Canal ring
First-timersThe UNESCO canals, central and expensive.
Amsterdam city guide
Things To Do In Amsterdam
Canals, gabled houses, bicycles everywhere and three of the best museums in Europe within a short walk of each other. Beautiful, crowded, and priced accordingly.
80
Hostels in the city
8.0
Average, from 249,786 reviews
~165
Canals
€25
The Rijksmuseum
€3.40
An hour on GVB
A city built on water and trade
Amsterdam grew rich in the seventeenth century as the centre of a global trading empire, and it spent the money on the canal ring: three concentric canals lined with merchants' houses, dug in a single great plan and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is still the defining image of the city.
It is small for a capital, and almost everything a visitor wants is inside or near the canal ring: the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum on Museumplein, the Anne Frank House on the Prinsengracht, and the Jordaan, the old working-class quarter turned the prettiest neighbourhood in the city.
Amsterdam is also one of the most visited cities in Europe, and the city is actively trying to manage the crowds. Three or four days covers it, and staying in Haarlem or Utrecht is a good way to save money.
Where to stay
The canal ring is central and expensive. De Pijp, Oost and Noord are livelier and better value, and a tram or ferry ride from everything.
Jordaan
AtmosphereNarrow canals, brown cafés and markets.
De Pijp
Food and barsSouth of the centre, around Albert Cuypmarkt.
Oost
ValueEast of the centre, near Oosterpark. Local and relaxed.
Noord
CreativeAcross the IJ by free ferry: NDSM, the Eye and A'DAM Lookout.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Amsterdam
Book the big museums before you arrive, because almost all of them now sell timed tickets only. The Rijksmuseum, with Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid, costs around €25. The Van Gogh Museum, next door, has the largest collection of his work in the world. The Anne Frank House releases tickets six weeks ahead, and they sell out within days; there is no ticket office.
Walk the canal ring and the Jordaan, preferably early in the morning, when the water is still and the streets are empty. A canal boat is the classic way to see the city; the smaller open boats are better than the big glass ones.
Take the free ferry behind Centraal station across the IJ to Noord, a former industrial area with the A'DAM Lookout tower, the Eye Film Museum and NDSM, an old shipyard turned creative quarter.
The Vondelpark is the city's great park, and Albert Cuypmarkt in De Pijp its best street market.
More on things to do in Amsterdam
Free things
Free things to do in Amsterdam
The canals, the Jordaan and the city's streets are free, and they are the main attraction.
The ferries across the IJ from behind Centraal station are free, and so is the trip to Noord and NDSM.
The Vondelpark is free, with open-air performances in summer. The Begijnhof, a hidden courtyard of old almshouses, is free to enter quietly.
The public library, OBA, next to Centraal, has a free rooftop view over the city.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Amsterdam
Dutch food is simple and best on the street: fresh herring with onions from a fish stall, frites with mayonnaise, bitterballen with a beer, stroopwafels warm from the market.
Amsterdam's colonial history left the rijsttafel, an Indonesian feast of many small dishes, and Surinamese roti shops, which are some of the best cheap meals in the city.
Foodhallen, in a converted tram depot in Oud-West, has stalls for every budget. Albert Cuypmarkt has cheap street food.
Eating out is expensive: a restaurant main is €18 to €28. Supermarkets and street food keep it down.
More on food and drink in Amsterdam
Nightlife
Going out in Amsterdam
Amsterdam's nightlife ranges from brown cafés, the old wood-panelled pubs of the Jordaan, to some of the best clubs in Europe. Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein are the busy, touristy centres; De Pijp, Oost and the Jordaan are where locals drink.
The clubs are spread out, often in former industrial buildings, and several have 24-hour licences. Amsterdam Dance Event in October takes over the whole city.
The city has tightened the rules in the Red Light District: smoking cannabis in the street there is banned, and bars and windows close earlier than they used to.
A beer is €5 to €7.
Getting around
Getting around Amsterdam
Amsterdam is compact and best seen on foot or by bike. Hire a bike for €10 to €15 a day, lock it twice, and ride with the flow of locals.
Trams, buses, the metro and the ferries are run by GVB. A one-hour ticket costs €3.40, and GVB day tickets start at €10 for 24 hours. You can also tap a contactless bank card in and out, which charges by distance.
From Schiphol, trains run to Centraal in about fifteen to twenty minutes for about €6. Tap your card in and out at the gates.
Trains reach Haarlem in about fifteen minutes, Utrecht in about half an hour and Rotterdam in about forty minutes.
Costs
What Amsterdam costs
Amsterdam is expensive, and the bed is the biggest cost. Dorms start around €30 and rise sharply at weekends and in summer. The city's tourist tax is among the highest in Europe.
A careful day is €65 to €85. The museums, at around €25 each, add up; a Museumkaart can pay for itself if you visit several.
Staying in Haarlem or Utrecht and taking the train in is often cheaper, even after fares. Many places are card only; carry a debit card, as some do not take credit cards.
