its three flagship museums around Museumplein, and all three now require a timed slot booked online in advance. The Rijksmuseum, at Museumstraat 1, holds the national collection of Dutch art and history, including Rembrandt’s Night Watch. It opens daily 09:00 to 17:00, and adult entry is around 25 euro, with free admission for visitors 18 and under.

Next door, the Van Gogh Museum at Museumplein 6 holds the world’s largest Van Gogh collection. It opens daily from 09:00, with a later close on Fridays; adult entry is also around 25 euro, and there are no tickets sold at the door, so book ahead on the museum’s own site. Across town, the Anne Frank House at Westermarkt 20, in the building at Prinsengracht 263, is the hardest ticket in the city and one of the most moving stops on any visit. It opens daily 09:00 to 22:00, adult entry is 16.50 euro including the booking fee, and new slots are released online every Tuesday at 10:00 for the week six weeks later, so plan ahead or watch for last-minute releases.

1. Book the Rijksmuseum online for a timed slot; adult entry is around 25 euro.
2. Book the Van Gogh Museum online only, since no tickets are sold at the door; adult entry is also around 25 euro.
3. Book the Anne Frank House the moment new slots release, every Tuesday at 10:00 for six weeks later; adult entry is 16.50 euro including the booking fee.

To see several major sights without juggling separate bookings, compare a pass on gocity.com, or use tiqets.com to check availability and skip-the-line entry where it is offered.

Family-Friendly Things to Do in Amsterdam

Travelling with kids widens the list of things to do in Amsterdam considerably. NEMO Science Museum, the green ship-shaped building at Oosterdok 2, offers five floors of hands-on exhibits and a rooftop terrace free to climb without a ticket. From April to September and during Dutch school holidays it opens daily 10:00-17:30; otherwise it is closed Mondays. Adult and child tickets (ages 4 and up) are sold online; check the exact current price on the museum’s own ticket page before you go.

Across the water, A’DAM Lookout is Amsterdam’s tallest viewing platform, open daily 10:00-22:00, last entry 21:00. Standard adult tickets run from about 16.50 to 18.50 euro depending on booking online, and the “Over the Edge” swing is a paid add-on for anyone with a head for heights. For animals, Artis Amsterdam Royal Zoo at Plantage Kerklaan 38 combines a historic zoo, an aquarium and a planetarium on one ticket, open daily 09:00-18:00; adult entry (13+) is from about 29.50 euro online, more at the counter, with a discounted Late Afternoon ticket from 16:00.

Beer, Bikes and Beyond: More Things to Do in Amsterdam

Some of the most memorable Amsterdam experiences sit just outside the museum quarter. The Heineken Experience, in the brewery’s former home at Stadhouderskade 78, mixes brewing history with an interactive tour, and the standard ticket includes a drink. It opens Mon-Thu and Sun 10:30-19:30 (last entry 17:15) and Fri-Sat 10:30-21:00 (last entry 18:45); the standard tour starts from about 19.95 euro. A canal cruise is the classic way to see the city from the water, with prices varying by operator, typically from around 15 to 26 euro for a standard hour; compare departures on klook.com.

For a half-day out, the windmill village of Zaanse Schans is about 20 minutes away by train or bus. Walking the village and its windmills is free, and a separate paid ticket covers the Zaans Museum, the weaver’s house and the mill interiors, so check the current price on the official ticket site before you travel. Landing at Schiphol first, book a pickup through welcomepickups.com, and between checkout and your flight, drop bags at a locker through radicalstorage.com near Central Station.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best free things to do in Amsterdam?

Vondelpark, the Jordaan, the canal ring and Dam Square are all free, and browsing the Albert Cuyp Market costs nothing either. Together they make an easy day of walking or cycling and are the everyday things to do in Amsterdam that residents come back to.

Do I need to book museum tickets in Amsterdam in advance?

Yes, for the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House especially. All three sell timed slots online, the Anne Frank House releases new slots every Tuesday for six weeks later, and none reliably sells tickets at the door, so booking ahead is one of the most useful things to do in Amsterdam before you even arrive.

What are the best things to do in Amsterdam with kids?

NEMO Science Museum, A’DAM Lookout and Artis Royal Zoo are the top family picks. NEMO’s rooftop terrace is free to visit even without a ticket, which makes it an easy stop to add to any day.

What can I do in Amsterdam without spending much money?

Plenty. Vondelpark, the Jordaan, the canal ring, Dam Square and the free Zaanse Schans village are all free things to do in Amsterdam, and cycling instead of taking taxis keeps the rest of the day cheap too.

Is Zaanse Schans worth a day trip from Amsterdam?

Yes for the windmills and river views, and it is only about 20 minutes away by train or bus. Walking the village is free; budget extra for the paid ticket if you want to go inside the museum buildings and the mills themselves.

Expat Essentials for Amsterdam

A few quick wins make settling into Amsterdam easier while you work through this guide. An Airalo eSIM keeps you online from the moment you land, a pre-booked Welcome Pickups transfer takes the stress out of arrival day, and NordVPN protects your logins on public wifi. See our full list of trusted services below.

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Written by FinePassport team