Top 20 places in Amsterdam worth visiting

The Rijksmuseum

Where to go in Amsterdam first and foremost? Undoubtedly, to the Rijksmuseum. This is the top place to get acquainted with the country's history and one of the most recognizable buildings in the city. There you will find paintings by Dutch masters of the Golden Age, as well as genuinely interesting exhibitions dedicated to crafts and art. Little visitors will definitely enjoy the exhibition of dollhouses from the 17th century, faithfully reproducing the architecture and interior of the Golden Age.

• The museum is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00.
• Entry to the museum is paid: an adult ticket costs €17.50, and admission is free for children up to 18 years old.

Tropenmuseum (Tropics Museum)

Don't let the word "tropics" confuse you. Despite the name, there are no crocodiles with parrots or aquariums with exotic fish here. Instead, this anthropological museum is one of the largest in Europe. There are eight permanent exhibitions here, plus numerous temporary exhibitions of contemporary and traditional art and photography. So, if you want to study the full range of world nations and cultures up close, then welcome!

• Museum hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:00. On Mondays falling on holidays or vacation days, it's also open from 10:00 to 17:00. On December 24 and 31, the museum is open until 15:00. December 25, January 1, and April 27 are days off.
• Ticket price: €12.50

Amsterdam Canals

A trip to Amsterdam wouldn't be complete without a photo against the backdrop of the famous canals. Don't hesitate to visit the most beautiful ones — Singel and Grachtengordel. Take a stroll along the water, admire the quaint old houses, or enjoy the evening view of the canal from one of the numerous bridges. It's a huge pleasure, and it's free! Want to see Amsterdam from the water? No problem at all! You can take a boat tour or something more interesting: a private guided tour on a captain's boat.

You can book a hotel in Amsterdam with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

Van Gogh Museum

It's a real crime to ignore this famous museum in Amsterdam. What's more, the amazing canvases of the renowned painter are definitely worthy of your attention. If you don't know much about the creative path of the great artist, take a unique tour called "Understanding Van Gogh." It was developed by a guide based on the work of art historians and psychiatrists. And to understand what exactly attracts art connoisseurs to Van Gogh's paintings, take the "Secret of Sunflowers" tour.

• A ticket to the museum costs €17 for adults, and admission is free for children under 18 (but you need to present a document confirming age).
• Opening hours: from 09:00 to 17:00 (until 22:00 on Fridays).
• You can reach the museum from Central Station by tram No. 2 or No. 5.

Python Bridge

A vivid example of Amsterdam's creative freedom is the Python Bridge, connecting the Sporenburg peninsula and Borneo island. The futuristic structure looks particularly impressive in the evening light — this location also deserves a place on your Instagram.

Park Keukenhof

If you're in the Netherlands in spring, be sure to visit Keukenhof Park - a real tulip paradise. It's located outside Amsterdam, so set aside one day for the trip. We promise, the scale of beauty will amaze you. In the park, mind you, there are 4.5 million tulips of a hundred different varieties of all colors and shades.

"Keukenhof is an excellent place for walks and relaxation away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Three greenhouses (with orchids, roses, and narcissus with lilacs), canals, alleys, lawns, and ponds - here everyone will find a corner to their liking. If you get tired and hungry, cafes and restaurants will come to the rescue. Or rather, you will come to them.

• To get to Keukenhof from Amsterdam, you can take a special bus called the "Keukenhof Express" (it departs from Damrak street).
• The entrance ticket costs €19, for children aged 4-11 - €9. Children under 3 enter for free.
• The park's schedule in 2020: from March 21st to May 10th."

The Royal Palace

What else is interesting in Amsterdam? The Royal Palace definitely deserves attention. Since its inception to the present day, the palace remains one of the most significant and largest buildings in the Netherlands. Important events such as the transfer of the throne from one monarch to another and royal weddings take place here. In addition, official receptions and various award ceremonies are held here.

In the luxurious halls, paintings by great Dutch masters are exhibited: Rembrandt, Jordaens, Lievens, Bol, as well as other works of art.

The construction of the Royal Palace is attributed to the so-called "Golden Age." The building stands on piles driven into the foundation, their number is almost 14,000. They allow such a massive structure to stand firmly in the swampy soil of the city.

• Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 12:00-17:00, closed on Monday and on days of official events of the royal house.
• Admission fee: €10, free for children.
• Address: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 147.

Museum of the Canals

This museum is dedicated to the Amsterdam Canal Ring, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will learn about the most interesting facts and events related to the city's canals over 400 years. After your visit, you'll definitely find it easier to navigate the city.

• The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00. Adult tickets cost €15, children's tickets (4-12 years old) cost €7.5.

Maritime Museum

Here you can delve into the rich 500-year maritime history of the country. The museum features picturesque paintings on maritime themes, maps from the 17th century, weapons, antique globes, and navigational instruments. The museum's pride is its impressive collection of models of sailboats and rowboats. And in the museum docks, you can board the beautiful ship "Amsterdam" (a replica of a ship from the East India Company) and see how the sailors lived during their voyages.

• The museum is located a 15-minute walk from Central Station and is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00. Admission is €15.

Zaanse Schans Village

A windmill is one of the symbols of the country. To see this landmark, head to Zaanse Schans. You can get there from Amsterdam by bus or train in about an hour.

Zaanse Schans is essentially an open-air museum featuring various types of windmills. Many of them are still operational today - they crush oil or grind grain. You'll have the opportunity to observe the process and even visit a traditional Dutch farm where authentic Dutch cheese is made, and also peek into a workshop where traditional wooden shoes, called "klompen," are carved.