More on costs in Amsterdam
Safety
Staying safe in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is safe. Pickpockets work Centraal station, the trams and the Red Light District crowds. Keep your bag closed.
Do not buy drugs on the street; street dealing is illegal and what is sold is often dangerous. Cannabis and edibles from coffeeshops are stronger than most visitors expect.
In the Red Light District, photographing sex workers is forbidden and causes trouble.
Bike theft is constant. Cycle lanes are for bikes, and bikes have priority. Do not walk in them, and look both ways before stepping off the pavement.
Emergency number is 112.
Day trips from Amsterdam
Most of the country is within an hour by train.
Haarlem
A smaller, quieter canal city with a great market square.
Zaanse Schans
Working windmills and wooden houses on the river Zaan.
Keukenhof
Seven million bulbs in the tulip season.
Utrecht
Canals with wharf-level terraces, and a student city.
Marken and Volendam
Old fishing villages on the former Zuiderzee.
Day trips from Amsterdam
What's on
What is on while you are there
Kingsday turns the whole city orange. Pride puts it on boats.
Staff pick
21–25 October
Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE)
The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) is the world's leading electronic music conference and festival, attracting over 400,000 attendees annually. This five-day event features over…
Staff pick
12–22 November
IDFA: International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam
The International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam (IDFA) is one of the world’s premier showcases for documentary cinema, drawing filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences from across…
Staff pick
15 November
Sinterklaas Parade
The Sinterklaas Parade in Amsterdam marks the start of the festive season with a vibrant celebration each November. Sinterklaas makes a grand entrance by…
Staff pick
1–4 October
Camera Japan Amsterdam
Camera Japan is a vibrant cultural festival, celebrating Japanese film and arts since 2006. While cinema takes center stage, the festival also showcases music,…
Staff pick
10–25 October
Cinekid
Cinekid, held annually in Amsterdam and country-wide, is the world's largest international film, television, and new media festival for children. With over 60,000 expected…
Staff pick
17–18 October
TCS Amsterdam Marathon
The TCS Amsterdam Marathon is renowned for its fast, scenic course and prestigious World Athletics Platinum Label status. Runners begin and end their journey…
Staff pick
29 Oct – 8 Nov
Imagine Film Festival
The Imagine Film Festival in the Netherlands is a premier celebration of fantastic cinema, showcasing the best in fantasy, science fiction, horror, anime, martial…
Staff pick
1–8 November
Pan Amsterdam
Pan Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ premier fair for art, antiques, and design, attracting tens of thousands of enthusiasts each year. The event showcases a…
Hostels
Where to stay in Amsterdam
The top-rated places to stay in Amsterdam right now, live from Hostelworld.
CityHub Amsterdam
See dates and book
Onefam Amstel
Dorms from €24 a night
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The Elephant Hostel
Dorms from €23 a night
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The Bee Hostel
Dorms from €26 a night
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The Bulldog
Dorms from €32 a night
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Train Lodge Amsterdam
Dorms from €20 a night
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Hostelle - Women Only Hostel
Dorms from €18 a night
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Sustainable
Stayokay Amsterdam Stadsdoelen
Dorms from €25 a night
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Flying Pig Downtown
Dorms from €19 a night
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MEININGER Amsterdam Amstel
Dorms from €20 a night
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Bunk Hostel Amsterdam
Dorms from €33 a night
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St Christopher's Amsterdam - The Winston
Dorms from €19 a night
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When to go
April to June and September are best. Kingsday and the tulip season make April the busiest month.
Jan
Cold, dark, cheapest beds of the year
Feb
Quiet
Mar
Tulip season opens at the end of the month
Apr
Tulips and Kingsday on the 27th
May
The best month
Jun
Long evenings, terraces full
Jul
Peak season
Aug
Still peak
Sep
Excellent and quieter
Oct
Cool, wet. Museum weather
Nov
Grey and cheap
Dec
Sinterklaas and Christmas markets
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs. It rains in every month, and the wind off the North Sea makes it feel colder.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Transport assumes GVB tickets or tapping a bank card. Museums are around €25 each.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Amsterdam travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
How many days do you need in Amsterdam?
Three or four, for the museums, the canals and an evening in De Pijp or Noord.
Do I need to book museums?
Yes. The Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House sell timed tickets online, and the Anne Frank House sells out weeks ahead.
How do I get from Schiphol to the city?
By train to Centraal, about fifteen to twenty minutes and about €6. Tap your bank card in and out.
Is Amsterdam expensive?
The beds are. Dorms start around €30. Staying in Haarlem or Utrecht is often cheaper.
Can I cycle in Amsterdam?
Yes, and it is the best way around. Ride with the flow, lock the bike twice, and watch for trams.
Are coffeeshops open to tourists?
Yes, but smoking in the street in the Red Light District is banned, and products are stronger than most visitors expect.
When is the best time to visit?
April to June and September.
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