Best things to do in Amsterdam

Known for its canals, Red Light District, atypical houses, and intense nightlife, the capital of the Netherlands is worth visiting. With its cozy coffee shops, art museums, street art and mills, the “Dutch Venice” is impressive. Plan a tour to Amsterdam but don’t know where to go and what to see? Don’t worry. This list of the best Amsterdam attractions is a must for any first-time visitor.

Van Gogh Museum

Put Van Gogh Museum on the top place of your travel list. Dive into the unrealistic world of art. This experience will let you access the masterpieces of the famous painter. You will find more than 200 paintings, 500 sketches and 750 letters of the artist. The museum also houses temporary exhibitions. In addition to the artwork of Van Gogh, you will also have the possibility to get souvenirs from the Van Gogh Museum shop. The shop is located in the entrance hall of the museum.

Heineken Experience

Transformed into a tourist attraction in 1863, the ancient Heineken factory is a must-see place for Dutch beer lovers. Being the third-largest beer maker in the world, Heineken provides an unforgettable experience to its fans. You will have a self-guided tour of the ancient factory and will discover the beer-making traditions. You can also personalize a Heineken bottle with your own name.

Red Light District

Walk along Red Light District and discover the night vision of Amsterdam city. You will be astonished to find there more than night prostitutes offering their body. This neighborhood has museums, sex shops, brothels. But, Red Light District is a safe place despite its noisy atmosphere. In fact, there are 3 Red Light Districts in Amsterdam. But, the one located in the city center is the most famous.

Besides prostitution and sex shops, you can find unusual museums like the Museum of Cannabis or the Museum of Erotism. The majority of the coffee shops are located in this district. Even if the ads for drugs are forbidden, you can easily see signs on the windows everywhere. The best time to visit the Red Light District is by night. At this time of the day the red neon lights come out and the crowds start to beautify this place.

Icebar Xtracold

The temperature in the Icebar Xtracold is constantly maintained below 10 degrees. Everything here is entirely in ice. Let yourself be amazed by this remarkable engineering work and enjoy your dutch drinks in ice bottles. In addition to the experience, you will receive 3 drinks completely free of charge. Do you know a better way to end your day than drinking dutch beers in an enjoyable atmosphere?

Bubble Bike

What about combining Amsterdam sightseeing with bike riding and beer tasting? It’s completely legal in Amsterdam. With its electric pedal assistance and its canopy top the tour, this bike is an atypical Dutch experience. It’s a good alternative to pub crawls because it lets you discover the most famous locations in the city. You will be accompanied by a driver-guide who will serve you beer and comment on the attractions.

Trip to Bruges

3 hours from Amsterdam, Bruges represents a historical value that you should absolutely find out. Did you know that the historical center of the city is currently listed in UNESCO? Churches, historical monuments, stunning houses have been built along its long canals. Bruges is famous for being the cradle of the Flemish painting, and for the festivities celebrated on the Ascension day.

There are several ways to reach Bruges from Amsterdam. You can reach Bruges on a train or take day trips by bus at affordable prices. Bruges is definitely the place to visit while planning your trip to Amsterdam city. It’s also a great way to compare the 2 famous cities from an architectural point of view.

Jordaan District

Jordaan district lies to the west of the old town between Prinsengracht in the east and Lijnbaansgracht in the west, Brouwersgracht in the north and Leidsegracht in the south. The district itself is crossed by 5 canals all listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. The district has the highest number of the most famous restaurants and coffee shops. Besides walking through canal houses and discovering the charming architecture, you should visit the Cheese Museum, Tulip Museum, and Pianola Museum.

Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds is a wax museum that houses all the wax figures of most of the world celebrities. You can find here celebrities like Barack Obama, Adele, Pablo Picasso, Nelson Mandela, Angelina Jolie among others. The museum is located next to the Royal Palace of Amsterdam on the Dam Square. Each year, thousands of tourists visit the museum to take pictures with the celebrities’ figures. Save time by getting a skip-the-line tour to get to this famous museum.

Floating Market

Bloemenmarkt or flower market in English is located in a boat that houses thousands of flowers. This unique concept of shopping experience reminds the times where the market was supplied by boat. Located on the Singel canal, the floating market offers beautiful flowers and souvenirs that you can take with you. The floating market is one of the best things to do in Amsterdam that you should definitely give a try.

Anne Frank House

Anne Frank house-museum is located in the Jordaan district. The museum tells the story of a Jewish family in Amsterdam. This is the most visited museum in Amsterdam city. There are always long waiting lines in front of the museum. If you are in Amsterdam city for a limited period, save time by purchasing a skip-the-line ticket in advance. The interactive museum tells the story of the Frank family presenting personal objects, photos, videos. You can also find her famous notebook where she has been writing her family’s story for 2 years.