Things to Do in Amsterdam: Canals, Museums, the Jordaan and What to Book

The short answer. On a first visit, walk the canal ring and the Jordaan, take a canal cruise, and book the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House ahead. Add Vondelpark for a break, the A’DAM Lookout for a view, and the Albert Cuyp Market for lunch. Keukenhof is the spring extra.

Roam Amsterdam read 11 guides on this, in English and German. The Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House are named by all 11. A canal cruise comes next with 9, then Vondelpark and the Rembrandt House with 8 each, the Royal Palace, the A’DAM Lookout and Keukenhof with 7, and the Jordaan with 6. Hours, prices and booking rules below come from the operators’ own pages, not from those guides. They change, so check the links. Hotels aren’t covered here. The where to stay in Amsterdam guide is the place for that. Dates matter in Amsterdam, so see what’s on during your stay on the events page and the live music page, and find everything below on the map.

The short list

The canals and a cruise

Canal cruise: named by 9 of 11 guides read.

The canal ring is the 17th-century ring of canals around the old centre, and one guide calls walking it the single best thing you can do in the city. A cruise gives you the same view from the water, and one guide recommends it to every first-time visitor. Guides mention day, evening and themed boats. The tourism site says its Total Experience Card covers museums, public transport and a canal cruise, so check what a card includes against what you’ll actually do.

Rijksmuseum

Named by 11 of 11 guides read.

Every guide names it, usually for the Night Watch and Vermeer. The museum’s visit page says it’s open every day from 9:00 to 17:00, public holidays included, with a booked start time for everyone. Tickets are 25 euros for adults, 26.50 euros from 2027, and free for visitors aged 18 and under. The Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum guide helps you choose, or do both.

Van Gogh Museum

Named by 11 of 11 guides read.

It sits a few minutes from the Rijksmuseum on Museumplein, at Paulus Potterstraat 7. Guides call it the place to see Sunflowers and follow his life in order. It uses timed tickets, so book on the museum’s visit page, where you’ll find the current hours and prices. The comparison guide says guides expect it to sell out before the Rijksmuseum does.

Anne Frank House

Named by 11 of 11 guides read.

The house on Prinsengracht is the one booking people miss. The museum’s ticket page says tickets are sold only online, with no sales at the door. All tickets for a given day go on sale every Tuesday at 10:00 CET, six weeks ahead. Adult tickets are 16.50 euros including a 1 euro booking fee, and the page lists a higher price from 2027. It’s open daily from 9:00 to 22:00 with some exceptions listed on the page. The entrance is at Westermarkt 20, around the corner from the canal.

Vondelpark

Named by 8 of 11 guides read.

It’s the big park in the south-west of the centre and the place guides send you for a picnic, a bike ride or a rest between museums. Several mention the open-air theatre in summer. It borders the Museum Quarter.

Rembrandt House and the Royal Palace

Rembrandt House: named by 8 of 11 guides read. Royal Palace: 7 of 11.

The Rembrandt House Museum is the painter’s former home and studio. The Royal Palace stands on Dam Square beside the Nieuwe Kerk, and one guide says it’s mostly closed to the public. The palace’s own site was showing opening dates from 2 December to 3 January when Roam Amsterdam looked, so check its visit page before you plan around it.

A’DAM Lookout and Noord

A’DAM Lookout: named by 7 of 11 guides read.

The A’DAM Lookout is the viewing platform on top of the A’DAM Tower across the IJ, with a swing over the edge. Its site lists Monday to Thursday 11:00 to 19:00 and Friday to Sunday 11:00 to 21:00, with last entry an hour before, and tickets from 16.50 euros with 2 euros off online. The way over is the ferry behind Centraal Station, which the tourism site says is free for pedestrians and cyclists and runs all night. Two guides add the free ferry and NDSM wharf as an outing of their own.

The Jordaan and the markets

Jordaan: named by 6 of 11 guides read. Albert Cuyp Market: 5 of 11.

The Jordaan is the district west of the canal ring, with narrow canals, galleries and brown cafes. One guide starts the walk at the Westerkerk and takes in the Noordermarkt. The Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp is the street market most guides name, and the Foodhallen and the Bloemenmarkt flower market come up too. Check market days before you go.

Keukenhof and the bike

Keukenhof: named by 7 of 11 guides read. Cycling: 5 of 11.

Keukenhof is the spring tulip garden in Lisse, and it’s only open for a few weeks. Its site lists the 2027 season as 18 March to 9 May, open daily from 8:00 to 19:00 with entry closing at 18:15. The best day trips from Amsterdam guide has how to get there. Five guides name cycling, and one says it’s for confident riders only. The Amsterdam travel tips guide covers the bike lanes.

Less common picks

Four guides each name the Oude Kerk, the Begijnhof, the Westerkerk, the Foodhallen, the EYE Filmmuseum and Our Lord in the Attic. Five name the Stedelijk Museum. Seven mention De Wallen, the red-light district. The travel tips guide covers the no-photo rule.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Amsterdam for a first visit?

The canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House. All 11 guides read name the three museums, and 9 name a canal cruise.

How do you get Anne Frank House tickets?

Online only, on the museum’s ticket page. Tickets for a given day go on sale every Tuesday at 10:00 CET, six weeks ahead.

Do you need to book the Rijksmuseum?

Yes. Its visit page says everyone needs a booked start time, and it’s open every day from 9:00 to 17:00.

Is there a free thing to do in Amsterdam?

The canals on foot, Vondelpark and the Rijksmuseum Gardens, which its visit page says are free. The ferry to Noord is free for pedestrians and cyclists, according to the tourism site.

When is Keukenhof open?

The 2027 season runs from 18 March to 9 May, daily from 8:00 to 19:00, according to its site.

Rest of the trip: where to stay in Amsterdam, Haarlem as a day trip and Amsterdam travel tips.

Places in this guide

Photos show the actual places, licensed under Creative Commons and credited to their photographers.

EYE Filmmuseum Noord Photo: Fred Romero Heineken Experience De Pijp Photo: daryl_mitchell Keukenhof Lisse Photo: Vijay Kiran