Best Tours in Amsterdam
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Top sights in Amsterdam
All self-guided activities
See, smell, listen and be afraid, very afraid. All your senses will be on red alert at the Amsterdam Dungeon as you take a spooktacular walkthrough adventure into the 500-year-old history of Amsterdam. Enjoy 7 shows, meet a cast of characters, and prepare for goosebumps. Screaming encouraged.
Explore the highlights of the Rijksmuseum and the streets of Amsterdam with a self-guided audio tour! Start your journey at the Rijksmuseum, home to the Netherlands’ most iconic artworks. With your included ticket, explore masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Van Gogh and other Dutch masters. Discover the evolution of Dutch art from medieval times to the 19th century and hear the stories behind highlights like The Milkmaid, The Night Watch, and Van Gogh's self-portrait. Learn about the artists, their techniques, and the historical context of each work. After the museum, continue with a self-guided walking tour through Amsterdam’s East Side and historic Jewish District. Start at the Opera House and end at the modern Odebrug, tracing the city’s rich history. Key stops include the Auschwitz Monument, Oosterdok Island, the Resistance Museum, and the Maritime Museum. Pause at the National Holocaust Memorial, admire the Portuguese Synagogue, and enjoy the Hortus Botanicus. This tour combines art, history, and culture, offering a complete, immersive experience of Amsterdam—from its treasured masterpieces to its historic streets. Note! This tour is not affiliated with the Rijksmuseum but is provided by an independent creator. The ticket is included for the customer's convenience at no extra charge.
Located atop the A’DAM Tower in Amsterdam-Noord, visit A'DAM Lookout for unmatched views of Amsterdam from an observation deck. See the city's historic center, the busy harbor, and the Dutch polder landscape. Spot the famous canals listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Engage with a modern interactive exhibition and use a free audio tour to learn about Amsterdam's history and culture. For thrill-seekers, try Europe’s highest swing, 'Over the Edge." Swing 100 meters above the ground and get the view of Amsterdam from a unique perspective. Your entry ticket also includes two drinks. Choose from coffee, tea, Heineken beer, house wine, or soft drinks.
Explore the Royal Palace of Amsterdam – an iconic symbol of the Netherlands' rich history and cultural heritage! Step into this magnificent architectural wonder to experience the royal splendor and opulence. The Royal Palace of Amsterdam holds a profound significance for the Netherlands. Originally built as a city hall during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century, this majestic edifice was later converted into a royal residence, making it an embodiment of the nation's political and regal heritage. It remains an official residence of King William-Alexander to this very day. Admire the stunning architecture adorned with intricate carvings and ornate decorations, truly reflecting the opulence of a bygone era. Explore the various rooms and chambers, housing an extensive collection of art and artifacts from the Golden Age, showcasing the nation's cultural heritage. One of the highlights of your visit will undoubtedly be the chance to stand in the very room where important state ceremonies and receptions take place. Feel the weight of history as you step into the Citizens' Hall, where royal inaugurations and official events still occur to this day. And the Marble Gallery, with its grandiose columns and magnificent artworks, will leave you in awe, offering a glimpse into the luxurious lifestyle of the Dutch monarchy.
Foam is the museum for photography lovers, whether you are looking to discover contemporary, emerging talents or admire the work of iconic photographers from the previous century. The diversity of exhibitions on display invites visitors to explore the world of photography, ranging from historical vintage prints to contemporary fashion photography. Foam is located in a manor house along the beautiful canals, where the first museum for modern art of Amsterdam was opened in 1863. Hidden behind its historic façade you find a contemporary museum.
Enjoy a musical and whimsical day out at Utrecht's Speelklok Museum, and surround yourself with 'live' music performed by a huge collection of self-playing instruments. With more clocks, music boxes, orchestrions, and street organs that you can wave a conductor's baton at, it's a showcase of ingenious engineering and fascinating insight into life before the iPod.
Visit A'DAM Lookout, an observatory deck with views over Amsterdam. See the historic city center, the busy harbor, and the unique Dutch polder landscape. Spot the famous canals listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Complement your visit with a modern interactive exhibition and a free audio tour of Amsterdam’s history and culture. A'DAM Lookout is located on top of the A’DAM Tower in Amsterdam-Noord. For thrill-seekers, there is the chance to swing on Europe’s highest swing, 'Over the Edge.' Hang 100 meters above the ground and swing back and forth over the edge of the tower with the city below you. Your entry ticket also includes a choice of hamburger and crispy fries. Options are beef, chicken, or veggie.
Fly over Holland's highlights with THIS IS HOLLAND. Thanks to a large spherical screen and special effects like wind and scents, you can see the Netherlands without moving. View heritage sites, windmills, Amsterdam's canals, and more with one ticket. This simulation takes you to Dutch World Heritage sites, such as Amsterdam's canals, the Wadden Sea, and many windmills. Move through effects like mist, wind, and various scents. This can even be a good practice flight for those hesitant about flying. Have a multi-sensory experience that creates the sensation of flying over the Netherlands.
