Amsterdam Travel Guide
Weather, best time to visit, and the best food, culture, nature and activities.
Typical prices
- Budget meal€14.00≈ $15.99
- Mid-range meal€30.00≈ $34.26
- Cappuccino€3.20≈ $3.65
- Domestic beer€5.50≈ $6.28
- Taxi (per km)€2.50≈ $2.86
- Public transport ticket€3.40≈ $3.88
- Museum entry€22.50≈ $25.70
- Mid-range hotel (night)€160.00≈ $182.74
Food & Drink
- De KasModern European · $$$
Restaurant built inside a converted greenhouse in Frankendael Park, serving dishes built around vegetables grown on-site.
- FoodhallenMixed/Street food · $$
Indoor food market in a former tram depot in Oud-West with dozens of stalls covering global cuisines.
- Restaurant GreetjeDutch · $$$
Cozy canal-side restaurant reviving old Dutch recipes like stamppot and bitterballen with a modern touch.
- Winkel 43Cafe/Bakery · $
Jordaan cafe famous for having what many consider Amsterdam's best apple pie, often with a queue out the door.
- Restaurant DaalderContemporary European · $$$$
Michelin-starred restaurant in the Jordaan offering a seasonal tasting menu in an intimate former pub setting.
- FEBODutch fast food · $
Iconic Dutch automat chain where snacks like the kroket are dispensed from coin-operated wall vending machines.
- MoedersDutch · $$
Quirky restaurant covered wall-to-wall in mismatched family photos, serving hearty traditional Dutch home cooking.
- Brouwerij 't IJ
Craft brewery and tasting room set beneath the De Gooyer windmill, known for its Ijwit and strong Columbus beer.
- Café de Sluyswacht
Tiny leaning 17th-century building turned canal-side bar near the Rembrandt House, popular for waterfront drinks.
- Melkweg
Multi-room concert venue and club near Leidseplein hosting live music and DJ nights in a former dairy factory.
Culture & History
- Rijksmuseum
The Netherlands' national museum, home to Rembrandt's The Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid.
- Van Gogh Museum
The world's largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and letters, including Sunflowers and The Bedroom.
- Anne Frank House
The canal house where Anne Frank and her family hid during WWII, preserved with her original diary on display.
- Stedelijk Museum
Modern and contemporary art museum next to the Van Gogh Museum, with works by Mondrian, Malevich, and Warhol.
- Moco Museum
Compact museum in a historic villa on Museumplein focused on modern and contemporary art, including Banksy.
- Pathé Tuschinski
Ornate 1921 Art Deco/Art Nouveau cinema just off Rembrandtplein, one of the most beautiful movie theaters in Europe.
- Amsterdam Pride (Canal Parade)
One of the world's few waterborne pride parades, with decorated boats floating down the Prinsengracht canal.
- Grachtenfestival (Canal Festival)
Classical music festival with concerts staged on boats, in gardens, and along the canals across the city.
Nature & Outdoors
- Blijburg aan Zee
Man-made urban beach on IJburg with a beach bar and shallow lake water, a short tram ride from downtown.
- Zandvoort aan Zee
The nearest proper North Sea beach town, popular for a day trip with wide sandy stretches and beach clubs.
Active & Fun
- Basic-Fit Amsterdam Centrum
Budget gym chain with several central locations offering day passes, popular with visitors staying longer.
- Sloterparkbad
Large indoor and outdoor public pool complex in the west of the city with lap lanes and a water slide.
- Efteling
The Netherlands' largest and most famous theme park, built around fairy-tale forest attractions and roller coasters.