Visit the world-famous capital of Holland. Enjoy the buildings, beautiful museums and pleasant ambiance. Go for a boat tour on the canals, stroll through Vondelpark, and go shopping in the inner city. Amsterdam is a unique city!

There are endless things to do in Amsterdam in any weather and many of the most rewarding experiences lie beyond the well-trodden tourist paths of the city centre. To lead you through the of wonders, we’ve whittled down the selection to this essential guide.

Many of the museums and sights included are covered by the I amsterdam City Card – a handy visitor pass which gets you free entry to Amsterdam’s most popular attractions, plus free public transport for the duration of your stay

Things to do in Amsterdam

• Boating in Canals
• Cycling

Boating in Canals

Created in the early age to keep the sea at bay, Amsterdam’s UNESCO protected canal belt is the quintessential postcard-perfect vision of Amsterdam. It is an unbelievably pretty sight, especially after sundown when the bridges are lit up by fairy lights and the whole area takes on a magical feel. Floating along the canals by guided boat tour is a great way to get under the fabric of the city, and you’ll learn lots of fascinating facts along the way – such as why the tilting homes along the canals are known as ‘dancing houses’. There are many different canal cruises on offer, from hop-on-hop-off sightseeing tours to atmospheric candlelit night time cruises with food and . Get a free canal cruise with the I amsterdam City Card, or book a canal cruise online with the Canal Cruise Ticket.

Cycling

Cyclists do not have the right of way even though it might appear so when observing the typical Amsterdammer’s cycling behaviour (see Extra legal protection). Be very careful to watch out for other cyclists. Always show other traffic where you’re going (e.g., by holding out your hand) in order avoid and smooth the traffic flow. If not indicated otherwise by signs, the right-before-left rule applies. Avoid getting your tyre in the tram rails; it’s a nasty fall. Always cross tram rails at an angle. When crossing tram lanes, watch out for fast approaching taxis. They have a rather ruthless driving style. Let none of the above deter you from doing it the Amsterdam way. Be advised, however, that cycling the Amsterdam way takes a significant amount of skill: the locals have been riding bikes from the moment they could walk and this informs their behaviour. If you don’t feel entirely comfortable on a bike, it may be a stressful affair rather than the smooth ride you may imagine it to be. On top of that, if your lack of confidence makes you block pathways used by other people who can skilfully manoeuvre along them (e.g. groups of people, between stationary vans and the rows of bollards dividing street and footpath), who have appointments to make and to be attend, it can create tensions between you and locals. If you don’t feel entirely comfortable on a bike, walk! It’s less stressful, and Amsterdam is so small the entire city centre can be navigated on foot within half an hour.