The Wereldmuseum Amsterdam is housed in an impressive national monument that has colonial roots. As such, colonialism and its repercussions are an important theme. Topics such as world trade, consumption, migration, climate change, and urbanization are also relevant to Amsterdam. The exhibitions in the museum always make a connection between the historical context and current global themes. Since 2023, Wereldmuseum Amsterdam, along with Wereldmuseum Rotterdam and Wereldmuseum Leiden, has been part of the National Museum of World Cultures. This merger brings together nearly 450,000 objects, 260,000 photographic images, and approximately 350,000 documentary items, strengthening the museum's mission to inspire an open view of the world and contribute to global citizenship.
“Have I really been here for three hours?” - this might be the only question left unanswered after your visit to this attraction in the heart of Amsterdam. There’s so much to see and do that you’ll wish you had four eyes, like a certain Chinese gentleman you'll meet. Step into this delightful time sink - and good luck with that @#$%&! mystery gate!
Cities in Netherlands
About Amsterdam
The best walking tours to do in Amsterdam are:
- Amsterdam: Fabrique des Lumières "From Vermeer to Van Gogh" Ticket & City Audio Walk
- Amsterdam: Madame Tussauds Ticket and an Audio City Walk
- Amsterdam: Moco Museum Ticket and City Discovery Audio Tour
- Amsterdam: BODY WORLDS Ticket and Audio Walk Through the City
- Amsterdam: Heineken Experience Entry & Guided Tour with an Audio City Walk
The best indoor tours in Amsterdam for rainy days are:
The must-see attractions in Amsterdam for a first visit are:
Insider tips for visiting Amsterdam
Rolf Laimbock is a local guide who has been publishing tours since 2020 for your discovery of hidden gems and local specialities of Amsterdam on their personal guide page (view profile). Explore their expert tips planning trip to Amsterdam.
When I visit Amsterdam for shopping, I usually skip the obvious chains and head for De 9 Straatjes first. Between the canals, I browse independent fashion, vintage, and design stores tucked into old merchant houses. For sharper local style, I recommend the Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk area in Amsterdam; locals know it for small concept shops, excellent delis, and bookstores. If you visit Amsterdam and like contemporary labels with a more polished feel, Oud-Zuid around Beethovenstraat is a smart choice. In my travel guide Amsterdam, these are the areas I mention most because they combine browsing with some of the best things to do in Amsterdam: walking, people-watching, and café stops.
When I’m in Amsterdam on my own, I always start with a slow walk through the Jordaan early in the morning, before the cafés fill and the canals turn busy. For solo visitors, it’s one of the most rewarding things to do in Amsterdam because you can move at your own pace, browse small galleries, and sit unnoticed with coffee on the Noordermarkt. I often continue to the Begijnhof or the canal belt, which belong high on any list of what to see in Amsterdam. Unlike many tours in Amsterdam, this feels personal. These quieter corners are also among the most memorable attractions in Amsterdam for people traveling alone.
In my travel guide Amsterdam, I usually recommend three full days in Amsterdam as the sweet spot. That gives you time to settle into the rhythm of the city: an unhurried canal walk at dusk, a museum morning, and a neighborhood like De Pijp or the Jordaan where Amsterdam feels lived-in rather than staged. When I visit Amsterdam myself, I find two days can work if you stay central and choose carefully, but four lets you add ferries to Noord or a slow afternoon in the Plantage. For me, the best things to do in Amsterdam reveal themselves when you leave space between plans.
When I want a break from the center of Amsterdam, I head just beyond it to places that still feel connected to the city’s history. The ferry to NDSM is one of my favorite short escapes; in Amsterdam, it gives you a rawer, creative side with street art and old shipyard buildings. I also recommend taking the train to Haarlem for an afternoon, especially for quiet hofjes and excellent small museums. If you’re comparing attractions in Amsterdam with what to see in Amsterdam nearby, these are the places I mention first. Unlike many tours in Amsterdam, they let you feel how the city opens outward into very different neighborhoods and towns.
If you plan to visit Amsterdam around a major event, I’d time it for King’s Day in April or the Grachtenfestival in summer. King’s Day shows Amsterdam at its most exuberant, but I prefer the smaller pockets: families selling old treasures on the streets of the Jordaan and canal-side music drifting through quieter blocks. In my travel guide Amsterdam, I also highlight Open Monumentendag in September, when historic buildings in Amsterdam open doors usually closed to the public. For me, these are among the most memorable things to do in Amsterdam because they reveal the city’s character, not just its postcard image.
When families ask me where to go in Amsterdam, I often suggest the maritime area around Het Scheepvaartmuseum. For me, it’s one of the smartest things to do in Amsterdam with children because the old harbor setting already feels like an adventure, and the full-scale VOC ship draws them in immediately. From there, I like walking toward the Oosterdok, where Amsterdam opens up with wide views and room to move, which parents appreciate. Among the classic attractions in Amsterdam, this area feels less cramped than the canal core. It also works well if you’re deciding what to see in Amsterdam without relying on standard tours in Amsterdam.
In my travel guide Amsterdam, I always say the city makes most sense on foot, with trams for longer stretches. When I visit Amsterdam, I walk the canal belt and Jordaan because distances are shorter than they look, and you notice the details that make Amsterdam special: crooked gables, hidden courtyards, flower boxes leaning over bridges. For neighborhoods like Amsterdam Noord or the eastern docks, I use the free ferry or tram rather than a bike; locals know cycling here can feel hectic if you do not know the rhythm. For me, combining walking with public transport is one of the most practical things to do in Amsterdam.