• Zaanse Schans windmills are open for visits from 10:00 to 17:00.
• From Amsterdam, you can take bus No. 391, which departs from the central station every hour. By train, it's faster (17 minutes), but you'll need to get off at Koog-Zaandijk station and walk for another 15 minutes.

Albert Cuypmarkt street market

Here you can find everything from expensive cheeses to bicycle locks. But even if you don't plan to buy anything, just take a stroll along the rows, listen to the locals chatting and laughing, and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of lightness and carefreeness of Amsterdam.

• To get to the market from Central Station, you can take tram No. 4, 16, 24, or 25. The market is open from Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00.

Amsterdam Zoo

Wondering where to go in Amsterdam with kids? Any local would suggest heading to the zoo. If you need reasons, here you go! There are 6,000 species of animals from around the world, a planetarium, an aquarium, a botanical garden, and even a geological museum. Moreover, the atmosphere is absolutely magical, the animals are in excellent conditions, and the zoo staff genuinely love their work. You'll feel it right away.

• You can visit the zoo from November 1st to March 31st daily from 09:00 to 17:00. From April 1st to October 31st from 09:00 to 18:00. The ticket costs €20, for children aged 3-9 - €15.95.
• You can get there by tram No. 9, 10, 14, by bus No. 56, or by the special "Artis Express" to the Plantage Kerklaan stop.

Concertgebouw Concert Hall

The Concertgebouw is distinguished by its extraordinary acoustics. Around 900 concerts are held here annually, making Concertgebouw the second most visited concert hall in the world (the first place is taken by the Parco della Musica in Rome). One of the main events of the Concertgebouw season is the annual New Year's concert by the Nederlands Blazers Ensemble (Netherlands Wind Ensemble), a new, modern response to the traditional Viennese ball (Waltzfest).

By the way, the people of the Netherlands are great music lovers. In Amsterdam, concerts are often held right in parks and on open-air stages. Very often, such events are completely free.

The Jordaan District

Amsterdam is incredibly romantic. You will be convinced of this by visiting the Jordaan district in the western part of the city. Narrow medieval streets, canals with houseboats, and hidden courtyards, cozy cafes along the waterfronts look simply magical. Especially in the light of the evening lights. In general, don't even doubt it, Amsterdam will become the love of your life.

Saint Nicholas Church

One of the largest cathedrals in the country is located in the heart of the capital, not far from the Railway Square. And it's beautiful, not only from the outside but also inside. We recommend going inside and examining the details. The molding, mosaic, carved ceilings, and stained glass windows in the church are impressive, and the sound of the 19th-century organ penetrates deeply into the soul.

• The cathedral is open for visits on Mondays from 12:00 to 15:00, Tuesdays to Fridays from 11:00 to 16:00, and on Saturdays from 12:00 to 15:00.

Anne Frank House

Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp shortly before the end of the war. She kept a diary describing life in hiding during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam. In 1957, the Anne Frank Foundation opened a memorial museum in the same house where the Frank family hid from the Germans for two years.

The main exhibit of the museum is, of course, the diary itself. The original.

• Address: Prinsengracht, 267
• Opening hours: from November to March - daily, from 09:00 to 19:00 (until 21:00 on Saturdays); from April to October - daily, from 9:00 to 22:00.
• Admission: €10.5, for children aged 10-17 - €5.5, children under 10 - free.

Amsterdam Flower Market

Why should you visit Amsterdam? We'll tell you. Well, firstly, it's beautiful here. Secondly, the Amsterdam Flower Market is one of the oldest in the country, it's over 300 years old. Thirdly - it's the only floating flower market in the world. And you can also buy bulbs of real Dutch tulips here, which is the best souvenir! The market is located on the Singel canal, not far from Dam Square.

To see Amsterdam as locals see it, take the tour "Welcome to my Amsterdam".

NEMO Science Museum

This museum, shaped like a huge ship, is a real find for children of all ages. Here, in simple language and with the help of understandable objects in the exhibits, they explain how the world is arranged, talk about information technology, the secrets of genetics and biochemistry, and the functioning of the economy. Many exhibits at NEMO come to life only if they are turned and twisted, so you immediately have to forget about the main museum rule here: "Do not touch with your hands!" It's necessary to touch.

If you're planning to visit Amsterdam with children during the holidays, be prepared that there will be a lot of schoolchildren at the science museum.

• Address: Amsterdam, Oosterdok. You can walk to the NEMO center from the central station in 15 minutes. Buses No. 22 and 48 also go here (stop Kadijksplein).
• The center is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:30.
• Entrance fee: €17.5, children under 3 years old - free of charge.

Heineken Museum

It's not just a Beer Museum, but a mix of interactive playground, exhibition center, and modern attraction. The museum is located in an old brewery building but looks simply futuristic inside. 4 floors are packed with historical exhibits, entertainment, and, of course, barrels, bottles, and kegs of the highest quality beer.

The entrance ticket provides access to all halls and exhibits of the museum. You will also receive a bracelet with three tokens that can be exchanged for two glasses of beer and a souvenir.

• Address: Amsterdam, Stadhouderskade, 78.
• Opening hours: Monday-Thursday - from 10:30 to 17:30, Friday-Sunday - from 10:30 to 19:00.
• Admission fee: €21, for children - €14.5 (only accompanied by adults).

Vondelpark

You can explore Amsterdam endlessly, but if you do get tired of the capital, then Vondelpark is perfect for relaxation and rejuvenation. Shady alleys, ponds, lawns, and even a cinema museum and an open-air theater will make you want to stay there longer.

The park is located in the southwest part of the city. You can reach it from the central station by bus No. 170 or 172 (to the Leidseplein stop) and then walk for about 15 minutes.